WASHINGTON -- It's remembered as a day chilled by "a Siberian wind knifing down Pennsylvania Avenue" and illuminated by "the dazzling combination of bright sunshine and deep snow." On Jan. 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy began his presidency with a speech at once soaring and solemn. Fifty years on, we have not heard an inaugural address like it. Tethered to its time and place, … [Read more...] about JFK’s Eloquence, 50 Years Later
I’m Not #1
And boy, am I glad I didn't scroll down to see who #1 was. Phew! … [Read more...] about I’m Not #1
Quote of the Day: Can Sarah Palin Be Elected President?
Our political Quote of the Day is actually two Quotes of the Day on whether former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin -- who has seen her unfavorable poll ratings shoot up yet remains among top three candidates preferred by GOPers in a new poll -- can actually be elected President. First, from the prominent Republican blog Powerline's John H. Hinderaker: The time has come to … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Can Sarah Palin Be Elected President?
Ronald Reagan — Our First Black President? (Guest Voice)
Ronald Reagan -- Our First Black President? by Michael Reagan Who was the first black president? Two decades before the election of Barack Obama, novelist Toni Morrison dubbed Bill Clinton "our first black President." She even said that Clinton was "blacker than any actual black person who could ever be elected in our children’s lifetime." Well, I could make an even … [Read more...] about Ronald Reagan — Our First Black President? (Guest Voice)
Obama’s JFK Do-Over
Between the Tucson speech and the State of the Union next week, there is the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, an apt moment to compare two Presidents in their 40's who broke ethnic barriers to get to the White House and found rough going. Kennedy had his Bay of Pigs in the first months, which in retrospect looks like a walk in the park compared to … [Read more...] about Obama’s JFK Do-Over
Creating Something Is Difficult; Tearing Down Is Much Easier
And Rep. Steve King (R-IA) opts for 'much easier': … [Read more...] about Creating Something Is Difficult; Tearing Down Is Much Easier
Hu’s On First? (Comedy Parody Video)
The trip of China's leader brings to mind a great piece -- or two great pieces -- of comedy. First, watch Abbott and Costello's classic "Who's on First" routine so you get the joke context (if you're a younger TMV reader and have never seen this routine which is immortalized by a copy at the Baseball Hall of Fame): And now watch the parody "Hu's on First" (written during … [Read more...] about Hu’s On First? (Comedy Parody Video)
Disintegration: Tea Party-Backed Republican School Board Abolishes Successful Integration Policy
Stephen Colbert's brilliant summary is funny, insightful... and duly mocking: The Tea Party-backed Republican majority on The Wake County Board of Education in Raleigh, NC, has thrown out one of the nation's most celebrated integration efforts. In the 1970s, city and suburban districts were merged into a single, sprawling 800 mile district that set out to achieve racial … [Read more...] about Disintegration: Tea Party-Backed Republican School Board Abolishes Successful Integration Policy
Talk Radio Hosts Don’t Always Succeed
Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity lose their station in Philadelphia. … [Read more...] about Talk Radio Hosts Don’t Always Succeed
Hu and Obama: An Opportunity Lost to Domestic Hecklers
Both President Barack Obama and Chinese president Hu Jintao lost an opportunity today by agreeing to disagree on the key issues instead of making the concessions needed to increase job creation in the US and reduce social inequality in China. Many in Europe and around the world were relieved to see that a G-2 compact on how to manage the world remains far from view because … [Read more...] about Hu and Obama: An Opportunity Lost to Domestic Hecklers
The U.S. FED: Role Model for Brazil’s Central Bank: Estadao, Brazil
The U.S. Federal Reserve, despite all of the recent criticism over quantitative easing and its bailouts of huge corporations, foreign and domestic, receives a loud and clear vote of confidence in this article by columnist Lourdes Sola of Brazil's Estadao. According to Lourdes, the FED's independence and effectiveness at moments of crisis make it a fitting template for … [Read more...] about The U.S. FED: Role Model for Brazil’s Central Bank: Estadao, Brazil
It’s Anderson Cooper Versus Dr. Laura Schlessinger
CNN's Anderson Cooper tries to set Dr. Laura Schlessinger straight on a matter of accuracy in media...or should we say accurate in talk show host assertions: … [Read more...] about It’s Anderson Cooper Versus Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Revolt in Tunisia: When Arab Regimes Do (And Do Not) Tremble (Guest Voice)
Revolt in Tunisia: When Arab Regimes Do (And Do Not) Tremble by Barry Rubin May the good Lord protect us from news analysis and Middle East experts. Is the Arab world really in shock over the Tunisian upheaval? Is this really a symptom for a coming upheaval in the Arab world? Perhaps I'm wrong but a note of caution is in order. I think the answer is "no." Let's … [Read more...] about Revolt in Tunisia: When Arab Regimes Do (And Do Not) Tremble (Guest Voice)
Republican House Passes Largely Symbolic Health Care Reform Repeal
The newly installed Republican-majority House of Representatives has passed its largely symbolic repeal of President Barack Obama's signature health care reform -- symbolic since it'll be dead in its tracks in the Senate or if by some miracle the Senate voted to agree it would be dead in its tracks with Obama's veto pen. But be sure to stay tuned: health care reform … [Read more...] about Republican House Passes Largely Symbolic Health Care Reform Repeal
Doctor Accused Of Murdering Babies
This story is just beyond disturbing. … [Read more...] about Doctor Accused Of Murdering Babies
U.S.-Centric View Insufficient for Closer Sino-American Ties: Global Times, People’s Republic of China
Are American policy makers listening to the sound of their own voices to the detriment of better relations with China and the world? Correspondent Rong Xiaoqing of China's state-run Global Times dismisses U.S. complaints about Chinese trade, intellectual and foreign policies, arguing that if President Obama manages to put himself in China's shoes during President Hu's visit, a … [Read more...] about U.S.-Centric View Insufficient for Closer Sino-American Ties: Global Times, People’s Republic of China
Missing the point about “civility”
The calls for “civility” in our political discourse are missing the point. First off, what is being decried is not “rhetoric” because rhetoric is intended to persuade, whereas the extreme statements that are being thrown out there are what some of the authors at The Moderate Voice like to refer to as “red meat” intended to “fire up the base” (a side note, one throws meat … [Read more...] about Missing the point about “civility”
A Palin-Lieberman 2012 Republican Ticket?
Joe Lieberman won't be running for reelection in Connecticut next year. No surprise there. He didn't stand a chance at the polls. This might not end his political career, however. I'm thinking he would make a perfect running mate in a presidential campaign of Sarah Palin. This may sound odd at first because of some very obvious differences in their stands on certain social … [Read more...] about A Palin-Lieberman 2012 Republican Ticket?
Sarah Palin’s Unfavorable Poll Ratings Climbing High
Perhaps the advice of some GOPers framed in various language and rejected by Sarah Palin should be taken to heart by the former Alaska Governor: a new poll suggests that the more she talks the higher her unfavorable ratings climb: A new national poll indicates that 56 percent of all Americans have an unfavorable view of Sarah Palin, an all-time high for the former Alaska … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s Unfavorable Poll Ratings Climbing High
America Should Thank Hitler for Its Strength: Nan Fang Daily, People’s Republic of China
With President Hu visiting the country, perhaps he'll take a moment to use America's open Internet to read this article about history and academic freedom by columnist Ding Dong of China's state-controlled Nan Fang Daily. Did the United States achieve most of its scientific and industrial prowess by absorbing the Jewish intellectual elite from Hitler's Germany and the rest … [Read more...] about America Should Thank Hitler for Its Strength: Nan Fang Daily, People’s Republic of China