I just read a fascinating article published before the news of the so-called “newfound” $1 trillion worth of mineral riches in Afghanistan broke. The article, published early May in my local newspaper, also came before last week’s McChrystal “scandal” and firing. I mention these two items of more recent news because my mind immediately started wandering and wondering how … [Read more...] about India: Another Factor in the Afghanistan Equation
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Loses Husband
Martin Ginsburg, husband of the Supreme Court Justice, has died at the age of 78. The cause of death was an ongoing battle with cancer. Our deepest sympathies to the Justice and her family. … [Read more...] about Ruth Bader Ginsburg Loses Husband
Perpetual War Is Eroding Democracy
Andrew Bacevich is an all-too-rare phenomenon in public discussions of foreign policy: someone with a lifetime of military experience who is not a pacifist or an anti-war leftie, but yet sees the corrosive effect that war has on our democracy, and writes about it, with eloquence, insight, and a sharp intelligence. … [Read more...] about Perpetual War Is Eroding Democracy
Senator Byrd, 92, Seriously Ill in Hospital
His office has confirmed. Nate Silver points out: Byrd's current term expires on January 3, 2013. Under West Virginia state law on handling Senate vacancies, "if the vacancy occurs less than two years and six months before the end of the term, the Governor appoints someone to fill the unexpired term and there is no election". Otherwise, Manchin would appoint an interim … [Read more...] about Senator Byrd, 92, Seriously Ill in Hospital
Rumors, Heads Fly In Afghan-Pakistan-Taliban Talks
There are conflicting reports out of the Afghanistan capital of Kabul that President Hamid Karzai has held face-to-face talks with Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of a particularly brutal militant group with ties to al-Qaida. Al Jazeera, a normally reliable Arab news agency in these matters, reported the meeting Sunday. The presidential palace denied such a meeting. The U.S. … [Read more...] about Rumors, Heads Fly In Afghan-Pakistan-Taliban Talks
No We Can’t!
Every political rally worthy of the name needs a chant. For this coming election season I'd like to suggest one for folks at Democratic Party get-togethers. A chant that perfectly reflects the actions and attitudes of their president and congress: "No We Can't!" Ready to practice for the coming political rally season? Here we go. When our conservative friends on the right say … [Read more...] about No We Can’t!
New Research Finds Fat Surgery A Family Success
I have battled obesity most of my adult life and in the past year considered gastric bypass surgery or at least a lap band procedure. I mention it only because a story Saturday is circulating about a New Jersey researcher who concluded two family members having the surgery are more successful in weight loss and improved health yardsticks than those who try it alone. That … [Read more...] about New Research Finds Fat Surgery A Family Success
Geraldo Rivera’s Momentary Memory Loss
Should we all send THIS to Fox News' Geraldo Rivera? He has blasted the Rolling Stone's Michael Hastings for the piece on (former) Afghanistan military theater bigwig Gen. Stanley McChrystal -- blasting Hasting's reporting which led to McChrystal's firing by President Barack Obama and comparing the freelance reporter to Al Qaeda. Just read THIS POST and watch the … [Read more...] about Geraldo Rivera’s Momentary Memory Loss
G-8,G-20 Summits
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about G-8,G-20 Summits
Rory Forgets Last Name In Nevada Gov Run
There was a time when being the relative of a famous political figure was a leg up in an election contest. Not so this year. Names like Thurmond, Hastert and Dominici have all come up croppers in the primaries. But, “Rory” got himself nominated to run for governor of Nevada. He calls his campaign “Rory 2010" [see photo above left]. You can learn about “Rory’s” … [Read more...] about Rory Forgets Last Name In Nevada Gov Run
The David Weigel Saga Of Speaking Out Of School
Let's see if I got this right. The Washington Post hired an on-line reporter to cover the Tea Party and other conservative causes because his resume was that of a libertarian conservative. Three months later the Post fires the reporter, Dave Weigel, because a gossip website published snide remarks in emails he wrote about the very conservatives he was paid to … [Read more...] about The David Weigel Saga Of Speaking Out Of School
Common Nonsense
Rep. Louis Gohmert, Republican from Texas: … [Read more...] about Common Nonsense
What’s In A Name
Mary at The Leftcoaster discovered this fascinating factoid. Although we have been referring to the catastrophe in the Gulf as Deepwater Horizon accident it's BP code name was the Macando Prospect named after the town featured in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. Well perhaps they should have read the book. After wandering aimlessly in the … [Read more...] about What’s In A Name
Financial Reform Came Cheap Compared To What Lurks Ahead With Fannie And Freddie
In the polarization of politics, parsing words of politicians has become a fine art form by opponents to score points as if the public has a mental scoreboard in their heads. I'm drawing from memory here as most voters would on criticism tossed at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Banking chairman Chris Dodd. After passage of the health reform legislation, Pelosi … [Read more...] about Financial Reform Came Cheap Compared To What Lurks Ahead With Fannie And Freddie
The Media’s Game of “Let’s Pretend”
Matthew Yglesias points out the child's game that informs the Washington Post's decision to "accept" Dave Weigel's "resignation" over emails lifted from a private list and published on a D.C. gossip site and a right-wing political site: … [Read more...] about The Media’s Game of “Let’s Pretend”
Durbin Wants Obama to Appoint a Carp Czar
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin wants President Barack Obama to appoint a carp czar just for the halibut... Although Obama has come under criticism from critics on the right who claim he has appointed more czars then ruled old Russia, Durbin seems hooked on the idea. But this wouldn't be a czar that would handle the kind of carping that you can find 24/7 on talk radio or the … [Read more...] about Durbin Wants Obama to Appoint a Carp Czar
The World Cup Party
The beautiful game, the world’s greatest sporting event and the greatest party on earth – these are just a few phrases most sport fanatics choose to describe their chosen game. Be it the World Series, the Super Bowl, Wrestle Mania or the NBA Finals - you may hear any of the above grand-statements but few of these multi-million (American) sporting events can come close to the … [Read more...] about The World Cup Party
Elena Kagan’s Watered Down View Of Free Speech
With many having ceded their objectivity to the meme that Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan has left no public footprints by which to assess her judicial philosophy, her long standing views on watering down free speech rights have slipped beneath the radar. Until now. First announced publicly in a convention speech seventeen years ago, Kagan appears to fall within a minority … [Read more...] about Elena Kagan’s Watered Down View Of Free Speech
Obama’s Weekly You Tube Radio Address: Congress Should Finish Job on Financial Reform
In his weekly You Tube/radio address, President Barack Obama urges Congress to finish the job on financial reform and send the bill to his desk -- hailing it as legislation that'll change some of the outdated rules of the game. The changes, he says, will help strengthen the economy: … [Read more...] about Obama’s Weekly You Tube Radio Address: Congress Should Finish Job on Financial Reform
The Hypocrisy of the Left — A General Crisis
The Hypocrisy of the Left -- A General Crisis by Michael Reagan Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who until recently was the leader of U.S, and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has resigned in the wake of derogatory comments made by the general and his staff during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. One can only guess at this point why the general chose to publicly disclose … [Read more...] about The Hypocrisy of the Left — A General Crisis