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)
Gawker Media, McDonald’s, Walgreen All Report Cyber Security Breaches
When a corporation screws up and your account information is compromised by "unauthorized access" (code for "someone broke into our database and stole your data"), current law seems to side with the corporate behemoths. They send you an "oops, we're sorry" email and you have to suck it up. Liability? Seems AWOL. This weekend, Gawker lost all information on about 1.3 million … [Read more...] about Gawker Media, McDonald’s, Walgreen All Report Cyber Security Breaches
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Today's Christmas video is a blast from the 80's past. Facts of Life may have been pretty brain dead but this was a very touching scene. … [Read more...] about I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Obamacare DOA?
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obamacare DOA?
Federal Judge Says Individual Mandate Is Unconstitutional: A Blogger Roundup
Although right-wing pundits are rejoicing at today's decision by a federal judge in Virginia that the requirement to purchase insurance in the new health care reform law violates the Constitution (and Logan Penza has the legal analysis on this), Ezra Klein observes that the ruling may be good news for supporters of health care reform as well: … [Read more...] about Federal Judge Says Individual Mandate Is Unconstitutional: A Blogger Roundup
Richard Holbrooke Dies
Not a shock given the very low survival rate of those with torn aorta's but news just breaking that he passed away. Deepest sympathies to his family. A time to step away from politics … [Read more...] about Richard Holbrooke Dies
Who Rules Us? Hackers, the Global Press and Our Leadership – in that Order: Liberation, France
Has WikiLeaks turned the pecking order of global decision making upside down? For Liberation, French historian Elisabeth Roudinesco asserts that if the recent massive disclosure of classified U.S. diplomatic cables through five of the world's best known newspapers tells us nothing else, it's that hackers now rule the world. Historian Elisabeth Roudinesco, for Liberation, … [Read more...] about Who Rules Us? Hackers, the Global Press and Our Leadership – in that Order: Liberation, France
Who Needs Spelling
The above is via Barry Ritholz. Can you read it? You should be able to - your mind works in strange ways. In case you are having trouble research at Cambridge University determined that when we read we don't look at every letter and as long as the first and last letter are where they should be the mind can decode the rest. … [Read more...] about Who Needs Spelling
Has Barack Obama Found His Mojo?
Has President Barack Obama suddenly found his mojo? Centrist writer and CNN contributor John Avlon, writing on The Daily Beast, thinks so. A few meaty excerpts: Almost lost in the debate over the tax cut compromise this week was a striking moment of defiance and self-definition from President Obama. It came in the final five minutes of Tuesday’s afternoon press … [Read more...] about Has Barack Obama Found His Mojo?
John Boehner, House Crier
John Boehner, the Speaker of the House come January, is a crier. So what? He’s an emotional dude. We just haven’t seen House Speakers who cry at the drop of a chat with a bunch of school children. A few Americans unaware of his personal traits that helped him crawl from rags to riches saw for the first time his crying jag on election night Nov. 2. On Sunday night he … [Read more...] about John Boehner, House Crier
Poll: 69% Support Tax Deal Compromise
A Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that 69% of Americans (including many liberal Democrats) support the highly touted and in some circles highly condemned tax deal hammered out last week by President Barack Obama and GOpers in Congress. So much for the outrage on the left, Tea Party members upset on the right, ideological talk shows that suggested it will eventually fail, … [Read more...] about Poll: 69% Support Tax Deal Compromise
Curtains for Obamacare? Not Hardly
The ruling by Judge Henry E. Hudson that parts of Obamacare are unconstitutional has set off a wave of euphoria among opponents of the law who believe that the decision will make it impossible to implement the bulk of reforms contained in the bill. At issue was the coercive requirement that all Americans purchase health insurance. It appears to me that the judge zeroed in on … [Read more...] about Curtains for Obamacare? Not Hardly
WikiLeaks: Australia’s Growing Support For Son Of Soil
The US administration's clumsy handling of the WikiLeaks affair is endangering America's traditionally strong ties with Australia, its trusted comrade-in-arms. In fact Australia's prime minister Ms Julia Gillard and the Aussie foreign minister Kevin Rudd have begun to sing different tunes. (Kevin Rudd was removed from his post as prime minister owing to an internal coup and Ms … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks: Australia’s Growing Support For Son Of Soil
If Only Wikileaks Would Expose Hugo Chavez: Tal Cual, Venezuala
While criticism of WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange is fierce in some quarters, people in many countries long for him or someone like him to give leaders and secret communications in their countries the 'WikiLeaks treatment.' One example is columnist Elizabeth Araujo of Venezuela's Tal Cual, who wonders what skeletons would be found in the confidential closet of … [Read more...] about If Only Wikileaks Would Expose Hugo Chavez: Tal Cual, Venezuala
Judge Rules Obamacare Provision Unconstitutional
A U.S. District Court judge in Virginia has ruled a provision of the health care reform law is unconstitutional. It is the provision that mandates all Americans have a minimum level of coverage, or pay a fine if they do not. The Los Angeles Times reports Judge Henry Hudson said the mandate exceeds federal authority. This challenge, among many in the federal court system, was … [Read more...] about Judge Rules Obamacare Provision Unconstitutional
Judge Rules Health Care Mandate Unconstitutional
As most obsevers expected, a federal judge in Virginia has ruled that the portion of the health care reform bill that mandates everyone obtain coverage violates the Constitution. Judge Henry E. Hudson ruled that Congress does not have the power to compel people to purchase coverage. Supporters had claimed that the Commerce clause of Article One does allow them to do so while … [Read more...] about Judge Rules Health Care Mandate Unconstitutional
Can Obama lose the Left and win in 2012?
Can Obama lose the Left and win in 2012? GO HERE for a roundup. … [Read more...] about Can Obama lose the Left and win in 2012?