Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Tea Party Violence
Republican Games Are Snatching Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory
Two days ago I wrote a headline on my column reporting President Obama signing the new health overhaul legislation into law and now let the games begin. Boy, did they. My award for the most clever amendment introduced in the Senate reconciliation process to embarrass Democrats goes to Tom Coburn, the doctor from Oklahoma. Among the amendments he offered was to ban Viagra … [Read more...] about Republican Games Are Snatching Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory
The Great Health Care “Surprise” (Guest Voice)
The Great Health Care "Surprise" by The Magical Sky Father "Going on vacation with the wife I decided I could trust my teenage son with my Porsche so I left him the keys and I know he will not drive it because I told him not to. He is a good kid starting his college interviews so I am sure this will all work out just fine, I mean the kid is still a virgin and runs around … [Read more...] about The Great Health Care “Surprise” (Guest Voice)
Rep. Anthony Weiner’s Office and Several Others Evacuated In Response to Package Containing White Powder
Today, a package of white powder accompanied by a threatening letter was sent to the Queens office of Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY): … [Read more...] about Rep. Anthony Weiner’s Office and Several Others Evacuated In Response to Package Containing White Powder
Cantor Accuses Democrats of ‘Fanning Flames’
In a press event today, he was forceful in contrasting his own actions with those of Democrats who have been harassed: House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) angrily lashed out at Democratic leaders for their handling of reported threats against members of Congress Thursday, accusing them of "dangerously fanning the flames" by blaming the GOP and confiding that he has also … [Read more...] about Cantor Accuses Democrats of ‘Fanning Flames’
High Profiles: Pelosi and Palin
The two feistiest figures in politics today are doing it without a Y chromosome. On the PBS News Hour, the Speaker of the House evoked that old Feminist slogan to sell cigarettes, "You've come a long way, baby" as an energized Nancy Pelosi took a victory lap on health care. Meanwhile, in the era when a woman couldn't make it to the White House, Sarah Palin is one of the … [Read more...] about High Profiles: Pelosi and Palin
Health Care’s New Nullifiers (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli seems determined to use an attack on health care reform to bring us back to the 1830s. Cuccinelli, to cheers from the Tea Party crowd, went to court this week to overturn the new law, which he says conflicts with a Virginia statute "protecting its citizens from a government-imposed mandate to buy health … [Read more...] about Health Care’s New Nullifiers (Guest Voice)
Netanyahu’s “Invisible” White House Visit
Curious. Open to speculation (which is most assuredly going on). Here's a roundup that puts it into perspective. … [Read more...] about Netanyahu’s “Invisible” White House Visit
Arab In America – Chasing The Dream Or Living The Nightmare?
This past Sunday my wife and I had the very great honor of being invited to attend the ordination of a friend in the Orthodox Church. The ordination was conducted in three languages, English, Greek and Arabic. Often thought of as the “Greek” Orthodox Church or the “Russian” Orthodox Church, it is not always remembered that the church also extends across the Middle East. My … [Read more...] about Arab In America – Chasing The Dream Or Living The Nightmare?
Is One More “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Study Really Needed?
Guest post by Robert W.P. Wolfe A combat-tested strategic airlift pilot, Robert is a former major in the United States Air Force, serving as the Chief of Future Operations for the Director of Mobility Forces on his last deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He is currently a Robert F. Toigo fellow and a Morgan Stanley MBA fellow at Harvard … [Read more...] about Is One More “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Study Really Needed?
Save Money, Lose Money
My stock market calls have been very bad in recent months. And for this I apologize. I made the classic mistake in this realm — assuming that the obvious and inevitable would morph into stock market results in the short term. Clearly, that hasn't happened. With all the happy talk about recovery, there hasn't been one for the vast majority of Americans in the same 12 months, a … [Read more...] about Save Money, Lose Money
Step one: passage (maybe) – step 2: justification
My prediction on the health care bill(s) - this is far from over. The health care bill will last through the cherry blossom buds of Washington until the Easter break. Both parties are on unsure and politically treacherous footing in this quagmire. Democratic members have spent 14 months trying to pass a health care bill while they enjoyed a super-majority of both houses. … [Read more...] about Step one: passage (maybe) – step 2: justification
Could Threats to Democrats Start Scaring Independent Voters Away from the GOP? (UPDATED)
Could some particularly extremist members of the Republican party's talk radio political culture scare away crucial swing voters who appear to be poised to swing th GOP's way come November? If the pattern of independent voter behavior and preferences in the past is any indication, the answer is yes. The news that some House members voted for health care reform now find … [Read more...] about Could Threats to Democrats Start Scaring Independent Voters Away from the GOP? (UPDATED)
Social Security Dips a Toe in the Red Ink Pool
A rather dismaying headline crossed my desk this morning from our friends at Hot Air. Social Security will tip over into annual deficits … now. And given that the source of the story was The New York Times it's hard to write this off as "right wing alarmism." A long expected - but not expected just yet - milestone has apparently been reached. This year, the system will pay … [Read more...] about Social Security Dips a Toe in the Red Ink Pool
Actual Threats or Old School Democracy?
As most readers here know, I am a vigorous supporter of the recently passed health care law and President Obama's agenda in general. I have a very low opinion of the Tea Party Movement and conservative Republicanism in general. That said, I have to wonder if the charges of violent threats and intimidation are all they are cracked up to be. More importantly, how organized are … [Read more...] about Actual Threats or Old School Democracy?
Biden Gaffes
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Biden Gaffes
Republicans De-hero Scott Brown: Soon Just Another “RINO”?
Frank Sinatra had that song "That's Life" (watch it here) with the lyric "You're riding high in April, shot down in May." Switch around the months and it seemily to applies to Massachusett's Senator Scott Brown. But he's not being shot down by Democrats now as much as by GOPers. Why? Brown's election was greeted by Republicans and conservatives in particular as doubly … [Read more...] about Republicans De-hero Scott Brown: Soon Just Another “RINO”?
Stop the Presses! Barack Obama Has Been Resurrected!: Folha, Brazil
Now that President Obama has his health care victory, can we say that the global media been too quick to pronounce President Obama a messiah, and then dead, and then resurrected? Continuing with Worldmeets.US' coverage of the global reaction to U.S. health reform, Brazilian columnist Clovis Rossi writes that while he is convinced that time in the modern world is speeding up - … [Read more...] about Stop the Presses! Barack Obama Has Been Resurrected!: Folha, Brazil
Just Imagine How Far They’ll Go To Protect The Pope’s Reputation
Watching Germany as Ireland settles some, I was taken by surprise by this case in Wisconsin: Top Vatican officials — including the future Pope Benedict XVI — did not defrock a priest who molested as many as 200 deaf boys, even though several American bishops repeatedly warned them that failure to act on the matter could embarrass the church, according to church files newly … [Read more...] about Just Imagine How Far They’ll Go To Protect The Pope’s Reputation
New Poll On John McCain: Shocking Findings
This just in from investigative journalist Andy Borowitz: In the wake of several cranky public utterances by Arizona’s senior senator in recent days, a new poll shows that a majority of Americans favor an earlier bedtime for John McCain. Fifty-two percent of those surveyed strongly agreed with the statement, “When John McCain says he doesn’t want to serve in the Senate … [Read more...] about New Poll On John McCain: Shocking Findings