That's actually a massive understatement. According to a lengthy analysis in the New York Times, the latest batch of diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks reveal that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has become a "global intelligence organization with a reach that extends far beyond narcotics, and an eavesdropping operation so expansive it has to fend off foreign … [Read more...] about Latest Batch of Wikileaks Documents Show Massive ‘Mission Creep’ in Drug War
Quote of the Day
Ralph Hall, Republican member of Congress from Texas, and incoming chair of the House Science and Technology Committee, commenting on the BP oil rig explosion: … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day
Ever Wonder Why The System Doesn’t Seem To Work?
For those who think we spend too much, are improperly influenced or just wonder why our government can’t seem to function as intended for the benefit of the people, here are a couple of items picked up from Political Wire. The first, reported by the Boston Globe, shows that 80% of three and four star generals go to work as defense consultants or take jobs as executives with … [Read more...] about Ever Wonder Why The System Doesn’t Seem To Work?
More Class Warfare From Conservatives in Media and Government
Should people who don't make enough income to pay income taxes have to pay income taxes? … [Read more...] about More Class Warfare From Conservatives in Media and Government
The Tax Code is 10x Longer Than the Bible, Without the Good News
My headline is a Dave Camp quote. Camp is the 11 term Republican Congressman from Michigan who will chair the House Ways and Means Committee. George Will used the Camp quotable in a column last Thursday that included this gem: Many conservatives, including Camp, believe that although most Americans should be paying lower taxes, more Americans should be paying taxes. The fact … [Read more...] about The Tax Code is 10x Longer Than the Bible, Without the Good News
Journalistic Malpractice
Glenn Greenwald has a must-read piece today about a journalistic scandal at Wired involving multiple undisclosed conflicts of interest that appear to have led to blatantly misleading coverage of Army PFC Bradley Manning's alleged passing on of classified documents to Wikileaks: … [Read more...] about Journalistic Malpractice
Winners And Losers In The Economic Numbers Game
Sometimes a single paragraph in a single newspaper story tells you (if somewhat obliquely) the prime reason economic policies around the world are so wacky these days. That's the case with a story that appeared in the New York Times on December 24th. It was headed "Bavaria Booms, but Germans Feel Economic Malaise." Here's the oh, so poignant paragraph in that … [Read more...] about Winners And Losers In The Economic Numbers Game
Is Jon Stewart the Next Edward R. Murrow?
Is Comedy Central's Jon Stewart the new Edward R. Murrow? That question has been coming up in the wake of his increasing impact on the media and, some say, even helping whip up the momentum for the bill to help 911 get passed in Congress. Some will say it's the times: a lot of young people find news shows boring and get their info from a show such as Stewarts. Some will say … [Read more...] about Is Jon Stewart the Next Edward R. Murrow?
Gallup Poll: Obama and Hillary Clinton Most Admired for 2010
Here's a Gallup Poll tidbit that brings into sharper definition the term "echo chamber." Forget what you may hear on radio and cable talk shows and what you may read on some ideological content providers, a new Gallup poll finds President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are at the top of the 2010 Most Admired list: President Barack Obama is Americans' … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Obama and Hillary Clinton Most Admired for 2010
Let’s Not Spin the Civil War (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- The Civil War is about to loom very large in the popular memory. We would do well to be candid about its causes and not allow the distortions of contemporary politics or long-standing myths to cloud our understanding of why the nation fell apart. The coming year will mark the 150th anniversary of the onset of the conflict, which is usually dated to April … [Read more...] about Let’s Not Spin the Civil War (Guest Voice)
Excuse the Technical Glitch
Some graphics posted on TMV may not appear on the front page. This includes cartoons. Due to a technical glitch you'll see a little box. Click on the "read more" button and you'll see the cartoon or the graphic on the post if it does not appear on TMV's front page. We hope to have this fixed soon. … [Read more...] about Excuse the Technical Glitch
Congress New Year
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Congress New Year
Spy vs Spy: Assange, NYT Seeming Attempts To Dis Each Other: Assange Wins w/ $1.1M Book Deal
Seemingly pounding on one another: one by dissing, the other by bypassing... thus go the NYT and Assange. Remember Alfred E Neuman and Mad magazine's Spy vs Spy, where the white robed spy and the black robed spy were always trying to outdo each other ...and would wind up blowing themselves up instead of each other... most every time? No one ever quite won for … [Read more...] about Spy vs Spy: Assange, NYT Seeming Attempts To Dis Each Other: Assange Wins w/ $1.1M Book Deal
Julian Assange: The Twenty First Century ‘Mick Jagger’ of Data: El Mundo, Spain
Can Julian Assange compare to the Rolling Stones in terms of public fame and elite rejection? In this lighthearted holiday analysis of the WikiLeaks saga, columnist Quico Alsedo of Spain's El Pais depicts Assange as a man who enrages the ruling classes and is loved by the common man - as was Jagger - but with a difference: Assange has also exposed the major media as apathetic, … [Read more...] about Julian Assange: The Twenty First Century ‘Mick Jagger’ of Data: El Mundo, Spain
The Sixth Amendment and Pretrial Detention
The draconian conditions under which Army PFC Bradley Manning has been held for seven months -- first in Kuwait and after that at Quantico, Virginia, where he has been kept in almost complete solitary confinement for five months, with no end in sight -- connect to any number of constitutional issues, from government secrecy to torture. Some of these issues have sparked more … [Read more...] about The Sixth Amendment and Pretrial Detention
A Problem for ABC
It appears as if This Week with Christiane Amanpour is tanking... … [Read more...] about A Problem for ABC
Californians Are Happy Schwarzenegger Won’t Be “Back”
It'll soon be time for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to leave office -- someone who came to the office supported by many independent voters, disgusted Democrats and exiled moderate Republicans who felt he could represent a new kind of politician and get results. In one sense he was: for some of his tenure his positions were all over the place (in other times he … [Read more...] about Californians Are Happy Schwarzenegger Won’t Be “Back”
“Enhanced Pat Down” Policy Unlikely to Change
There's GOOD NEWS for cartoonists, stand up comedians and bloggers: Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Sunday that controversial new airport security procedures are likely to remain in place since they have been effective. Some airline passengers and lawmakers have objected to the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) policy, which includes … [Read more...] about “Enhanced Pat Down” Policy Unlikely to Change
Upcoming Obama Regulation Will Likely Revive “Death Panels” Rhetoric
Get ready to hear talk show hosts and others charge the Obama administration with ushering in "death panels." You betchya: When a proposal to encourage end-of-life planning touched off a political storm over “death panels,” Democrats dropped it from legislation to overhaul the health care system. But the Obama administration will achieve the same goal by regulation, … [Read more...] about Upcoming Obama Regulation Will Likely Revive “Death Panels” Rhetoric
Thoughts of a Loved One
This is something of a downer holiday season. My 89 year old mother, who always reminded me of Lucy Ricardo on "I Love Lucy," is having some major health issues. I call often to try to get her laughing but I carry sadness and wake up at night often. And a very old song recorded way before I was born says it all about those women who raise all of us from the time we're infants: … [Read more...] about Thoughts of a Loved One