The University of Virginia's Larry Sabato, arguably one of the most accurate election forecasters in the country in the Crystal Ball forecasts issued by him and his top team, is now making his final prediction: the Republicans will take the House and the Democrats will retain the Senate -- but he doesn't rule out a GOP surprise on the Senate front given post-World War II … [Read more...] about Larry Sabato’s Final Forecast: Republicans Take the House, Democrats Take the Senate
Bull’s Eye-view In India!
Bull has enjoyed a central place in mythology cutting across many civilizations. In agrarian India it enjoyed a special place but is now in decline owing to widespread artificial insemination of cows. The photo above of a bull in an Indian town is symbolic of the waning power and majesty of the bull. I am reminded of the following poem... "I am monarch of all I survey; My … [Read more...] about Bull’s Eye-view In India!
As Real as It Gets
This final week has dwindled down to a precious few days for Democrats to offset Republican enthusiasm and Tea Party mania by bringing out their "base." Ages ago, Elaine May and Mike Nichols, a comedy team for people with a pulse and an IQ, had an exchange mocking their overeducated audiences' tendency to talk about social problems rather than act: "Actually, it's a moral … [Read more...] about As Real as It Gets
Over the Top? Maybe Not.
I read this piece by Tom Levenson at Balloon Juice and at first wasn't going to blog about it, because I thought his analogy was a bit of a stretch. He wrote about some nasty historical echoes to Nazi justifications for political violence that he sees in the pile-on that's going on among righties against Lauren Valle (the Move On activist who was attacked by a couple of … [Read more...] about Over the Top? Maybe Not.
Joe Sestak’s Witching Hour
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- If there is one candidate who truly wishes that Christine O'Donnell had not won the Republican senatorial nomination in Delaware, it is the Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, Pat Toomey. Toomey, a former congressman, became a hero to the right for pushing Sen. Arlen Specter out of the GOP. For much of the summer, Toomey ran safely ahead of … [Read more...] about Joe Sestak’s Witching Hour
Unearned Victories
With the World series starting up tonight (go Giants) I thought it appropriate to take a little look at the upcoming elections and the likely Republican victory. One of the many things that stats junkies will be pondering is how many unearned runs will be scored by the two teams. I can't predict where that number will come in but I do think it is clear that there is at least … [Read more...] about Unearned Victories
Joy Behar doubles down in war on women of the right
A minor firestorm erupted yesterday when Joy Behar, co-host of The View, criticized a campaign ad by Nevada Republican Sharron Angle, implying the ad was racist. She then fired off a tirade that included the following lovely statements: “You know what I’d like to see her do? I’d like to see her do this ad in the south Bronx. Come here, bitch! Come to New York and do it,” … [Read more...] about Joy Behar doubles down in war on women of the right
Karl Rove Raises Questions About Sarah Palin
If you had any doubts that Tea Party spiritual leader Sarah Palin is not GOP establishment political maven Karl Rove's favorite candidate -- and that jockeying for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination has begun even before Tuesday's votes have been cast -- get rid of them now. Karl Rove has raised questions about Palin's qualifications to sit in the Oval Office -- and he … [Read more...] about Karl Rove Raises Questions About Sarah Palin
The Exaggerated Cyber-War Threat
Seymour Hersh wonders, should we be worried about a cyber war? The short answer, NO! The amount of cyber-jargon we've got in government is stupefying: A Cyber Czar rules Cyber Command assessing the cyber threat to our cyber security; we need cyber weapons to defend against a cyber attack, protect against cyber-pillaging and wage cyber war; we must develop cyber … [Read more...] about The Exaggerated Cyber-War Threat
Howling Mad
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Howling Mad
Jean Schmidt Brings Up Abortion to an Audience of First- to Eighth-Graders
This is certainly something that conservatives would vociferously condemn if a Democrat had done it: … [Read more...] about Jean Schmidt Brings Up Abortion to an Audience of First- to Eighth-Graders
The ‘Service’ WikiLeaks Provides is No Treason: Berliner Zeitung, Germany
Is WikiLeaks a treasonous enterprise that should be outlawed - or is it an emerging bulwark of democracy? The conversation that commenced last summer with WikiLeaks' release of a trove a classified documents about Afghanistan has begun all over again with the release of the Iraq War logs, which is being called the largest release of classified military information in … [Read more...] about The ‘Service’ WikiLeaks Provides is No Treason: Berliner Zeitung, Germany
Left Spanks Mitch McConnell As A Pinata For Truth Gaffe
Every election cycle campaign amounts to silly season of candidates caught in gaffes saying not only stupid things with the resultant backstepping and coverups or media end runs, but occasionally an utterance of unguarded honesty. It is those rare gems of truth that resonate in my mind. In the case of Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, it seems the left wing echo … [Read more...] about Left Spanks Mitch McConnell As A Pinata For Truth Gaffe
Chutzpah: Rand Paul Supporter Who Stomped On Woman’s Head Wants HER to Apologize
File this one in your Chutzpah file -- but, honestly, with the kind of suspension of values (and basic humanity) that we now seeing play out in the name of ideological and partisan rage/fever is this a surprise at all? That brave Rand Paul supporter who stomped on a 23-year-old woman's head (he later explained that he stomped on her head because he had back problems) now wants … [Read more...] about Chutzpah: Rand Paul Supporter Who Stomped On Woman’s Head Wants HER to Apologize
The Great Bipartisan Pumpkin
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about The Great Bipartisan Pumpkin
Guess Who’s Thinking of Running for President in 2012?
Perhaps he's thinking about running since he came so close last time... … [Read more...] about Guess Who’s Thinking of Running for President in 2012?
Why Does Ken Buck Hate America? The Conservative Effort to Destroy the Separation of Church and State
Ken Buck, the Colorado Republican who thinks that gays are like alcoholics, said last year that he objected to a fundamental principle of American constitutional democracy: I disagree strongly with the concept of separation of church and state. It was not written into the Constitution. Now, he rightly noted that the Constitution bars "a religion that's sanctioned by the … [Read more...] about Why Does Ken Buck Hate America? The Conservative Effort to Destroy the Separation of Church and State
Starlight
XKCD: (Be sure to put your mouse over the image for a second to see his message) … [Read more...] about Starlight
Meg Whitman’s Fatal Mistake?
Did Meg Whitman, Republican candidate for Governor of California commit a fatal mistake? In an appearance with rival Democrat Jerry Brown at the the annual Women’s Conference last night NBC's Matt Lauer tried to get both candidates to agree to pull all negative ads. Brown finally agreed. Whitman did not -- and the audience booed at one point. And when Lauer went back the … [Read more...] about Meg Whitman’s Fatal Mistake?
Christians, Catholics and the Uncomfortable Debate About Islam: News, Switzerland
Is religion in general at the root of recent anti-Muslim feeling in the West? Columnist Patrik Etschmayer of Switzerland's News writes that the West must defend its hard-fought freedom - not with Judeo-Christian values, which are just as responsible for wrongdoing as Islam - but with the values of the Reformation and the Enlightenment, during which Westerners had to fight tooth … [Read more...] about Christians, Catholics and the Uncomfortable Debate About Islam: News, Switzerland