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?
Expert Says Housing Will Remain Soft
Dean Baker, one of the few experts to predict the last housing slump says that those who think that things are picking up are ignoring reality. He calls for continued slow markets and even a new slump in 2011. Not the best of news but this guy called it once and might well be doing so again. … [Read more...] about Expert Says Housing Will Remain Soft
Charlie Crist Now Says No Refunds
Just recently Florida's now-independent candidate for Senate Charlie Crist said he'd give refunds back to Republicans who demand their money back now that he's not going to run as a GOPer. But now the new policy is: No refunds. … [Read more...] about Charlie Crist Now Says No Refunds
China Stunned by Series of Murders of Schoolchildren: Seven Kids Die in Latest Meat Cleaver Attack
Exactly what is going on in China?? A rash of bloody, knife and meat cleaver murders of small school kids by adults have stunned China, a country where children are treasured. It seemingly matches the inexpicable killing sprees that peppered American history over the past few decades. The question is "why." And the answer so far is: "no one knows" -- but a lot of parents now … [Read more...] about China Stunned by Series of Murders of Schoolchildren: Seven Kids Die in Latest Meat Cleaver Attack
Mideast Groundhog Day
Hamid Karzai is in Washington this week for another round of coddling an "ally" in the War of Terror who is conning us out of lives and money to preserve a shaky, corrupt regime. Afghanistan's Caped Crusader will try to talk the Obama Administration out of diluting his stranglehold on the country by its emphasis on "empowering those at the provincial and district level," as … [Read more...] about Mideast Groundhog Day
Ahmadinejad Unveils His Grand Strategy: A Nuclear Defensive Umbrella for Aggression (Guest Voice)
Ahmadinejad Unveils His Grand Strategy: A Nuclear Defensive Umbrella for Aggression by Barry Rubin Whatever you think of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad he is not a stupid man. And he's also not acting like an intimidated one. During the latest UN meeting on nuclear issues, when the new International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)director-general urged Iran to … [Read more...] about Ahmadinejad Unveils His Grand Strategy: A Nuclear Defensive Umbrella for Aggression (Guest Voice)
Countering Purists
It is really easy to find conservatives calling out other conservatives for over-the-top characterizations about the nomination of Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court. Why is it so hard to find progressives calling out the progressives that are going over the top? Could it be that the meme that Republicans and conservatives have an exclusive lock on intolerance and purism is … [Read more...] about Countering Purists