Close your eyes and imagine in the year 2013 the noisy but peaceful political revolution culminates with the Tea Party, Libertarians and conservative Republicans taking total control of Congress and the Presidency. Imagine the government cutting spending in all sectors except military defense. Included in the domestic cuts is entitlement programs. Medicare is reduced by 15%, … [Read more...] about Other People’s Money
Study May Explain Why Sarah Palin’s High-Pitched Raspy Voice Is Attractive To Some
David Letterman has his "Stupid Dog Tricks" segment. I have my "Stupid Research" peeve. The latest research pulp is women with high-pitched raspy voices prefer deep-voiced masculine males. My immediate visionary response was Sarah and Todd Palin and Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt dancing before my very eyes. "Scientists research the features that make people attractive … [Read more...] about Study May Explain Why Sarah Palin’s High-Pitched Raspy Voice Is Attractive To Some
Stop Bitching And Face The Music
I'm disgusted over the political blame game being played over the oil spill accident of Deepwater Horizons in the Gulf of Mexico. As at least 5,000 barrels of crude daily gushes a mile below the water surface, the confluence results in everyone, including wildlife, has an advocate. It is depressing that I am accused of being an alarmist when I quote knowledgeable sources … [Read more...] about Stop Bitching And Face The Music
Lindsay Graham and Joe Lieberman Want to De-americanize Terrorism Suspects
I think it's getting down to this question: is our constitution a ball of silly putty or is it a meaningful, enduring document with certain timeless qualities which can't be capriciously bent willy nilly? Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham are now in effect calling to De-americanize terrorism suspects: Shortly after the media broke the news that authorities had … [Read more...] about Lindsay Graham and Joe Lieberman Want to De-americanize Terrorism Suspects
Contingency and Terrorism: Luck Matters Too
The catalog of miscues by the FBI that allowed potential Times Square car bomber Faisal Shahzad to board the Emirates Airlines flight for Dubai has prompted many critics to call the Obama Administration more "lucky" than "good" in capturing the suspect. Add to this the comical ineptness of Shahzad himself - and the underwear bomber on Christmas - and a pattern of criticism … [Read more...] about Contingency and Terrorism: Luck Matters Too
Lest we get too arrogant about our technology
Guess who built the world's longest dam? … [Read more...] about Lest we get too arrogant about our technology
Video of SWAT Raid on Missouri Family
Last February, libertarian Radley Balko wrote an article over at Reason drawing attention to a disturbing SWAT raid that took place in Columbia, Missouri. Radley sums up what happened: SWAT team breaks into home, fires seven rounds at family’s pit bull and corgi (?!) as a seven-year-old looks on. They found a “small amount” of marijuana, enough for a misdemeanor charge. … [Read more...] about Video of SWAT Raid on Missouri Family
The Birthers Ruined Schwarzenegger’s White House Chance (Guest Voice)
The Birthers Ruined Schwarzenegger’s White House Chance by Tina Dupuy Imagine you have an action hero head of state: his bronzed muscles rippling as he battles balancing budgets, bureaucracy and lobbyists. He’s a retina-searing international superstar who sets the political world ablaze. His occasional character “complexities” are always forgiven by perfectly timed press … [Read more...] about The Birthers Ruined Schwarzenegger’s White House Chance (Guest Voice)
Amateur Hour
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Amateur Hour
Here’s to the State of Joe Lieberman
I'd like to believe that we've learned something as a society from the political crimes and mistakes of the past, but listening to Phil Ochs sing "Here's to the State of Richard Nixon," it's depressingly amazing how accurately those lyrics still describe what's going on today: … [Read more...] about Here’s to the State of Joe Lieberman
Is the Media Not Giving Credit to Muslim Immigrants When They Deserve It?
Does the media have a blind spot when it comes to Muslim immigrants? In this day of "high concept" reporting that must fit an instantly recognizable narrative, is the news media ignoring or downplaying the fact that the man who alerted police to the fizzled Times Square bombing was a Muslim? (And to short-circuit the kinds of emails and/or comments on websites that may … [Read more...] about Is the Media Not Giving Credit to Muslim Immigrants When They Deserve It?
Fiery Liberals: A Three Strike Law For Corporations?
Elijah Sweete asks, Does The Roberts Court Favor Corporations Over Ordinary Citizens? If his summary of the Alliance for Justice report, “Unprecedented Injustice,” didn't get you fired up, maybe this will add some fuel to his fire... For the last two weeks as Bill Moyers wound down his program, the Citizens United decision popped into the discussion. Last week the … [Read more...] about Fiery Liberals: A Three Strike Law For Corporations?
Abolish the Filibuster (Guest Voice)
Abolish the Filibuster By Craig S. Barnes It generally happens in world history that change comes to rural areas later than it comes to cities and that, no matter where you are on the planet, rural areas are more conservative politically, which is saying the same thing, really, since conservative means to want to hold on to what was good in the past, or not to change too … [Read more...] about Abolish the Filibuster (Guest Voice)
The Bile Slick
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about The Bile Slick
UK Election Tomorrow
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