And the volcanic lava flow that erupted in response to Pres. Obama's outrageous assertion that Israel does not have the right to permanently annex the Palestinian land that it has illegally occupied since seizing it in the 1967 Six-Day War, continues, via the Wall Street Journal (emphasis is mine): Mr. Obama got some applause Sunday by calling for a "non-militarized" … [Read more...] about Holding Israel Accountable
Voters Head to the Polls in NY-26 Special Election
Yes, it's today, at long last, the special election in New York's 26th Congressional District to replace Republican Chris Lee, who resigned earlier this year. I wrote about the election here and here, but let me explain again what's going on here: In a heavily Republican district in Western New York, the combination of a Tea Party challenger (Jack Davis) and a Republican … [Read more...] about Voters Head to the Polls in NY-26 Special Election
The State Secrets Privilege – Time For Reform
If you asked most Americans what the State Secrets Privilege was they either wouldn’t know or, if they did, might believe it was enacted as part of the Patriot Act or some other post-9/11 national security legislation. It is not. In fact, it’s not legislative at all. The State Secrets Privilege is a court made rule, and its use and impact are both expanding. The State … [Read more...] about The State Secrets Privilege – Time For Reform
Photoshopping: Hey, They’ve Only Just Begun
This photo of President Obama and his national security staff hunkered down in the White House Situation Room as the Navy SEAL team raid on Osama bin Laden's compound unfolded has a lock on 2011 Picture of the Year. Well, at least for non-meteorological events. That in turn has triggered an orgy of Photoshopped versions. Kill a few brain cells feasting on the … [Read more...] about Photoshopping: Hey, They’ve Only Just Begun
Further Proof that Not All Nuts are in Stores or on the Right
Here's further proof that not all nuts are sold in Sprouts Markets stores or on the right. File this for sure in your Twilight Zone extremist file and also the file where you save stories on people who talk violence and should be shunned by all sides in America: Lars von Trier, who was banned from Cannes for praising Hitler, was not the only one making unsavoury comments … [Read more...] about Further Proof that Not All Nuts are in Stores or on the Right
All Eyes on NY-26 Tonight **UPDATED – HOCHUL WINS**
WASHINGTON - The talk today started with the stunning possibility that Democrats could actually squeak through on this one. That we're even talking about the possibility proves how dangerously toxic Rep. Paul Ryan's budget scheme is. If you don't know the details of NY-26, Politico provides a primer on what to keep your eyes on tonight. The election is today, with Democrats … [Read more...] about All Eyes on NY-26 Tonight **UPDATED – HOCHUL WINS**
Where Are The Woodwards and Bernsteins?
Lawrence Martin has a timely column this morning on the the state of Canadian journalism. Martin writes of the late James Thomson, who warned that the biggest occupational hazard for journalists is being co-opted by the powerful. Martin then turns to the press in Canada: Much wonderment has been expressed recently on why stories of abuse of power don’t seem to hurt … [Read more...] about Where Are The Woodwards and Bernsteins?
“Idiot Alert!”
Not much is more repulsive to this Texan than that border fence. I went to a meeting about it four years ago almost to the day down in Laredo, along the border. The meeting was sponsored by the south Texas district's member of Congress. It became blazingly clear that corporate interests (along with a batch of racists) were The Wall's chief supporters. Local sheriffs, not … [Read more...] about “Idiot Alert!”
Yes, Virginia, Some Men are Pigs (Guest Voice)
Yes, Virginia, Some Men are Pigs Raging Moderate, by Will Durst The hell is the deal with male politicians these days? Have they lost their minds? Guys, they’re giving all us men a bad name. And with Charlie Sheen still on the loose, we need the negative publicity the way a platypus needs another spiny knob at the end of its tail. Maybe the reptilian core at the base of our … [Read more...] about Yes, Virginia, Some Men are Pigs (Guest Voice)
Ship of Fools (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Ship of Fools (Cartoon)
Oh, Mommy, Please Make that Man Go Away, Please Mommy
Oh, Mommy, please make that man go away, please Mommy. Donald Trump now talks about re-entering the GOP race. In his dreams. And in our nightmares. … [Read more...] about Oh, Mommy, Please Make that Man Go Away, Please Mommy
Shocker: Half of Facebook Walls Have Profanity
Reppler is a service launched last month to help keep your Facebook image clean by monitoring your Facebook profile, making you aware of inappropriate content and highlighting public information that should be private. Jackie Cohen of All Facebook reports that of the 30,000-plus Facebook members’ walls Reppler looked at over the past two months: 47 percent of our … [Read more...] about Shocker: Half of Facebook Walls Have Profanity
Defining Macho Down
Never mind men in outer space or those slogging in Middle East mud, media attention is on a horny old Frenchman in Manhattan detention, a former body builder with no procreative self-control and a preening pack of politicians playing Chicken with the national debt limit. In the Age of Viagra, masculinity is being downgraded everywhere. Even 60 Minutes is obsessed with … [Read more...] about Defining Macho Down
‘As History is Our Witness,’ China is a More Reliable Friend than United States (The Frontier Post, Pakistan)
It seems that many in Pakistan are convinced that with relations with the U.S. souring, closer ties with China are the answer to Pakistan's troubles. According to this editorial from Pakistan's Frontier Post, whereas the United States tends to use Pakistan when its in Washington's interests and then treat it like 'garbage,' China has always been an 'all-weather friend.' The … [Read more...] about ‘As History is Our Witness,’ China is a More Reliable Friend than United States (The Frontier Post, Pakistan)
New Ratings: Conservative Talk Ratings Fall
It looks like The Daily Beast's John Avlon was correct in his posts about the decline of conservative talk radio coupled with signs that listeners may be slowly tuning in more independent and less demonizing voices. Crain's in a report carried on Google News: Right-wing talk radio may have worn out its welcome, at least for now. The just-out April Arbitron report shows … [Read more...] about New Ratings: Conservative Talk Ratings Fall
Rapture Trick (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Rapture Trick (Cartoon)
New York Magazine’s Eye-Opening Revelations about Fox News’ Roger Ailes (UPDATED)
Over the weekend I read New York Magazine's fascinating, and solidly reported piece on Fox News' Roger Ailes and like some other pundits, I didn't know where to start on it for a piece on TMV since it was so packed with info -- a quintessential piece of solid fact-based reporting. This was NOT a piece that could be dismissed as an ideological hack job. I didn't get to my TMV … [Read more...] about New York Magazine’s Eye-Opening Revelations about Fox News’ Roger Ailes (UPDATED)
Missouri Thanks You, Pres. Obama
WASHINGTON - My big brother Larry, who got me interested in politics when I was a kid, as well as my dad, were both born in Joplin, Missouri. Larry once worked as assistant attorney general under John Ashcroft and played a very small role during Ashcroft's confirmation hearings when a reporter from the St. Louis Post Dispatch called to get a quote on Ashcroft. It ended up with … [Read more...] about Missouri Thanks You, Pres. Obama
Dominique Strauss-Kahn-Le Pew (Guest Voice)
Dominique Strauss-Kahn-Le Pew by Daryl Cagle My only exposure to French culture as a child was Looney Tunes cartoons featuring the lecherous skunk, Pepé Le Pew. When I grew up, my views of France changed, and I thought of the French as romantic, a view that seems to contrast with Dominique Strauss-Kahn, whose alleged sexual assault on a hotel maid is remarkably similar to … [Read more...] about Dominique Strauss-Kahn-Le Pew (Guest Voice)
Supreme Court Orders 46,000 Prisoners Released (Brown v. Plata)
Going back to the 1990’s, California’s prison system has been found to be in violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Designed to hold roughly 80,000 inmates, the prison system has been averaging a population of nearly 160,000 over the past 11 years. Two separate lawsuits ensued. Coleman v. Brown alleged inability to adequately … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Orders 46,000 Prisoners Released (Brown v. Plata)