In discussing the often apparently contradictory behavior of President Obama on several important issues, New York Times columnist Frank Rich recently pondered the question of whether the President is "a socialist redistributing wealth to the undeserving poor or a tool of Wall Street’s Goldman Sachs elite." Rich seemed undecided on the matter. I'm not. The evidence makes … [Read more...] about President Obama: Poor Man’s Friend Or Rich Man’s Friend?
The Tea Party Narrative Just Jumped the Shark
And it was all going so well for Democrats and liberals in the media. Display a picture or vid clip of angry, contorted faces of the tea partiers, add the race card, accuse the "core" of the movement of being birthers, and generally play to the idea that this vast, grassroots movement is a small, insignificant bunch of sour grape Republicans who hate Obama. Well, it … [Read more...] about The Tea Party Narrative Just Jumped the Shark
Obama is Likely to Play it Safer On Supreme Court Nomination
Will Barack Obama name the kind of Supreme Court nominee who'll excite the Democratic party's progressive base? NBC's Chuck Todd predicts Obama won't want to pick that kind of nominee -- and fight -- this time, given the country's present highly polarized political climate and signs this is not going to be a good year for Democrats. This segment on Morning Joe once again shows … [Read more...] about Obama is Likely to Play it Safer On Supreme Court Nomination
Barack Obama, Meet Sisyphus (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Toward the end of the health care battle, a beleaguered Obama staff member sent me an e-mail that ended with the words: "Sisyphus was a sissy compared to what we've been through!" Yes, the fight for health care seemed very much like the Greek myth: Every time the White House found itself on the verge of rolling the health care stone up the hill, some event … [Read more...] about Barack Obama, Meet Sisyphus (Guest Voice)
Why Grey is Important
It’s been a long time TMV. I would make some lame excuse about being too busy to comment on the political debates that are taking a strangle hold on the (ever short term) American conscience or the conscience of my own country, Great Britain (we are also slap bang in election season). I am feeling rather disillusioned with politics from both sides of the pond. It’s all a … [Read more...] about Why Grey is Important
Quote for the Day: ‘Truth Doesn’t Stand a Chance’
The NYT examines Snopes and other Web fact-v-fraud checkers, including a look at the couple who founded Snopes, David and Barbara Mikkelson. The Mikkelson's attitude toward the utility of their work is, in a word, discouraging. From the article's conclusion: ... even though Snopes pays the bills for the couple now, through advertising revenue, they doubt they are … [Read more...] about Quote for the Day: ‘Truth Doesn’t Stand a Chance’
Ehrlich’s Maryland Brand of Tea
Although it is not official, it appears that Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. will put his name before voters again in the much anticipated rematch with Martin O'Malley for the office of Governor of the State of Maryland on April 7th. Unlike most pundits, I believe Ehrlich has a better than average shot of beating O'Malley. However, the key is not going to be running against Obama, … [Read more...] about Ehrlich’s Maryland Brand of Tea
Pharoah, let your people go!
Apropo of Passover, the New Yorker takes a look at the state of tyranny in Egypt. [Subscription required] President Hosni Mubarak is 82 and his health is deteriorating. Mubarak has ruled since 1981, with the aid of a perepetual Emergency Law that allows for unlimited suppression of dissent. So what has the United States done to support Egypt's long-suffering democratic … [Read more...] about Pharoah, let your people go!
Obama Does Not Have International Friends
President Obama thus far has failed to strengthen relationships with historic allies, focusing instead on a fruitless search for improved relations with adversaries, writes Robert Kagan in the Washington Post (via Atlantic Community): The president who ran against "unilateralism" in the 2008 campaign has worse relations overall with American allies than George W. Bush did in … [Read more...] about Obama Does Not Have International Friends
Easter Sunday Earthquake Day In California: My Deja Vu Memory Moment
I was traveling from San Diego to San Clemente in my car for my second Easter day contracted show. I was, as usual, listening to CNN on XM satellite radio when they began talking about an earthquake that had rocked downtown Los Angeles. It was shortly after that that I reached my destination. The people inside asked me, "Did you feel it?" I said, "The earthquake? I was … [Read more...] about Easter Sunday Earthquake Day In California: My Deja Vu Memory Moment
Large Earthquake in Baja California [Mexico] Affects San Diego & Los Angeles
UPDATE: The temblors, lasting at least 30 to 40 seconds were felt rolling through Temecula, about 100 miles northwest of Mexicali. "My apartment building started rolling and sloshing back and forth as if the foundations were resting on a bowl of jelly," said a tenant, Jerry Remmers, a TMV columnist. "There was no damage but some residents, new to living in earthquake-prone … [Read more...] about Large Earthquake in Baja California [Mexico] Affects San Diego & Los Angeles
Empty Pockets Never Make the Grade
If I had to point to one news item that encapsulates why I am a liberal, progressive Democrat, and why I am not a conservative, right-wing Republican, this news item would be the one. … [Read more...] about Empty Pockets Never Make the Grade
For Malia and Sasha – Proust Rather than Astérix Comics!: Le Monde, France
The French press seems to be more-or-less please with the visit of President Nicolas Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni to the United States. But according to Franck Nouchi of France's Le Monde newspaper, they made one serious mistake: They gave the Obama daughters the wrong gift. Apparently, the French comic books the Sarkozy's gave Sasha and Malia Obama don't sufficiently … [Read more...] about For Malia and Sasha – Proust Rather than Astérix Comics!: Le Monde, France
Amnesty International Has NOT “Endorsed Defensive Jihad”
Andy McCarthy is making stuff up again: … [Read more...] about Amnesty International Has NOT “Endorsed Defensive Jihad”
Dr. King’s Economic Dream Deferred (Guest Voice)
Dr. King's Economic Dream Deferred by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship Forty-two years ago, on April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated, gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee. To those of us who were alive then, the images are etched in painful memory: One day, Dr. King is standing with colleagues, including Ralph Abernathy and Jesse Jackson, on the balcony … [Read more...] about Dr. King’s Economic Dream Deferred (Guest Voice)
Celebrating Easter in Afghanistan
Easter is being celebrated all over the world - including by U.S. troops in Afghanistan. CNN looks at the celebration and the context there where U.S. troops celebrate Easter in Muslim country: … [Read more...] about Celebrating Easter in Afghanistan
Happy Easter
Happy Easter by Martha Randolph Carr There are two major holidays in the Christian faith. In no particular order, the first is Christmas and the second is Easter. If they were to be ranked according to the amount of media attention or holiday decorating Christmas would be the winner in a runaway. The amount of glitz attached to Christmas often confuses both the … [Read more...] about Happy Easter
Easter In The Seventh Year
Every four to seven years on average Easter in the Eastern Orthodox Church is celebrated on the same Sunday as it is celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church and most protestant religions. 2010 is such a year. And, in an extemely rare occurance, next year will be as well. The reason for the difference is the use of two different calendars. The Orthodox Church uses the … [Read more...] about Easter In The Seventh Year
How Easter Is Forgotten
Peter Broelman, Australia This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All right reserved. … [Read more...] about How Easter Is Forgotten
Don’t Like Historical Facts? Just Change Them!
Steve Thomma at McClatchy writes about the conservative movement to rewrite history: … [Read more...] about Don’t Like Historical Facts? Just Change Them!