Guest post by Dmitry Gorenburg Dmitry Gorenburg is a senior analyst at CNA's Center for Strategic Studies, the editor of the journal Russian Politics & Law, and an associate at Harvard University's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. From 2005 to 2010, he served as Executive Director of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (AAASS). He has … [Read more...] about Russia’s Position on Libya: Trying to Have It Both Ways
Fear Of Hopping
Let’s begin with the premise that jackrabbits, of the hare family, are related to deer. Now I don’t know if that’s true or not, and I’m not about to research it. If I were to research it and it weren’t true, it would undermine the premise, and this story would go nowhere. Of course, some smart ass reader will research it, discover that I’m completely full of it, post it in … [Read more...] about Fear Of Hopping
Obama’s Speech: Serious Reset or Recycled Political Rhetoric?
The key consensus on President Barack Obama's speech on the budget and deficit is this: the 2012 Presidential campaign is now underway. But on the actual content? Much, but not all, of the reaction is (as always) coming from pre-existing political conditions (which makes independent voters beware): Republicans and conservatives dismiss or denounce it and are angry, … [Read more...] about Obama’s Speech: Serious Reset or Recycled Political Rhetoric?
The Civil War At 150: Distorting The Past & Unable To Cope With The Present
Our new Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and moral condition. ~ Confederate Vice President ALEXANDER STEVENS As I wrote in my initial post of the year, there will be no … [Read more...] about The Civil War At 150: Distorting The Past & Unable To Cope With The Present
“First Do No Harm”: Part 2 (Inflation Costs You Half As Much as Income Tax)
If you want to continue to be slaves of the banks and pay the cost of your own slavery, then let bankers continue to create money and control credit. Sir Josiah Stamp, Director of Bank of England 1928 - 1941 Last weekend, I posted here an unusually well received article, entitled, “First, Do No Harm”: The Constitution and Conservative Liberals. The gist of the … [Read more...] about “First Do No Harm”: Part 2 (Inflation Costs You Half As Much as Income Tax)
Gender Agenda–Again
The President proclaims Equal Pay Day "to recognize the full value of women's skills and...acknowledge the injustice of wage discrimination." Rupert Murdoch isn't buying it, as the Wall Street Journal insists "There Is No Male-Female Wage Gap" and that the day is "dedicated to manufactured feminist grievances." That tortured argument has all the logic of the claim that … [Read more...] about Gender Agenda–Again
At Last: A President, Not a Ref
EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to a major system glitch the first versions of this appeared with the wrong byline. The system has not taken editing codes. We regret the error and are taking steps to resolve this. WASHINGTON -- President Obama has finally decided to take his own side in the philosophical struggle that is the true engine of this nation's budget debate. After … [Read more...] about At Last: A President, Not a Ref
Watch Obama Deliver Fiscal Policy Speech Live Here (Live Video) UPDATED With Press Reaction and Speech Text
You can watch President Obama deliver his speech on fiscal policy here: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Here are some initial reports and comment on his speech (writing on this is starting as he is delivering it). --The Washington Post: President Obama unveiled a framework Wednesday to reduce borrowing over the next 12 years … [Read more...] about Watch Obama Deliver Fiscal Policy Speech Live Here (Live Video) UPDATED With Press Reaction and Speech Text
Quinnipiac Poll: Cuomo Has Highest Governor’s Approval Rating in States Polled by Quinnipiac University
Get ready to see a "new" player to the national scene. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has the highest governor's approval rating of any governor in any states polled by the respected Quinnipiac poll: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a 64 - 16 percent job approval rating among registered voters, higher than the governors in any state polled by Quinnipiac University so far this … [Read more...] about Quinnipiac Poll: Cuomo Has Highest Governor’s Approval Rating in States Polled by Quinnipiac University
Day of Reckoning? Egypt’s Ailing Mubarak and Two Sons Detained
Is his legal (and political) day of reckoning at hand? An ailing ex-Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and his two sons have been detained as officials begin to investigate the government violence against demonstrators that took place when Mubarak was President. Ex-Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's health deteriorated on Wednesday, state media said, hours after he and his two … [Read more...] about Day of Reckoning? Egypt’s Ailing Mubarak and Two Sons Detained
America’s Downfall?
As many of the readers of TMV may not know, I’ve been studying for a masters in political communications and recently have been focusing on the perceived inevitability of America’s decline on the international stage and the inevitability of China’s, India’s, Brazil’s and Russia’s rise and I have come to an interesting conclusion – things are not as inevitable as they … [Read more...] about America’s Downfall?
Pres. Obama’s Empty Tax Talk in Today’s Reelection Speech **UPDATED**
WASHINGTON - The embargoed fact sheet from the White House is interesting. What's been reported in the Washington Post this morning and other venues gets it about right, though in some of the most vital areas concerning progressives Pres. Obama is, in his typical style, vague. The "on background" call with the Administration should be interesting. To update you... The … [Read more...] about Pres. Obama’s Empty Tax Talk in Today’s Reelection Speech **UPDATED**
The American People Were Hoodwinked Again
Both WaPo and the National Journal are reporting that the advertised $38.5 billion in spending cuts agreed to in the budget deal are not real. WaPo calls many of the cuts “accounting gimmicks.” The National Journal has this to say, "The specifics show that finding nearly $40 billion in cuts during the 2011 fiscal year required clever accounting and, for the White House, a … [Read more...] about The American People Were Hoodwinked Again
Hypocrite of the Day: Lindsey Graham
We'd add a "Hypocrite of the Day" feature but there would be too many candidates among the political parties for us to choose from. Even so, how can anyone resist not posting about South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who has sounded so resolute on tbe need for hard-nosed, unemotional budget cuts. But, wait: one cut involved his state. And now he's threatening to tie the … [Read more...] about Hypocrite of the Day: Lindsey Graham
Veterans of Foreign Wars: Meeting the Needs of a Changing Membership
Frank Buckles, the last surviving U.S. veteran of World War I -- of nearly 5 million Americans who served during that war -- died last month at age 110. Buckles, who served in England and France, was a member of a steadily aging and shrinking group of heroes from our "early" major wars -- where I am also including World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War -- the … [Read more...] about Veterans of Foreign Wars: Meeting the Needs of a Changing Membership
Obama’s Upcoming Speech On Debt: What Will He Say?
President Barack Obama is going to deliver a major speech on debt. Expected: he'll call on tax increases coupled with budget cuts. The GOP will resist tax increases which will set the narrative for the rest of his term and Obama versus the GOP which clearly the White House hopes will pick up independent support. Obama's problem: his liberal base doesn't want the cuts that took … [Read more...] about Obama’s Upcoming Speech On Debt: What Will He Say?
Cut the Budget (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Cut the Budget (Cartoon)
America and The Great Disappointment (Guest Voice)
America and The Great Disappointment by Michael Winship I was considering having myself dusted with ash and measured for sackcloth last week, so many are the current predictions of impending apocalypse. There’s the contingent that follows the ancient Mayan calendar and predicts the end of the world on December 21, 2012, some of whom have made bad movies about it. … [Read more...] about America and The Great Disappointment (Guest Voice)
Gallup Poll: Public Says OK to Budget Deal But No Winner and Hands Off Medicare
A new Gallup Poll in effect says neither political party "won" The Big Budget Showdown of 2011 -- but the American public backs the deal. And the poll finds there is little support in either political party for Rep. Paul Ryan's idea of substantially overhauling Medicare: - Six in 10 Americans approve of the 11th-hour federal budget agreement that congressional leaders … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Public Says OK to Budget Deal But No Winner and Hands Off Medicare
Up River Into The Republican Heart of Darkness
I felt an intolerable weight oppressing my breast, the smell of the damp earth, the unseen presence of victorious corruption, the darkness of an impenetrable night. ~ "Heart of Darkness," JOSEPH CONRAD It has been over two years since Republicans last "governed," and that term should be used advisedly since the leadership styles of George Bush and Dick Cheney would … [Read more...] about Up River Into The Republican Heart of Darkness