Born British, I moved to the USA when I was 29. After five years, in 2009, I became a permanent resident, and expect to become a citizen in 2014. In my heart and soul, however, I am already American. I became conscious of this change of identity -- for that is what it is -- in two experiential flashes. The first made me realize that I was no longer simply British. After … [Read more...] about Twice the Pride: Becoming an American “Bipatriot”
Bringing Down Scott Walker
If he could pull it off, Walker told himself and his closest associates, he could be what Republicans have been looking for since the mid-1980s: a new Ronald Reagan. It was a dream he outlined In an extended conversation with a caller who he thought was billionaire conservative campaign contributor David Koch. “Ronald Reagan, whose 100th birthday we just celebrated the day … [Read more...] about Bringing Down Scott Walker
Delta Charges Returning Troops $ 2,800 Baggage Fee
I'll let their video speak for itself, but it seems pretty darn outrageous they couldn't make an exception for the men and women in service. At the same time one would think the military could have been clearer with the troops on policy. A general messup all around it seems Delta has said they are 'looking in to it' while the military says the troops may be reimbursed by … [Read more...] about Delta Charges Returning Troops $ 2,800 Baggage Fee
The Expansion Of Citizens United (U. S. v. Danielczyk)
Citizens United allowed unlimited expenditures by independent advocacy groups, including corporations and unions, in elections. It did not address the issue of whether corporations could make direct contributions to political campaigns. Federal election law includes a flat ban on direct campaign contributions by corporate entities. In 2003, that ban appeared to be upheld in … [Read more...] about The Expansion Of Citizens United (U. S. v. Danielczyk)
Weiner Roasted (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Weiner Roasted (Cartoon)
People Care About the Economy, Not Anthony Weiner **UPDATED**
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy WASHINGTON - How I love the smell of steaming hypocrisy in the morning and there's a lot of it going around lately, especially from the media. Rep. Weiner isn't going quietly. Why should he? Did Sen. David Vitter resign? Did Sen. Larry Craig? Sen. Ensign only bugged out when the Senate was poised … [Read more...] about People Care About the Economy, Not Anthony Weiner **UPDATED**
The New GOP Plan To Destroy Social Security
It is beyond dispute that Wall Street hijinks were the primary cause of the Bush Recession, the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression, and that the stock and other financial markets are justly viewed with great suspicion by many Americans. This explains why the 2005 Bush administration initiative to privatize Social Security through savings accounts … [Read more...] about The New GOP Plan To Destroy Social Security
Quote of the Day: How Anthony Weiner and John Edwards Hurt Their Own Party
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The National Journal Daily's Jim O'Sullivan on how Rep. Anthony Weiner and former Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards have hurt their political party: Even hapless Republicans -- or ones unconcerned with preserving a hold on the House that seemed to be slipping a week ago or taking over a Senate that seems even more reachable … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: How Anthony Weiner and John Edwards Hurt Their Own Party
A Sign of How Dire Anthony Weiner’s Weakening Political Situation Is
A politician who gets in trouble in Congress due to bad publicity, something he/she did wrong or a scandal can often count on his partisans to stand solidly behind him. Not so with Rep. Anthony Weiner who has clearly few friends these days among his Democratic colleagues -- most likely because they find his behavior indefensive and because it most assuredly drowns out the … [Read more...] about A Sign of How Dire Anthony Weiner’s Weakening Political Situation Is
NOT A Recommendation For Weiner
Jonathan Bernstein says this is not a recommendation for Weiner just now: As far as constituents are concerned, that's where I get to the Gramm example. Phil Gramm was a Democratic Member of the House from Texas. During the first years of the Reagan presidency, Speaker Tip O'Neill believed that Gramm, a member of the budget committee, had betrayed Democrats through a series of … [Read more...] about NOT A Recommendation For Weiner
Revolving Door Alert: Evan Bayh
Will the Internet turn its collective attention away from Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and his Twitter blooper and pay attention to the all-too-regular Beltway Revolving Door? The latest participant: former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), who has signed on with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to travel the nation with former President George W. Bush White House chief of staff Andy Card, … [Read more...] about Revolving Door Alert: Evan Bayh
CURRENT WOES AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REPUBLICANS
The nation’s economy is stagnant and many think it may tank again. The official high unemployment masks the even higher "unofficial" one most Americans see. The President appears to be out-of-touch with reality and continues to act as a tool of Wall Street. There is low voter approval for the Incumbent and most Democratic policies. With all this news, Republicans should be … [Read more...] about CURRENT WOES AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REPUBLICANS
Jon Stewart’s Weiner Roast
Turns out the Congressman is not just a Weiner but, in the parlance of our people (his, mine and Jon Stewart’s), a “schmuck,” the difference between the male member as metaphor for “stupid, foolish, or detestable” or simply clueless, as the euphemism for a smaller organ his surname suggests. Then again, he may now have earned the highest rank in the Yiddish lexicon of penile … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart’s Weiner Roast
Rich Nations Try to ‘Dine with the Wolf and Cry with the Shepherd’ (El Khabar, Algeria)
Are offers of Western aid to the Arab revolutions a shell game designed to benefit the world's wealthiest nations at the expense of Arabs demanding freedom and justice? Columnist H. Sulayman of Algeria's El Khabar writes that the G8 countries are pretending to side with Arab peoples after decades of taking benefit from their oppression. For Algeria's El Khabar, columnist H. … [Read more...] about Rich Nations Try to ‘Dine with the Wolf and Cry with the Shepherd’ (El Khabar, Algeria)
Yankee Sanctions on Venezuela ‘Wound Dignity of Latin America’ (Aporrea, Venezuela)
Washington's decision to impose sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company for doing business with Iran have triggered fury in the Latin American Left. Tomas Borge, the last living founder of Nicaragua's Sandanista National Liberation Front, writes for Aporrea that the sanctions are just an old trick of the 'Yankee Empire', and that Venezuela has just as much a right to … [Read more...] about Yankee Sanctions on Venezuela ‘Wound Dignity of Latin America’ (Aporrea, Venezuela)
The Self Destruction and Collateral Damage of Anthony Weiner
So much for New York’s Rep. Anthony Weiner: it’s “buh- bye” to his blossoming career as a TV star, his self-depreciating jokes about his name that “killed” before roaring-with-amusement crowds, his hope to be New York City’s next mayor, his role as a high-profile Democratic Party surrogate and probably his House seat. So much for New York’s Rep. Anthony Weiner: it’s “buh- … [Read more...] about The Self Destruction and Collateral Damage of Anthony Weiner
Ecuador’s ‘El Oriente’: Will It Be Another Paradise Lost?
Some of the most idyllic and memorable times of my early youth are the days and weeks I spent in the late 1940s with my parents and sister in the Oriente of my native Ecuador. The Oriente is Ecuador's magnificent jungle region on the East side of the majestic Andes Mountains. It is the beginning of the Amazon rain forest basin -- some parts still pristine -- and one of the … [Read more...] about Ecuador’s ‘El Oriente’: Will It Be Another Paradise Lost?
Yes, We Still All Have Equal Rights When It Comes To Sleeping Under A Bridge
The other day on Public Radio a conservative economist was interviewed about the federal budget battle now going on in Washington. He was asked the usual questions and gave the usual answers. Until, that is, he was asked whether he didn't think that the rich should share the sacrifices that deep program cuts would impose on the poor. His answer to this question blew me … [Read more...] about Yes, We Still All Have Equal Rights When It Comes To Sleeping Under A Bridge
Dirty Weiner Tweets (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Dirty Weiner Tweets (Cartoon)
Rethinking College and Work in the Future
I wrote a TMV post on 4/22/11 "Who Needs an Education Anymore" wherein I questioned the value of a college education in the 21st Century. Many other people have been thinking along the same lines for even longer, and in greater depth and clarity. An excellent post on this topic was published today by long-time blogger Charles Hugh Smith on his very informative and … [Read more...] about Rethinking College and Work in the Future