Nepal provides an important buffer zone between two giant countries - India and China - in the mighty Himalayas. So far this cushion has worked well. But now an intercepted telephone call between a senior Nepalese Maoist leader and an unknown Chinese discussing the use of $6.75m to bribe members of Nepalese parliament to elect a Maoist prime minister, has created a serious … [Read more...] about Nepal & China: Intercepted Audio Tape Controversy
West Must Halt Downward Slide Since 9-11: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
In the battle that ensued the day after September 11, 2001, did the people of the Western World lose something essential about themselves? Claus Hecking of Germany's Financial Times Deutschland writes that due to a largely conjured-up fear of terror, 'we are dismantling the foundations of our liberal society.' For the Financial Times Deutschland, Claus Hecking writes in … [Read more...] about West Must Halt Downward Slide Since 9-11: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
U.S. Republicans Spread ‘Hatred’ for Political Gain: El Pais, Spain
In their quest to regain power, have U.S. Republicans gone too far? For Spain's El Pais, columnist Elvira Lindo laments that while it's clear 'the Republican Party has no compunction about making use of lies and prejudice to regain power,' it is unlikely to be forced to pay for its many indiscretions. For El Pais, Elvira Lindo writes in part: Those who accentuate the … [Read more...] about U.S. Republicans Spread ‘Hatred’ for Political Gain: El Pais, Spain
Is Sarah Palin the GOP Frontrunner for 2012?
Ross Douthat notes that there has been a lot of talk from accross the political spectrum about Sarah Palin running for the GOP presidential nomination. Andrew Sullivan has long believed Palin would not only run but win the nomination. Now, we have folks like David Frum who are saying that she may 2012 frontrunner. Douthat argues against such speculation: It is extremely … [Read more...] about Is Sarah Palin the GOP Frontrunner for 2012?
Mark Your Calendars For Oct 30, 2010: Rally To Restore Sanity
Jon Stewart is getting into the National Mall Rally Game by hosting his own Rally To Restore Sanity: "Rational people will gather on the National Mall in DC to spread a timeless message -- take it down a notch for America." The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c … [Read more...] about Mark Your Calendars For Oct 30, 2010: Rally To Restore Sanity
Suggested Campaign Songs for Tea Party Republican Christine O’Donnell’s 2010 Senate Campaign
Since it has now come out that Tea Party heroine and Delaware's new GOP Senatorial candidate Christine O'Donnell once said that she had dabbled into witchcraft, after an exhausting search we offer this to her as her 2010 election campaign song: And perhaps the Pennsylvania GOP and Tea Party admirers will use this song (some of the lyrics certainly seem to … [Read more...] about Suggested Campaign Songs for Tea Party Republican Christine O’Donnell’s 2010 Senate Campaign
Get Ready To See Double Political Standards At Work
Can you JUST IMAGINE what Rush, Sean and Glenn would say if a Democrat running for office had ever said THIS? And can you guess what they'll say? (Nothing..) … [Read more...] about Get Ready To See Double Political Standards At Work
Is Newt Gingrich the GOP’s “Fat Elvis?”
PSST! Hey, you: Newt Gingrich: apparently suggesting that we all need to run out and buy books on Kenyan history and culture to understand President Barack Obama (who happened to be born in the United States but I'm sure you may suggest otherwise) hasn't aced it for you with a younger generation of Republicans. File this John Batchelor Daily Beast column in your Hey I Don't … [Read more...] about Is Newt Gingrich the GOP’s “Fat Elvis?”
Gallup Poll: “Significant Increase” in Americans Wanting Third Party
A new Gallup Poll finds that the desire of many Americans for a third party in the wake of growing perceptions that both parties have failed them is increasing: Americans' desires for a third political party are as high as they have been in seven years. Fifty-eight percent of Americans believe a third major political party is needed because the Republican and Democratic … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: “Significant Increase” in Americans Wanting Third Party
The Cowardice of Sarah Palin (Guest Voice)
The Cowardice of Sarah Palin by Karl Frisch When I joined Twitter in July 2006 I was the 3,365th person to sign up for the 140-character message streaming social network. Now, with more than 190 million users having taken the plunge, I guess you could call me an early adopter of sorts. See, I’ve always believed that the Internet and new online tools like Twitter have … [Read more...] about The Cowardice of Sarah Palin (Guest Voice)
Fantasy Football
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Fantasy Football
Quote of the Day: Why the Democrats Are at an Ideological Disadvantage in 2010
Our political Quote of the Day comes from one of the best commentators on the scene, The Atlantic's (and soon to be The National Journal's) Marc Ambinder who notes that a big chunk of the electorate are conservatives so the GOP is looking to get 80 percent of the conservatives to the polls for the mid-terms. Another chunk are "self-described" moderates (and as we have noted … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Why the Democrats Are at an Ideological Disadvantage in 2010
Daniel P. Moynihan: “An American Visionary”
I recently came across an interesting book “Daniel Patrick Moynihan: A Portrait in Letters of an American Visionary“, edited by Steven Weisman (PublicAffairs; 671 pages; $35). I came to know Moynihan (better known as “Pat”) as a young journalist when he was the U.S. ambassador in India in the early 1970s. Pat was described as “the nation’s best thinker among politicians since … [Read more...] about Daniel P. Moynihan: “An American Visionary”
Does America Have a Kenyan ‘Fifth Column’?: Le Figaro, France
Has right-wing firebrand Dinesh D'Souza gone too far by writing that President Obama's 'philandering, inebriated African socialist father' is now 'setting the nation's agenda through the reincarnation of his dreams in his son'? Columnist Jean-Sébastien Stehli opines for France's Le Figaro that D'Souza's analysis is a disgrace, and that it's too bad he and his supporter New … [Read more...] about Does America Have a Kenyan ‘Fifth Column’?: Le Figaro, France
Murkowski To Launch Write In Campaign
Senator Murkowski (R-AK) is running a write in campaign, possibly turning this in to a real 3 way race. … [Read more...] about Murkowski To Launch Write In Campaign
Poverty in America: Why The Media & Establishment Want to Hide It?
Today's US Census report on poverty in the United States is a clarion call to our nation and our elected leaders, says Rev Jesse Jackson. "We in the United States possess the greatest resources and wealth ever known to humankind. So to have over 44 million people -- 14% of our population -- and 20% of our children living in poverty strains the soul of America. That fully one in … [Read more...] about Poverty in America: Why The Media & Establishment Want to Hide It?
Sarah Palin, The Queen Bee, Rallies Her Ladies And Drones
Sarah Palin delivered a pep talk laced in red, white and blue to Iowa Republicans Friday night, calling nominated Tea Party candidates true patriots set on restoring America. Exactly what point in time she wants America restored was not clearly established in what for Palin was a relatively bland speech. But, what do I know. She poked jabs at the “lame street media” who … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin, The Queen Bee, Rallies Her Ladies And Drones
Quote of the Day: the Tea Party, Criticism of Republicans and the “Party Line”
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Michael Gerson, who served as former President George W. Bush's chief speechwriter from 2001 until June 2006, as a senior policy advisor from 2000 through June 2006, and was a member of the White House Iraq Group. He has a column on the Washington Post detailing how some conservatives went after Karl Rove for his daring to criticize … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: the Tea Party, Criticism of Republicans and the “Party Line”
The Social Network: What It Means and How It Came To Be
The movie, that is, not the mesh of personal ties facilitated by a website on the Internet... Next week's NYMagazine cover story serves up 6,000 words on The Social Network, the movie about Mark Zuckerberg and the founding of Facebook. For the piece Mark Harris spoke with its director David Fincher, writer Aaron Sorkin, star Jesse Eisenberg (he plays Zuck), and Justin … [Read more...] about The Social Network: What It Means and How It Came To Be
R.I.P. Compassionate Conservatism?
Newark, DELAWARE – The morning after Tea Party movement darling Christine O’Donnell made political mincemeat out of Karl Rove’s and George H.W. Bush’s favored GOPer Mike Castle in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, the News Journal here reflected reaction in the state – and beyond: Its headline screeched: “Anti-establishment insurgency rocks Delaware…O’DONNELL IN … [Read more...] about R.I.P. Compassionate Conservatism?