I am one of those misguided, clueless people who, when writing about our military men and women slugging it out in Iraq and Afghanistan, engaged in combat, just trying not to get killed or maimed by an IED or just driving a truck with supplies across the desert, instinctively and invariably refers to them as “heroes.” However, a piece appearing today in the Los Angeles Times … [Read more...] about Our Military: Are We Overusing the Word ‘Heroes’? (UPDATED)
The Perils of Epistemic Closure
Both the Sherrod matter and the Journolist revelations have one thing in common that the ideologues from both sides remain blissfully and determinedly unaware; the controversies are excellent examples of epistemic closure on both sides. To jog your memory, Julian Sanchez defined epistemic closure thusly: One of the more striking features of the contemporary conservative … [Read more...] about The Perils of Epistemic Closure
New Law: Feds Keep Fraud Savings To Spend On Themselves
The federal government, in its infinite wisdom, is spending money to save an estimated $110 billion in fraud and waste. With little fanfare, President Obama signed into law Thursday the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act sponsored by Democratic Sen. Thomas Carper of Delaware and Rep. Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania. It is designed to reduce the benefits sent to … [Read more...] about New Law: Feds Keep Fraud Savings To Spend On Themselves
Quote of the Day: the Race Issue and the “Three Ring Circus”In Washington
Our political Quote of the Day comes from MSNBC's must-read First Read team which looks at the Shirley Sherrod media-created controversy/distraction and writes: The three-ring circus in Washington: In Obama’s first year and a half as president, there haven’t been any sex scandals, any stories of widespread corruption, or any plans to wage war against a nation without WMD. … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: the Race Issue and the “Three Ring Circus”In Washington
Portraits In Leadership And Governance
David Cameron, the British prime minister, came to Washington the other day and did a special relationship, two hip guys having fun number with Barack Obama. Many have commented on the subjects they discussed. But I haven't seen a lot of comparisons of the way their respective governments are functioning, and their very different approaches to leadership. Too bad. It's an … [Read more...] about Portraits In Leadership And Governance
Obama’s “Death of a Salesman” Problem
With falling approval ratings, Barack Obama is getting advice from all sides on how to "save" his presidency. In the latest round of parsing by pundits, Richard Cohen of the Washington Post concludes: "The bank bailout averted a financial crackup and the stimulus package pulled the economy back from the abyss. Along with reform of the financial industry and health care, … [Read more...] about Obama’s “Death of a Salesman” Problem
An Electoral Dry Run Down Under
WASHINGTON -- It's rare to see a dry run for an election campaign. But over the next month, Australia will provide a testing ground for some of the core themes in this November's American elections. Last weekend, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who took office in June after the fall of her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, called an election for Aug. 21 -- they do things fast … [Read more...] about An Electoral Dry Run Down Under
Conservative Blogger Andrew Breitbart Simpson
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Conservative Blogger Andrew Breitbart Simpson
Hillary a ‘Bigger Liar’ than Condoleezza: The Frontier Post, Pakistan
Is America so unreliable and does it have such a long history of lies and deception, that Pakistan leaders should dismiss out of hand U.S. offers of aid and its professed desire for greater cooperation? Stretching language to the limit to express boiling outrage and exasperation with U.S. claims that Pakistan is harboring terrorists like Osama bin Laden, this Frontier Post … [Read more...] about Hillary a ‘Bigger Liar’ than Condoleezza: The Frontier Post, Pakistan
The True Failings of the Journalistic Enterprise
If there is one thing we should have learned from the Shirley Sherrod fiasco, it's to beware of snippets posing as journalism -- particularly from sources of ill-repute. It is a lesson we should have abided then, and one we should remember now as the "Journolist" faux-scandal continues to flex its wings. Alas, many, including TMV's own Logan Penza, have managed to forget that … [Read more...] about The True Failings of the Journalistic Enterprise
Tiger’s Philandering Cost Him $22 Million
Guess what it cost Tiger Woods for all those out-of-wedlock sexual trysts that caught up with the professional golf star last year? Twenty-two million dollars. Those were only from loss of endorsements. The divorce settlement with wife Elin Nordegren was another $100 million, which included $75 million in child support for his two children. Don’t feel sorry for Tiger. … [Read more...] about Tiger’s Philandering Cost Him $22 Million
Capito Won’t Run For Senate
In a move that basically concedes the race, West Virginia Congresswoman Capito (R) has announced she will not run for the US Senate this November. This means Democratic Governor Manchin will almost certainly win, probably by a margin approaching 2-1. This election is a special election to fill the last 2 years of Robert Byrd's term. Capito's decision is a logical one. She … [Read more...] about Capito Won’t Run For Senate
Lugar To Support Kagan
Looks like another GOP vote for Kagan. Sad though that it is news... I miss the pre Bork days (or the pre-Nixon days if you are older) … [Read more...] about Lugar To Support Kagan
California Supreme Court To Have Female Majority
For those not in California (or perhaps for some in California) who may not be aware, the long serving Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Ronald George, announced his retirement after 19 years on the court (14 of them as Chief Justice). His reason for retirement, at least in part, was to keep probable Governor to be Brown from naming his successor. Today reports … [Read more...] about California Supreme Court To Have Female Majority
The Media Is Its Own Worst Enemy
I was so angry at myself and the craft I serve yesterday that I did what Keith Olbermann does, take the rest of the day off. My sin was rushing to judgment in the firing of Shirley Sherrod, the black USDA official in Georgia based on a video from a website I don’t trust and this conspiratorial account on another website about the now defunct Journolist blog, a group of … [Read more...] about The Media Is Its Own Worst Enemy
UPDATED (AND AGAIN): Tom Vilsack Now Says He Might Rescind Sherrod’s Forced Resignation
I guess he's looking for a face-saving way out of the muck he got himself into. That's the only explanation I can think of for why, the day after it came out that a video Andrew Breitbart released had been edited (according to Breitbart, before it was given to him) to make it look like Shirley Sherrod was admitting to racist treatment of white farmers, Vilsack is still only … [Read more...] about UPDATED (AND AGAIN): Tom Vilsack Now Says He Might Rescind Sherrod’s Forced Resignation
Why The Media Needs More, Not Less, Bias
Everyone reading this knows that there are presently some raging media hullabaloos that in a month no one will talk about or remember. It's just the latest round in a fight that should have been called long ago. I'm conflicted about these things because on one hand the specifics of the outrage du jour are almost always pointless and arbitrary, but on the other hand they are … [Read more...] about Why The Media Needs More, Not Less, Bias
Jennie Finch Announces Retirement
For those who want depressing news and hard edged political debate, read something else. This is a feel-good story about what’s right and good in America. Jennie Finch has announced that she will retire next month. For those who don’t quite remember the name, Jennie Finch is uber-talented softball pitcher who led the 2004 USA Women’s Softball team to Olympic Gold in … [Read more...] about Jennie Finch Announces Retirement
Hayworth Versus McCain: Pick the Carny
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Hayworth Versus McCain: Pick the Carny
Irony Abounds In Shirley Sherrod Case
I was listening to my morning talk show today and they were discussing the Shirley Sherrod case and the fact that everyone was jumping to conclusions, etc. A couple of wonderful bits of irony came out that I just found wonderfully bemusing. The first was the fact that in reporting the story the media talked about how the farmer in the case was deceased but his wife was still … [Read more...] about Irony Abounds In Shirley Sherrod Case