I was encouraged the other day when President Obama said that everything that had to be said about the health care reform measure now before Congress had been said, and there was now no longer a reason to delay a vote. A few day later, however, congressional Democrats announced a vote may not come this month. Enough! I say. Enough! most Americans agree. Vote, damn … [Read more...] about On Health Care Reform: — Or Get Off The Pot
Massa On Offensive: Says Is Being Forced Out and Hints Could Rescind His Resignation
The political scene just got messier and uglier for the Democrats, the White House and for the passage of health care reform: Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) has gone on the offensive and says he is being virtually forced to resign and that he could decide to rescind his resignation. Roll Call reports: Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) suggested on a New York radio station Sunday that … [Read more...] about Massa On Offensive: Says Is Being Forced Out and Hints Could Rescind His Resignation
O Canada, Eh? (Guest Voice)
O Canada, Eh? Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Dear Canada. Way to go, you hosers. Did yourself proud and put on one heck of an Olympics. Congratulations for providing an incredible 17 days of thrills and spills on the ice and snow and in the slush and fog. That was a winter games for the ages, except for that excruciatingly obvious lack of winter thing. As it turns out, … [Read more...] about O Canada, Eh? (Guest Voice)
Old U.S. Postal Service
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Old U.S. Postal Service
The Three Chances of Publishing A Book: Slim, Fat, and None? No, Quite the Contrary
There's this secret that most published writers know, but dont often tell: That it is far harder to complete a book than it may be to publish a book. Seriously. How many people do you know who have elevendy-gillion unfinished book starts languishing in metal file drawers somewhere. Or just one book, started elevendy jillion times, but then set aside after page fifteen or page … [Read more...] about The Three Chances of Publishing A Book: Slim, Fat, and None? No, Quite the Contrary
A Little Comedy Magic
There Is Nothing To Celebrate in What the U.S. Did in Iraq
The most egregious thing about Marty Peretz's gloating, celebratory piece about Iraq is what's not there: even a single mention of the human or economic cost. I'm not kidding. About 4,000 American lives were lost in Iraq, and tens of thousands more were wounded -- some quite horribly. Yet, Peretz does not think it necessary to write one word about that, or even refer to it -- … [Read more...] about There Is Nothing To Celebrate in What the U.S. Did in Iraq
CBS: Report of U.S. Born Al Qaeda Spokesman Arrest Proven False
See our post below about the news that the American born Al Qaeda spokesman was arrested in Pakistan. This now becomes just one of several reports from over the past few years where officials in another country announced someone connected to Al Qaeda had been arrested or killed -- but proved to be false. As we warned in our post below, this had NOT been confirmed yet by U.S. … [Read more...] about CBS: Report of U.S. Born Al Qaeda Spokesman Arrest Proven False
That “Very, Very Dangerous” Reconciliation
As Democrats get ready to perhaps use that arcane, unprecedented, never-before-used, nuclear, cataclysmic, perhaps even unconstitutional reconciliation process to pass health care reform, the angst and misinformation about this Senate procedure is reaching a crescendo. Just this morning, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” warned “To do this is just very, … [Read more...] about That “Very, Very Dangerous” Reconciliation
Al Qaeda American Spokesman Abu Yahya Mujahdeen Al- Adam Arrested by Pakistan Intelligence Officers (REPORT PROVEN FALSE)
UPDATE: As our cautionary update warned, this report from Pakistan proved to be FALSE -- the latest in a series of false reports from the War on Terror front. We are leaving the original report below as it ran and putting a new report on top. JG The U.S. and Pakistan and the often tense and questionable relationship between the two in the war against terror seemingly … [Read more...] about Al Qaeda American Spokesman Abu Yahya Mujahdeen Al- Adam Arrested by Pakistan Intelligence Officers (REPORT PROVEN FALSE)
Health Care Reform: Those “Irreconcilable Differences,” Part II
A couple of days ago, I posted a piece called “Health Care Reform: Those ‘Irreconcilable Differences.’” The post basically conveyed my opinion that just as our legislators---mostly Democrats, with some Republican support---stepped up to the plate in 1935 and 1965, and enacted Social Security and Medicare, respectively, Democrats today must act similarly on health care … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform: Those “Irreconcilable Differences,” Part II
Political Panaceas With Unintended Consequences
This is a story about politicians cutting costs with unintended consequences. As in many states, California ordered state employees to take three furlough days from work each month for an annual estimated payroll savings of $1.2 billion. Now they learn from a state auditor's report overtime of essential employees in 24/7 departments is costing the state $1 billion Prison … [Read more...] about Political Panaceas With Unintended Consequences
BOOK REVIEW: The Known World, by Edward P. Jones
Before I read this book, I did not know that there were free blacks in the antebellum South who themselves owned slaves. The number was not large, but they did exist. … [Read more...] about BOOK REVIEW: The Known World, by Edward P. Jones
Wendell Potter Speaks In Favor Of The Health Care Reform Bill
You may remember Wendell Potter, the former Vice President of corporate communications at CIGNA, one of the largest health insurance companies in the US. Now a fellow at the Center for Media and Democracy, he gave senate testimony as a whistleblower last year against the HMO industry. I quoted him then from an interview on Bill Moyers Journal about that testimony. He was on … [Read more...] about Wendell Potter Speaks In Favor Of The Health Care Reform Bill
Around the Sphere
TMV is re-instituting its highly popular Around the Sphere linkfest now for two reasons: (1) because many weblogs have requested it given a trend on the part of many blogs to link less to other blogs, (2) in memory of the late Jon Swift, aka Al Weisel, who worked with skippy to try and foster more linking between blogs. Our linkfest will appear one or two times a week. Links … [Read more...] about Around the Sphere
Will McDonald v Chicago Incorporate 2nd Amendment Rights?
The Supremes are considering another 2nd amendment case which might have far reaching consequences (in a good way) on this particular battle front. George Will has a good column this week which takes a look at the history of the fight and what the implications of McDonald v Chicago might be. It probably will result in a routine ruling that extends a 2008 decision and renders … [Read more...] about Will McDonald v Chicago Incorporate 2nd Amendment Rights?
Netanyahu Abbas make up
Hajo de Reijger, The Netherlands This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Netanyahu Abbas make up
A Woman’s Place, Then and Now
I am currently reading an historical novel by English author Hilary Mantel about Sir Thomas Cromwell, the powerful adviser to King Henry VIII. It's called Wolf Hall; it won the 2009 Man Booker Prize; and it's a great read. … [Read more...] about A Woman’s Place, Then and Now
Does Anyone Really Care About The Oscars
If it were not for the battle between Disney/ABC and cable providers I might have gone until tomorrow night without remembering the Oscars were on (I presume at some point tomorrow evening I would have noticed the listing). Setting aside the debate on the Disney vs cable battle, how may of us really care about the show tomorrow ? … [Read more...] about Does Anyone Really Care About The Oscars
Is Obama Taking Heed of Outrage on KSM Trial Reversal?
It's hard to know, of course, whether this latest news means that the Obama administration is backing away from reports earlier this week indicating that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's trial might take place in Guantanamo, or whether a report earlier this week by Anne Kornblut and Peter Finn was inaccurate to begin with. Either way, it's good news that the White House is not as close … [Read more...] about Is Obama Taking Heed of Outrage on KSM Trial Reversal?