Everyone’s favorite irascible, nihilistic, profane, egotistical, self-centered, nasty and delusional U.S. Senator, Jim Bunning of Kentucky, may be onto something. The conservative Republican has used archaic and anti-democratic Senate rules to stop Federal legislation with respect to extending unemployment benefits, repealing the 21% reduction in Medicare Reimbursements to … [Read more...] about GO BUNNING GO
GOP Obstructionism
Monte GOP Obstructionism This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about GOP Obstructionism
Fox Wins Another … Oops
I have always maintained that what is indecent and obscene is in the eye of the beholder. Where it becomes a sticky widget is when such material is broadcast on the public airwaves. What grabbed my attention were the headlines: FOX DOMINATES INDECENCY COMPLAINTS It was based on a report from ABC, Reuters and others that almost 50% of the top 50 broadcast TV indecency … [Read more...] about Fox Wins Another … Oops
Truth and Consequences
Brian Beutler reports on the consequences of the 21% cut in Medicare payments to doctors that takes effect today: … [Read more...] about Truth and Consequences
Coffee, Tea or Hemlock
Beverage metaphors abound as liberal Coffee Party activists rise up to counter the Tea Party Movement while Nancy Pelosi suggests that some House Democrats may have to drink hemlock to pass health care reform. "We're not here just to self-perpetuate our service in Congress," she said yesterday, pointing out Congressional opposition to Social Security and Medicare decades … [Read more...] about Coffee, Tea or Hemlock
Why I Won’t Vote in the Texas Primary (Guest Voice)
Why I won't vote in the Texas Primary by David Goodloe Last month, I wrote that I have turned my back on a lifetime as a Democrat and now consider myself an independent. Here in Texas, we have open primaries, which means there is no official party registration. I can go to my polling place and simply declare in which party primary I wish to participate. I voted in the … [Read more...] about Why I Won’t Vote in the Texas Primary (Guest Voice)
Sen. Bunning, and the Liberal-Conservative Divide
As one CNN commentator just said, Bunning's choice to stand on the ground of unemployment payments to demand that the U.S. government pays for what it spends is on the surface a strange one. In holding up unemployment benefits with the statement, "If we can’t find ten billion dollars for something we all support, we will never pay for anything on the floor of this U.S. … [Read more...] about Sen. Bunning, and the Liberal-Conservative Divide
Tancredo on Palin, McCain, etc.
The Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad is one of my favorite European newspapers and I read it religiously. However, I did not read today’s edition and if I had not checked the internet, I would have missed one of the most interesting and candid interviews that a foreign newspaper has conducted with one of our politicians recently. The Handelsblad’s Tom-Jan Meeus conducted a … [Read more...] about Tancredo on Palin, McCain, etc.
In Politics Who Is the Epitome of a Lack of Class?
And heeeeeere he is... … [Read more...] about In Politics Who Is the Epitome of a Lack of Class?
Independent Voters, Broken Government and the Health Care Reform Summit (VIDEO)
Here's the latest segment by CNN's Don Lemon, where he talks to a panel of independents -- this time about independent voters, broken government, and the health care reform summit. I'm on this panel with Omar Ali, historian and independent, and Nicole Kurokawa, an independent voting analyst in Washington. … [Read more...] about Independent Voters, Broken Government and the Health Care Reform Summit (VIDEO)
Coffee or Tea—Which is Better for You?
Tea is not your brew? Tired of weak tea? Don’t like tea parties? Looking for a tastier brew? Looking for a good, strong, honest cup of coffee, good till the last drop? Well, look no more. Annabel Park has founded “Coffee Party USA,” a grassroots online network which “advocates cooperation among elected representatives and promotes civil public discourse,” a movement which … [Read more...] about Coffee or Tea—Which is Better for You?
Answer
Petar Pismestrovic, Kleine Zeitung, Austria This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Answer
Haiti vs. Chile
Time has a very thought provoking article on the difference between the two quakes. … [Read more...] about Haiti vs. Chile
Do You Have Exploding Head Syndrome ?
While it might sound like something appropriate to a politically oriented forum this is actually a sleep disorder. An article is out discussing sleep disorders which are downright scary. Nightmare disorder is one we are probably all familiar with but try some of these: 1. Hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations which occur as you wake up or start to fall asleep 2. … [Read more...] about Do You Have Exploding Head Syndrome ?
Why Bunning’s Hold Is Ridiculous
Here is a link to a rundown about what is occurring due to Sen. Bunning's hold: Unemployment benefits for 400,000 people State reimbursements of $190 million a day Two thousand Federal workers furloughed Construction jobs shut down due to lack of inspectors Things are supposed to resume later this week, but it's still a huge bureaucratic mess that I'm … [Read more...] about Why Bunning’s Hold Is Ridiculous
Quote of the Day: Circumstances Inching Democrats Close to Health Care Reform Votes?
Our political Quote of the Day comes from the always-highly-quotable MSNBC First Read team of Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg who suggest that two circumstances may have brought the Democrats two votes closer to health care reform enactment: *** Dems pick up two votes? Are Democrats having their best health-care day in quite some time? Oddly … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Circumstances Inching Democrats Close to Health Care Reform Votes?
Carter Years
Mike Lester, The Rome News-Tribune This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Carter Years
Mindful Partisanship (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- The word "partisanship" is typically accompanied by the word "mindless." That's not simply insulting to partisans; it's also untrue. If we learn nothing else in 2010, can we please finally acknowledge that our partisan divisions are about authentic principles that lead to very different approaches to governing? Last week's health care summit was a … [Read more...] about Mindful Partisanship (Guest Voice)
Centrists, Principles and “Men of the Earth”
One thing that I've noticed in the blogsphere is how many people don't like "deal-makers." Deal-makers are a vanishing breed. Some were centrists, but there could also be people who firmly on one ideological perspective or another. The late Ted Kennedy was a fierce liberal, but he was willing more often than not to work with conservatives to get the job done. But in … [Read more...] about Centrists, Principles and “Men of the Earth”
What They Say vs. What They Mean: Health Care Reform (Guest Voice)
What They Say vs. What They Mean: Health Care Reform Raging Moderate, by Will Durst You’ve seen “ER” and I’ve seen “ER” and I think we can both agree that if bipartisan health care reform were a patient, Doctor Obama would be dejectedly dropping the paddles, ripping off his mask and asking Nurse Pelosi to call it. Oh, yeah. It’s finished. Done with. Kaput. Defunct. … [Read more...] about What They Say vs. What They Mean: Health Care Reform (Guest Voice)