Only six Medals of Honor have been awarded to our heroes after almost nine and after more than seven years of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively. All have been awarded posthumously. I have written several articles on this subject and numerous more have been written by people much more knowledgeable of and with much more authority in this area. Some of my … [Read more...] about The Medal of Honor: Why so Scarce?
Yawn, Another Earthquake
Earthquakes are as common in California as tornadoes are in the Midwest. I have experienced both, and if I had my druthers, would prefer a temblor. I was born and raised in California and spent many years living on top of the San Andreas fault which means 200 miles on either side. Monday night within 10 seconds of getting into bed, I was rocked gently by Mom Nature from … [Read more...] about Yawn, Another Earthquake
Image, Money and BP: Obama’s Future is at Stake – Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
What does President Obama need to do to emerge politically alive after the worst environmental crisis in American history? According to this editorial from Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, 'it's either Obama or BP' - and if the president fails to get the job done, 'a reputation for being an indecisive dreamer will stick to Obama permanently.' The Financial Times … [Read more...] about Image, Money and BP: Obama’s Future is at Stake – Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
Petraeus Collapses During Senate Hearing
How fragile our leaders are was visibly demonstrated Tuesday morning in a Senate hearing when Gen. David Petraeus collapsed. He returned 20 minutes later. Here's the initial account and a video of the incident. Petraeus is the commander of U.S central command. He was testifying on the war in Afghanistan. … [Read more...] about Petraeus Collapses During Senate Hearing
When You’re Losing, Change the Subject
The strategy is well-known to anyone who's been in the blogosphere for a while. When confronted with a story that is bad for one side of the ideological divide, its partisans will let silence reign as long as possible and when they can no longer remain silent, will simply change the subject to talk about how the other guy is even worse. The well-hoed change-the-subject … [Read more...] about When You’re Losing, Change the Subject
What Obama Should NOT Say
Here's what I don't want to hear from President Obama in his Tuesday night address to the nation on the BP oil spill, the worst accidental environmental disaster in U.S. history. That is, the government will "leave the Gulf Coast in better shape than it was before." That's poppycock, Mr. President, in all due respect. I don't believe it. Shrimp and oyster fisherman don't … [Read more...] about What Obama Should NOT Say
Holland v. Florida: How Bad Must A Death Penalty Lawyer Be?
In a 7-2 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the time for filing a federal Habeas Corpus Petition could be extended by “equitable tolling” of the statute of limitations where the conduct of an attorney was sufficiently egregious. The case arises from the first degree murder conviction and death sentence for Albert Holland, Jr. He was convicted of killing a … [Read more...] about Holland v. Florida: How Bad Must A Death Penalty Lawyer Be?
Myths on the National Debt
Kevin Williamson at NRO calculates the national debt out to $140 trillion. But while you wipe up the coffee that just came out your nose, I should note that the lion's share of that number comes from counting the combined total of all Social Security and Medicare liabilities for everyone currently alive and assuming that they will continue to grow at current rates. … [Read more...] about Myths on the National Debt
The World Cup: Politics and Polemics
During every World Cup there are bound to be upsets, surprises, scandals and controversies. They have become so regular and predictable that a small cottage industry has emerged dedicated to predicting, covering and at times exploiting such events. In my “Every Four Years: Viva el Fútbol ,” I summarized a charming article from an “American Way” in-flight magazine—an … [Read more...] about The World Cup: Politics and Polemics
Giving Rupert His Due
Per a report in today's NYT ... The News Corporation took several significant steps on Monday toward preparing to charge readers for access to its content online. The company said that it had acquired an electronic reading platform called Skiff and had made an investment in a company that was developing pay models for newspapers and magazines. In other words: It's … [Read more...] about Giving Rupert His Due
Big Changes Needed to Reach Full Employment (Guest Voice)
Big Changes Needed to Reach Full Employment by Tom Gibson Who has responsibility for guiding our country toward full employment? Who's in charge of analyzing the information collected and determining which policies are helping and which are hindering the building of an economy where everyone who wants to work can find a job? Our political and business leaders don't … [Read more...] about Big Changes Needed to Reach Full Employment (Guest Voice)
Fantasy League Dream Match-Up
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Fantasy League Dream Match-Up
Gen. Petraeus’ Gold Rush
As the war in Afghanistan worsens, its American proprietors have suddenly discovered that, far from being a quagmire, the country is a jackpot of "nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits...far beyond any previously known reserves." Trumpeted in a front-page New York Times story, quoting Gen. David Petraeus no less, this "revelation" comes at a time when, the … [Read more...] about Gen. Petraeus’ Gold Rush
Something About People
They can surprise you. But when I am surprised at finding out that assumptions I had made about someone -- based on the family she comes from, based on her parents' party affiliation, based on who knows what other completely artificial, meaningless criteria -- are wrong, that is my fault, not hers. … [Read more...] about Something About People
The Great Gulf Blowout: Understanding the Blame Game (Guest Voice)
Hi there, Dr. E here. In circles where Richard Lamm, former Governor of Colorado, suddenly calls himself an 'environmentalist' as one who seemingly believes that certain humans are pollutants to the environment, and thus runs for (and is defeated soundly) for a seat on the Board of the Sierra Club... and also in our times, suddenly, conservative Christians claim it's God's … [Read more...] about The Great Gulf Blowout: Understanding the Blame Game (Guest Voice)
Reaction Is Mixed to Israel’s Move to Investigate Flotilla Incident Internally
First, the details of the proposed investigation: … [Read more...] about Reaction Is Mixed to Israel’s Move to Investigate Flotilla Incident Internally
His Grandfather Was A Terrorist (Guest Voice)
Hello, Dr. E. here. Follows a candid essay by jdledell asking a question that more often arises in masters Ethics classrooms than in media, a question that goes something like this: Does who is a terrorist and who is a freedom fighter, depend on the politic of the ones who are looking? Or is there some more productive way to understand time-bracketed agressions? I recall the … [Read more...] about His Grandfather Was A Terrorist (Guest Voice)
Earthquake Felt Here in San Diego, California
I was lying in bed in my little condo in Normal Heights here in San Diego watching the wrenching "Suffer the Little Children" episode of the great HBO western series Deadwood in my normal style: with a little portable DVD player on my stomach and earphone on my ears...and then I felt it. My bed was shaking. My first thought was that it was my nephew Gregg, who lives here, … [Read more...] about Earthquake Felt Here in San Diego, California
16 Year Old Sailor Rescued
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about 16 Year Old Sailor Rescued
How Do You Spell “Racism”?
How do you spell "racism?" The most typical way is r-a-c-i-s-m. But some will argue that another way to spell it may be S-t-e-v-e K-i-n-g. CORRECTION: The wrong "King" was mentioned in the first name of this post in an earlier version. The link this will take you to refers to Steve King NOT Peter King. TMV corrects errors. We regret the error. … [Read more...] about How Do You Spell “Racism”?