"History repeats itself," said the father of Communism, "first as tragedy, then as farce." He foresaw what's going on now in a disoriented GOP that still hates his guts. If Donald Trump stops tripping over himself to win the nomination, the party line would hail him as the Second Coming of Reagan, but the parallels are not the ones they would be selling. Both candidates … [Read more...] about Trump, Reagan and Karl Marx
And Now a Beautiful Song to Start Your Day
A beautiful song to start your day, sung with uncopiable style by the immortal Mrs. Miller: And if you want, here's her original hit that was at the top of the charts in the 60s: … [Read more...] about And Now a Beautiful Song to Start Your Day
Poll: U.S. Most Pessmistic In Two Years
A new New York Times/CBS News poll has bad news for the White House and also businesses that hoped Americans would be less gloomy about the economy and open their wallets more than they have: the nation's mood is the most pessimistic in two years. Americans are more pessimistic about the nation’s economic outlook and overall direction than they have been at any time since … [Read more...] about Poll: U.S. Most Pessmistic In Two Years
Senator James Inhofe(Sociopath, OK)
While peak oil may threaten our civilization peak water threatens our species. Hydraulic fracking is seen by some to be the next solution to the fossil fuel shortage but what about its impact on water resources. While we are told that it can be done safely experience tells a different story. This from yesterday: Gas Drilling Emergency in Bradford County Officials said … [Read more...] about Senator James Inhofe(Sociopath, OK)
Ensign To Resign
Embattled and relatively corrupt (in Nevada corrupt can be a relative term) Senator John Ensign (R-Nevada) has announced that he will resign his seat effective May 3rd. Governor Brian Sandoval (R) is expected to name Congressman Dean Heller to the seat which will allow Heller to run as an incumbent in the 2012 election. Heller is already running for the seat against … [Read more...] about Ensign To Resign
U.S. to Deploy Armed Predators Over Libya
I have consistently supported the enforcement of the UN-established no-fly zone in Libya and have defended it against those who would try to compare it to the disaster that was the invasion and occupation of Iraq---as I did here. At times, things have not gone too well, and even those who supported the enforcement have begun to waver. There has just been an important … [Read more...] about U.S. to Deploy Armed Predators Over Libya
Raise the National Debt, Not the Debt Ceiling
No, that is not my recommendation. It's what House Republicans seemingly want to do, according to Washington Post columnist Matt Miller: … [Read more...] about Raise the National Debt, Not the Debt Ceiling
Senators and U.S. Drones: What Else are You Hiding from Mexicans? (La Jornada, Mexico)
Is Mexico, in the words of La Jornada columnist Jorge Camil, "witnessing the beginning of a dangerous expansion of U.S. military activity in Mexico and Central America"? In this column, Camil chastises Mexico's Senate for allowing unmanned U.S. drone flights and warns readers that their use signals that Mexico is rapidly losing control of its territory to the U.S. and the drug … [Read more...] about Senators and U.S. Drones: What Else are You Hiding from Mexicans? (La Jornada, Mexico)
Welcome To The Circus: Living In Arizona (Part I)
Yesterday TMV’s Resident Ranter Marc Pascal posted an article titled “WHEW! Thank you Governor Brewer! But it’s just not enough anymore”. In his piece, Marc praised Arizona’s governor for vetoing the Birther Bill that would have required presidential candidates to provide proof of natural born citizenship and the Guns on Campus bill. Both bills passed the legislature with … [Read more...] about Welcome To The Circus: Living In Arizona (Part I)
The Arab Spring Midterm
Guest post by Ali Ezzatyar Ali Ezzatyar is a journalist and American attorney in Paris, France. ********** It's test-time. The durability of an unpopular dictator, Arab or otherwise, has been called into question since January. Fair enough. But each bud of the Arab Spring has taught us another thing or two. Tunisia taught us that an aura of inevitability bolstered … [Read more...] about The Arab Spring Midterm
Bahrainis Plead for Help from Secretary of State Clinton (Sotal Iraq, Iraq)
Is it time for the U.S. to drop its geostrategic calculations and back Bahrainis in their quest for freedom? For Sotal Iraq, columnist Hassan al-Ansaari honors democracy activist Maryam Alkhawaja for challenging Hillary Clinton and writes that it is time for the Obama Administration to drop its double standards and stand by the people of Bahrain. For Sotal Iraq (the Voice of … [Read more...] about Bahrainis Plead for Help from Secretary of State Clinton (Sotal Iraq, Iraq)
Willie Brown: Obama Could Replace Joe Biden With New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Former San Francisco Mayor and onetime California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown Jr, is one of those smart political analysts well worth hearing -- and pondering. He doesn't always get it right but he gets a lot of it right. His latest prediction: Barack Obama will replace Joe Biden (who long wanted to be Secretary of State) with New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo, clearly an up … [Read more...] about Willie Brown: Obama Could Replace Joe Biden With New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Say Goodnight, Paul Ryan. Sweet Dreams.
In yet another example of the Republican Party finding its ever diminishing willy in a wringer, a new poll reveals that anyone who hasn't been living in a cave understands: Even though the Tea Party, the folks that have captured the GOP's base if not its imagination, wants Big Government out of its members lives, its members don't want Medicare and Medicaid out of … [Read more...] about Say Goodnight, Paul Ryan. Sweet Dreams.
Holy Week (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Holy Week (Cartoon)
SC Governor Nikki Haley: Trump is Serious About Running for President
South Carolina Gov. Nikkii Haley told the AP that Donald Trump is serious about running for President: he called her and she predicts this is not being done for name recognition. She said "he's convinced he can win." I also believe the conventional wisdom is often wrong and that those who spread it later try to discreetly pretend they never insisted what would turn out to … [Read more...] about SC Governor Nikki Haley: Trump is Serious About Running for President
For Such A Time As This (Easter Reprise)
Pardon me for posting this again, but the heroic story of out lesbian rural Georgia Baptist preacher, Genie Hargrove, really ought to be a viral video hit this Easter. The video is a companion piece to a StoryCorps interview that ran on GPB radio last month. At 10 minutes, it's long for Internet time. The one minute promo for the video got 500 times the views on the … [Read more...] about For Such A Time As This (Easter Reprise)
In Memoriam: Chris Hondros & Tim Hetherington
I had the good fortune to work with some of the best photojournalists in the business - in both war and peace -- over a four-decade career, and while I did not know Chris Hondros or Tim Hetherington, I mourn their passing. Hondros, 41, a Pulitzer Prize winner widely admired for his work for Getty Images in Iraq and Afghanistan, and fellow photojournalist Tim Hetherington, … [Read more...] about In Memoriam: Chris Hondros & Tim Hetherington
Obama in a Media Hall of Mirrors
During serial interviews with local TV, the President is caught showing frustration with an aggressive Texas reporter who pushes hard about his unpopularity in the Lone Star state. When it's over, with the camera still on, the Commander-in-Chief complains: “Let me finish my answers the next time we do an interview, all right?” Life is imitating art again in the media hall … [Read more...] about Obama in a Media Hall of Mirrors
Credit Rating (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Credit Rating (Cartoon)
If There’s War There Will be Strong Anti-War Demonstrations
If there's war there will be strong anti-war demonstrations. Or are there? Does it depend on the party conducting the war? One view. … [Read more...] about If There’s War There Will be Strong Anti-War Demonstrations