'Money talks and nobody walks' is an observation that applies to a great many situations. But it doesn't quite catch the reality of the Wall Street, Washington Beltway relationship. Here, it's not a matter of talking and walking. It's more a case of bawling and crawling. For most of the last century the Republican Party was the universally recognized political mouthpiece of … [Read more...] about Wall Street Is An Unforgiving Master
Houston, We (Still) Have A (Engineering) Problem
Something rotten is going on, not in Denmark, but 5,000 at to 8,000 feet under the ocean floor in the Gulf of Mexico. I know. I know. Most people think the BP blowout well is capped but the fact is it is not, at least permanently. The capping at the wellhead 5,000 feet below the old Deepwater Horizons platform is a fragile prayer holding on for dear life. The latest round … [Read more...] about Houston, We (Still) Have A (Engineering) Problem
Glenn Beck And His Messianic Rally
Glenn Beck has found religion and don’t you forget it. On this Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, he hammered it home as a messiah from heaven. As I watch live on C-Span his rally “Restoring Honor” to our troops and our country, I honestly am conflicted with mixed emotions. Is this guy a carnival pitchman, rodeo clown, demagogue dressed in a collared polo shirt or Moses … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck And His Messianic Rally
The Tea Party as Inheritors of Dr. King’s Legacy?
To those predisposed because of ideological animus to dismiss the notion of the tea party movement being the true inheritors of Martin Luther King's dream, you might as well click away now. But if you want to engage on this issue in a reasonable manner, discussing the pros and cons rationally, you are invited to read on and ponder both the irony and the efficacy of these claims … [Read more...] about The Tea Party as Inheritors of Dr. King’s Legacy?
Live Video: Glenn Beck’s Washington Rally
Since Glenn Beck's Washington rally will be the subject of tons of posts on TMV and other weblogs and websites, here is a live video embed of the rally so you can watch it yourself and reach your own conclusions, favorable or otherwise. Feel free to leave your comments in District TMV or under other related posts here on TMV: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and … [Read more...] about Live Video: Glenn Beck’s Washington Rally
Quote of the Day: Glenn Beck’s Rally “I Have a Nightmare”?
Our Quote of the Day comes from Daily Beast and CNN centrist analyst John Avlon, from a column that ran yesterday. It sets the scene for conservative talk show host Glenn Beck's big rally today in Washington D.C. It's worth quoting and considering in detail here since it touches on some of the broader issues and places the rally in context. Some excerpts: But the ambition … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Glenn Beck’s Rally “I Have a Nightmare”?
Sign of the Future? University of Colorado Considers Closing Traditional Journalism School
In what may be a sign of things to come, the University of Colorado is considering closing its traditional journalism school and adjusting media studies and journalism to a new ear-- and the announcement some will consider spinspeak about how exciting future educational offerings to those interested in journalism will be under a new program with a new title. Some will … [Read more...] about Sign of the Future? University of Colorado Considers Closing Traditional Journalism School
Our Latest Fallen Heroes in Afghanistan
The last time I interrupted your week (or weekend) to share with you the sad statistics on the mounting number of U.S. military casualties in Afghanistan was exactly two months ago. In “The Faces behind the Drip-Drip of U.S. Casualties in Afghanistan,” I tried to point out how: [I]n the national news media, the names and the numbers of our fallen heroes are often … [Read more...] about Our Latest Fallen Heroes in Afghanistan
A Thought From Get Equal
Get Equal is a group that has a Facebook page and supports Same Sex Marriage Rights. They had an interesting post today PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE -Dick Cheney -Ted Olson -Laura Bush and Cindy McCain -Glenn Beck -Ken Mehlman PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE -President Obama … [Read more...] about A Thought From Get Equal
The Perils of Wealth and Glamour
Nicole John was the 17-year-old daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Thailand. She died this morning after falling from the 25th floor of a Manhattan high-rise, apparently because she climbed up on the ledge of a balcony at a very late-night party to take a photograph (a camera was found next to her body), and was too drunk to remember that when you do that you are liable to lose … [Read more...] about The Perils of Wealth and Glamour
Bogart, Sinatra and What’s His Name
Approaching 86 next month, Lauren Bacall is making news again, telling all about her life in an updated memoir and doing interviews to promote it. Well, not quite all. In an hour on TCM, there is, of course, the story of her classic coupling with Humphrey Bogart and even a few words about an affair after Bogart's death with Frank Sinatra. But not a word about Jason … [Read more...] about Bogart, Sinatra and What’s His Name
Here’s a Candidate With Class
Low class. … [Read more...] about Here’s a Candidate With Class
Putting A Face On Those Nasty Entitlement Benefits
In case you are wondering where your tax dollars go, you are talking to one. I just mailed my forms for re-certification on MediCal. It is a perfunctory duty of limited consequences. The Medicaid version in California considers me, a single senior whose sole income is $1,165 net from Social Security, a fat cat in the world of the impoverished. By fat, I mean I earn $8 a … [Read more...] about Putting A Face On Those Nasty Entitlement Benefits
Glenn Beck Meets Honest Abe
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck Meets Honest Abe
Guess What Big Political News Story Fox News Ignored
Guess what big political news story the Fox News Channel (not the website) totally ignored? Can you guess? It's this. I've often disputed charges that Fox News was really nothing more than a propaganda network since it does have some good news gathering professionals working for it. But this omission most assuredly lays credence to the belief that far from being fair and … [Read more...] about Guess What Big Political News Story Fox News Ignored
Mississippi School Segregates Class Elections
After you've cleared your mind of various what the comments, you can read this article about a school in Mississippi that has decided to segregate class elections, only allowing whites to run for some offices and only allowing blacks to run for others. I suppose the theory was this insures that there will be class officers of both races but how dumb can you get. … [Read more...] about Mississippi School Segregates Class Elections
The Parent Model
One of our loyal readers brought this article to my attention and it is well worth reading and considering. The article compares the US and German economies and the fact that while our economy is still struggling the German economy is moving along and a steady clip. Since the growth (or lack thereof) is only reflected by a short period of time the author does not suggest … [Read more...] about The Parent Model
Moderates in ‘Radical Headlock’ Over ‘Ground Zero Mosque’: News, Switzerland
Does the divisive controversy over the Muslim community center near Ground Zero demonstrate how radical Christians and Muslims have taken over the public debate to such an extent, that they threaten the freedoms millions have fought and died for? Columnist Patrick Etschmayer writes for The News of Switzerland, that those opposing the Cordoba House are helping the terrorists … [Read more...] about Moderates in ‘Radical Headlock’ Over ‘Ground Zero Mosque’: News, Switzerland
Gay Bush Aide No Bombshell
In its story noting the relative lack of controversy around Ken Mehlman saying that he is gay, the NYTimes concludes that the GOP cares now about fiscal issues: The center of gravity of the conservative movement in this election season is with fiscal conservatives. The Tea Party is infusing the Republican Party with new energy, and Tea Party leaders and supporters say they do … [Read more...] about Gay Bush Aide No Bombshell
Tea Party ‘Rocks Primaries.’ Will It Still Rock Come November?
Even to me, a Democrat, Rolling Stone, the publication that “outed” General McChrystal, sometimes goes overboard in how it portrays the opposition and in the “colorful” language it uses to do so---“expletives deleted” certainly called for here. In his “Tea Party Rocks Primaries,” Matt Taibbi doesn’t break the mold in his analysis of Tea Party successes in the recent … [Read more...] about Tea Party ‘Rocks Primaries.’ Will It Still Rock Come November?