Alison Kilkenny makes a discovery: … [Read more...] about Postcards From Blogtopia
Post of the Day on Obama Firing Stanley McChrystal
There has been a lot written on Barack Obama relieving Gen. Stanley McChrystal of command -- but Time's Mark Halperin nails it. … [Read more...] about Post of the Day on Obama Firing Stanley McChrystal
Quote of the Day: Rumor Spreading After McChrystal Firing Make President’s Point
Our Quote of the Day comes from The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder who writes about rumors that were spread after President Barack Obama fired Gen. Stanley McChrystal: Beginning in the early afternoon, a cadre of military and civilian soldiers loyal to Gen. Stanley McChrystal began to spread rumors throughout the capital city: that ground commanders in Afghanistan were … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Rumor Spreading After McChrystal Firing Make President’s Point
Exploit This Tragedy (Guest Voice)
Exploit This Tragedy by Tina Dupuy Before the tar balls had a chance to touch down on the white sands of the Gulf Coast – the message from the oil-soaked Republican Party was clear: “Don’t exploit the disaster…if you’re a Democrat.” But if you’re a member of the GOP, feel free to exploit this endless spill for political gain. Use it as a battering ram against the … [Read more...] about Exploit This Tragedy (Guest Voice)
Medals of Gold
I grew up on anti war songs in the 60s and we've had dammed few of them when we've needed them recently. They don't get the play they got in the 60s and early 70's but they are out there and here is a good one. Of course the anti war songs of the 60's may have been a bit more subtle; … [Read more...] about Medals of Gold
The Coming Republican Minority
With all the talk about how Obama is not doing well and that the Democrats are expected to lose seats in November, it's not surprising that there are a lot of Republicans thinking that everything is coming up roses for them. All the talk of a decades-long Democratic majority has dried up and the GOP seems energized by the growing Tea Party movement. The recent wins by Nikki … [Read more...] about The Coming Republican Minority
General McChrystal Resigns
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about General McChrystal Resigns
A Classic Song About a City
A link sent in by a TMV reader. A great song, done with so much pizazz -- and a great You Tube video: And here he is doing it when he's a tad younger, on TV (1982): It was originally done on the screen by a young Liza Minnelli (1977): … [Read more...] about A Classic Song About a City
Innocence Hearing Begins In Troy Anthony Davis Case
Ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court last August, the unusual hearing began today in the case of Georgia death row inmate Troy Anthony Davis. Typically such hearings are held on procedural grounds; today's hearing was to give Davis a chance to prove his innocence. The hearing came almost 20 years after a jury convicted him of killing a Savannah police officer despite no physical … [Read more...] about Innocence Hearing Begins In Troy Anthony Davis Case
McChrystal Ousted
Boat Captain Hired By BP to Help With Cleanup Kills Himself
A local newspaper, the Press-Register, has the story: … [Read more...] about Boat Captain Hired By BP to Help With Cleanup Kills Himself
Texans Give Thumbs Down to Joe Barton, and to BP
Apparently, Texans are not inclined to view BP as favorably as Joe Barton is, and by very large percentages, both Democrats and Republicans in that state disapprove of Barton's apologizing to BP for being asked to set up a $20 billion escrow account to pay for destroying the Gulf of Mexico and gravely threatening the entire Atlantic coast, the Louisiana coastal marshes, the … [Read more...] about Texans Give Thumbs Down to Joe Barton, and to BP
US, France and Germany: Divisions and Lack of Professionalism Everywhere
We all need more team spirit. Obama's Afghanistan team is in disarray. Their egos seem to be as bloated as the ego's in the French soccer team. While President Obama is angry with McChrystal's frank comments and perhaps insubordination, President Sarkozy is reportedly furious over the national team's behaviour inside and outside the soccer stadiums. It was not really a … [Read more...] about US, France and Germany: Divisions and Lack of Professionalism Everywhere
The Mama Grizzly Test: Ohio’s Top Court Denies Leave For Mama Grizzlies-To-Be
The Ohio Supreme Court handed down a decision today in McFee v. Nursing Care Management of America, Inc. that holds that, "...it's not gender discrimination for employers to require a minimum tenure for employees to take an extended leave for any purpose, pregnancy included." (See this Columbus Dispatch blog post.) What's the problem? Kellie Copeland, executive director … [Read more...] about The Mama Grizzly Test: Ohio’s Top Court Denies Leave For Mama Grizzlies-To-Be
Macho Gone Mad
For someone who served under Patton in World War II and lived through the MacArthur mess over Korea, the text of McChrystal's self-immolation in Rolling Stone still comes as a mild shock--a hard-to-believe-it's-not-parody of macho gone mad in an era when top generals have learned to be as smooth as Petraeus, who sold Bush's Iraq Surge without getting his hair mussed by the … [Read more...] about Macho Gone Mad
The Wound McChrystal Opened
WASHINGTON -- Gen. Stanley McChrystal put President Obama in an impossible position. That is why he had to go. A general’s tasks involve executing policies made by the commander in chief, plotting strategy and winning wars -- not playing politics in the media to get at civilian rivals inside the government. What McChrystal did required Obama to change generals … [Read more...] about The Wound McChrystal Opened
Did Obama Thread Military and Political Needles by Replacing McChrystal with Petraeus?
Did President Barack Obama thread the military and political needles by replacing Gen. Stanley McChrystal with Gen. David Patraeus? It certainly looks that way -- for now. As we noted earlier, Obama's decision on whether or not to boot McChrystal after Rolling Stone ran a profile of him in which the General and his associates at various times dissed Obama, other civilian … [Read more...] about Did Obama Thread Military and Political Needles by Replacing McChrystal with Petraeus?
Screw The Generals, It’s The Foot Soldiers’ Lives That Count
The frenzy whether Gen. Stanley McChrystal will resign, be fired or retained as commander of Afghanistan military forces for disparaging remarks about his civilian counterparts is misplaced. The focus should be on the foot soldiers carrying out the counterinsurgency mission with rules of engagement that are "handcuffing" their efforts to defeat the enemy. Indulge me for … [Read more...] about Screw The Generals, It’s The Foot Soldiers’ Lives That Count
I wouldn’t want McChrystal’s job
Perhaps the only silver lining in this cloud is bipartisanship. Yesterday, Bill Kristol said McChrystal should go. John McCain pretty much said the same. I can't imagine Petraeus really wants this job. It reminds of when Rumsfeld resigned and it seemed that no one in their right mind would want to become the next Secretary of Defense. (One attraction at the time was the … [Read more...] about I wouldn’t want McChrystal’s job
McChrystal Is Out—Petraeus to Take Over
In this post, we asked the question, "Obama's meeting with McChrystal over--What now?" President Obama, in a nationally televised address from the White House Rose Garden with General Petraeus, Vice President Biden, Secretary Gates, at his side, has just answered the question. General Stanley McChrystal has been relieved of his command in Afghanistan. He will be … [Read more...] about McChrystal Is Out—Petraeus to Take Over