As tens of thousands of Americans gathered on the National Mall this past weekend, Frank Rich -- in the New York Times -- warned them and their supporters not to underestimate the "useful idiocy" of the Tea Party's most recent star, Christine O'Donnell. For comedians -- particularly Bill Mahar -- she is the gift which keeps on giving. But, Rich wrote: O'Donnell is … [Read more...] about Whose Populism?
Some Like It Not
Some Like It Not by Tom Watson Tony Curtis would have made a terrific Rahm Emanuel. I can see him as a tortured, angry chief of staff in a tense fin de siècle drama of rising shadows in a White House under siege. Just as easily, I can picture Curtis joyfully elbowing his way through a comical role as Emanuel the Picaresque, jabbing lefty bloggers with glee and keeping his … [Read more...] about Some Like It Not
Nathalie Dupree Joins Crowded South Carolina Senate Race
Celebrity chef Nathalie Dupree, 70, has launched a last-minute write-in campaign in the South Carolina U.S. Senate race. She faces the Republican incumbent, Jim DeMint; the Democratic nominee, Alvin Greene; Tom Clements, the Green Party nominee; and two other write-in candidates, high school teacher Greg Snoad and an inactive attorney, Mazie Ferguson. From the Washington … [Read more...] about Nathalie Dupree Joins Crowded South Carolina Senate Race
Health Care’s Second Wind
WASHINGTON -- Here is another piece of conventional wisdom about this year's election that is being rendered patently false. It's been said over and over that no Democrats are running on the health care bill. Actually, more and more of them are proudly campaigning on what the plan has achieved -- and they should. In a fight for his political life in Wisconsin, Sen. … [Read more...] about Health Care’s Second Wind
In Praise of Intolerance
"The Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection, should demean themselves as good citizens."-- George Washington What's happened to good citizenship lately? Andrew Shirvell, a paid state official during off hours, calls a gay student body president a racist … [Read more...] about In Praise of Intolerance
The Rise of Black Republicans
Jack Kelly has an interesting article up on RCP about the number of minorities running for office as Republicans in 2010 as well as the general lack of media attention. I do think he has a point. Admittedly some of them have no chance of winning, but you would think that with our first black President that having black Republicans running for office would be worthy of some … [Read more...] about The Rise of Black Republicans
America’s ‘Cry of Agony’ Through the Tea Party: Le Temps, Switzerland
What is the Tea Party and where did it come from? This editorial from Switzerland's Le Temps attempts to put things into context, describing the Tea Party as a 'cry of agony' that Europeans shouldn't scoff at, but should recognize in their own right-wing upsurge. The Le Temps editorial says in part: There is drinking and eating in the Tea Party. As has happened … [Read more...] about America’s ‘Cry of Agony’ Through the Tea Party: Le Temps, Switzerland
The Pixie Dust Blues
The Pixie Dust Blues Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Who is that masked superhero zoooming across the country on treacherous adventures to save the Democratic damsel? It’s President Obama, in a desperate attempt to erase the midterm election enthusiasm gap. Two words: Good luck. We’re talking about a chasm that makes the Grand Canyon seem but a crack in the sidewalk. Wider … [Read more...] about The Pixie Dust Blues
Blessed are the sociopaths, for they shall have everything.
This is the 21st Century addition to the original eight beatitudes of Jesus Christ found in Matthew’s Gospel recounting the Sermon on the Mount. This new phrase probably turns Christianity and many other religions on their heads, but it may best describe humanity in its current worldview. One view of human history is a continuous war between those who have some sense of … [Read more...] about Blessed are the sociopaths, for they shall have everything.
Donald Duck Meets Glenn Beck
Via John Gruber but it's absolutely everywhere on the internets right now! How long it will stay is anyone's guess. Watch... From RebelliousPixels.com: This is a re-imagined Donald Duck cartoon remix constructed using dozens of classic Walt Disney cartoons from the 1930s to 1960s. Donald's life is turned upside-down by the current economic crisis and he finds himself … [Read more...] about Donald Duck Meets Glenn Beck
Guess Who Rants Against Government Spending and Handouts But Has Gotten Millions in Tax Breaks?
Guess who rants against government spending and handouts but has gotten millions in tax breaks -- while only producing "a handful" of jobs? Here are some hints. He's a Tea Party movement candidate who pulled an upset and won his party's nomination. And another little hint: he's running in New York. … [Read more...] about Guess Who Rants Against Government Spending and Handouts But Has Gotten Millions in Tax Breaks?
Emmanuel Runs For Mayor
In perhaps the least surprising move in Chicago political history, former Congressman and White House COS Rahm Emmanuel has announced he is running for mayor of Chicago. At this point I am not sure what his chances are. On the surface he certainly has lots of political connections and probably will have the unofficial backing of the Daley machine. But if the black vote … [Read more...] about Emmanuel Runs For Mayor
Religious Wars
Christine Amanpour held a religious war town hall today. As one would expect there was plenty of nonsense from all sides. What would you expect when a collection of humans claims their religion is the "only true religion" but are unable to offer any proof only contradictory mythology. Franklin Graham was well, Franklin Graham: Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of Rev. Billy … [Read more...] about Religious Wars
Tea Party Cherry-Pickin’ Copyright Edition
The Tea Party fetishisizes and cherry-picks the constitution (Fourteenth Amendment anyone?) the way the Religious Right fetishizes and cherry-picks the Bible (Adultery? Pork? Money lenders?). Here some originalism I'd like to see the Tea Party embrace: John Adams’ very first political essay was an attack on the Stamp Act. Now, when I was a kid, they taught me the Stamp Act … [Read more...] about Tea Party Cherry-Pickin’ Copyright Edition
Rahm, Rick and an Old, Old Story
As the President bids a warm farewell to his Chief of Staff, the news is all about...Rick Sanchez. Who? A daytime CNN anchor vents his displeasure in a radio interview about Jon Stewart satirizing his work, escalates into an aria against "Jewish" control of his own network and is instantly fired. Sanchez's sad fate intersects with a memory evoked by Rahm Emanuel's … [Read more...] about Rahm, Rick and an Old, Old Story
Diluting The Tea Party Gene Pool (Guest Voice)
Diluting The Tea Party Gene Pool by Karl Frisch Say what you will about the tea party, but it has been remarkably effective at pushing select fringe candidates to electoral victories. In late 2009, you would have been hard pressed to find anyone in Washington who would have believed that a Republican would soon fill the Senate seat held for decades by the late Ted … [Read more...] about Diluting The Tea Party Gene Pool (Guest Voice)
Rahm Emanuel Leaves Washington
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Rahm Emanuel Leaves Washington
Words Inadequate to Describe U.S. Bio-Crime In Guatemala: Siglo Vientiuno, Guatemala
It was revealed on Friday that United States scientists traveled to Guatemala in the 1940s and injected 'prostitutes, soldiers, prisoners and the mentally ill', without their consent, with syphilis and gonorrhea. Not surprisingly, the people of that nation are outraged and U.S. officials at the very highest levels are expressing apologies. This morning's editorial in … [Read more...] about Words Inadequate to Describe U.S. Bio-Crime In Guatemala: Siglo Vientiuno, Guatemala
Some Lessons from the Rick Sanchez Firing
Some lessons from the Rick Sanchez firing via the Orlando Sentinel's "TV Guy." … [Read more...] about Some Lessons from the Rick Sanchez Firing
Tony Curtis and Bernie Schwartz
As he morphed from Bernie Schwartz, a Depression kid of my generation who believed in the immigrant dream and lived it, Tony Curtis, who died this week, never lost the exuberance that came from growing up in a time when everything seemed possible because life couldn't possibly get worse. Unlike most of us, who counted on our brains to escape Bronx squalor, Bernie was also … [Read more...] about Tony Curtis and Bernie Schwartz