There is really nothing, beyond the title, that I can add to this: … [Read more...] about Health Care Has No Impact On Interstate Commerce Because Babies Are Thrown Into Garbage Cans
The House of Professors
WASHINGTON -- Edmund Burke, one of history's greatest conservatives, warned that abstractions are the enemy of responsible government. "I never govern myself, no rational man ever did govern himself, by abstractions and universals," Burke wrote. "A statesman differs from a professor in a university; the latter has only the general view of society; the former, the … [Read more...] about The House of Professors
“Suspicious Bagel” On Plane Leads To Florida Professor’s Arrest
A Florida professor was reportedly arrested for being on a plane with a suspicious bagel. Did they put him in a cell with lots of lox? A Florida professor was arrested and removed from a plane Monday after his fellow passengers alerted crew members they thought he had a suspicious package in the overhead compartment. That "suspicious package" turned out to be keys, a … [Read more...] about “Suspicious Bagel” On Plane Leads To Florida Professor’s Arrest
Obama Picks Reveal More Of The Same
Anyone hoping Obama would change course through his picks for Chief of Staff and National Economic Advisor will be surely disappointed with his selections. Bill Daley has already been announced for the former and Gene Sperling looks like a shoe in for the latter. Both were pivotal in crafting Clinton's neoliberal policies that I believe are the root cause of our economic woes, … [Read more...] about Obama Picks Reveal More Of The Same
God May Have an Excellent Answer to our Financial Mess: Start Over With a Clean Slate
Across the globe, we have accumulated mountains of public and private debts. Many of the debts are effectively unsecured since the underlying assets have fallen steeply in value and will unlikely return to inflated (bubble) values. Furthermore, remaining incomes for most of humanity are insufficient to pay off those debts, now or for the foreseeable future, without decimating … [Read more...] about God May Have an Excellent Answer to our Financial Mess: Start Over With a Clean Slate
Allen West, Scapegoater of Muslims
Think Progress: Rep. Allen West (R-FL), a newly-elected member who has loudly scapegoated Muslims and campaigned on a promise to oppose religious diversity, appeared on Frank Gaffney's radio program last week. Gaffney, who routinely says that Obama is both a secret Muslim and a member of the "Muslim Brotherhood," asked West about how the new Republican Congress plans to … [Read more...] about Allen West, Scapegoater of Muslims
Stuff That Irritates Me
Yes, it has been awhile since I've blogged here. Graduate school has been more of a challenge than I ever imagined. No matter what the amorphous "they" tell you, going back to school after a 22-year absence is not an easy undertaking. Regardless, I survived the first semester and start another Jan. 18. I don't know how much I'll be able to contribute to TMV before or … [Read more...] about Stuff That Irritates Me
Save The Rich, Screw The Unions
I grew up in a working class neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Many of the people living there were members of public service unions. They were cops, firemen, sanitation workers, social services employees, teachers. It wasn't a ritzy neighborhood but it was comfortable. The houses were small, many attached, but exceptionally well tended, It was a very safe area. People … [Read more...] about Save The Rich, Screw The Unions
Huck Finn, Censored and Sanitized
Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a genuine American classic and one of the greatest works in the history of literature, American or otherwise, is being re-released in a new, cleansed version that takes out the words "nigger," as well as "Injun," the one-word, over-hyped source of controversy that has seen the book, as Publishers Weekly puts it, "disappearing from … [Read more...] about Huck Finn, Censored and Sanitized
Independents, Raise Your Hands
Which major party is swelling its ranks? Neither. Which major party is seeing its ranks dwindle? Democrats. Which bloc of voters is experiencing a surge? Independents. That’s the conclusion of Gallup polling involving an aggregate of 21 separate Gallup and USA Today polls conducted in 2010 with a sample of more than 25,000 adults. Be forewarned. If you’re a Democrat, … [Read more...] about Independents, Raise Your Hands
The Live-and-Let-Live Deli
Convening of the new Congress brings back a long-age image, a Manhattan store called the Live-and-Let-Live Deli with a sign in the window: "Out of Business." The proximate cause is literal--the White House's backing off from a provision in health care reform that would allow doctors to include end-of-life discussions with Medicare patients. Whether this is in response to the … [Read more...] about The Live-and-Let-Live Deli
Comedy Central vs. Happy Meal Ban
This is just too funny not to watch Thanks to Comedy Central and Hot Air … [Read more...] about Comedy Central vs. Happy Meal Ban
(UPDATED) The Last Train to Auschwitz
[Note: The link to the Huffington Post for this article was "not working" last night. It can again be read here. Sorry for the problem.] On September 3, 1944, the last train carrying Dutch Jews to Nazi extermination camps left the transit camp Westerbork, the Netherlands, destination Auschwitz. Aboard the train, along with a thousand other Dutch Jews, was Louis de … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) The Last Train to Auschwitz
Transparency, Bipartisanship—Just Words?
Remember how, during the past few years, Republicans repeatedly accused the Democrats of a lack of “openness and transparency” in the legislative process, of not allowing adequate time to either review proposed legislation or to debate it and---in particular in the case of the health care bill---of ramming it down the throat of the GOP and of the American people without going … [Read more...] about Transparency, Bipartisanship—Just Words?
House Voting On Speaker
Final Tally Boehner: 241 Pelosi: 173: Not Pelosi: 19 Not Voting: 2 The House is currently voting on election of a Speaker and while the election of Boehner is a foregone conclusion there is a bit of a Democratic revolt going on. At least 19 votes have been cast for other or present (mostly for conservative Democrat Heath Shuler). This is all symbolic of course but it … [Read more...] about House Voting On Speaker
A Split Government is Probably Best
As moderates, our primary hopes lie in the inability of either of the extremes, and by that I mean the Democrats and Republicans, to secure their particular agenda carte blanche. While it would be great if politicians would agree to work together to create high-quality solutions for the health and welfare of our nation based on reason, facts and the best interests of all, we … [Read more...] about A Split Government is Probably Best
Michele Bachmann For President?
Though this is being written with all good humor and may be regarded as comedic by serious political minds, reports appear to be true that Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is testing the waters for a possible run at the Republican presidential nomination. Unlike her run for the House of Representatives, which she says came about as the result of a calling from God, her investigation … [Read more...] about Michele Bachmann For President?
Pakistan Instability Could Follow Assassination of Tolerance Advocate Salman Taseer
Is Pakistan now headed into a period of accentuated instability coupled with a danger that elements sympathetic to Al Qaeda and the Taliban can gain a foothold in the wake of the assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer , one of the country's leading advocates of tolerance? It would appear so given the governments general instability and mixed reaction to the … [Read more...] about Pakistan Instability Could Follow Assassination of Tolerance Advocate Salman Taseer
Signing Statement
Signing statement by Prairie Weather The New York Times reports that Obama may use presidential signing statement to get around Republican restrictions on the transfer of Guantanamo prisoners. McClatchy makes it sound more like a done deal. Obama administration officials say they plan to reject Congressional efforts to limit the president's options on Guantanamo, … [Read more...] about Signing Statement
Politics
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Politics