Has Standard & Poor's opened the floodgates for further criticism of America's credit worthiness? Writing for Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza Business, analyst Alfred Adamiec points out that while downgrading the outlook for U.S. debt is closer to reflecting reality, reticence to actually downgrade U.S. debt shows that the world has yet to emerge from the financial crisis. For … [Read more...] about S&P’s Negative U.S. Credit Assessment Breaks ‘Global Taboo’ (Gazeta Wyborcza Business, Poland)
Mixing Media: Social Movements and Popular Culture
"When pop music meets politics, the results are often thrilling, sometimes life-changing and never simple," writes Dorian Lynskey, a music writer for the Guardian. His book, 33 Revolutions Per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, tracks "33 songs that span seven decades and four continents." Lynskey begins with Billy Holiday (Strange Fruit, 1939) and ends with Green Day … [Read more...] about Mixing Media: Social Movements and Popular Culture
Low Caliber Mind Makes Big Caliber Mistake
Terry Jones almost shoots himself in the foot. … [Read more...] about Low Caliber Mind Makes Big Caliber Mistake
Predator Drones (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Predator Drones (Cartoon)
Quote of the Day: On Birthers’ Consistency
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Dick Polman who has a question about birther's consistency. He first sites polls that indicate bitherism is no longer a fringe element but a mainstream belief in today's Republican Party. He then writes: But I'm wondering: How come Republicans aren't upset about Mitt Romney? He's been running for president on and off since 2006, … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On Birthers’ Consistency
Congress: Teaching New Dogs Old Tricks (Guest Voice)
Congress: Teaching New Dogs Old Tricks by Michael Winship Remember that scene in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" when Jimmy Stewart arrives in the capital for the first time? The freshman senator shakes off his handlers in Union Station and jumps onto a sightseeing bus, eager to see all the statues and monuments honoring the greats of American history. "I don't think … [Read more...] about Congress: Teaching New Dogs Old Tricks (Guest Voice)
America on the Wrong Track
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about America on the Wrong Track
AP Report: Some Obama Birth Records Made Public for Years
It turns out that some of President Barack Obama birth records have been made public for years -- and it doesn't look as if people are waiting in line to examine them. That's the gist of an AP report. Here's the beginning of the report, which needs to be read in full: HONOLULU — Lost in the renewed scrutiny into President Barack Obama’s birth records is the fact that … [Read more...] about AP Report: Some Obama Birth Records Made Public for Years
The American Empire Strikes Backward
Somehow we got this thing wrong. When I was studying history, the British controlled one-quarter of the world's land mass and its people, making them rich and powerful. Less than a century later, the U.S. is fighting in the Middle East with troops all over Europe and Asia in occupations that are draining trillions from our economy. How did we get into such a dyslexic version … [Read more...] about The American Empire Strikes Backward
World Needs U.S. to Step Up and Defend Syrian Protesters (Al-Seyassah, Kuwait)
Is Washington applying double standards when involving itself in the ever-growing number of Arab uprisings? Is it too involved or not involved enough? It's a maddening foreign policy conundrum if there ever was one. Asserting that helping Syria's opposition topple their regime is in keeping with America's heritage, Dr. Abdul Rahman Mubarak al-Dusari, for Kuwait's … [Read more...] about World Needs U.S. to Step Up and Defend Syrian Protesters (Al-Seyassah, Kuwait)
The ‘Home Depot’ Approach to Medical Care Won’t Work
This is not at all a new concept, but still it does not get talked about as much as it should, so I'm thrilled to see Paul Krugman, among others, picking it up: … [Read more...] about The ‘Home Depot’ Approach to Medical Care Won’t Work
WHO NEEDS AN EDUCATION ANYMORE?
In an increasingly global economy that permits multinational private enterprises to pit near slaves against working people with the full support and acquiescence of most sovereign governments, who do you think is going to win? It has become a meaningless mantra and a silly shibboleth to say we need better educated workers in order for Americans to compete globally. It’s Pure … [Read more...] about WHO NEEDS AN EDUCATION ANYMORE?
Book Review Posted Ahead of Time
Quick note to TMV readers. We had a book review that was up here for less than an hour. It was slated to go on TMV on Monday but due to a system glitch it sent up prematurely. So it has been reset on the timer to go on at the planned time. … [Read more...] about Book Review Posted Ahead of Time
Birtherism Now Mainstream for Republican Party Amid More Signs of Trump Entry
Amid continuing signs that Donald Trump is indeed serious about running for President, new polls suggest that bitherism is now mainstream in the Republican Party. It could prove to be a double edged sword. [Be sure to also read Taylor Marsh's post on TMV: 2012: Donald Trump and a little Inside Political Baseball.] No matter who the GOP candidate is, if it turns out … [Read more...] about Birtherism Now Mainstream for Republican Party Amid More Signs of Trump Entry
Don’t Miss The Sideshow: Welcome To The Arizona Circus (Part II)
The burly man with two days growth of beard at the ticket booth looked down at the young lad. “How old are you, son.” “I’m seven, sir.” “How come you’re not is school?” “My school’s closed, sir.” “You come to see the circus?” “Yes, sir.” “That’ll be five bucks. Plus the extra sales tax for education. And, I’ll need to see your citizenship papers.” “Enjoy … [Read more...] about Don’t Miss The Sideshow: Welcome To The Arizona Circus (Part II)
2012: Donald Trump and a Little Inside Political Baseball
WASHINGTON - I've been waiting for someone on the Right to say something close to what's deserved about Mr. Tim Pawlenty and finally someone has. If the GOP wants to finish Trump, GOP candidates had better learn to speak to those anxieties – to offer a remedy more effectual than the snake-oil now being peddled by Tim Pawlenty. - How to Beat Trump If Republicans want … [Read more...] about 2012: Donald Trump and a Little Inside Political Baseball
Wanted (And Needed): A Progressive Anti-Wall Street Presidential Candidate
In 1992 a political nobody, a businessman named Ross Perot, appeared on a cable TV Show, "Larry Kings Live" that relatively few people watched and most Americans didn't even know existed, and announced he was running for President of the United States. Perot the candidate had a snippy personality. He was also an unappealing public speaker who used a school marm pointer to … [Read more...] about Wanted (And Needed): A Progressive Anti-Wall Street Presidential Candidate
Standard & Poor’s Fires Off a ‘Meaningful Shot’ (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)
Was the Standard & Poor's warning about the reliability of U.S. debt just the medicine American lawmakers needed. According to this editorial from Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, S&P's warning was just what the money doctor ordered. The Financial Times Deutschland editorial says in part: "The signal is a dramatic one: Standard & Poor’s is the first major credit … [Read more...] about Standard & Poor’s Fires Off a ‘Meaningful Shot’ (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)
Trump, Reagan and Karl Marx
"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