The following article was inspired by an earlier article posted by Rick Moran, titled Who Owns the 'Conservative Conscience?' and is copied verbatim from the comment that I left in response to that article. I know that I'm going to sound like a broken record with this comment, but I'll point out for the umpteenth time that "liberalism" and "conservative" are largely … [Read more...] about The Meaninglessness of the terms “Liberal” and “Conservative”
A Case For Religious History Classes
Raise your hand if you knew that the linkage of "marriage" and religious norms is an artifact of the Catholic Church's fight for its life in the 16th century? I'm guessing that many Americans would shudder if they realized that their current religious beliefs were so wedded to the Church's fight with Protestants. The supremacy of The Church in all things marriage was … [Read more...] about A Case For Religious History Classes
Talking To The Rabbits (A True Story)
My wife and daughter think I talk to myself when I sit on the patio and they see my lips move from the kitchen table inside. It’s not true of course. I’m talking to the rabbits. In North Scottsdale, housing is constructed to preserve natural habitat for the wild things that preceded human encroachment. The vast washes that run between houses are home to all manner of … [Read more...] about Talking To The Rabbits (A True Story)
Questions For BP And The Feds The Fish Want Answered
The BP oil blowout disaster killed 11 crew on April 20 and now that it is out of the public mind the questions remain before the final solution of sealing off its base sometime this month is, is the well dead? Bob Cavnar on his blog The Daily Hurricane says these questions must be answered by BP and the federal government: * What is the pressure on the well? … [Read more...] about Questions For BP And The Feds The Fish Want Answered
Even Summer Vacations Bring Out Hypocrisy
With President Obama off on his summer/birthday holiday I've been bemused by how even something as simple as summer vacation can show the hypocrisy that will show up in politics. When President Bush took summer vacations we always heard voices from the left railing about how terrible it was for him to 'goof off' when there was important work to be done. These voices were … [Read more...] about Even Summer Vacations Bring Out Hypocrisy
Who Owns the ‘Conservative Conscience?’
Who owns the "conservative conscience?" Is it necessary to have one? After all, there is no identifiable "liberal conscience" - at least no one who comes readily to mind. There's plenty of criticism of Obama from the left but weirdly, the president is being taken to task for not being "liberal enough." This presents a delicious dichotomy; conservatives taking other … [Read more...] about Who Owns the ‘Conservative Conscience?’
Gallup: Democrats Better Brace Selves For Big Congress Losses
A new Gallup analysis in effect says the Democrats better brace themselves for big losses in the November elections. The reason: President Barack Obama's approval rating at less than 50% -- and the average seat loss for a party's whose President is that down in the numbers is 36 seats: Presidents who retain majority job approval from Americans at the time of midterm … [Read more...] about Gallup: Democrats Better Brace Selves For Big Congress Losses
“Not The Whiteman’s B_tch”
Given the flap over Glenn Beck’s “Planet of the Apes” reference, here’s this from the Midwest. Is it the same? Similar? Why? Why not? “NOT the whiteman’s bitch” is the candidate’s phrase Ieshuh (eye-ee-sha) Griffin wants to use on the ballot in her Independent run for the Wisconsin State Assembly. In Wisconsin a candidate for public office can use a descriptive phrase … [Read more...] about “Not The Whiteman’s B_tch”
The Myth of the Free Market (Guest Voice)
The Myth of the Free Market by Craig Barnes Millions of Americans are today unemployed because the free market is not working for them. Millions of Americans have lost their homes because the free market did not work for them or for the banks. Before the health care bill passed last January millions could not get health care because the free market worked for them when … [Read more...] about The Myth of the Free Market (Guest Voice)
Welcome To The Pit (Guest Voice)
Welcome To The Pit by The Magical Sky Father I spent my teen years in the early 90’s at small all ages clubs that catered to punk bands from around the nation. A few would know the band and come with their ever important, I saw them first t-shirt. Others came just to hear the music and be around the scene. Personally, me and my friends went for a single reason: … [Read more...] about Welcome To The Pit (Guest Voice)
Chris Dodd and the Politics of Joy
WASHINGTON -- When it comes to the role and functioning of the United States Senate, my rather dyspeptic views could not be more at odds with those of Chris Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat who is retiring at the end of the year. I've reached the point where I'd abolish the Senate if I could. It is more profoundly undemocratic than it was when the Founders created it and … [Read more...] about Chris Dodd and the Politics of Joy
Immigration Anchorites
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Immigration Anchorites
The Seriousness of Depression
I was doing some research earlier for my next article at Suite 101 -- about the economic costs of depression -- and I came across some amazing statistics. Even I, who live with depression every day and in fact have lived with it for most of my life -- long before I knew what it was -- did not know quite how stunningly serious depression is in terms of its effect on society. … [Read more...] about The Seriousness of Depression
Andy McCarthy’s Americans Versus Americans
Andrew McCarthy thinks he knows what Americans think -- about everything, really, but in this particular case, about Muslims and the Ground Zero mosque: … [Read more...] about Andy McCarthy’s Americans Versus Americans
Paul Ryan: I’m Right and You’re Wrong
Rep. Paul Ryan has an op-ed in today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about Paul Krugman's response to his "Roadmap" budget to eliminate the deficit. Unfortunately, Ryan spends most of his piece criticizing Krugman for misrepresenting his proposed solutions and trying to "win the debate by default" while failing to substantively defend or support the very "solutions" he claims are … [Read more...] about Paul Ryan: I’m Right and You’re Wrong
Marriage Is a Fundamental Constitutional Right
There is no way I can improve on Ted Olson's responses to Chris Wallace here, so I will not even try (via Think Progress): … [Read more...] about Marriage Is a Fundamental Constitutional Right
Continuing Watergate Coverup
Richard Nixon's spirit lives on. Thirty-six years after the only presidential resignation ever, he is still with us as admirers try to hide evidence of his disgrace in the Nixon Library and Museum just as he himself did in the White House. The Watergate room of the memorial is almost as blank as those missing Oval Office tapes in a to-do described by the New York Times after … [Read more...] about Continuing Watergate Coverup
It Certainly DOES Sound Like Racism
WikiLeaks Shreds ‘Myth’ of Western Moral Superiority: Izvestia, Russia
Despite the fact that a NATO loss in Afghanistan would also spell disaster for Russia, there is always an element of schadenfreude - taking pleasure in the pain of others - in Russian coverage of the war. In that respect, this article from Russia's Izvestia - the one time mouthpiece of Soviet communism - is a classic example. Are Westerner's on too much of a high moral horse … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks Shreds ‘Myth’ of Western Moral Superiority: Izvestia, Russia
Say That Again?
EDITOR's NOTE: Due to a technical glitch this was on TMV with the wrong byline for about a minute. We regret the error. As President Obama's approval numbers tanked again last week, Michael Steele donned a red hat, emblazoned with the logo "Fire Pelosi," and kicked off a six week bus tour. He was jubilant as he spoke to a crowd in Kansas City, predicting that he and the RNC … [Read more...] about Say That Again?