One of the biggest political stories of 2010 is the role of mega-bucks undisclosed campaign contributions pouring into races to help defeat candidates that otherwise might have had a better fighting chance. In most cases those candidates were Democrats. But now Walter Shapiro writes in Politics Dailyy that GOPers might be pleased now in how this new political world operated … [Read more...] about Could Undisclosed Campaign Contributions Impact 2012 Republican Primaries?
Decision Points
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Decision Points
Election 2010: The Why Not Me Party Lands Historic Numbers of Freshman
I've been telling people to jump on this observation band wagon for a while now but here again, on the front page of the New York Times, "To Congress With Mantra, Why Not Me?" You can see the array of new stars at this interactive tool. (Editing in: notice how there are only three women out of the more than 30 there - and of those, saying that Kelly Ayotte is a newcomer because … [Read more...] about Election 2010: The Why Not Me Party Lands Historic Numbers of Freshman
Last Bush Binge
George W. Bush tells Oprah this week that alcohol was ruining his family life, so after getting "drunk as a skunk" on his 40th birthday, he just stopped for good the next day. The former president's media blitz won't exhilarate the political Right or Left but, for the psychologically inclined, there may be some closure--the final chapter in the tale of a middle-aged man who, … [Read more...] about Last Bush Binge
Aung San Suu Kyi: Will Burmese Military Junta Free Her Tomorrow?
Burmese leader Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, 65, who has spent 15 of the past 21 years under house arrest, could be released tomorrow (Saturday) by Myanmar's military junta. The Burmese junta says it is preparing for the release of Nobel laureate Suu Kyi after international condemnation (including president Barack Obama's recent strong remarks) of last weekend's election and fears that … [Read more...] about Aung San Suu Kyi: Will Burmese Military Junta Free Her Tomorrow?
Just To Say: There Have Ever Been Women Soldiers
Pilots, truck mechanics, provision officers, medics, translators, marksmen, nurses, photographers, many more. For many decades now. Not yet a town square with a woman mounted on a horse with a sword, unless it's Joan d'Arc. Maybe someday. Parity. Yes, I know. Marksmen instead of markswomen. It's ok. A real woman knows attention to the craft is more important than the … [Read more...] about Just To Say: There Have Ever Been Women Soldiers
Ok Go Does It Again and Again
Ok Go's latest has an autumnal theme and utilizes 2,430 pieces of toast. Mashable: “Last Leaf”... was made possible in part by Samsung, who spurred the creation of the video by asking, “What’s your next project?” The band told the electronics company that it wanted to work with Nadeem Mazen and Ali Mohammad, founders of Serious Business Design, on a sketchy concept — … [Read more...] about Ok Go Does It Again and Again
A Late Veteran’s Day Post
I am a Vietnam era veteran but my service consisted of two and a half years on the frontier of freedom in downtown Munich Germany so don't think about me. I have discussed my father before, a WWII veteran who served in Burma/India and won a bronze star. But today I would like to talk about my mothers cousin, Richard H. Nelson. We hear about what the atrocities of war do to … [Read more...] about A Late Veteran’s Day Post
If U.S. Won’t Prosecute Bush, at Least 145 Other Countries Should: Rue 89, France
Now that President Bush is back with an autobiographical book defending his tenure, so are those who want him arrested for torture. In this article from France's Rue 89, Jean-François Lisee informs that every country - all 146 of them - that are signatories to the U.N. Convention Against Torture, are obliged to arrest Mr. Bush, and Lisee points out that a few have already begun … [Read more...] about If U.S. Won’t Prosecute Bush, at Least 145 Other Countries Should: Rue 89, France
Report: Newsweek and The Daily Beast To Merge
There's finally a bit of good news for American journalism: the venerable newsmagazine Newsweek, which recently changed ownership, and the solid Internet reporting/analysis site The Daily Beast are going to merge -- a case of the new media and old media giving each other what they need to (potentially) thrive and grow. The report comes after weeks of speculation that the two … [Read more...] about Report: Newsweek and The Daily Beast To Merge
American Voters Demonstrate ‘Common Sense’: Rceczpospolita, Poland
Notable for their expressions of admiration for how the U.S. midterm elections demonstrate the healthy workings of democracy, these two articles from Eastern Europe, one from Poland and the other from Romania, disagree on the staying power and intelligence of the Tea Party platform. According to columnist Marek Magierowski of Poland's Rceczpospolita, the 2010 midterm … [Read more...] about American Voters Demonstrate ‘Common Sense’: Rceczpospolita, Poland
A Few Thoughts On Veterans’ Day
In 2010 it is very difficult for me to put words to paper and ideas into digital form as I reflect on the U.S., our past wars, our military, and our veterans. I am not a Veteran. I was born at a time when the vast majority of citizens shunned military service during the decade following the fall of South Vietnam to the North in 1975. My only direct connection to the U.S. … [Read more...] about A Few Thoughts On Veterans’ Day
Musharraf Should Have Told Truth to U.S.-Led ‘Raiders’: The Frontier Post, Pakistan
For those who haven't heard, former Pakistan president/dictator and retired general, Pervez Musharraf, has just launched his own political party and wants his old job back. But if this editorial from Pakistan's Frontier post is anything to go by, he has precious little chance of winning an election. The newspaper rips him for According to the editorial, his coddling of … [Read more...] about Musharraf Should Have Told Truth to U.S.-Led ‘Raiders’: The Frontier Post, Pakistan
The Venerable Teenager of WWII, Korea, Nam and Now
Much is made of the generals. Much is made of those who never were at the front lines. Much is made of those who sent the young directly to their deaths, straight into downhill fire on beaches, straight up over the foxholes into downhill artillery, straight into unmapped jungles filled with cave snipers... all knowingly decimating the front lines of the young. And the young, … [Read more...] about The Venerable Teenager of WWII, Korea, Nam and Now
Washington On Political Parties
In his farewell address (1796), President George Washington warned his countrymen (women could not yet vote) of the dangers inherent in an antagonistic party system. His words come from a Yale archive; emphasis added: I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State ... [let me] warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the … [Read more...] about Washington On Political Parties
Looking Back In Sadness
I have, on more than one occasion, expressed my admiration for the work of James Travers. On this Remembrance Day, he wrote of his father who "learned to be a soldier at Kingston's Royal Military College" and his uncle who "died soon after wearing pilot's wings for the first time." They would, he wrote, not recognize the Canada of 2010. "They wouldn't understand a country … [Read more...] about Looking Back In Sadness
The Morning After: What Independents Want
As results continue to dribble in from extremely tight local and state elections across the country, all about independent voters, independents have already moved on -- or stayed the course, depending on your POV. Let's turn our attention to some important propositions that were put to the ballot this year: California continues to lead the way in political reform. Back in … [Read more...] about The Morning After: What Independents Want
Veterans Day—I Fibbed
In my most recent post on this solemn day, I implicitly promised that it would be my last one on the subject of Veterans and Veterans Day. However, there have been such great comments and additional posts by those who either they or their fathers were part of “The Greatest Generation” and served in World War II, that I feel I have to add one more post---this one really only … [Read more...] about Veterans Day—I Fibbed
My Favorite Adulterer
Political sex scandals have expiration dates now. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned as New York Governor in 2008 for consorting with a call girl, is now a CNN anchor while Louisiana last week easily reelected Sen. David Vitter, who was the DC Madam's best customer a year earlier. Sexual commerce aside, my favorite adulterer is South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, now resurfacing … [Read more...] about My Favorite Adulterer
Do Only Conservative Victories Count?
WASHINGTON -- In 2008, the largest number of voters in American history gave the Democrats their largest share of the presidential vote in 44 years and big majorities in the House and Senate. How did Republicans react? They held their ideological ground, refused to give an inch to the new president, and insisted that persistent opposition would eventually yield them … [Read more...] about Do Only Conservative Victories Count?