Part One: Brewer Does It Again. In my article of May 1, it was reported that the Arizona legislature had passed HB 2281 banning ethnic studies in Arizona public schools. Governor Jan Brewer, already trying to explain why the state’s anti-immigrant law, SB 1070, shouldn’t be considered racist and why it wouldn’t lead to racial profiling, had until May 11 to sign the ethnic … [Read more...] about Arizona Update – Brewer, Boycotts And Republicans
Oily Birds
This copyrighted cartoon by Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com, is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Oily Birds
Astonishing Economic Stupidity
Here's some numbers worth contemplating. After the federal government gives 700 billion dollars as a direct bailout to big banks, and lends (and is still lending) upwards of two trillion dollars more at zero or near-zero interest to these same banks, these institutions' own lending to small businesses, which account for two-thirds of this country's employment, dropped more than … [Read more...] about Astonishing Economic Stupidity
Why military bloggers are taking a nuanced approach to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell debate
In February I interviewed several LGBT bloggers who had banded together to create a "blog swarm" to pressure human rights groups into taking a more firm position on repealing the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. The idea, I gathered, was that by speaking as a unified voice the group could exert more influence than any individual blogger. From initial press reports, … [Read more...] about Why military bloggers are taking a nuanced approach to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell debate
Are Arizona Boycotts Unconstitutional?
Arizona's controversial anti-immigrant legislation is provoking a storm of negative reactions. The City of San Francisco has passed a "recommendation" that discourages travel to Arizona. The City of Los Angeles has gone much further, approving an ordinance that outright bans official travel to Arizona and seeks even to cancel existing contracts. In moral and political … [Read more...] about Are Arizona Boycotts Unconstitutional?
Poll: Republicans Winning Back Parts of Winning Coalition and Keeping Them
Hope springs eternal, even in politics, but the latest MSNBC/Wall Street Journal poll has some truly bad news for Democrats: it shows the Republican party is winning back and retaining parts of the coalition that helped it gain and keep power. If it remains intact on election day -- and the poll suggests the GOP is keeping the voters it is regaining -- then in the short term … [Read more...] about Poll: Republicans Winning Back Parts of Winning Coalition and Keeping Them
The European Bailout (Guest Voice)
The European Bailout by Martha Randolph Carr The last minute rescue of the Greek economy has a lot of similarities to bailing out the alcoholic sibling who sulks in the back seat on the drive home from the drunk tank. Neither one is really remorseful or even grasps the enormity of the problem but they’ll take the help and the money anyway and assume there’s more where … [Read more...] about The European Bailout (Guest Voice)
A Sign of Our Political Times and Today’s Political Debate
I'l refrain from any comment on any part of THIS POST (except for the headline). I'll let readers just read it and if they have comments, discuss it in District TMV by going to the link at the bottom of this post. … [Read more...] about A Sign of Our Political Times and Today’s Political Debate
Brown Giving Steering Wheel to Cameron
Riber Hansson, Sweden This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Brown Giving Steering Wheel to Cameron
The Biggest Wall Street Subsidy Yet
None of the big four banks had a single day in which they lost money trading last quarter. Henry Blodget says that's thanks to the government's near-zero-interest-rate policy: [T]he US government is lending money to the big banks at near-zero interest rates. And the banks are then turning around and lending that money back to the US government at 3%-4% interest rates, making … [Read more...] about The Biggest Wall Street Subsidy Yet
The Elena Kagan You Won’t See
WASHINGTON -- Brace yourself for several months of occasionally biting but essentially meaningless political theater over the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Underlying the fight will be a fundamental divide between liberals and conservatives over the direction of the court. Thus, many senators who supported Chief Justice John Roberts … [Read more...] about The Elena Kagan You Won’t See
Since Politicians Give Us a Song And a Dance How About Some Real Ones?
It's election year...aka the silly season...and since politicians of both parties are now busy giving voters a song and dance, how about some real ones...vaudeville style? First, a song by legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald and vaudeville/radio/tv star Jimmy Durante: Bill Bailey...with the boffo vaudeville style ending (from the 1960s ABC variety show The Hollywood … [Read more...] about Since Politicians Give Us a Song And a Dance How About Some Real Ones?
Microsoft Office 2010 Arrives
Microsoft officially launched the new Office 2010 in NYC today. In addition to the full-featured version, there will be a free Internet version starting June 15. A mobile application for Windows Mobile phones is available for download today. iPhone and most other platforms will be limited to accessing the applications via a mobile Web browser. With a free version online, … [Read more...] about Microsoft Office 2010 Arrives
Kagan Hearing
Cartoon by Mike Keefe, Denver Post. This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Kagan Hearing
Hell and the cost of health care
The United States spends more on health care per capita than any other country in the world yet over ten percent of the population don't have health insurance and as a result limited access to health care. Is it because we are doing too much for people with health insurance or Medicare? Although I think of myself as an atheist at a time of personal challenges a few years ago I … [Read more...] about Hell and the cost of health care
Immigration
This copyrighted cartoon by Arcadio Esquivel, Cagle Cartoons, La Prensa, Panama is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Immigration
A Poetic Ode to the End of the Gordon Brown Era In Great Britain
Prose is worse if you can make your point well in VERSE. … [Read more...] about A Poetic Ode to the End of the Gordon Brown Era In Great Britain
2016 Maybe?
If you watched Judy Woodruff's interview of Wes Moore on The PBS Evening News tonight, you may be have thought the same thing I thought: this Wes Moore will run for president some day. Check out this guy's bio. [This has been cross-posted on my blog.] … [Read more...] about 2016 Maybe?
Kagan’s Closet
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Kagan’s Closet
Elena Kagan: Secret Centrist Triangulator?
Barack Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court Elena Kagan seems to be unpopular with some on the right and on the left. But is her secret that she's really a centrist -- and a triangulator to boot? Ed Morrissey makes the case. FOOTNOTE: Of course the word "triangulation" is a dirtied word than "compromise" to some on the right and left. But to some in the center, … [Read more...] about Elena Kagan: Secret Centrist Triangulator?