I agree with Doug. This video is worth watching. But it must be watched very carefully. The video shows Iraqi men, some of them armed, being gunned down by an American helicopter. Two of the men turned out to be photographers for Reuters. The video was captured by a camera on the helicopter, and has been released by Wikileaks, on a website it calls … [Read more...] about Troops accused of murder
Fictional Vietnams
Yesterday, the NY Times Book Review devoted its cover to a pair of novels about the war in Vietnam. One dates back to the war itself:Karl Marlantes’s first novel, “Matterhorn,” is about a company of Marines who build, abandon and retake an outpost on a remote hilltop in Vietnam. According to the publisher, Marlantes — a highly decorated Vietnam vet — spent 30 years writing … [Read more...] about Fictional Vietnams
The Will To Not See the Truth
Earlier today, TMV's Doug Bursch posted the video, just released by Wikileaks, of the July, 2007, slaughter of about a dozen Iraqi civilians -- including two children and two Reuters photographers -- by U.S. forces shooting from a helicopter. … [Read more...] about The Will To Not See the Truth
Women Serving In Submarines: A Health Issue? (UPDATED)
Those who have read my posts know that I support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” just as I support the assignment of women in the military to any and all duties they are qualified to perform---that would include serving aboard our nuclear submarines. The debate on the latter---women in submarines---continues after top Navy and defense officials made the decision to … [Read more...] about Women Serving In Submarines: A Health Issue? (UPDATED)
Whiteness: A Work In Progress
Kelefa Sanneh wades through Rich Benjamin's, Searching for Whitopia; Nell Irvin Painter's, The History of White People; David Roediger's, How Race Survived U.S. History and Christian Lander's, Stuff White People Like [website] to wonder in a New Yorker essay, Is white the new black? This conclusion should make you want to read the entire article: Yes, whiteness is a social … [Read more...] about Whiteness: A Work In Progress
Obama sets new limits on nuclear weapons options
President Obama announced today a revamping of American nuclear strategy by outlining specific instances where nuclear weapons would not be used, even in a potential self-defense situation: It eliminates much of the ambiguity that has deliberately existed in American nuclear policy since the opening days of the cold war. For the first time, the United States is explicitly … [Read more...] about Obama sets new limits on nuclear weapons options
Two Cartoonists’ Views on the Tea Party Movement
Editor's Note: The Tea Party movement generates strong feelings on both sides. Here are two cartoonists' differing views of the Tea Party movement: Painting the Tea Party: Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com Earl Grey or Tim McVeigh Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Two Cartoonists’ Views on the Tea Party Movement
America’s Political ‘Mad Cow Disease’ Spreads to Europe: Nachrichten, Switzerland
For the second time in a week, we've translated a foreign press article about the American right and its resistance to health reform - and the results haven't been encouraging. In this article from Switzerland's Nachrichten, columnist Patrik Etschmayer writes that the 'insanity' on the U.S. right-wing and specifically Fox News, has spread to Europe - and is squeezing out … [Read more...] about America’s Political ‘Mad Cow Disease’ Spreads to Europe: Nachrichten, Switzerland
Coal Mine Explosion In West Virginia
It's been a while since I've had time to post, one of the perils of self employment and tax time. Sadly I'm returning to report some bad news, a coal mine explosion in West Virginia has killed at least six people with twenty one injured and another twenty one missing. It's easy to law blame on the mine owners but the fact is there are simply inherent dangers to mining with … [Read more...] about Coal Mine Explosion In West Virginia
The Price of War
Regardless of the validity of any engagement, we must confront the consequences of war. I'm including a link to a recently leaked video concerning American military combat. I am not advocating for the label of the video as murder. I just believe this should be seen. We must confront the reality of our decisions to go to war. The consequences for civilians and for our … [Read more...] about The Price of War
An Issue that Ensures Bipartisanship?
Amid continued partisan anger on both sides, is there an issue that can unite all Americans? And is there one individual who -- no joke -- will unit most Americans who will reject what he is doing? If so THIS IS IT (and note that the linked post has a link where you can go to do something about it.) … [Read more...] about An Issue that Ensures Bipartisanship?
The Grass Grows Greenest Over The Political Septic Tank
I just finished scouring some reports on economic gains and pushes as we muddle our way out of the worst recession since The Great Depression. It is no iambic pentameter that I have a sinking feeling the Obama administration is pulling my leg that the grass will be greener early next year. How much the government and its vast bureaucracies are dishing out BS to paint a happy … [Read more...] about The Grass Grows Greenest Over The Political Septic Tank
Rebounds: The Economy’s Big Game
Today's irresistible sports metaphor is the NCAA final, "Duke vs. Butler," which sounds like a sequel to "Remains of the Day," "Gosford Park" and all the upstairs-downstairs dramas juxtaposing lives of the privileged with those fated to serve them. On the eve of a confrontation between American biggies and little guys from nowhere, it's tempting to translate that battle into … [Read more...] about Rebounds: The Economy’s Big Game
Tiresome Two-Party System, Partisan Primaries and Alliances, and the Independent Movement
Some news headlines for independent voters: Our two-party system creates a point-counterpoint tiresome spin cycle, says Bonnie Erbe on the Thomas Jefferson Street blog. She likes multi-party democracy but doesn't see any quick path to that result. Speaking on behalf of the one million Pennsylvania independents who are locked out of voting in the primaries, Rep. Eugene … [Read more...] about Tiresome Two-Party System, Partisan Primaries and Alliances, and the Independent Movement
Quote of the Day II: Gibbs on Steele’s Allegation That Race Plays Part in Criticism Of His Job at RNC
Our second political Quote of the Day comes from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, commenting on RNC Chairman Michael Steele's allegation that race has played at least part of a role in increasing criticism of Steele's job performance: “I think Michael Steele’s problem isn’t the race card, it’s the credit card,” Gibbs added. Indeed, as Gibbs also notes, Steele's … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day II: Gibbs on Steele’s Allegation That Race Plays Part in Criticism Of His Job at RNC
President Obama: Poor Man’s Friend Or Rich Man’s Friend?
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