Here. … [Read more...] about Why This is My Favorite Time of Year
Air Force One on eBay
Mike Huckabee’s decision not to run clarifies the career choice picture between Fox News and the White House. All the factors say go,” Huckabee explains (on Fox, of course), “but my heart says no.” Perhaps his finances do as well. Unlike Romney and Trump, for example, the ex-minister is not a wealthy man who, in making the race, would have to go off the Fox payroll, as … [Read more...] about Air Force One on eBay
Murdoch’s Payroll or the Taxpayers’
For the first time in history, would-be White House occupants have to make a financial choice between staying on the Fox News payroll or taking a financial loss by getting onto the taxpayers'. Mike Huckabee has made his decision but, for Sarah Palin, it could be more complicated. Of course, she could go rogue and do what she did with the Akaska state plane and put Air Force One … [Read more...] about Murdoch’s Payroll or the Taxpayers’
Obama — The Dull Echo President
"A choice, not an echo," has been used in political campaigns by both major parties. It was first used by the 1884 campaign of Democrat Grover Cleveland, and used again 80 years later as a slogan in the 1964 campaign of Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. This slogan was meant to draw attention to very basic differences with the other major party, its … [Read more...] about Obama — The Dull Echo President
Understanding Germany
I am a big fan of The Economist, but the latest article on Germany's foreign policy "The unadventurous eagle" leaves me a bit confused. The title suggests that Germany is not going on foreign policy adventures. That's good, right? The subheading, however, is negative and asserts cautiously "Europe's biggest economic power seems reluctant to have a foreign … [Read more...] about Understanding Germany
Defending Germany, Defending NATO, Defending Definitions
Jorge Benitez of the Atlantic Council writes in the New Atlanticist about the new NATO, which "is defined by US caveats, French political will, British leadership, German uncertainty, and a tangible level of commitment by some allies." It's a good article, but I take issue with some of the harsher criticism against Germany, even though I agree that our foreign … [Read more...] about Defending Germany, Defending NATO, Defending Definitions
Huckabee
Will Huckabee run? Well he answered that question tonight. Mike Huckabee may be a bit of a buffoon but he's not a bad guy. For the first time in his life he's making some good money. Before his presidential run in 2008 he had been a Baptist preacher and the governor of Arkansas neither one of which is a high paying position. He now has a million plus dollar a year gig on … [Read more...] about Huckabee
Nothing To See Here
If you get all of your news from the corporate media in the US you would think that the nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station was over. You have to look very hard to find a story at all. In reality the nuclear accident that couldn't happen is much worse. In a development that is likely to delay efforts to bring the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power … [Read more...] about Nothing To See Here
Osama bin Laden’s Porn Titles
THIS JUST IN: Osama bin Laden's porn titles. … [Read more...] about Osama bin Laden’s Porn Titles
America’s Romantic Economic View of the European Lifestyle (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
For Americans who yearn for life in Europe, with its more generous social safety net and strict rules for firing employees, columnist Andrzej Lubowski of Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza has some disheartening news: the idyllic lifestyle Europeans have come to expect is in its death throes. For Gazeta Wyborcza, Andrzej Lubowski writes in part: "There is nothing more enjoyable … [Read more...] about America’s Romantic Economic View of the European Lifestyle (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
Roswell Extraterrestrials Were ‘Plane Full of Alienlike Children Sent by Stalin’
The 1947 Roswell Incident, allegedly the crash of an extra-terrestrial spacecraft filled with alien occupants, caused intense controversy and spawned conspiracy theories by the score. Now comes a stranger-than-conspiracy-fiction explanation: Area 51, the new book by Annie Jacobsen...puts forward the theory that Stalin was inspired by Orson Wells’s famous radio adaptation of … [Read more...] about Roswell Extraterrestrials Were ‘Plane Full of Alienlike Children Sent by Stalin’
The Palestine Papers
Yesterday, I noted the ironic metaphor contained in the comments of the Palestinian and Israeli responses to George Mitchell's resignation. In the first of two paragraphs I quoted from the New York Times account of that resignation, Fatah's senior foreign affairs person blamed Israeli intransigence for the failure of peace talks, and in the second, a spokesperson for Israel's … [Read more...] about The Palestine Papers
Christian Sex? A Question of Intimacy.
I once heard about a Texas reverend who asked his mega church congregation to participate in a seven day sex challenge. All married members of his church were admonished to have sex with their marriage partner for seven consecutive days. The pastor kicked off this copulation crusade by bringing a bed on stage and preaching a message on the virtues of married sex. The … [Read more...] about Christian Sex? A Question of Intimacy.
Why an Escalation in Libya is the Only Rational Course (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany)
Is NATO making a mistake by maintaining a stalemate between Libyan despot Mohammar Qaddafi and the insurgents seeking to topple his 40-year-old regime? For Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung, columnist Stefan Kornelius writes that unless NATO is willing to accept a continuation of Qaddafi's rule or a fruitless continuation of currect circumstances, it should start setting up … [Read more...] about Why an Escalation in Libya is the Only Rational Course (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany)
Will Mike Huckabee Run for President? We Get an Intriguing Hint
Is Mike Huckabee about to shatter the emerging conventional wisdom that he won't want to run for President but would rather stay and make money at Fox News and with his new video production company? You can take THIS memo to his inner circle any way. But it sounds to me that he is going to make the leap. … [Read more...] about Will Mike Huckabee Run for President? We Get an Intriguing Hint
Pakistan’s Spy Chief Says He Knows Nothing About Any Pakistan Links to Militant Groups Links
The big question about Osama bin Laden lingers: was he living in the residential area of Abbottabad close to Pakistan's West Point due to some links between Pakistan bigwigs to terrorist groups? Or was it simply a matter of not knowing -- in other words incompetence. The answer: Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Pakistan's equivilent of the head of the CIA, is without saying it … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s Spy Chief Says He Knows Nothing About Any Pakistan Links to Militant Groups Links
Disney Trademarks “Seal Team Six”
No, the following is not one of my wisecracks on my Twitter account, it is not from the wonderful Borowitz Report and it is not from The Onion. It's true. Disney has trademarked Seal Team Six: In a perfect example of a big media company looking to capitalize on current events, The Walt Disney Company has trademarked “Seal Team 6,” which also happens to be the name of the … [Read more...] about Disney Trademarks “Seal Team Six”
It’s Getting Oh So Nasty in New York’s 26th District: A Real Fight
In New York's District 26 ex-Republican candidate named Jack Davis running as a third-party Tea Party candidate has been trying to punch up his campaign. He may succeed but he certainly punched up a videographer (who it turned out was a staffer of the Republican's campaign): … [Read more...] about It’s Getting Oh So Nasty in New York’s 26th District: A Real Fight
Portrait of Osama (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Portrait of Osama (Cartoon)
Run Newt Run (Guest Voice)
Run Newt Run Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Out of elective politics for over a decade, dithering on the sidelines like a moody Southern-fried Hamlet, Newt Gingrich jumped back into the ring announcing plans to run for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. And for every analyst and every pundit and every satirist everywhere, allow me to say: Hooray! Thank you, kind … [Read more...] about Run Newt Run (Guest Voice)