Could a heavy emphasis on immigration reform be just what the Obama Administration needs to snatch victory from the jaws of probable electoral defeat? For El Universal of Mexico, warning that anyone who writes off Obama 'as another Carter' will find themselves badly mistaken, Eduardo Valle writes in part. The costs of these two wars [Iraq and Afghanistan] have … [Read more...] about The Tea Party and Immigration Reform: Obama’s Ace in the Hole – El Universal, Mexico
New Punches
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Breakfast with Omar Khayyam
Breakfast with Omar Khayyam A decaf cup and with it will appear a toasted bagel with a schmeer together now at Starbucks served—who knew! Empty thy plate, now crammed with scrambled eggs and home fries floating in the eggy dregs the breakfast special hath an expiry of 10 a joy!—'til lunch time prices come again. Come, read thy Times without a morning froth at … [Read more...] about Breakfast with Omar Khayyam
Tea Party Two-Step
To a 1970s' hit tune, "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," the GOP and their new best friends are dancing in the aisles these days, looking past November to sashaying into the White House in 2012. "It may be," President Obama said recently, "that regardless of what happens after this election, they feel more responsible." If he believes that, Rep. Mike Pence, chairman of the House … [Read more...] about Tea Party Two-Step
Corporate Bailout Recipients Are Giving Campaign Donations
File this in your Wouldn't You Know It file: Companies that received bailout money because they were so financially strapped and had to be jump started and/or reorganized to survive are now giving corporate campaign contributions -- and often to Republicans: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) was a fierce critic of the federal bailout of General Motors and … [Read more...] about Corporate Bailout Recipients Are Giving Campaign Donations
Learning Nothing from History
Back in the last century, when I taught high school in the Province of Quebec, the Ministry of Education insisted that every student take Canadian History. But there was no requirement that every student pass the course. That memory came to mind on Friday, when I read Paul Krugman's column in The New York Times. On the subject of the British government's new austerity … [Read more...] about Learning Nothing from History
The Scandal of 2010
WASHINGTON -- Imagine an election in a Third World nation where a small number of millionaires and billionaires spent massive sums to push the outcome in their preferred direction. Wouldn't many people here condescendingly tut-tut such a country's "poorly developed" sense of democracy and the inadequacy of its political system? That, of course, is what is going on in … [Read more...] about The Scandal of 2010
Helen Keller’s Mushrooms (Guest Voice)
Helen Keller’s Mushrooms Raging Moderate, by Will Durst The precise word to explain this season’s big new trend in campaign financing is obliviousness. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled that everybody is allowed to give as much money as they desire to anybody they choose and absolutely nobody needs to know about it. The upshot of which has all of America knee … [Read more...] about Helen Keller’s Mushrooms (Guest Voice)
Unraveling the Righties’ Spin on WikiLeaks Iraq War Logs
Two items in the trove of Iraq war documents just released by WikiLeaks have caught the attention of some on the right whose thinking is, to put it charitably, muddled: … [Read more...] about Unraveling the Righties’ Spin on WikiLeaks Iraq War Logs
Book Review – The Monster
Do you like a good crime novel – a corporate crime novel? If so The Monster: How a gang of predatory lenders and Wall Street bankers fleeced America – and spawned a global crisis by Michael W. Hudson is for you. Unfortunately it's not a fictional novel but the history of the mortgage crisis that may yet bring down the US and world economy. This book is not directly about … [Read more...] about Book Review – The Monster
National Politically Correct Radio
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about National Politically Correct Radio
Pondering Political Evolution (Guest Voice)
Pondering Political Evolution By Alex Hammer Does the actual nature of politics change or instead only the political players and political methods? Is every election cycle a replay of elements that have been recycled in human history in regard to our goals, needs and behaviors? Politics advances as human nature advances. If it does. Social evolution, as I refer … [Read more...] about Pondering Political Evolution (Guest Voice)
Indications from Early Voting: Republicans Are More Enthused
Democrats dreaming of a Harry Truman type upset on election day might take a deep breath if this piece in The Politico is any indication. It's finding: Just over a week before Election Day, signs of widespread Republican enthusiasm are apparent in the early-voter data, including in some places with highly competitive statewide races. Yet at the same time, for Democrats … [Read more...] about Indications from Early Voting: Republicans Are More Enthused
California Democratic Oasis? Jerry Brown Doubles His Lead Over Whitman As Boxer Holds Steady
At a time when some analysts including The Daily Beast's Election Oracle are predicting that Republicans will gain control of not just the House but the Senate due to a big enthusiasm gap between Republican and Democratic voters, a Los Angeles Times poll finds California is a kind of refuge from Democratic doom and gloom -- a place where former Gov. Jerry Brown is now actually … [Read more...] about California Democratic Oasis? Jerry Brown Doubles His Lead Over Whitman As Boxer Holds Steady
Quote of the Day: On a Key Obama Administration Failure
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Frank Rich who looks at why the Obama administration hasn't gotten credit and respect for some of its accomplishments -- and at one if its key failures with long-term consquences: PRESIDENT Obama, the Rodney Dangerfield of 2010, gets no respect for averting another Great Depression, for saving 3.3 million jobs with stimulus … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On a Key Obama Administration Failure
Australian Julian Assange: WikiLeaks Saga & Pentagon Papers
Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers, said the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange had been “pursued across three continents” by Western intelligence services. Ellsberg compared the Obama administration’s threat to prosecute Mr. Assange to his own treatment under President Richard M. Nixon, reports The New York Times. (Julian Paul Assange, born 1971, is an Australian … [Read more...] about Australian Julian Assange: WikiLeaks Saga & Pentagon Papers
Myanmar (Burma): Junta Relies On Astrologers?
Myanmar's (Burma) ruling military junta made a sudden decision Thursday to change the country's flag, national anthem and official name. Burma will have general elections in two weeks, country's first election in 20 years. There was also an order that the old flags must be burnt, giving rise to a speculation that the ruling junta has done all this at the behest of astrologers. … [Read more...] about Myanmar (Burma): Junta Relies On Astrologers?
The Noble Sacrifice of a Heroic Midget
Erick Erickson: … [Read more...] about The Noble Sacrifice of a Heroic Midget
Vatican: Israel Cannot Use Bible to Justify Settlements
It's not often that I agree with the Pope on anything, so when it happens, it's worth noting. … [Read more...] about Vatican: Israel Cannot Use Bible to Justify Settlements
Carl Paladino’s Campaign Is Almost Broke
The Scouts' motto is "Be Prepared" and you'd think that would also fit for someone running for New York's Senate seat when it comes to campaign funds. Particularly if he's a millionaire. But when it comes to Tea Party movement favorite and GOP candidate for Senate Carl Paladino..NOT! Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino's campaign is running on empty, according … [Read more...] about Carl Paladino’s Campaign Is Almost Broke