Quote of the Day: Nancy Pelosi Says Democrats Will Hold Onto the House
Our political Quote of the Day comes from House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi who maintains confidence that the Democrats will hold onto the House of Representatives in the 2010 elections. We'll know on election night whether Pelosi here is overcome with wishful thinking, delivering political spin or simply a cool and precise political analyst. This comes via MSBNC's First … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Nancy Pelosi Says Democrats Will Hold Onto the House
Kagan Nomination One Win for Moderates Among Many Setbacks
Elena Kagan, President Obama's choice to replace retiring Justice Stevens on the Supreme Court has been attacked by purist progressives (repeatedly and at great length) for her record of hiring a few conservative scholars at Harvard Law School and for her views on executive power, among other deviations from Required Thought (tm). She has also been attacked by conservative … [Read more...] about Kagan Nomination One Win for Moderates Among Many Setbacks
Van der Sloot Tells Police He Knows Holloway Body Location
Is it a game of a cat and mouse? And, if so, which one is the cat -- and which one is the mouse? But most citizens of the world have concluded who the louse is: 22-year old Dutch Joran van der Sloot, who has reportedly confessed to the slaying of a 21-year-old Peruvian woman who he picked up five years after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway...who many suspect he helped … [Read more...] about Van der Sloot Tells Police He Knows Holloway Body Location
Back to That Apollo 13 Analogy
I first raised the analogy a week ago. Then again earlier this week. Then I suggested the concept might be more appropriately described, per Donny Deutsch, as a "Sputnik moment." Last night, Timothy Egan returned to Apollo 13 to again consider the underlying question: When, where, why, and how did we lose the ability to inspire, organize, and unleash the unflappable power … [Read more...] about Back to That Apollo 13 Analogy
How to Spot a BP Executive
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about How to Spot a BP Executive
Why Do Japan’s Leaders Keep Quitting?
Why do Japan's leaders keep quitting? Todd Crowell, who covered Tiananmen as Chief of Correspondents for Asiaweek, gives three reasons why in a piece on RealClearWorld. Here's his intro: TOKYO - Many Western commentators on Japan's recent change of leadership focused on the extraordinary short tenure of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who resigned last week after … [Read more...] about Why Do Japan’s Leaders Keep Quitting?
Senator Blanche Lincoln Beats the Unions
A New Red Storm Rising? (Guest Voice)
A New Red Storm Rising? by Michael Reagan Last week Chinese officials brushed off U.S. Defense Secretary Gates on a proposed meeting to discuss looming military issues and bolster communication. Their reason? It was "inconvenient." I would find China's casual and indifferent response to our efforts disturbing under any circumstances. We must take care that neither … [Read more...] about A New Red Storm Rising? (Guest Voice)
The Year of the Priest is Over
During a homily in St Peter's Square delivered before 15,000 priests from around the world to conclude what was to be a year of celebrations, the pope issued his strongest apology yet. Still no specifics about what will change. Except stronger controls on choosing men who enter the priesthood: "In admitting men to priestly ministry and in their formation we will do everything … [Read more...] about The Year of the Priest is Over
Undocumented Immigrants Are Being Used in Oil Clean-Up Because “They’re Very Absorbent”
I wonder if Michael Cannon at Cato Institute will lose any speaking engagements or be asked to resign from his job for saying this: … [Read more...] about Undocumented Immigrants Are Being Used in Oil Clean-Up Because “They’re Very Absorbent”
St. Ronnie’s Legacy
What is Ronald Reagan's "real" legacy? Hint, it's not the end of the cold war! It is the destruction of the middle class in the US and since the middle class is what makes Democracy possible it resulted in the end of Democracy in this country. Dave Cohen at Decline of the Empire along with Robert Reich, Thom Hartmann and others have been talking about the decline of the … [Read more...] about St. Ronnie’s Legacy
Seeing Both Sides Means Seeing Only One Side
TMV's Dorian DeWind flagged Tony Judt's op-ed in today's New York Times as a must-read. I agree with Dorian; I just read it (independently of Dorian's recommendation; I just happened to see it at Memeorandum), and it's a tonic for the polarized discussion that is the usual fare on this subject. … [Read more...] about Seeing Both Sides Means Seeing Only One Side
The Securities & Exchange Commission of the Oil Business
An analogy with the ring of truth, from Business Week no less: This is a moment to think big and creatively. As distant as risky drilling rigs off Louisiana may seem from the New York financial laboratories where wizard bankers synthesized subprime credit derivatives, Obama could explain the important connections: how, after decades of antiregulatory fundamentalism in … [Read more...] about The Securities & Exchange Commission of the Oil Business
John Boehner Thinks Cost of Cleaning Up Oil Spill Should Be Shared By Taxpayers
Holy moly. I think John Boehner just handed the Democrats a big, fat, gift-wrapped box with a gift coupon inside it for the elections in November: … [Read more...] about John Boehner Thinks Cost of Cleaning Up Oil Spill Should Be Shared By Taxpayers
Dumbing Down Of America Sells Because We Are Lazy
I have always detested being accused of being a member of what I think is described as "herd" or "pack" journalist. I detest labels assessed by journalists on groups such as the Tea Party because even though they share a few common bonds, they are as different in South Carolina as they are in California. I detest Sean Hannity's ilk that all Democrats are liberal and even … [Read more...] about Dumbing Down Of America Sells Because We Are Lazy
Project Deliverance Arrests 2200 For Drug Trafficking
Little known to the American public, Project Deliverance is a multi-agency operation in cooperation with authorities in Mexico to target drug trafficking by Mexican cartels. U. S. agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and state and local law enforcement. The U. S. agencies worked with the anti-narcotics division of … [Read more...] about Project Deliverance Arrests 2200 For Drug Trafficking
Israel: Condemned “No Matter What We Do”
I recently noted that the cost of persistent anti-Israel bias may be to make Israel care less and less about international opinion at all. This prediction may be confirmed by some remarks from Israel's ambassador to the U.S. in an interview with a Jewish newspaper: However, if Israel’s adversaries believe that they can put Israel on the defensive by shaming it in the court of … [Read more...] about Israel: Condemned “No Matter What We Do”
A Guide Through Israel’s No-One Land (Guest Voice.
A Guide through Israel’s No-One Land by Michael Winship “Where is the balance between wisdom and force?” I’ve thought of that question several times over the last few days, as accusations and counteraccusations fly over Israel’s May 31 fatal commando operation against the flotilla of humanitarian aid ships attempting to break the … [Read more...] about A Guide Through Israel’s No-One Land (Guest Voice.
EM Forster and Facebook (Guest Voice)
EM Forster and Facebook by Tina Dupuy “Big Brother” is watching you in a very “Orwellian” way. Has been for years. People who have never heard of George Orwell know of the term “Big Brother.” In many ways his dark vision of what the year 1984 would look like is prophetic. For example, his novel 1984 takes place during a never-ending war while technology is aiding an … [Read more...] about EM Forster and Facebook (Guest Voice)