It's been a bonanza for public relations folks who can dream up zany stunts that feed the our news media's thirst for "man bites dog" stories. Google reported Friday that they had received more than 1,100 community responses to the broadband fiber request for information (RFI) and more than 194,000 responses from individuals. The company dashed a bit of cold water on those … [Read more...] about Who Should Win The Google Fiber Contest?
Chavez arrests last opposition media chief
Hugo Chavez has tightened control over the Venezuelan media with the arrest of Guillermo Zuloaga in an airport today. Zuloaga is the owner of Globovision, the only remaining anti-Chavez channel operating since RCTV was booted from Venezuelan airwaves in 2007. The crime of Zuloaga? He made remarks "offensive to the President" when he said that Chavez was suppressing free speech … [Read more...] about Chavez arrests last opposition media chief
Driving with an Obama/Biden Bumper Sticker Can Be Dangerous
This incident happened in Nashville, Tennessee: … [Read more...] about Driving with an Obama/Biden Bumper Sticker Can Be Dangerous
French Rally to Side of Texas Man Facing Execution: France Info, France
Hank Skinner, on death row in Texas since 1995, was given a stay of execution by the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday. Just 45 minutes before he was scheduled to die, the court decided to rule on whether to approve a DNA test that will prove his innocence or guilt. According to this article from France Info, Mr. Skinner has been aided by the French - and specifically his … [Read more...] about French Rally to Side of Texas Man Facing Execution: France Info, France
Earth To Planet Obama — Rescuing Drowning Homeowners A Hoax
The Obama administration can't get it through its fat heads that helping homeowners from losing their homes does not work. But it keeps trying and praying something might. As they say in New Jersey, forgetaboutit. Every time the government offers help to the homeowner or his lender, the people who President Obama is wont to say -- those playing by the rules -- get … [Read more...] about Earth To Planet Obama — Rescuing Drowning Homeowners A Hoax
Police Confirm Gas Line at Democratic Congressman’s Relative’s House Deliberately Cut
Do we need any more proof now of how perilous the American political "debate" slipperly slope is becoming? Albemarle County fire marshals and the FBI have confirmed that the gas line cut at Congressman Tom Perriello's brother's house was cut intentional. The vandalism was discovered by the Perriellos, who returned to the home in Peacock Hill near Ivy, smelled gas and … [Read more...] about Police Confirm Gas Line at Democratic Congressman’s Relative’s House Deliberately Cut
Bruce Bartlett, David Frum, and the Closing of the Conservative Mind
Bruce Bartlett has had a long career in Republican politics. He worked for Ron Paul and Jack Kemp. He was a fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He was a senior policy analyst in the Reagan White House, working for Gary Bauer, later a Treasury official under Bush I. He worked at the Cato Institute. Starting in 1993, he was with the right-wing National Center for Policy … [Read more...] about Bruce Bartlett, David Frum, and the Closing of the Conservative Mind
Roman Polanski Still Fighting To Avoid Justice
Convicted sex offender Roman Polanski’s latest film, The Ghost Writer, is now in release to good, but less than rave reviews. The movie, about the ghost writing of an autobiography for a former British Prime Minister, is a dark mystery starring Pierce Brosnan as the fictional former PM, Adam Lang. Meanwhile, Polanski himself remains under house arrest in Switzerland after … [Read more...] about Roman Polanski Still Fighting To Avoid Justice
Breaking: South Korean Ship Sinking After Explosion, Possibly Due To North Korean Torpedo Attack
Fox: The South Korean navy reportedly shot at unidentified ships near North Korea and is investigating whether a sinking ship in its navy was hit with a torpedo near the maritime border with the communist North. AP: Earlier Friday, North Korea's military threatened "unpredictable strikes," including a nuclear attack, in anger over a report that South Korea and the U.S. … [Read more...] about Breaking: South Korean Ship Sinking After Explosion, Possibly Due To North Korean Torpedo Attack
The Government Thinks That Major Wall Street Players Are Defrauding Municipalities
There has long been evidence to support the claim of collusion to rip off the taxpayers by treating municipal bonds far harsher than corporate (a few years ago the ratings agencies got a lot of heat for this and it looked like action was about to be taken by multiple AGs, but then the financial crisis derailed it) but this is the first leak that the government has a criminal … [Read more...] about The Government Thinks That Major Wall Street Players Are Defrauding Municipalities
Frum’s Fall a Telling Blow to Pragmatism on the Right
Would the last intellectual conservative to leave Washington please turn out the lights? The fall of AEI senior Fellow David Frum is not only a loss for intellectual conservatism, but a warning to conservative apostates everywhere that tolerance for opposing viewpoints on the right in the Age of Obama will not be a paying proposition. The previous firing of Bruce Bartlett, … [Read more...] about Frum’s Fall a Telling Blow to Pragmatism on the Right
Getting Started (Guest Cartoon)
This guest cartoon is by Sarjex, who describes herself as “a lonely little wingnut in the crazy liberal mecca of San Francisco.” … [Read more...] about Getting Started (Guest Cartoon)
The Legacy of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh (Guest Voice)
Analysis: The Legacy of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh by Jonathan Spyer * Wherever departed Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh is now, he is presumably enjoying the considerable trouble the nature of his exit is causing his Israeli enemies. The British decision to expel an unnamed Israeli diplomat following the conclusion of an investigation into the alleged use by Israel of cloned … [Read more...] about The Legacy of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh (Guest Voice)
How Obamacare Helps The Wonks
Only because I mentioned in an earlier column this week that conservative David Frum had spoken out lambasting Republicans for screwing up the health reform opposition did I find it curious he has been fired. My reaction was the universally accepted “Big bad conservative think tank axes writer for criticizing GOP intransigence” as Greg Sargent is quoted in today's First Read … [Read more...] about How Obamacare Helps The Wonks
The Prudent Man’s Burden
Not being a professional literary critic I don't do too many referrals to the work of the other fine authors here at TMV, but this morning I will make an exception. In case you missed it yesterday, I would strongly suggest that you read the column by Robin Koerner, Obama; If This Is True, then Shame on You. Rarely do I run across such an exceptional piece which takes a subject … [Read more...] about The Prudent Man’s Burden
How the Pope Can End the Scandal (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- How in the name of God can the Roman Catholic Church put the pedophilia scandal behind it? I do not invoke God's name lightly. The church's problem is, above all, theological and religious. Its core difficulty is that rather than drawing on its Christian resources, the church has acted almost entirely on the basis of this world's imperatives and … [Read more...] about How the Pope Can End the Scandal (Guest Voice)
Right Dismisses Violence While Continuing To Incite It
John Hinderaker (in a post very non-incitingly titled "What Was That Line About the Tree of Liberty and the Blood of Tyrants?") sneers at concerns about the rash of violence -- almost all of which has been directed against congressional Democrats -- following Sunday night's passage of health care reform legislation: … [Read more...] about Right Dismisses Violence While Continuing To Incite It
Heath Care Reform Reconciliation Passes Senate and House: the Fixes are In
Once again -- it's getting kind of tiresome, isn't it? -- the conventional wisdom, stated with such certainty (including by yours truly) has been proven wrong: despite predictions that the health care reform bill passed by the House and signed by President Barack Obama would get bottled up in the Senate due to Republican attempts to delay or derail it, the reconciliation … [Read more...] about Heath Care Reform Reconciliation Passes Senate and House: the Fixes are In
Obama; If This Is True, then Shame on You
I can't believe what I just read in the Washington Post. Apparently, The Obama administration plans to overhaul how it is tackling the foreclosure crisis. And... The first key element is that the government will provide financial incentives to lenders that cut the balance of a borrower's mortgage. Banks and other lenders will be asked to reduce the … [Read more...] about Obama; If This Is True, then Shame on You
Mexicans Doubtful of U.S. Committment to Drug War: El Universal, Mexico
Hot on the heels of a visit by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Defense Secretary Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, this editorial from Mexico's El Universal expresses hope - but skepticism - that the Obama Administration grasps the seriousness of the Drug War in Mexico, and the threat it poses … [Read more...] about Mexicans Doubtful of U.S. Committment to Drug War: El Universal, Mexico