Don't you just love the U.S. Senate. One could pull a Rip Van Winkle, wake up and not miss a thing. The Senate chamber is a giant time capsule. Rachael Maddow of MSNBC was poignant Tuesday night when she pointed out it takes the Christmas holiday break for Senators to get their act together. Not to pass pressing legislation for Americans. But to get their butts home by … [Read more...] about Since When Is A Senate 81-19 Vote A Controversy Other Than What Took Them So Long
Senate Passes Tax/Unemployment Compromise Package
The Senate has voted 81-19 to pass the compromise package that extends both tax cuts and unemployment benefits. Interestingly several core liberals like Mikulski voted for the bill while some conservatives like Sessions voted against it. It will now go to the House where the vote set for Thursday will be close but passage is still very probable. … [Read more...] about Senate Passes Tax/Unemployment Compromise Package
Court Rules e-mail Protected By Fourth Amendment
Score one for the good guys. In a landmark decision issued [Tuesday] in the criminal appeal of U.S. v. Warshak, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the government must have a search warrant before it can secretly seize and search emails stored by email service providers. Closely tracking arguments made by EFF in its amicus brief, the court found that email … [Read more...] about Court Rules e-mail Protected By Fourth Amendment
Can Barack Obama Successfully Move to the Center?
If Bill Clinton sticks his head up and there’s a shadow, there’s two years of compromise. OOPS! Sorry! Not “compromise” – two years of “common ground.” On “60 Minutes” incoming House Majority John Boehner made it clear he doesn’t seek something as reprehensible or sleazy as “compromise” but does seek “common ground.” So just add “compromise” to the list of words made … [Read more...] about Can Barack Obama Successfully Move to the Center?
Record Breaking Congress: Congress’ Approval Rating Worst in Gallup Poll History
Politicians of both parties have worked long and hard to earn this honor and here it is: Congress now has the worst job approval rating in Gallup Poll history: Americans' assessment of Congress has hit a new low, with 13% saying they approve of the way Congress is handling its job. The 83% disapproval rating is also the worst Gallup has measured in more than 30 years of … [Read more...] about Record Breaking Congress: Congress’ Approval Rating Worst in Gallup Poll History
Repeal of DADT Continues To Gain Support
A new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows that support for repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell continues to grow across party lines and across ideological divides. The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote today on a bill to repeal DADT. Easy passage is expected given the current Democratic majority there. The bill’s fate in the Senate is uncertain. The poll results … [Read more...] about Repeal of DADT Continues To Gain Support
Hacktivism for Cyber Democracy (Guest Voice)
Hacktivism for Cyber Democracy by Joel S. Hirschhorn Because of the attacks on WikiLeaks and its founder there has been considerable media attention to the hacktivism practiced by supporters of WikiLeaks. That has been manifested as cyber attacks on mainstream commercial websites that acted against WikiLeaks. Hacktivism as retribution and strategy to gain political … [Read more...] about Hacktivism for Cyber Democracy (Guest Voice)
The Medal of Honor: Still a Medal Too Far
After our nine-year war in Iraq and Afghanistan, we finally have a living Medal of Honor recipient, Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta. Sgt. Giunta, however, is only the eighth hero to receive our nation’s highest decoration for valor in combat in those wars. In contrast, there were 245 Medal of Honor recipients during the Vietnam War, and 27 Medals of Honor were awarded for … [Read more...] about The Medal of Honor: Still a Medal Too Far
Mark Zuckerberg Time Person of the Year
And some thought The Social Network would hurt him. The 26-year-old man once derided as the "toddler CEO" (a comment recently rescinded in a 60 Minutes love-fest) sits comfortably on top of the world. Or, at least, on top of Time's read of the zeitgeist. USA Today: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, 26, the second youngest person in the publication's history. (Charles Lindbergh … [Read more...] about Mark Zuckerberg Time Person of the Year
Ike Joins Jon’s Call for Sanity
Jon Stewart and President Eisenhower make an odd couple, but they have a similar message for today's politicians. As the Daily Show host does an enraged rant about Congressional hypocrisy in caring more about tax cuts for the rich than the health of 9/11 responders, Ike's voice comes from the past, warning about falling "into bitter, unreconcilable factions which in other … [Read more...] about Ike Joins Jon’s Call for Sanity
Obama Administration Rushes to “Clarify” Holbrooke’s Final Words
The State Department appears to be in a white-hot panic over the possible consequences of Richard Holbrooke final words before surgery yesterday: … [Read more...] about Obama Administration Rushes to “Clarify” Holbrooke’s Final Words
La Niña Strikes
This is a La Niña year in the Pacific Northwest. That results is wild and unpredictable weather. The temperature yesterday was 61, today it was in the low 40s. Cold moist air meant thunderstorms - heavy rain and hail. But south of Portland there was something else. Tornadoes are rare in Oregon - we average about two a year and they normally just tear … [Read more...] about La Niña Strikes
My Five Stages Of Obama Grieving
Over the past two years my feelings toward President Obama have gone through a number of stages. 1. Denial. I didn't think Barack Obama was ready to be president in 2008. I thought he had a huge potential but needed a few more years of seasoning — needed the kind of experience that would make him less prone to go along with Clinton-era financial gurus, and less dependent on … [Read more...] about My Five Stages Of Obama Grieving
Assange the Latest Fall Guy for Crimes of World’s Power Elite: News, Switzerland
Is Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, being persecuted for the crimes of his accusers? Patrik Etschmayer of Switzerland's News writes that the world's power elite don't like - and aren't used to - having their incompetence and misbehavior so roundly exposed, and in an effort to deflect public angst directed at them, are trying to make Julian Assange the issue. For … [Read more...] about Assange the Latest Fall Guy for Crimes of World’s Power Elite: News, Switzerland
Richard Holbrooke’s Unfinished Business
I'm kind of blown away by this: … [Read more...] about Richard Holbrooke’s Unfinished Business
Richard Holbrooke’s Dying Words
Leaders and diplomats around the world are mourning the death of Richard C Holbrooke, widely praised as a genius in diplomacy and international resource. His dying words? The Washington Post: On Friday morning, he was taken to George Washington University Hospital after he became flushed and suffered chest pains during a meeting with Clinton. He underwent a 21-hour … [Read more...] about Richard Holbrooke’s Dying Words
Democracy or Death (Guest Voice)
Democracy or Death by Martha Randolph Carr Journalism has fallen down another rung with the outcry among pundits against Julian Assange who took part in the Wikileaks affairs and is still helping to disseminate thousands of pages of classified US documents to the general public. The aftermath of closing down so many print sources across America is becoming more and more … [Read more...] about Democracy or Death (Guest Voice)
Mythbusters
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Mythbusters
WikiLeaks: Much Ado About Nothing
I may be the last man remotely engaged in journalism still standing who does not have any great opinion about the WikiLeaks release of diplomatic gossip and its curator Julian Assange. My assessment boils down to bumper sticker status: Shit Happens. Assange recently wrote an essay defending himself under the headline "Don't Shoot Messenger for Revealing Uncomfortable … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks: Much Ado About Nothing
Obama (1), Biden (2), Boehner (3)
Presidential succession changes next month and Washington, obsessed as always with power, is trying to get a handle on who's waiting in the wings, ready to do what to whom. The New York Times does a takeout on "Biden's Bigger Role," noting that the Vice-President's "role in the back-channel compromise with Republicans on tax cuts has engendered some resentment, along with … [Read more...] about Obama (1), Biden (2), Boehner (3)