The woman was 11 weeks pregnant and the nun recommended she be allowed to have an abortion in a Catholic hospital because she had been advised by her doctor that she would die without one. Underlying this already very disturbing news item is a broader issue of how differently the Catholic Church hierarchy treats (women) nuns and men (priests) when their actions are inconsistent … [Read more...] about Catholic Nun Excommunicated For Trying to Save a Woman’s Life
When Unemployment Is Low, There Are More Jobs
Ed Morrissey flags a new Harvard Business School study that purports to show that government spending increases unemployment: … [Read more...] about When Unemployment Is Low, There Are More Jobs
Still out of touch
It's not too surprising the public views on energy VS the environment have shifted after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. But it has had no impact on the Republicans. This has to be something the Democrats can use in the months leading up to the November elections. They need to introduce a strong energy bill and let the Republicans block it. Once again the … [Read more...] about Still out of touch
How To Change The Industrial Food System?
This afternoon I attended an outstanding student presentation of a Community Food Guide they had developed and produced. In the past couple years in the rural area of Georgia where I live there is now a farmers' market, a community garden, a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture), and a soup kitchen. Our Kroger is quadrupling the space dedicated to organics, and even Walmart now … [Read more...] about How To Change The Industrial Food System?
Around the Sphere
With so many issues breaking and politics now also swirling around the Gulf oil spill, it's time again for TMV's Around the Sphere linkfest -- taking you to website with a variety of opinions. Links do not necessarily represent the opinion of TMV or its many writers. THE VOICE OF POLITICAL TRUTH often seems to be Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Ed Rendel, one of my … [Read more...] about Around the Sphere
Obama Press Conference: ‘Daddy, Did You Plug The Leak?’
The only news of substance coming out of President Obama's press conference Thursday on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill was the announcement the government is shutting down exploratory drilling -- as was the case with Deepwater Horizons -- for all 33 deep-water rigs in the Gulf. The rest of the one-hour presser was an attempt by Obama to claim the government is doing the best … [Read more...] about Obama Press Conference: ‘Daddy, Did You Plug The Leak?’
The Politics of the Oil Spill (Guest Voice)
The Politics of the Gulf Oil Spill by Michael Reagan Since last month's oil-spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, two very different leadership styles have been on display. On the one hand we have President Obama, who took nine days before making a public statement on the spill. On the other, we have Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has been intensely and vocally involved … [Read more...] about The Politics of the Oil Spill (Guest Voice)
Black Mark on the Red Cross
The value of writing about writer's block is that, sometimes, it makes the block disappear. At least temporarily. Thus, within hours of my earlier post regading a very persistent and frustrating case of writer's block, this story caught my attention ... The International Committee of the Red Cross is defending its practice of providing medical training and basic medical … [Read more...] about Black Mark on the Red Cross
Odd Moment At Obama Press Conference
Reporters from all the networks have been commenting on the odd response from President Obama regarding the firing/resignation/etc of the head of MMS. He indicated that he'd heard about it but didn't know the details or whether she'd quit or been fired. The response surprised reporters enough that they even followed up on it but got nothing much more in response. I … [Read more...] about Odd Moment At Obama Press Conference
Another State Sends in the Clowns
Up to now, there was only Joe Lieberman doing his Uriah Heep act for cable news cameras, but now the Nutmeg State has its own tent for November's national circus to rival such freak-show attractions as the Kentucky ophthalmologist with tunnel vision and flashbacks to an imaginary past. The Connecticut Democratic front-runner suddenly morphs from a buttoned-down bureaucrat to … [Read more...] about Another State Sends in the Clowns
DADT Repeal: It’s About Turf
Despite distorted reports that the military remains unified in opposition to the imminent repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars homosexuals from serving openly in the U.S. military, the true profile of opinions among senior officers appears much more complicated. Today, Joint Chiefs Chairman ADM Mike Mullen gave a hint as to what the real priorities are when … [Read more...] about DADT Repeal: It’s About Turf
Can Reid Get Re-Elected In Spite Of Himself?
Don’t ya just love Nevada? Governor Jim Gibbons and Senator John Ensign are both hip deep in sex scandals. Harry Reid’s about as popular a scorpion in a swimming pool. But, the fun has just begun. Here come the Republican challengers for Reid’s seat falling all over each other with, oh let’s be kind, “interesting” ideas. First there’s Republican front runner, Sue Lowden. … [Read more...] about Can Reid Get Re-Elected In Spite Of Himself?
Live Streaming Video of President Barack Obama’s Press Conference on Gulf Oil Spill
Here's live streaming video of President Barack Obama's press conference where he will address the Gulf Oil spill: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy … [Read more...] about Live Streaming Video of President Barack Obama’s Press Conference on Gulf Oil Spill
Not One of the Ten Commandments Are in the Constitution (Guest Voice)
Not One of the Ten Commandments Are in the Constitution by Tina Dupuy There are no democratically elected leaders in the Christian bible. I know - it’s shocking. But, if you catch the rhetoric pertaining to the US Constitution, you’d think the Ten Commandments are its bullet points. They’re not. The whole idea of a representative democracy (a Greek word) comes from … [Read more...] about Not One of the Ten Commandments Are in the Constitution (Guest Voice)
Oil Leak Almost Capped, Adm. Allen Insists
Hours before President Obama's scheduled press conference on government plans to more tightly regulate off-shore drilling, the government's top oil spill commander announced engineers have nearly stopped the gusher of Louisiana crude in the Gulf of Mexico. When pressure at the site of the major leak reaches zero, cement will be poured to cap the leak which has been gushing … [Read more...] about Oil Leak Almost Capped, Adm. Allen Insists
Oily Dominion
A Really Bad Case of Writer’s Block
It's certainly not the end of the world, but it is remarkably frustrating when a public affairs blogger is unable to find the energy or passion to write about public affairs. It's even worse when this funk lasts for weeks at a time. I'm in just such a place. A prime example: The refuses-to-die hooplah over the White House offering Joe Sestak a job to potentially … [Read more...] about A Really Bad Case of Writer’s Block
Facebook’s Zuckerberg Announces New Privacy Settings
WaPo: In a news conference, Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg chalked up recent stumbles to growing pains. He said that engineers and designers had holed up in a conference room in their Palo Alto offices over the past three weeks to work on new privacy settings. "We don't pretend that we are perfect," Zuckerberg said in an interview. "We try to build new … [Read more...] about Facebook’s Zuckerberg Announces New Privacy Settings
Diplomatic Nuts And Bolts in Korean Crisis Make Me Nervous
South Korea has found the smoking gun, a torpedo, that sank its warship Cheonan March 26, killing 46 sailors. Because its dear leader Kim John Il is considered mentally unstable and North Korean leaders for the umpteenth time are threatening war against South Korea should its neighbor to the south retaliate, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told the leaders of both … [Read more...] about Diplomatic Nuts And Bolts in Korean Crisis Make Me Nervous
The Muddle Oozing from the Gulf
WASHINGTON -- So who is in charge of stopping the oil spill, BP or the federal government? The fact that the answer to this question seems as murky as the water around the exploded oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico suggests that this is an excellent moment to recognize that our arguments pitting capitalism against socialism and the government against the private … [Read more...] about The Muddle Oozing from the Gulf