On Thursday, outside a hardware store in suburban Washington, the Republicans unveiled their platform for the midterm election. Calling their document A Pledge to America, the prologue was full of traditional Republican boilerplate: We pledge to advance policies that promote greater liberty, wider opportunity, a robust defense, and national economic prosperity. We … [Read more...] about Marching Toward Insanity
The Republicans Were Against Using Reconciliation But Not If They Win
Remember the horus and hours of talk radio time, cable talk show time, and the huge number of blogs posts by Republicans about how terrible, awful, downright undemocratic reconciliation would be? So the Democrats abandoned the idea even though Republicans had used it in the past. Now it turns out that if the GOPs wins big they are talking about...you guessed it..using … [Read more...] about The Republicans Were Against Using Reconciliation But Not If They Win
‘Outsourced’ Is Not A Laughing Matter
Friends and family say I have a wonderful sense of humor. Alas, I found none in watching the opening episode of NBC’s new comedy “Outsourced” Thursday night. Normally I find amusement in cultural divides and the plight of the human condition. This 30-minute disaster is insensitive to the millions of Americans who lost their jobs because of large corporations outsourcing … [Read more...] about ‘Outsourced’ Is Not A Laughing Matter
New Poll: Is Harry Reid Now Political Toast? (UPDATED)
Despite media and pundit talk about possible general backlash to Tea Party movement candidates, there is little sign of that in Nevada -- where a new poll shows has two tidbits of bad news for Majority Leader Harry Reid in his battle to fend off a challenge from Republican Sharon Angle, a Tea Party movement candidate who won't talk to reporters most of the time and who is … [Read more...] about New Poll: Is Harry Reid Now Political Toast? (UPDATED)
Terrorism: Should Europe and the US Go to Red Alert?
Counterterrorism officials in France, Germany, Britain, and the United States have given warnings this week about the rising threat of attacks by Al Qaeda and its affiliates, especially in Europe. Are our politicians listening? Are you concerned? "Al Qaeda and its allies are taking aim at Europe, according to US and Western intelligence officials, who say there are … [Read more...] about Terrorism: Should Europe and the US Go to Red Alert?
Quote of the Day: The Culture Gap Between American Cartoonists and the Rest of the World
I love cartoons and cartoonists. Perhaps because I always wanted to be one and the only thing I can do from my efforts as a kid is a half baked version of Woody Woodpecker (I tried Donald Duck but there was a rumbling sound which I am told was Walt Disney rolling over in his grave -- or trying to get out of the freezer..). But I also walk the walk: I have been subscriber to Mad … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The Culture Gap Between American Cartoonists and the Rest of the World
The Recession Ended Last Year
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about The Recession Ended Last Year
The Gloves Now Coming Off in Cuomo-Paladino New York Governor’s Race
The gloves are quickly coming off in the battle to win New York's race for Governor. Some think Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's trying to remain overtly above the fray has started to seriously hurt his poll numbers. His GOP Tea Party movement Carl Paladino, gaining fast in at least one poll, now accuses Cuomo of using surrogates: Meanwhile, the fact that polling ain't … [Read more...] about The Gloves Now Coming Off in Cuomo-Paladino New York Governor’s Race
Christine O’Donnell
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Christine O’Donnell
Republicans Do Not Support Our Troops (Guest Voice)
Republicans Do Not Support Our Troops by Karl Frisch This week, Republicans in the Senate successfully showed their collective contempt for our men and women in uniform, and in the process they made our military weaker and our country less safe. Led by John McCain -- the upper chamber’s cranky uncle -- Republicans blocked Democratic efforts to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t … [Read more...] about Republicans Do Not Support Our Troops (Guest Voice)
Even Daily Kos Calls This Democrat Wrong
It takes an awful lot for Kos to go after a Democrat, especially when it is a fairly liberal one. From the video it sure seems like Sanchez implied that her Vietnamese opponent is a racist and that her district is 'a Latino one'. … [Read more...] about Even Daily Kos Calls This Democrat Wrong
A Story To Make You Smile
Given all of the negative stories we see, especially involving high school kids, it's nice to be able to report a good one. For most of the US, it's not lacrosse season yet, but it is at a high school in Florida where a school team arranged a special game to allow one player to perform for her dad. You might ask why they felt the need to do so now, with lacrosse season … [Read more...] about A Story To Make You Smile
Blockbuster Bankrupt, Netflix Stock Up
Blockbuster is expected to shutter at least 1,000 of its 3,000 stores in a "Pre-Arranged" Chapter 11 Proceeding. The plan to turn the company around, led by billionaire investor Carl C. Icahn, is to move to on-demand movies delivered through cable services and the Internet. The single advantage the company hopes to cash in on is that it can deliver some movie titles on the day … [Read more...] about Blockbuster Bankrupt, Netflix Stock Up
Axelrod To Leave Obama White House
I can see the headlines and hear the commentary: White House Staff Leaves Sinking Obama Ship Like Rats The latest announced departure will be President Obama’s political guru David Axelrod. He will follow or join names as in Romer, Summers, Jones, Emmanuel, and a host of lesser characters. In Axelrod’s case, it is not because he is a deserter. He will run Obama’s … [Read more...] about Axelrod To Leave Obama White House
Iraqis: Shape Up or Prepare for U.S.-Backed Military Coup – Kitabat, Iraq
Given the post-election deadlock in Iraq, could the United States be considering postponing democracy and planning a bloodless military coup? Columnist Haitham Al-Taib of Iraq's Kitabat newspaper warns Iraq's political class that with American patience wearing thin, the time for negotiating over a new government is running out. For Kitabat, columnist Haitham Al-Taib wrtes in … [Read more...] about Iraqis: Shape Up or Prepare for U.S.-Backed Military Coup – Kitabat, Iraq
Harry Kresky: Political Reform and Human Development
By Harry Kresky (September 23, 2010) Going into the Congressional midterm elections, the focus is on contests between Democratic and Republican Party candidates who have come out of the partisan primary system. On the Republican side, this has produced a set of candidates in Alaska, Kentucky, Nevada, Florida and Delaware who, more or less, line up with the Tea Party wing of … [Read more...] about Harry Kresky: Political Reform and Human Development
Not Many “Christian Values ” To Be Found
Last weekend something called the Values Voters Summit was held. There was one thing missing - Christian Values. William Rivers Pitt: It's a kind of big-tent showcase for the fundamentalist far-right base of the Republican Party, sponsored by such leading conservative lights as the Family Research Council, the Heritage Foundation, and Jerry Falwell's Liberty … [Read more...] about Not Many “Christian Values ” To Be Found
GOP To America: Our Way Or The Highway
Question: How many people will take the time to read through the House Republicans “Pledge to America”? My answer: Not enough. If you remove the political claptrap from the document, what you get is deja vu: We heard this before: Lower taxes, less spending, a return to “core values” and an unlimited national missile defense fund. There is both good and bad in the pledge … [Read more...] about GOP To America: Our Way Or The Highway
Obama’s Economic Failures Explained
A couple of days ago I wrote a post about a declaration by the National Bureau of Economic Research's (NBER) that the recession ended in June 2009. The point of that post was that it was silly and indeed cruel for a few academic economists to broadcast their technical definition of recession at a time when so many Americans are suffering in what for them is a very real on-going … [Read more...] about Obama’s Economic Failures Explained
Troubled Days In Andrew Cuomoland
New York State's Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has long been considered a shoo-in for Governor. His popularity has not been a matter of him being the son of Mario a.k.a "Hamlet" Cuomo (who dithered and dithered about running for President until his moment passed). But he is popular in his own right. So it was considered a "given" that he would easily beat the GOP candidate … [Read more...] about Troubled Days In Andrew Cuomoland