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
Health Care Reform: Game On! (Guest Voice)
Game On! by Michael Reagan Well, Democrats in Washington did it. They unilaterally passed a $938 billion health care plan that was overwhelmingly disapproved by Americans. But not to worry, the United Nations Health Organization proclaimed our leaders courageous for their actions. I will prefer to call them extinct. Voters fought, called, protested, and debated up … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform: Game On! (Guest Voice)
Renewed Fear Mongering about Veterans’ Health Benefits
Already back in the winter of 2008, even before Barack Obama had taken the oath of office, cyberspace was rife with rumors and innuendoes about how the new president would cut off funds for TRICARE For Life; how he would “[cut] it out of the budget as a means to provide funding for those things he promised during the campaign.” (TRICARE for Life is an excellent and essential … [Read more...] about Renewed Fear Mongering about Veterans’ Health Benefits
The Individual Mandate: Republicans Were For It Before They Were Against It
What do John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Tommy Thompson have in common? Well, they're all conservative Republicans. What else? … [Read more...] about The Individual Mandate: Republicans Were For It Before They Were Against It
Final Scenes of the Farce
Senate Republicans have sent David Vitter out to do to health care what he was caught doing with minions of the DC Madam almost three years ago. By this logic, John Ensign should be up next instructing employers on better ways to cover their workers in good faith. Even strait-laced Tom Coburn is getting into the spirit of the thing with an amendment barring coverage of … [Read more...] about Final Scenes of the Farce
Film Documents Kennedy’s Immigration Reform Defeat and Foreshadows Death of Bipartisanship
When HBO2 airs "The Senator's Bargain" tonight at 8 p.m. EP/PT, it'll be doing so during a most fitting week will have a different context than it would have if it debuted just a few weeks ago. If it had aired a few weeks ago, to the many who admired the late Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy it would have been excruciatingly painful to watch. The reason: it documents … [Read more...] about Film Documents Kennedy’s Immigration Reform Defeat and Foreshadows Death of Bipartisanship
Reload: Pistol Packing Palin’s Perverted Pretext
I come here today to defend Sarah Palin, not look down the barrel of my .30 caliber Luger semiautomatic pistol poised to pull the trigger. The former Alaska governor, best known for coining cult popular phrases as "palling around with terrorists" and "death panels," has concocted a new hip jargon in opposition to the health overhaul legislation. It is "Commonsense … [Read more...] about Reload: Pistol Packing Palin’s Perverted Pretext
Jamie Leigh Jones Gets Her Day in Court (Thank You, Al Franken!)
Business Insider Law Review reports what Ms. Jones told the court: … [Read more...] about Jamie Leigh Jones Gets Her Day in Court (Thank You, Al Franken!)
Thread On Peak Oil And Its Implications
Last fall I came across an article that I wanted to write about but I didn't know what to say that would fit within TMV guidelines (I even talked to Joe about letting me break them). The world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit, according to a whistleblower at the International Energy Agency who claims it has been deliberately underplaying a … [Read more...] about Thread On Peak Oil And Its Implications
Grassley Touts Health Care Bill He Voted to Kill
This is beyond belief: … [Read more...] about Grassley Touts Health Care Bill He Voted to Kill
The Latest Violent Response to Health Care Vote
They're starting to come too fast to post them individually anymore, but here is another: … [Read more...] about The Latest Violent Response to Health Care Vote
U.S. Health Care Reform—One More European Viewpoint
A couple of days ago, I posted a European reaction to the passage of Health Care Reform legislation. It was an article in the German Spiegel, commenting on the good and the bad consequences and implications of such legislation for America, Europe and Obama. Of course there have been numerous other reactions worldwide, and of course some may not be interested in or … [Read more...] about U.S. Health Care Reform—One More European Viewpoint
Michelle Obama (NOT!) Appears on The Simpsons
On Sunday First Lady Michelle Obama made an appearance on The Simpson's. Or, rather, an animated version of her voiced by actress Angela Bassett did. Rather than post it here, I'll direct you to The Readout, the website of one of my favorite XM radio shows POTUS (Politics of the United States) so you can view it there. (I now listen almost exclusively to XM radio and alternate … [Read more...] about Michelle Obama (NOT!) Appears on The Simpsons
DADT Enforcement Changes To Be Announced This Week
Defense Secretary Robert Gates is close to announcing Don't Ask Don't Tell changes: “I think he is prepared to offer a way ahead on that subject this week,” Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters Tuesday. Gates will address “the changes that he is going to be making to the department's policy to provide for a more humane enforcement and application of … [Read more...] about DADT Enforcement Changes To Be Announced This Week