The good economic news just keeps coming. The latest tidbit about which to rejoice? Unemployment didn't go up in February. It remained at 9.7 percent last month. Hot diggity! Just 36,000 more jobs were lost. Who could complain about that? And these sterling numbers came in dispute some heavy snow in certain parts of the country. Something no one could have expected, and … [Read more...] about Happy Market Talk
Dutch Report: Girls Are almost as Bad as Boys
Can girls, do girls, coerce boys into committing sexual acts? According to a study to be published shortly in a Dutch scientific publication, the answer is “yes.” As a matter of fact, under the sub-heading, “Girls are just as bad,” the Dutch NRC Handelsblad reports: The scientists were surprised to find that more than 10 percent of all boys and 8 percent of all … [Read more...] about Dutch Report: Girls Are almost as Bad as Boys
IEDs and Oil Prices: Iran and the Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Military
VoteVets.org, in conjunction with my friends at Operation Free, has put together a hard-hitting new ad examining the connections between U.S. energy dependency and Iran's terrorist campaign against the U.S. in Iraq. HuffPo's Sam Stein reports: In a spot set to air in eight key states, the group, VoteVets.org (with assistance from the energy independence group Operation … [Read more...] about IEDs and Oil Prices: Iran and the Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Military
Genocide is Genocide: Exposing the Truth About the Turkish Massacre of the Armenians
It was a close vote, 23-22, but the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted yesterday, if I may quote the NYT, "to condemn as genocide the mass killings of Armenians early in the last century, defying a last-minute plea from the Obama administration to forgo a vote that seemed sure to offend Turkey and jeopardize delicate efforts at Turkish-Armenian reconciliation." It's a … [Read more...] about Genocide is Genocide: Exposing the Truth About the Turkish Massacre of the Armenians
FCC and No Urban Dictates
This is a story that had been under my radar until it was discussed on my morning radio show (Armstrong and Getty for those in Northern California). It seems that for many years there has been something called Do Not Buy in radio advertising. The basic concept being that when a company hires an advertiser to buy radio ads they would include "Do Not Buy" for certain types of … [Read more...] about FCC and No Urban Dictates
Avlon’s Wingnuts of the Week: RNC Finance Dir. Rob Bickhart and Charles Rangel
Daily Beast columnist, author and CNN commenator John Avlon names RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart and Charles Rangel as "Wingnuts of the Week." Bickhart is being blamed for a truly contemptible RNC fundraising campaign that has backfired since a memo detailing how fundraisers planned to play the fear card and held party donors in mocking contempt were revealed by The … [Read more...] about Avlon’s Wingnuts of the Week: RNC Finance Dir. Rob Bickhart and Charles Rangel
Karl Rove’s “Courage and Consequence”
I will not be reading Karl Rove’s upcoming blockbuster with the self-aggrandizing title, “Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight.” However, copies have been released to the press and there are enough previews of the book to satisfy my curiosity about what this man, affectionately called “turd blossom,” is trying to peddle. Furthermore, after … [Read more...] about Karl Rove’s “Courage and Consequence”
When It’s Necessary and Desirable to Assassinate Terrorists (Guest Voice)
When It's Necessary and Desirable to Assassinate Terrorists by Barry Rubin There has been a huge international controversy about the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a leading Hamas terrorist, in Dubai on January 19. I have no idea who did it but have some points to make on the subject. 1. Generally speaking, media coverage almost never (in Europe) or only … [Read more...] about When It’s Necessary and Desirable to Assassinate Terrorists (Guest Voice)
THIS JUST IN! You Know What Has Frozen Over
THIS JUST IN! You know what has finally frozen over and here's why: Neiman Marcus is serving corn dogs, the Al Dente blog reports: I've just returned from the Fashion Rules! Party, a free event held at Neiman Marcus stores around the country. In its Bellevue, Washington store, shoppers were entertained--there were games, a fashion show and fun music--and served yummy … [Read more...] about THIS JUST IN! You Know What Has Frozen Over
California’s Jerry Brown for Governor
Bill Schorr, Cagle Cartoons This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about California’s Jerry Brown for Governor
Down with the Man
David Brooks considers what today's "Tea Party" has in common with the "New Left" of the late 1960s. ... the Tea Partiers have adopted the tactics of the New Left. They go in for street theater, mass rallies, marches and extreme statements that are designed to shock polite society out of its stupor. This mimicry is no accident. Dick Armey, one of the spokesmen for the Tea … [Read more...] about Down with the Man
On the Horns of the Democratic Dilemma
President Obama seems to have teed up the Democrats this week, and once again the Republicans are looking to hit one out of the park. Were this story found in a Nero Wolfe mystery we might have called it, "A Muddle of Mathesons." The question which we, as observers, are left to wrestle with is, was it a case of blatant nepotism and bribery or simply astoundingly tone-deaf … [Read more...] about On the Horns of the Democratic Dilemma
Iraq’s Future: ‘We are Broken, Orphaned and Lost’ – Kitabat, Iraq
Those hoping for a happy outcome in Iraq would be advised to avoid this article by Iraqi columnist Khadir Taahar. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the very pro-American Taahar is not optimistic, particularly with U.S. forces pulling out. With nationwide elections only days away, the picture he paints of Iraq's leaders does not suggest a bright future for the country. For Iraq's … [Read more...] about Iraq’s Future: ‘We are Broken, Orphaned and Lost’ – Kitabat, Iraq
Philly Inquirer op-ed: Obama Should Pack the Supreme Court (Guest Voice)
Philly Inquirer op-ed: Obama should pack the Supreme Court by Jon Wells In an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer that is stunning in its partisan short-sightedness and frightening in its implications for the belief system of many on the hard left, Stan Isaacs pushes the notion that President Obama, faced with a Supreme Court that is likely to rule against him in a narrow … [Read more...] about Philly Inquirer op-ed: Obama Should Pack the Supreme Court (Guest Voice)
“I Wish I Had a River I Could Skate Away On”
Joni Mitchell never wrote a bad song, but "River" is one of my favorites: … [Read more...] about “I Wish I Had a River I Could Skate Away On”
Latin America Has Excluded the U.S. … So What Now?: La Razon, Bolivia
Now that almost all of Latin America has formed the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States - without the United States - what will be the fate of the Organization of American States? Continuing with our coverage of reaction to the new alliance from around the region, this editorial from La Razon of Bolivia casts a surprisingly skeptical eye on the new … [Read more...] about Latin America Has Excluded the U.S. … So What Now?: La Razon, Bolivia
Reconciliation — Playing Parliamentary Games with America’s Future (Guest Voice)
Reconciliation -- Playing Parliamentary Games with America's Future by Michael Reagan Well, the not-so-surprising news of the week out of Washington is that President Obama is now calling on Congress to schedule a straight vote on the Democrats’ health care reform measure. The new twist is that Democrats now recognize that their flawed plan, which has been met with … [Read more...] about Reconciliation — Playing Parliamentary Games with America’s Future (Guest Voice)
Obama Health Plan Bites
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obama Health Plan Bites
A Death in the Family
The blogger who wrote under the name Jon Swift with a wit worthy of his namesake has died at the age of 46, leaving an ache in those of us who not only enjoyed his high style but benefited from his uncommon warmth and generosity. In a world of so much me-me-me with links, the man whose real name was Al Weisel presided over Blog Amnesty Day to call attention to the work of … [Read more...] about A Death in the Family
Desperate Measures Amid a “Perfect Storm”
The latest example of Republicans' last-minute mania to kill health care reform is a version of divide and conquer -- but they are playing it so ineptly that it's more amusing than alarming: … [Read more...] about Desperate Measures Amid a “Perfect Storm”