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
Sarah Palin and the “Do You Think She’s Qualified?” Debacle
Answering the question "Do you think Sarah Palin is qualified to be president?" with the "Well she was born in the US and is over 35!" trope is a lame excuse for not answering the real question people know is being asked. Rick Santorum is the latest trying this duck: "What does it mean to be qualified to be president? She is born in this country and she's the right age. … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin and the “Do You Think She’s Qualified?” Debacle
Congress’ Ayn Rand Caucus
As government-hating lawmakers begin work, their guiding philosophy will come from a deceased Hollywood scriptwriter whose credo of Selfishness Uber Alles was considered loony half a century ago. In the House, Ayn Rand acolyte Paul Ryan takes over as chairman of the Budget Committee and Ron Paul will head the Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy as he … [Read more...] about Congress’ Ayn Rand Caucus
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t ‘Surf and Turf’
Having written “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Smoke,” my eye quickly caught a Letter to the Editor in today’s Stars and Stripes, titled “‘'Don’t ask,’ surf and turf.” While hopefully my piece was a little more serious and a little less irreverent, this letter in all its “cheeky," sardonic glory certainly gets its message across---after a while. Enjoy, or endure, according … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t ‘Surf and Turf’
‘Real’ 2011 Psychic Predictions and What to Watch
Is 2011 already a baby saddled with a burden from old-fogey-2010 heavier then its diaper’s contents? Does the world already have multiple swords of Damocles hanging over its head? Will the sea of change caused by economic upheaval and new technologies continue to accelerate in 2011? The humorists have weighed in already with their witty predictions of what will happen. And, … [Read more...] about ‘Real’ 2011 Psychic Predictions and What to Watch
Glenn Beck Loses a Big New York Radio Station Due to Poor Ratings
Whoever said New Yorkers don't have good taste? Glenn Beck may be one of the hottest talk show hosts in the country, but he apparently left New York's WOR cold. WOR (710 AM), one of the city's two biggest talk radio stations, said this morning it is dropping Beck's syndicated show as of Jan. 17 and replacing him with a familiar New York name: Mike Gallagher. "The … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck Loses a Big New York Radio Station Due to Poor Ratings
“We’ve got to stop Top-2 from coming, but how?”
CARTOON BY RANDY MILLER (Utah League of Independent Voters) California will hold its first open "top two" primary on Feb. 15. Voters, including decline-to-state independents, will choose among all candidates in two races being held to fill vacancies for 2 Los Angeles-area state Senate seats. California voters approved Proposition 14 (brought forth through the efforts of … [Read more...] about “We’ve got to stop Top-2 from coming, but how?”
Scalia Says Constitution Allows Discrimination Against Women, Gays
As HuffPo's Amanda Terkel is reporting, right-wing Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia gave an interview recently during which he said that the Constitution does not prohibit discrimination against women and gays: In 1868, when the 39th Congress was debating and ultimately proposing the 14th Amendment, I don't think anybody would have thought that equal protection applied to … [Read more...] about Scalia Says Constitution Allows Discrimination Against Women, Gays
Tom Sawyer Censorship (Yeah Again)
Mark Twain once defined a classic as a book people praise but don't read. It seems that his truism is still quite accurate. In another of the sadly ironic PC events of the day there will be a new version of Tom Sawyer which will remove 'offensive words'. The word nigger (my sincere apologies to those who are offended by the use of this word but it would be sort of … [Read more...] about Tom Sawyer Censorship (Yeah Again)