Having toppled an obdurate dictator in just 18 days of determined protest, the people of Egypt are justifiably proud of what they have accomplished. But as proud as they are, columnist Hamad Hassan of Egypt's Al Messa newspaper expresses astonishment that people in places like Madison Wisconsin have drawn strength and inspiration from their history-making stand in Tahrir … [Read more...] about Egypt Inspires People in U.S. and Around the World (Al Messa, Egypt)
“First, Do No Harm”: the Constitution & Conservative Liberals
One of the most fascinating things for me as a Brit about engaging with American politics is that all political issues are filtered in the media through an extraordinarily crass Left vs. Right paradigm. Left and right are not the two paradigms of American politics. They are the two flavors of only one. America has been brought to its knees by a Left that has empowered … [Read more...] about “First, Do No Harm”: the Constitution & Conservative Liberals
Death By Ten Thousand Paper Cuts
Amid the furious spinning of who "won" and who "lost" in last night's just-in-time budget deal agreement, Brian Beutler has an analysis that actually informs: … [Read more...] about Death By Ten Thousand Paper Cuts
Shame on Both Houses of Congress
It’s just gone 4 p.m. here in the UK. I should be asleep, I was in my bed, ready to drift off into a dream but was awoken by the thunderous sounds of American accented sighs. Sighs of disappointment I think they were but I can’t be sure. It felt like millions of Americans (again I’m guessing they were Americans because of the accent of the sighs) were expressing their … [Read more...] about Shame on Both Houses of Congress
The People’s Budget
Americans woke up on Saturday to find that their politicians had not driven off a cliff. There is cause for hope. But, like previous stopgap measures, the eleventh hour agreement doesn't solve long-term problems. It merely buys time. Jeffrey Sachs, of Columbia University, puts recent budget skirmishes in context: The current budget negotiations have been a dialogue among the … [Read more...] about The People’s Budget
Eleventh Hour Lovefest
In a windup worthy of the WWF, Washington budget wrestlers bounce off the canvas to take bows and hug one another for the cheering crowds. In the Senate, Harry Reid is so carried away that, hours after calling the GOP "shameful," he praises every Republican in sight including John Boehner's chief of staff and, most of all, Mitch McConnell, who gushes back that Congress has … [Read more...] about Eleventh Hour Lovefest
Let the Spin on the Budget Deal Begin
Let the spin on the budget deal begin: An online Fox News analysis detailing on how the budget deal was a huge victory for House Speaker John Boehner and a huge defeat for Barack Obama and the Democrats is HERE. And, indeed, in the end Boehner got more than he originally asked for and Obama is dealing with an increasingly concerned and upset liberal base. But is Obama … [Read more...] about Let the Spin on the Budget Deal Begin
VIDEO: Weekly Address: President Obama on the Budget Compromise to Avoid a Government Shutdown
President Barack Obama uses his weekly address to comment in length on the budget agreement that prevented a government shut down: … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Weekly Address: President Obama on the Budget Compromise to Avoid a Government Shutdown
Quote of the Day: Betty White On Charlie Sheen
Our Quote of the Day this time is a show biz quote of the day from Betty White -- who my 89 year old mother meet years ago on a plane and adored-- commenting on Charlie Sheen. Via the New York Daily News: "I cannot stand the people who get wonderful starts in show business, and who abuse it," White told London's Daily Mail. "Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen, for example, … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Betty White On Charlie Sheen
BREAKING NEWS: Reps and Dems Agree on Deal; Shutdown Averted (Mistakenly Deleted Post Added Here)
Pres. Obama is speaking as I type. And CBS's Chip Reid is now saying that the rider eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood is OUT of the bill. Thank God! EDITOR's NOTE: My earlier post was mistakenly deleted. I am adding it here since it will provide some context. This is copied off of Google since it still appears on search engines. JOE GANDELMAN National … [Read more...] about BREAKING NEWS: Reps and Dems Agree on Deal; Shutdown Averted (Mistakenly Deleted Post Added Here)
Budget Deal Reached
News just breaking that a budget deal has been reached to avoid a shutdown, according to early reports the deal is for the remainder of the fiscal year. It looks like we will have another short term continuing resolution to fund things until next week at which point they will vote on the final package for the 2010-11 budget year (which theoretically began last October). … [Read more...] about Budget Deal Reached
Jobs vs Nut-Jobs
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Jobs vs Nut-Jobs
DEAR KATHY & TMV CONTRIBUTORS & READERS
I do not insert myself in the community forum after I post articles on TMV for a variety of reasons. The last time I participated in the forum was in August 2009 when I got into a needlessly nasty tussle with former conservative TMV contributor Jazz Shaw over healthcare reform. Disgusted with myself I even stopped writing anything for TMV for several months as a result of it. … [Read more...] about DEAR KATHY & TMV CONTRIBUTORS & READERS
Karl Rove Warns Republicans: Government Shut Down Could Strengthen Barack Obama
GOP political maven Karl Rove is warning Republicans in his own inimitable way to be careful what they wish for: if you shut down the government, he says, you risk making Barack Obama look stronger at time when he is appearing weaker: Not all Republicans think a potential government shutdown would be good for the GOP. In a memo posted to his website, former Bush … [Read more...] about Karl Rove Warns Republicans: Government Shut Down Could Strengthen Barack Obama
Reid Stands Firm on Poor Women’s Health and Lives
Brian Beutler reports at TPMDC that Republicans have said privately that they will drop the rider defunding Planned Parenthood in exchange for more spending cuts. But as Pat Garofalo of Think Progress points out (and shows, graphically), the Democrats have gone more than halfway to meet Republicans' spending cut demands: … [Read more...] about Reid Stands Firm on Poor Women’s Health and Lives
U.S. Internet Hypocrisy Creates Global Suspicion (People’s Daily, China)
Is the U.S. talking out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to Internet freedom? Continuing with China's online counter-offensive, this article from state-run People's Daily asserts that Pentagon plans for software to allow Defense Department personnel to assume multiple identities online for the purpose of planting pro-U.S. propaganda again demonstrates to the world that … [Read more...] about U.S. Internet Hypocrisy Creates Global Suspicion (People’s Daily, China)
UNLEASH PLANNED PARENTHOOD FROM FEDERAL FUNDING
The current budget impasse threatening a government shutdown appears to revolve around highly controversial federal funding for Planned Parenthood and its ancillary provision of legal abortions. Republicans want to eliminate all Federal Funds of around $360 million per year and Democrats are fighting to keep the funding. I support the Republican position in this … [Read more...] about UNLEASH PLANNED PARENTHOOD FROM FEDERAL FUNDING
Newby Republican Women Congressionals’ Stand on Planned Parenthood Rider
So, just how much does electing women - no matter their policy positions but rather just because of their gender - really help women? Turns out, not so much. In the Senate: The three veteran Republican women, Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins (both Maine) do not want to defund Planned Parenthood. They know what's really going on. Veteran and … [Read more...] about Newby Republican Women Congressionals’ Stand on Planned Parenthood Rider
Dismay Over the Looming Budget Shutdown
Unless there's a last minute surprise -- and there are in politics -- it looks like it's gonna happen: a government shut down...with a flood of media stories detailing how a failure in our system and political obsessions have resulted in hardship for people deprived of paychecks or services. Watch this CNN segment. David Gergen nails it: the line about Planned Parenthood is … [Read more...] about Dismay Over the Looming Budget Shutdown
Penny Wise, Pound Foolish And How To Kill Grandma
Recent days have seen numerous analyses of the budget and tax plan put forth by Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan. Until now I’ve largely stayed out the discussion, viewing most opinions as primarily partisan in their approach. No more. After a bit of independent research into the impact this plan will have on issues that matter to me, and should matter to all Americans, I’ve … [Read more...] about Penny Wise, Pound Foolish And How To Kill Grandma