David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Tax Day
Judges, Conservatives, Liberals: We Are All Activists
I've written on defining "activism" before but this op-ed in today's New York Times is superb, as an op-ed and as an argument for why U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is as activist as was the late U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger. From professor of law, Geoffrey R. Stone (University of Chicago - yeah yeah yeah where President Obama taught) who also is an … [Read more...] about Judges, Conservatives, Liberals: We Are All Activists
Cheney: Bush “failed” on Iran
The Cheney in question would be Liz, not Dick. On Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace challenged Cheney's assertion that President Obama is doing nothing at all to prevent Iran from getting the bomb. As Wallace pointed out, wouldn't it be fair to say that the Bush administration also did nothing to prevent Iran from getting the bomb. (Forgive the absence of direct quotes. … [Read more...] about Cheney: Bush “failed” on Iran
Jacqueline on JFK, 44 Years Late
An old wound reopens with news that a book of Jacqueline Kennedy interviews about her husband will be published next year, recalling a story of my naïveté that ended in disappointment and insight in how the Kennedys protected their legend. In 1965, I had asked Mrs. Kennedy to become a contributing editor of McCalls, but she seemed too deep in grief, musing, "If there were … [Read more...] about Jacqueline on JFK, 44 Years Late
Mutual Disappointment in Transatlantic Relations
Chancellor Merkel is traveling across America this week. She loves the United States, but she is still having trouble connecting with Barack Obama, writes Spiegel International (HT: David). The media loves to personalize politics. I think at the end of the day the problem is not the personal relationship between Obama and Merkel, but its structural. After long descriptions of … [Read more...] about Mutual Disappointment in Transatlantic Relations
The Past Week in Crazy
Courtesy of Memeorandum River: … [Read more...] about The Past Week in Crazy
Our Economy: Coming Back Stronger than Predicted?
Just about a year ago, and just after Limbaugh added to his infamous wish list his hope that Obama and our economy would fail, I started writing naïve, optimistic (“optimalistic” I called them) posts grasping at every “green shoot,” chasing every “glimmer of hope,” reaching for every silver lining in the hope that maybe, just maybe, our economy was beginning to recover from the … [Read more...] about Our Economy: Coming Back Stronger than Predicted?
Israel = Nazi Germany?
Kathy, I'm going to take a deep breath and summon the temperament I need to respond your suggestion that, in light of Israeli policy toward the Palestinians, It really is getting increasingly difficult to avoid comparisons with being Jewish in Germany during the decade before World War II began.That suggestion is both reckless and intellectually indefensible. It is an old … [Read more...] about Israel = Nazi Germany?
Don’t Change That Password!
It’s a waste of time. Mark Pothier in the Boston Globe: Now, a study [link] has concluded what lots of us have long suspected: Many of these irritating security measures are a waste of time. The study, by a top researcher at Microsoft, found that instructions intended to spare us from costly computer attacks often exact a much steeper price in the form of user effort and time … [Read more...] about Don’t Change That Password!
A Catastrophe for Poland; Sadness in Washington: Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
What was it like for someone from Poland to be in the United States on the day that that Poland's president, a good portion of his government and some of Poland's leading lights were wiped out in a plane crash? Gazeta Wyborcza's Washington correspondent Marcin Bosacki writes that if they were looking down from the heavens, those who died would have been happy at the way the … [Read more...] about A Catastrophe for Poland; Sadness in Washington: Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
Fix the Flaws: Reader Reax
I received a couple notable reactions to my post from earlier today. First, “Mike Lee” wondered what exactly I meant by “refinement.” If you mean just removing the accidental provisions that slipped through, I wouldn't expect or encourage any Republican to take you up on that. Although Republicans have made use of the "it's so big you can't possibly know what's in it" … [Read more...] about Fix the Flaws: Reader Reax
U.S. Nuclear Double Standards Must End: La Jornada, Mexico
Continuing with our global survey of reaction to the onrush of events surrounding nuclear weapons, we have posted this editorial from Mexico's La Jornada which puts forward a view widely shared in the developing world. According to La Jornada's editorial board, President Obama's new nuclear doctrine is hypocritical, since North Korea and Iran have done nothing different that … [Read more...] about U.S. Nuclear Double Standards Must End: La Jornada, Mexico
Is Obama Changing the Global Game on Iran and Nuclear Policy?
As President Obama kicks off the Nuclear Summit, the question is whether Obama is having a world influence. Steve Clemons, writing in The Politico, argues that Obama is having a big impact not only on how Iran is handled but on global nuclear policy as well. Here's the beginning of his post: Sir Francis Bacon once said, “In civil business, what first? Boldness. What … [Read more...] about Is Obama Changing the Global Game on Iran and Nuclear Policy?
The Health Care Reform Battle: It’s the Hypocrisy…
I have been surprised by many of the Republicans’ newly discovered passions. Take for example their newfound passion against parliamentary procedures they themselves have generously practiced in the past, such as reconciliation, “deem and pass,” etc. Or their newfound passion to zealously and liberally use parliamentary tactics they have roundly condemned in … [Read more...] about The Health Care Reform Battle: It’s the Hypocrisy…
Interview With A Purported CIA Iranian Informant
One of the most fascinating new books to come out is by A Time to Betray by Reza Kahlili (I will be reading it soon myself) -- a book written by purported CIA Iranian informant. RealClearWorld's Kevin Sullivan has an equally fascinating, must-read Q&A with him. Here's how Sullivan intros it: RCW recently spoke with Reza Kahlili (a pseudonym), who claims to have served for … [Read more...] about Interview With A Purported CIA Iranian Informant
Amazing Mitt Romney
Taylor Jones, Politicalcartoons.com This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Amazing Mitt Romney
Both Parties Gearing Up To Use SCOTUS Nomination For Political Gain
As the Obama Administration makes public its short list of potential nominees to replace John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court, politicians on both sides of the aisle are preparing to politicize the nomination. Republicans have been clear since Steven’s retirement that they will not rule out a filibuster. It is widely expected that they will attempt to portray any nominee … [Read more...] about Both Parties Gearing Up To Use SCOTUS Nomination For Political Gain
Sarah Palin Rakes In Big Bucks Since July: $12 Million
Sarah Palin is piling in the money: Pundits can debate the political costs and benefits of Sarah Palin's decision to step down as Alaska governor, but the monetary advantages of leaving her $125,000-a-year public service post are beyond dispute. Since leaving office at the end of July 2009, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee has brought in at least 100 times … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Rakes In Big Bucks Since July: $12 Million
Why Adobe and Apple are Bypassing Traditional Media Outlets to Wage War in the Blogosphere (Guest Voice)
Why Adobe and Apple are Bypassing Traditional Media Outlets to Wage War in the Blogosphere by Simon Owens When Steve Jobs responds to a random person's email -- an event occurring more frequently of late -- the sender is usually shocked that such a tech titan has reached into his mailbag to pluck his message from the ether and deem it worthy of a reply. But Greg Slepak had … [Read more...] about Why Adobe and Apple are Bypassing Traditional Media Outlets to Wage War in the Blogosphere (Guest Voice)
Tiger Woods Is back
Dario Castillejos, Dario La Crisis This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Tiger Woods Is back