Anyone who has a career has found himself or herself in a position where they did something that was a nice line on a resume but really didn't amount to much if you looked at it. Such was Sarah Palin's high-touted-on-Fox News (Palin gave Fox sole access -- a continuing part of the narrative where she controls her message and coverage by limiting herself mostly to Fox, Facebook, … [Read more...] about Padding a Resume
The Specter Haunting Obama
WASHINGTON -- American decline is the specter haunting our politics. This could be President Obama's undoing -- or it could provide him with the opportunity to revive his presidency. Fear of decline is an old American story. Declinism ran rampant in the late 1970s and early '80s. Stagflation, the Iranian hostage crisis, anxiety over Japan's then-commanding economy and … [Read more...] about The Specter Haunting Obama
Quote of the Day: Big Consquences if Democrats Reject Obama’s Tax Deal
Our political Quote of the Day comes from NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg who in their indispensible First Reads analysis point out that Democrats could face serious political consquences if they reject President Barack Obama's tax deal with Republicans: *** The Democrats’ tax-cut dilemma: On the tax deal, do some Democrats realize that … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Big Consquences if Democrats Reject Obama’s Tax Deal
Hateful Words
' This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Hateful Words
Bye Bye Michael Steele? Steele Not to Seek Second RNC Term (Or Will He?)
Bye bye Michael Steele? Advance reports indicate Michael Steele -- the gift that kept on giving to media types who could get a great political unwise quote that could turn into a controversy, the gift that kept on giving to talk show hosts who depend on anger, derision and controversy, the gift that kept on giving to blogs that comment on hot political stories whipping … [Read more...] about Bye Bye Michael Steele? Steele Not to Seek Second RNC Term (Or Will He?)
Follow Live: No Labels Launch in NYC
It could be easy to say that the No Labels organization represents merely Republicans who can't stomach the tea party people, but numerous left of center and progressive political figures are engaged with it as well (see the agenda's list of speakers here). Watch and participate and comment, of course. … [Read more...] about Follow Live: No Labels Launch in NYC
Ghost of Wikileaks Past
Casting for a 21st century take on "A Christmas Carol" is coming along nicely. Julian Assange, the Scrooge who doesn't hoard but gives away everybody else's stuff, is in chains. And right on schedule, enter Richard Nixon, the ghost of Christmas Past, to rattle on with "Bah, Humbugs" about everyone in sight. Unlike the contents of Assange's Santa bag, the Nixon stuff is … [Read more...] about Ghost of Wikileaks Past
Welcome Christmas !
Anyone who has read TMV for more than a year knows I am a Christmas nut. In the spirit of the holiday season I am going to be doing my own '12 (or more) days of Christmas' by posting some holiday videos each day. Our readers will also know I am a big fan of the TV show Glee so it only seemed sensible to put the two together. As always the images and sounds remain the … [Read more...] about Welcome Christmas !
Charles and Camilla
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Charles and Camilla
WikiLeaks Threat to America is Nothing for Europe to Snicker About: Die Welt, Germany
A good German counterpoint to yesterday's article from the Berliner Zeitung headlined U.S. Assault on Assange Betrays America's Founding Principles is this article from Die Welt, headlined WikiLeaks Threat to America is Nothing for Europe to Snicker About by columnist Thomas Kielinger. Kielinger warns readers that to encourage and support organizations that undermine U.S. … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks Threat to America is Nothing for Europe to Snicker About: Die Welt, Germany
Cutting Federal Spending Is Time To Man Up
I have maintained that Republican conservatives and their Tea Party base are sincere about limiting the size and scope of the federal budget. Their problem is they tend to cherry pick programs they don’t like for the cutting room floor. Take Michele Bachmann, founder of the Tea Party caucus in the House of Representatives. I quote from her bio on Wikipedia which may or … [Read more...] about Cutting Federal Spending Is Time To Man Up
Prisoners Strike in Georgia
The NYTimes: In a protest apparently assembled largely through a network of banned cellphones, inmates across at least six prisons in Georgia have been on strike since Thursday, calling for better conditions and compensation, several inmates and an outside advocate said. Inmates have refused to leave their cells or perform their jobs, in a demonstration that seems to … [Read more...] about Prisoners Strike in Georgia
Fareed Zakaria Debunks Glenn Beck “10% of Muslims Are Terrorists” Claim
Truly must-see tv. With chalkboard font, round numbers, simple illustrations and generosity in applying assumptions. If only everyone had the time (and platform) to do the same with all the inane claims made, from the left or the right. Original post at Writes Like She Talks. … [Read more...] about Fareed Zakaria Debunks Glenn Beck “10% of Muslims Are Terrorists” Claim
Democrats Infighting
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TV Flashbacks in Washington
Americans' remote controls morph into time machines as they change channels to find Bill Clinton at the White House podium holding forth on Bush tax cuts (among other topics) and Bernie Sanders on C-Span filibustering against them like Jimmy Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" on TCM. Washington is a farce like "The Office" these days or a giant reality show with … [Read more...] about TV Flashbacks in Washington
NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg on 2012 Presidential Run: “No Way, No How”
On Meet The Press this morning: Bloomberg said...that his advisers should "cease-and-desist" with their suggestions that he run. The Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent says he's focused on his job as mayor. He has occasionally been mentioned as a long-shot presidential candidate. Bloomberg says he wants to leave office having a reputation "as a very good, … [Read more...] about NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg on 2012 Presidential Run: “No Way, No How”
The Heartbreak of Premature Capitulation (Guest Voice)
The Heartbreak of Premature Capitulation by Michael Winship There’s this old joke about the French Revolution. A group of prisoners is lined up before the guillotine. One by one, their heads are lopped off. Then, the next man is put in place. The lever is pulled, but the blade stops just inches above his neck. This must be a sign of divine intervention, the … [Read more...] about The Heartbreak of Premature Capitulation (Guest Voice)
The War Against Wikileaks, Julian Assange, and the First Amendment
Jack Goldsmith has seven thoughts on Wikileaks, and they may surprise you: … [Read more...] about The War Against Wikileaks, Julian Assange, and the First Amendment
So How About A Picture?
I don't know about you but I have politics fatigue. So how about a Sunday morning picture. This is Mt. Hood, Oregon taken from my back yard. Yes, it's not that close, I was using a long lens. Enjoy … [Read more...] about So How About A Picture?
The Wisdom Of Crazy Old Men
The New York Times reports that the man who wants to drown the FED, Ron Paul, will be the chairman of the subcommittee that oversees the Fed. This is good news - while he may not be able to drown it he will certainly be shining some light in dark corners. But when I followed a link at Memeorandum I found this from Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis which I found even … [Read more...] about The Wisdom Of Crazy Old Men