Is all that worry about cyber-attacks stirred up by strategically placed stories? Susan Crawford sees a trail of data points worth following. I'll quote here only her first, second and last: 1. Cyberattack - there appears to be a deep interest in the ability to declare war online, as evidenced by cybersecurity research and public speeches by Herbert Lin, a key player who has … [Read more...] about Susan Crawford on The Militarization of the Internet
Forbes: Are “Mama Grizzlies” Just GOP Men in Drag?
Forbes came out with a list of 25 "power women" of the 2010 midterm elections. You can have fun by first seeing if you can name 25 women in the midterm scenario, then rank them and then check them against the Forbes' list. However, what you may find more interesting is Forbes' companion story on whether "mama grizzlies" are feminine conservatives or conservative … [Read more...] about Forbes: Are “Mama Grizzlies” Just GOP Men in Drag?
Much Ado About Crist, Rubio, Meek, and Clinton
There was much ado yesterday about reports that Bill Clinton had tried to get Democrat Kendrick Meek to withdraw from the Florida Senate race and throw his support behind Republican-turned-independent Charlie Crist in an effort to beat Republican Marco Rubio. Crist is even saying that he talked to Meek and "several people" at the White House about it. Clinton has confirmed that … [Read more...] about Much Ado About Crist, Rubio, Meek, and Clinton
Sore Winners
If the Republican sweep materializes Tuesday we'll have lots more of them: The Sore Winners are easy to find. They are most visible at their flagship, Fox News, which dominates both cable news and the political conversaton and yet is always embattled, defending itself against the heathen. They are loudest not only on secular talk radio, but also in Christian broadcasting, … [Read more...] about Sore Winners
Election Day Road Kill
The President won't let go of the car image--Republicans spending eight years crashing the economy and expecting him to pull it out of the ditch in two. Now the highway metaphor is in a linguistic pileup as Martin Wolf of the Financial Times posits an ambulance picking up a roadside heart attack victim, taking him for treatment that results in "a protracted but partial … [Read more...] about Election Day Road Kill
Meg Whitman and Big Bucks
No, this isn't in reference to her hard-earned fortune as head of eBay -- but what she's now charging the press who want to travel with her. … [Read more...] about Meg Whitman and Big Bucks
Quote of the Day: On the MoveOn.Com Protester Attacked by Rand Paul Supporter
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Dick Polman, looking at the case of the Move.On.org protester attacked by a Rand Paul supporter. The beginning and end of THIS POST that needs to be read in its entirety: The now-infamous Kentucky incident, in which a Rand Paul acolyte saw fit to affix his sneakered foot to the head of a prostrate protester, is hardly the most … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On the MoveOn.Com Protester Attacked by Rand Paul Supporter
A Republican Majority would be all Trick and No Treat (Guest Voice)
A Republican Majority would be all Trick and No Treat by Karl Frisch The Republican Party could regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in next Tuesday’s midterm elections for the first time since losing power four years ago. How’s that for a scary Halloween trick? Sure, there are familiar faces among those hoping to take power -- people like Rep. John … [Read more...] about A Republican Majority would be all Trick and No Treat (Guest Voice)
World’s Greatest Traveller: Ibn Battuta & Bollywood
Ever since I stopped watching TV (maybe my loyalty is still with print media), I have become an avid radio fan. I now surf merrily from the BBC and the VOA to local/national FM Indian radio stations. Yesterday a song titled "Ibn Battuta" (from Bollywood film Ishqiya) caught my attention. Wow! Even a Bollywood film/song can revive our interest in forgotten history!!! So I … [Read more...] about World’s Greatest Traveller: Ibn Battuta & Bollywood
France: Additional Impressions of a Passer-by
In my “Off to War Then and Now---Always too Young,” I shared some impressions about the gratitude the French people still hold for the American military who helped liberate their country during World War II, and I promised the couple of interested readers that I would follow-up with some additional thoughts on France and the French people: Their performance and experiences … [Read more...] about France: Additional Impressions of a Passer-by
Rand Paul protester Trod Upon
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Rand Paul protester Trod Upon
Mad As Hell
James Travers is one of the most astute political analysts in Canada. Writing in The Toronto Star on Thursday, he observed that voter anger in both Canada and the United States is fueled "more by disillusionment than by ideology." Sifting through the entrails of Ontario's municipal elections -- particularly Rob Ford's storming of Toronto's mayoral barricades -- he … [Read more...] about Mad As Hell
The more things change…..
The headline reads: Poll: Most Want Obama Fired In 2012 The more things change the more they don't and the one thing that doesn't change is the idiocy of the DC punditry. This via Salon: Of course the DC punditry is as usual clueless and everything they say is divorced from history and reality. So is Obama going to be a one term president? The only one who got it … [Read more...] about The more things change…..
Arkansas School Official To Resign After Anti-Gay Facebook Rant
UPDATE: Video of the Anderson Cooper 360° interview with Arkansas school board member and vice-president of Midland School District, Clint McCance. In it McCance says, "I am going to resign from the school board. It is to help my community, to help school. I don't want them to receive bad press or have a distraction because of some ignorant comments that I … [Read more...] about Arkansas School Official To Resign After Anti-Gay Facebook Rant
Whitman Tries A Hail Meg? Calls for Former Housekeeper to Be Deported
Question of the Day: Is Meg Whitman, the former eBay honcho who is now down 10 points in the polls after spending a gazillion dollars in her battle with former Gov. Jerry Brown to become California's next Governor, determined to lose every single Latino voter in California? Answer: it could be. In what can only be seen now as a last minute high-stakes gamble, Meg Whitman has … [Read more...] about Whitman Tries A Hail Meg? Calls for Former Housekeeper to Be Deported
POLL: Republican Joe Miller Drops To Third Place In Alaska
In yet another sign that, yes, Virginia, there can be consequences in politics, Tea Party favorite and Sarah Palin-endorsed Republican candidate for Senate in Alaska Joe Miller has dropped to third place in a new poll after several weeks of terrible publicity. After several rough weeks on the campaign trail, a new poll out of Alaska shows Republican Joe Miller has fallen … [Read more...] about POLL: Republican Joe Miller Drops To Third Place In Alaska
Oh, Michael Bennett, You Dear Sweet Man!
Politics Daily asked the major candidates in the upcoming election to answer some questions about their religious background and beliefs. Here is how Sen. Michael Bennett, running for reelection in Colorado against Tea Party candidate Ken Buck, responded (my italics at the end): … [Read more...] about Oh, Michael Bennett, You Dear Sweet Man!
Thank God The Polling Ends And The Voters Speak For Better Or Worse
Oh, what fools we are predicting midterm election races. I honestly don’t know how much valid methodology goes into these polling results. I do know you can ask questions slanted for particular responses and prove what your preconceived notions are statistically. I am not a numbers guy nor a statistical freak. I am a political observer and take the polls for what they are — … [Read more...] about Thank God The Polling Ends And The Voters Speak For Better Or Worse
Have Democrats Caught Up With Republicans On the Generic Ballot?
Have Democrats caught up with GOPers on the generic ballot? It sounds that way...in a new McClatchy poll. On the other hand, in politics hope springs eternal -- and I repeat: the person who comes closest to actually predicting elections is always THIS GUY. … [Read more...] about Have Democrats Caught Up With Republicans On the Generic Ballot?
Funny Thing Happened to Obama Last Night
The President's Daily Show drive-by was a sad reminder that comedy and colloquy don't always mix, but even worse for those who admire both Barack Obama and Jon Stewart, it reflected the country's mood swing over the past two years. The Tea Party temper tantrum is the headline, but this encounter was a sour reminder of how far those who were high on Obama's coming have … [Read more...] about Funny Thing Happened to Obama Last Night