First there was Wide Open*. Then there was Red Blue America. Now, there's Matter of Opinion. From its About Us page: Matter Of Opinion (MOO) is a new bi-partisan concept designed to draw as many people as possible into the political discussion. MOO launches weekly survey-based conversations that explore a variety of politically-charged local, national and global … [Read more...] about New Platform Helps Divine Whether “It’s Just a Matter of Opinion”
Evil Obama and China’s Yuan: It’s About the Midterm Elections: Izvestia, Russia
How much of America's carping about the undervalued yuan has to do with fundamental fairness, and how much with the U.S. midterm elections? According to Izvestia columnist Dmitry Kosyrev, the complaints and President Obama's change of tone are almost entirely election-related. And agreeing with much of the global reaction on the issue, he writes that China's resistance is a … [Read more...] about Evil Obama and China’s Yuan: It’s About the Midterm Elections: Izvestia, Russia
How ‘The Best Political TV Ad’ Changed My Mind
This won’t exactly strike fear in the heart of the Meg Whitman for Governor campaign in California but I think I will change my earlier announcement I would vote for her. I figured since her nomination she was worth a try compared to the Democrats’ old warhorse Jerry Brown. So much for preconceived notions. The tipping point in my mind has been a work in progress because … [Read more...] about How ‘The Best Political TV Ad’ Changed My Mind
Will Obama Ask India to End Hindu Terror Against Christians?: Pak Tribune, Pakistan
When President Obama visits India next month, should he raise the issue of 'Hindu terrorism' against Christians, Muslims and other minorities, particularly members of what were once known as the 'untouchables?' Is there, in fact, a major problem with Hindu terrorism - and should this be part of the 'war on terror'? Rather than focusing on Afghanistan, bilateral trade and the … [Read more...] about Will Obama Ask India to End Hindu Terror Against Christians?: Pak Tribune, Pakistan
A Shared Austerity Or Just Screw The Poor?
Austerity has taken hold in much of Europe. In some countries, like Greece and France, it has begun generating a great deal of social unrest. In Britain, a drastic austerity program that has just been announced will reduce the benefits of millions and lead to reducing the size of government by almost 500,000. Austerity is much on view in this country as well, but so far … [Read more...] about A Shared Austerity Or Just Screw The Poor?
New MacBook Air Signals The Death of the Disk
This year we've seen the end of the browser and the death of the web, and the end of the mouse, possibly even the death of the desktop tower. With the introduction of the new MacBook Air we're seeing the death of the disk. No, not yet the hard drive (though the Air doesn't have one; it uses flash memory instead). The optical drive. MG Siegler: When you get your MacBook Air … [Read more...] about New MacBook Air Signals The Death of the Disk
Remembering Hurricane Wilma
Commenting on a political issue recently, a TMV reader said, “Kind of like taking a vacation in the eye of a hurricane.” It so happens that my family and I, along with tens of thousands of other tourists, did exactly that five years ago. Today is exactly five years since hurricane Wilma dealt a devastating blow to the Mexican Yucatán Peninsula, in particular striking the … [Read more...] about Remembering Hurricane Wilma
CBS Poll: 56% of Americans Back Gays Serving Openly in Military
But that's down 8 points in 2 months: Since the August poll, Senate Republicans blocked efforts to set the stage for a legislative repeal of the policy and a district judge ordered that the policy no longer be enforced, a ruling being appealed by the government... The decision that the policy can no longer be enforced has prompted discharged gay troops to reenlist, though … [Read more...] about CBS Poll: 56% of Americans Back Gays Serving Openly in Military
The Incredible Shrinking Women (Guest Voice)
The Incredible Shrinking Women by Tina Dupuy If you happen to mention the name Hillary Clinton to my grandmother, she’ll pause, lock her jaw and declare, “That woman…ambitious.” That’s all she has to say about Clinton because, after all, Granny’s polite. Also, the first female Speaker of the House’s name is akin to a curse word – something you say when you stub your toe. … [Read more...] about The Incredible Shrinking Women (Guest Voice)
Tea Party Bedbugs
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Tea Party Bedbugs
A National Election, Like it Or Not
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Let us contemplate the joys of being in the political opposition when unemployment in your state tops 10 percent. Kevin DeWine, the affable chairman of the Republican Party in Ohio, has a transparent board behind his desk at state headquarters where he scribbles reminders to himself. A permanent fixture is this list of words: "Spending, taxes, jobs, … [Read more...] about A National Election, Like it Or Not
So You Want To Go To Law School
This made me fall down laughing, then crying, then laughing again It is BRILLIANT … [Read more...] about So You Want To Go To Law School
DADT Reinstated
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is back. At least until Monday: Less than 24 hours after a federal judge refused to block an injunction against "don't ask, don't tell," the U.S. court of appeals for the ninth circuit has done so — at least temporarily. A three-judge panel ordered a stay requested by the Justice Department "temporarily in order to provide this court with an … [Read more...] about DADT Reinstated
Amazing Bit Of History
This is both fascinating and frightening. For some time archivists have had a film made in San Francisco before the 1906 earthquake. Most experts had dated the film to September or October 1905. But a film historian did a little more checking. He noticed rain puddles on the ground but the fall of 1905 was dry. He also checked the license plates on some of the cars in the … [Read more...] about Amazing Bit Of History
I’m Not Ashamed of My Dyslexia
I don’t enjoy reading. I’ve been told this is the definition of dyslexia. Or at least part of the definition. Dyslexics lose their desire to read, or they never gain a desire, or they can’t seem to maintain a desire to continue along the written page. It seems dyslexia is more than the reversal of letters and words. It’s more than a punch line about atheists who don’t … [Read more...] about I’m Not Ashamed of My Dyslexia
“New Americans” and Baltimore Unemployment
Last week, when I appeared on the Marc Steiner show after the first Ehrlich – O’Malley debate, I commented on the use of the term “New Americans” by O’Malley. I know that illegal immigration in Baltimore has helped to increase unemployment rates among African-Americans. In 2007, according to the American Community Survey data from the US Census Bureau, black unemployment in … [Read more...] about “New Americans” and Baltimore Unemployment
Over-the-Hill Revival
Justice Clarence Thomas hardly ever speaks in Supreme Court sessions (281 words in three years by one count), but his wife has reached across almost two decades to revive his most painful public moment--the sexual harassment accusations at his confirmation hearing in 1991. In a voice mail message, Virginia Thomas asks accuser Anita Hill "to consider an apology sometime and … [Read more...] about Over-the-Hill Revival
What the Tea Party is Really All About
Contra Frank Rich (in an otherwise good column) and others, FDL's Blue Texan makes a great point about the Teabaggers (one that many of us have made but that the media are generally ignoring, as it contradicts their narrative). It's not all about the economy, stupid: Anyone who thinks the Teabaggers' unhinged "anger and bitterness" will subside in the face of an improving … [Read more...] about What the Tea Party is Really All About
Dummies Guide to Gender-Neutral Political Punching
Seriously. If you're not following these incredibly simple rules, as outlined in this Washington Post op-ed, then you're intentionally using gender stereotypes to inflict damage (aka being sexist): Don’t equate typically female characteristics or activities (baking, wearing high heels) with weakness. Don’t — even, or maybe especially, if you’re a woman — equate toughness … [Read more...] about Dummies Guide to Gender-Neutral Political Punching
Mid-terms 2010 Will Likely Symbolize the Political Depreciation of Barack Obama
As election day shapes up as a probable day of infamy for the Democratic Party and Barack Obama one thing is clear: historians will point to Obama as the quintessential example of someone who ran a good Presidential election campaign, made great speeches, organized and mobilized voters and convinced his party to put its fate in his hands – and who didn’t live up to advance … [Read more...] about Mid-terms 2010 Will Likely Symbolize the Political Depreciation of Barack Obama