Is the United States whining about an artificially devalued yuan, when its real economic problems have more to do with an undereducated work force and a concomitant lack of jobs? Columnist Jan Dams of Germany's Die Welt warns that if the United States expects to pull itself out of its economic doldrums, it should follow Germany's example. For Die Welt, columnist Jan Dams … [Read more...] about It Isn’t China’s Fault: America Must Reform its Economy – Die Welt, Germany
Vote By Mail
I live in Oregon. I have not been in a voting both since 1996 but I have voted in every election because we have vote by mail. I will receive my ballot tomorrow or Monday. That's right, election day is three weeks long. Both political parties initially opposed vote by mail because it makes last minute campaigning difficult. But more people vote and so the Republicans still … [Read more...] about Vote By Mail
City Councilman Says It Gets Better
No words of mine could add to his powerful message Good for him … [Read more...] about City Councilman Says It Gets Better
Part of U.S. Compensation for Syphilis Experiments Should Aid Undocumented Guatemalans: Prensa Libre, Guatemala
Columnist Mario Antonio Sandoval of Guatemala's Prensa Libre has a suggestion for how the United States could help compensate Guatemalans for the experiments U.S. doctors and scientists performed on unwilling Guatemalan subjects in the 1940s. In George W. Bush's time in office, Guatemala President Alvaro Colom pushed hard for 'Temporary Protected Status' for Guatemalans in … [Read more...] about Part of U.S. Compensation for Syphilis Experiments Should Aid Undocumented Guatemalans: Prensa Libre, Guatemala
Reflections On The Huffington Post, A Giant Growing Pain
One of my tasks seeking column material, when I'm not interrupted by pesky doctor appointments, PET scans and biopsies, is a path that routinely takes me to the Huffington Post. Now, the HuffPo is my source of amusement and entertainment and I admire its chutzpa as a model of economic success in a media world struggling for survival. If you want political balance, HuffPo is … [Read more...] about Reflections On The Huffington Post, A Giant Growing Pain
After The Big G.O.P. Win…
It now appears certain that Republicans will gain control over at least one house of congress and maybe both. What can we expect from them in this new political environment, and how might their behavior differ from the behavior of Democrats after the 2008 elections? 1. Whatever their margin of victory, Republicans will proclaim they have a mandate for great change and act … [Read more...] about After The Big G.O.P. Win…
(More) Islamophobia at Fox News
A Fox News anchor says "all terrorists are muslims" and a Fox bigwig tries to tell everyone he didn't say what he said. But his statement was clear. … [Read more...] about (More) Islamophobia at Fox News
Sickening
Apparently, the Israeli government's decision to allow construction of 238 new housing units in East Jerusalem at the precise moment when peace talks are on hold pending word on whether Israel will extend its 10-month freeze on new construction on the West Bank means that Palestinians don't want peace. It seems that Palestinian objections to building new Jewish settlements on … [Read more...] about Sickening
Sleazy
I've always liked Mitt Romney, even though I liked him in the days when he was a moderate Republican -- before he woke up and discovered he was a conservative and put more fudge on his positions than Friendlie's Restaurants put on their ice cream. But this is truly sleazy. And I'm sure some of the authors who write here on TMV would heartily agree. … [Read more...] about Sleazy
The Coffee Party
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about The Coffee Party
“Absolute Moron” of the Day
I was going to call Brian Kilmeade a moron, but Oliver Willis got there first. … [Read more...] about “Absolute Moron” of the Day
When Bankers Could Be the Good Guys
"The past is a foreign country--they do things differently there" is the opening line of a 1950s novel and movie evoked by the mortgage mess splattering the American landscape now with greed, misconduct and, worst of all, a breakdown of social trust built up over more than two centuries. Bank stocks are plummeting as financial institutions, courts and endangered homeowners … [Read more...] about When Bankers Could Be the Good Guys
Sabato: Republicans Will Win 47 Seats and Possibly Retake Senate
Democrats should continue to dread election day or quadruple their efforts to stave off GOpers more than ever. The reason: The University of Virgnia's Larry Sabato, arguably one of the most accurate forecasters of election results in the country, says the Republicans are poised to take over the House and possibly even the Senate: As alert readers of the Crystal Ball will … [Read more...] about Sabato: Republicans Will Win 47 Seats and Possibly Retake Senate
The Mayflower Compact: The Separation of Church and State
Reading Nathaniel Philbrick's outstanding book, Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War, roused some thoughts in me regarding the separation of Church and State, something I see as a positive good. I posted about it over on my blog. Out of respect to those who adhere to religious beliefs other than my own, I'm not posting it here. Still, I felt that Moderate Voice … [Read more...] about The Mayflower Compact: The Separation of Church and State
Military and Overseas Voters Are Still Routinely Disenfranchised (Guest Voice)
Military and Overseas Voters Are Still Routinely Disenfranchised by Mr. Anonymous MY FIRST EXPERIENCE attempting to vote from overseas, in 1996, was a failure. I was in the Navy at the time, and I received my absentee ballot the day before Election Day. It was delivered to my ship in the South China Sea, along with the rest of our mail, by an SH-60 Seahawk … [Read more...] about Military and Overseas Voters Are Still Routinely Disenfranchised (Guest Voice)
Christine O’Donnell Warns Republican Bigwigs “I’ve got Sean Hannity in my back pocket”
Asking hasn't worked. Twitching her nose hasn't worked. So now Tea Party favorite and Delaware' Republican candidate for Senate Christine O'Donnell is using a threat to try and pry big bucks out of the Republican party establishment and big bankroll groups: she's warning them that she has Fox News and talk show radio host Sean Hannity in her "back pocket" (literal words) and if … [Read more...] about Christine O’Donnell Warns Republican Bigwigs “I’ve got Sean Hannity in my back pocket”
Web Site Analyzes All 435 House Races
I think the analysis is too positive for the GOP but it is interesting to note that he has both GOP and Dem pickups, including a few D pickups in places most people would not predict. … [Read more...] about Web Site Analyzes All 435 House Races
Postal Union Vote Delayed; Ballots Lost In The Mail
Sounds like an SNL skit but... Election … [Read more...] about Postal Union Vote Delayed; Ballots Lost In The Mail
Indian Billionaire Builds 27 Story Home
Some are calling it the worlds first billion dollar home, though the bulk of that price is land value so I think it a tad deceptive. However as noted in this 2008 article it is pretty over the top, even for the mega rich. The home features a 160 car garage, a 50 seat movie theater, *three* helipads (with ATC center of course), and will have a 600 member staff. The … [Read more...] about Indian Billionaire Builds 27 Story Home
‘I Witnessed the U.S. Syphilis Experiments’: Prensa Libre of Guatemala
Posting articles like these is no pleasure. But part of the practice of journalism is to alert the public to things they might not want to see or hear, and which, in our judgment as journalists, they ought to see or hear. Global reaction to how the United States government intentionally infected unknowing Guatemalans and perhaps even American troops - is one such … [Read more...] about ‘I Witnessed the U.S. Syphilis Experiments’: Prensa Libre of Guatemala