While we in the US have about six months before the midterms our friends over the pond go to the ballot box tomorrow in a race that could leave the country in a psuedo 2000 mess. When the campaign began it seemed likely that David Cameron and his Conservative party would win a fairly easy victory over Gordon Brown and his Labour party. After 12 years in power the Labour … [Read more...] about UK Election Tomorrow
David Obey To Retire
Long time Congresscritter David Obey (D-WI) is expected to announce his retirement. This race was already considered a possible GOP pickup and with Obey out of the race that could improve GOP odds. Although since part of the issue was Obey's 40 year plus service it could be an open race will help the Dems. In either case another retirement. … [Read more...] about David Obey To Retire
Washington Post Will Sell Newsweek: The End of an Era?
The Washington Post today announced that it's going to put Newsweek up for sale -- marking the end of an era. The question becomes: will the end of an era mean the beginning of a new one for the magazine, or is it effectively over? It's no secret that the magazine has been losing millions for some time now. Due to this -- and the changing media environment where readership … [Read more...] about Washington Post Will Sell Newsweek: The End of an Era?
Does The Roberts Court Favor Corporations Over Ordinary Citizens?
According to the Alliance for Justice, a progressive judicial watch group, the United States Supreme Court has tacked far to the right since the appointments of John Roberts as Chief Justice and Samuel Alito as Associate Justice. The Alliance for Justice begins its report of recent Court action by quoting Justice Steven Breyer, “It is not often in the law that so few have so … [Read more...] about Does The Roberts Court Favor Corporations Over Ordinary Citizens?
Anti-Religion On The Court?
Article VI, Section 3 of the United States Constitution mandates: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as … [Read more...] about Anti-Religion On The Court?
Oil Spill Sanity Check
To listen to the reporting, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana is the end of the world as well know it. An invasion by the aliens from Independence Day would be less destructive. Environmental groups and opportunistic politicians are clamoring to shut down all off-shore oil drilling and leverage the issue into a broader move against carbon-based energy and … [Read more...] about Oil Spill Sanity Check
Asymmetrical War on Terror
We attack al Qaeda and the Taliban with Predator drones. They send us a hapless Shoe Bomber, a Christmas plane passenger with underwear that doesn't explode and now the Times Square terrorist who parks a used car full of jerry-rigged junk and leaves a trail of bread crumbs that results in his capture 53 hour later. Yet, lopsided as this War on and of Terror may be … [Read more...] about Asymmetrical War on Terror
Real Independents II — The Debate
"Who are the real independents?" I seem to have touched a nerve, prompting responses by email and by others on this site. But I think both miss the point: "Independent" should be more than just non-affiliation with Democrats or Republicans. When an "independent" repeats verbatim the talking points of MoveOn.org, it is hard to interpret such an expression as that of a real … [Read more...] about Real Independents II — The Debate
The ‘War’ on Terror vs. a Police Action
This blurb by Dave Neiwert at Crooks and Liars is fascinating. It is so blithely ignorant of its own irony that it could easily be construed as a child sticking its tongue out at a playmate and sneering, "So there, nyeah." The next time you hear some right-winger (most notably Dick Cheney) sneer at the Obama administration's "law enforcement approach to terrorism," … [Read more...] about The ‘War’ on Terror vs. a Police Action
Alf: The Only Openly Gay Male Athlete
Not the Alien Life Form ALF from the 1980s sitcom. The 6'3" 225 pound Welsh national rugby team star, Gareth Thomas. Alf is the nickname given to him by a friend at age 14 that stuck. Some months ago he gained the distinction of becoming the first, and only, gay man in a major team sport who's out of the closet. This week Gary Smith has a 7,000+ word profile of him in … [Read more...] about Alf: The Only Openly Gay Male Athlete
President Calderón Pledges To Help Migrants Fight Arizona Law: Excelsior, Mexico
How far can the Mexican head of state go in helping Mexicans in the United States - illegal or not - fight Arizona Law SB 1070? Continuing our coverage of reaction from the Mexican side, in this news item from Mexico's Excelsior newspaper, President Felipe Calderon, incensed by the new law, tells leaders of Mexican migrants residing in the U.S. that his government will leave no … [Read more...] about President Calderón Pledges To Help Migrants Fight Arizona Law: Excelsior, Mexico
Autopsy Vindicates Corey Haim
Forget about adding the late Corey Haim's name to the list of former child actors or older actors who died of a drug overdose. He and those who believed in him have now been vindicated: it turns out he died of natural causes, including heart damage and pneumonia. A NOTE ON THAT: More than 10 years ago, while I was performing my school assembly at schools in the Marysville, … [Read more...] about Autopsy Vindicates Corey Haim
Late Night News Roundup (EDITED AND EXPANDED)
Author's note: I have expanded and edited my coverage of the Reker news item. … [Read more...] about Late Night News Roundup (EDITED AND EXPANDED)
It’s a Pakistani Islamist Jihadi! Don’t Mirandize Him!
Oh, and by the way, it's really impressive how you law enforcement guys at the NYPD and the FBI managed to identify and apprehend Faisal Shahzad, even though the attempted bombing in Times Square was an act of war and we know that law enforcement methods don't work with things like this. … [Read more...] about It’s a Pakistani Islamist Jihadi! Don’t Mirandize Him!
Glenn Beck’s New Crusade: Against Mother’s Day?
As we've often said here, hot talk partisan talk radio is about going negative, getting people riled up and sometimes getting listeners who've riled up or who tune in to listen to an intellectual car crash. Glenn Beck has now taken his show to a new level low bycoming out against that terrible holiday that is (supposedly) being shoved down our throats: Mothers' … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck’s New Crusade: Against Mother’s Day?
Crisis of Infinite Crises
Is it just me or is there a lot going wrong these days? … [Read more...] about Crisis of Infinite Crises
How a Maine Blogger Forced a Gubernatorial Campaign Staffer to Resign Over Plagiarism Allegations
How a Maine blogger forced a gubernatorial campaign staffer to resign over plagiarism allegations by Simon Owens Les Otten is no stranger to plagiarism charges. Not long after the former American Skiing Company CEO entered the race for Maine governor last summer, his campaign was accused of ripping off Obama's iconic "O" logo and website, a situation only made worse when … [Read more...] about How a Maine Blogger Forced a Gubernatorial Campaign Staffer to Resign Over Plagiarism Allegations
Moderate Republican Howl
RJ Matson, Roll Call This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Moderate Republican Howl
American Gypsy – Dealing With The Political Center
Karl Rove rode triumphant from his Texas enclave to the nation’s capitol. With his newly elected president, shaped and molded as a compassionate conservative, the kind of guy you’d like to have a beer with, Rove carried with him what he believed were the seeds of a permanent Republican majority. Coming on the heels of a reckless attempt to impeach a president, the new … [Read more...] about American Gypsy – Dealing With The Political Center
Stupid Fan Deserves To Be Tasered
MSNBC.com is polling readers asking if it is okay to Taser a nut who runs onto a playing field as happened at a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game Monday night. I was among the 70% who said damn right. A policeman and stadium security guards chased Steve Consalvi, 17, for a frantic minute when the officer nailed the frolicking youth with a Taser and the kid dropped like a … [Read more...] about Stupid Fan Deserves To Be Tasered