This will be my last “update” on yesterday’s tragedy. But before posting the latest updates, just a couple of remarks. I concluded my update last night with the following words: In his news conference, Sheriff Clarence Dupnik lamented the political situation in Arizona and America in no uncertain terms. But that’s for another day. Well, for many that … [Read more...] about (CONTINUED UPDATES) Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot in Tucson
Congresswoman Giffords (D-AZ) Shot
NEW UPDATE: There are now conflicting reports on whether or not she has passed away, obviously we hope that the earlier reports were wrong. UPDATE: CNN is now confirming that Congresswoman Giffords is dead. Fox and MSNBC are also confirming the death and reporting up to six other fatalities. I am sure this is one event where everyone agrees that our thoughts and … [Read more...] about Congresswoman Giffords (D-AZ) Shot
Slouching Toward An Economist And Beltway Employment Nirvana
The only thing holding up official recognition that employment worries in this country are a thing of the past is a residual optimism among some sectors of the American public. This may sound like a contradiction at first, even an absurdity. But consider these numbers. We need about 125,000 new jobs a month in this country to keep up with population growth. The economy … [Read more...] about Slouching Toward An Economist And Beltway Employment Nirvana
The Scott Sisters Are Free. What Now?
After spending 16 years in Mississippi jails for “their alleged role in a robbery in 1993 in which no one was hurt and $11 supposedly was taken,” the Scott sisters left prison yesterday. Their freedom, however, comes at a price: Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour agreed to the release of the sisters on the condition that Gladys Scott donate her kidney to her sister, Jamie, … [Read more...] about The Scott Sisters Are Free. What Now?
Marriage Gone Amok
Skip the rice and orange blossoms, the New Year is starting out with deranged nuptial news. In the week that Elizabeth Edwards' will was made public comes word that her widower will be marching down the aisle with Rielle Hunter, the horse killer's daughter he impregnated during his wife's terminal illness while still in the running for the 2008 Democratic Presidential … [Read more...] about Marriage Gone Amok
Protecting the Constitution in Wyoming
Some news about legislative activity out West, via Ezra Klein: … [Read more...] about Protecting the Constitution in Wyoming
Two By Neko
"John Saw That Number" and "That Teenage Feeling." … [Read more...] about Two By Neko
Will Goldman Sachs Bring the Downfall of Facebook?: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
With Goldman Sachs' $50 billion Facebook buy-in, is a new type of dot.com bubble being created? According to this editorial from Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, in order to recoup such a mammoth sum, Facebook will have to become a conglomerate - a step that has killed off many of the world's most innovative tech-savvy companies. The Financial Times Deutschland … [Read more...] about Will Goldman Sachs Bring the Downfall of Facebook?: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
Show Business Showstoppers: A Bit of Vaudeville For You
What makes a show business showstopper? It can be a dance, song, musical performance or comedy set that just flows and seems to unleash such joy in the performer and audience. TMVers of ALL ages are urged to watch this little video clip of a short musical shopstopper (one minute and 57 seconds) taped for the Hollywood Palace variety show in 1969. It shows a vaudeville style … [Read more...] about Show Business Showstoppers: A Bit of Vaudeville For You
GOP Leadership Cannot Even Do Their Own Gimmicks Properly
Republicans in Congress seem to have a genius for screwing up their own gimmicks. … [Read more...] about GOP Leadership Cannot Even Do Their Own Gimmicks Properly
On Political Epiphanies and Conversions
There has been a lot written and commented recently---including here at TMV---on Rep. Michele Bachmann. In his “Bachmann Gores Vidal,” Peter Orvetti was surprised to discover that Bachmann had once been a Democrat. So was I. Orvetti discusses how Bachmann suddenly converted from Democrat to Republican after reading a Gore Vidal novel aboard a train---some refer to this … [Read more...] about On Political Epiphanies and Conversions
Hillary ‘Lacks Panache’ at Inaugural of Brazil’s First Woman President (Le Figaro, France)
Slamming the American media's lack of attention to the inauguration of Brazil's first woman president, columnist Véronique Saint-Geours of France's Le Figaro also slams Hillary Clinton's performance at the event. Saying that this reflects a continuing "imperialist" misunderstanding of the growing importance of Brazil, the Le Figaro columnist warns that Washington has … [Read more...] about Hillary ‘Lacks Panache’ at Inaugural of Brazil’s First Woman President (Le Figaro, France)
Suspicion of Government Threatens the United States: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany
Is it possible that America's natural suspicion of state-power is in a self-destructive phase, radicalized at a moment in which it needs effective government most? Columnist Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger of Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung worries that whatever the many benefits of that suspicion, "this federation in which people expect strong leadership and a willingness … [Read more...] about Suspicion of Government Threatens the United States: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany
Massachusetts Supreme Court Makes Mortgage Securitization Ruling With Potential MAJOR Consequences [Updated: Maybe]
Update 2: Yves Smith points out that this is a narrow ruling that is largely about MA law: The judges based their ruling strictly on Massachusetts law issues, and did not opine on the New York trust law issues we have highlighted. The ruling emphasized the horrible job the banks did in protecting and documenting their ownership interest and the overall carelessness of the … [Read more...] about Massachusetts Supreme Court Makes Mortgage Securitization Ruling With Potential MAJOR Consequences [Updated: Maybe]
Is Repealing Health Care Worth $230 Billion?
Is repealing health care worth $230 billion? The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says repealing health care reform would add $230 billion to the deficit. Of course the idea could not go anywhere since Barack Obama has now talked about reigning in the deficit and Republicans are adamant about not adding anything to the deficit (OOPS! They're the ones trying to repeal … [Read more...] about Is Repealing Health Care Worth $230 Billion?
Giving John McCain His Due
Nothing is trendier these days than trashing Arizona’s senior Senator and former presidential nominee John McCain. Yeah, he can act like a cranky old codger at times and he no longer seems to be the mavericky moderate of 2000. But misrepresenting his positions seems a step too far. Here’s what I’m talking about. Yesterday McCain said that he accepted that repeal of Don’t … [Read more...] about Giving John McCain His Due
Arnold Schwarzenegger Leaves Office
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Arnold Schwarzenegger Leaves Office
Rudy Guiliani Reportedly Considering 2012 Presidential (UPDATED) Run
Man, oh, man does the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination race look like it'll be interesting. In a race shaping up as likely to be dominated in news cycles by the question "What will Sarah Palin do?," it became clear that this race will be the journalists' (and bloggers') dream come true with the news that Rep. Michele Bachmann may throw her straight jacket into the … [Read more...] about Rudy Guiliani Reportedly Considering 2012 Presidential (UPDATED) Run
Transfer of Power Plays
The news keeps arranging itself to tell us things. In Washington, the House chamber presents a convivial scene, with members' children and grandchildren looking on, as Nancy Pelosi, in a tangle of handshakes and air kisses, turns over a huge gavel to John Boehner and resists a likely impulse to crown him with it. In Pakistan, they transfer power differently. A "liberal" … [Read more...] about Transfer of Power Plays
Rules Are Made To Be Broken?
Republicans made a new budget rule that all legislation must be paid for, and one of the first things they did in the new session was break their own rule: … [Read more...] about Rules Are Made To Be Broken?