Senate Republicans have the Democrats so spooked with the threat of filibusters that a scaled down $15 billion jobs bill from an original $85 billion to help get thousands of Americans back to work while millions remain on the dole is being spun by both sides as a major victory. That's like shooting beebees at a tank. And, wouldn't you know the new kid on the block, … [Read more...] about Big Fuss Over Down-Sized Jobs Bill
Hampered By Age, An Icon Is Released
As a sports town, San Diego can best be described as sometimes a bridesmaid but never a bride. No one knows that better than LaDainian Tomlinson, affectionately known as LT. The greatest running back in San Diego Chargers franchise whose 153 touchdowns ranks third in National Football League history was released Monday. Age, a more pass-happy offense, an often-injured … [Read more...] about Hampered By Age, An Icon Is Released
Communists Accuse America of ‘Stealing’ Olympic Gold: Wek, Ukraine
Those stalwart defenders of mother Russia, the communists of St. Petersburg and Leningrad, are at it again. In the past, they've called for the arrest of James Cameron for stealing the story of Avatar from Soviet science fiction writers, they have demanded that the Russian Orthodox Church canonize Joseph Stalin, and they've complained about the way the KGB was depicted in James … [Read more...] about Communists Accuse America of ‘Stealing’ Olympic Gold: Wek, Ukraine
What Typifies the GOP’s Problem?
Michelle Malkin argues it's John McCain. … [Read more...] about What Typifies the GOP’s Problem?
Stimulus Hypocrite
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Stimulus Hypocrite
John Yoo: Presidential War Powers Include Right to Order Massacres
Here is part of the exchange, which comes from the OPR report released on Friday, and which is reported in a Newsweek piece by Michael Isikoff: … [Read more...] about John Yoo: Presidential War Powers Include Right to Order Massacres
Virginia’s Disgrace Banning Gays From State Jobs
I am not gay. It is a reason I seldom venture into gay rights issues. I'll defer that usually to persons closer to the cause or the gay community themselves. But I also believe I am a compassionate individual. And believe me, Buster, that compassion turns to outrage when a person's basic dignity and civil rights are abused by government or special interests. I don't care … [Read more...] about Virginia’s Disgrace Banning Gays From State Jobs
Rewards Programs: The New Credit Card Battlefield
Marketplace looks at one impact of the new rules for credit cards that went into effect today -- a profit shift from penalties to perks. Banks used to make money on interest-rate increases and fees. With those (loosely) regulated now... RON SHEVLIN [a banking products analyst for the Aite Group]: The best customers for the credit card issuers are going to be people who pay the … [Read more...] about Rewards Programs: The New Credit Card Battlefield
Is Glenn Beck Hijacking the Conservative Movement?
Conservative talk show host Mark Levin thinks so. … [Read more...] about Is Glenn Beck Hijacking the Conservative Movement?
Leno Will Have Palin On During His Return Debut Week
Via The Christian Science Monitor's Jimmy Orr (I predicted to friends this would happen): So Sarah Palin is going on Jay Leno. Yep, NBC announced Leno's first week line-up today. And Palin is on night number two. Shouldn't be that much of a surprise. Leno needs ratings bad. Worse than Olbermann-bad. Leno's gotta show he can score. And who can bring in the numbers? Sarah … [Read more...] about Leno Will Have Palin On During His Return Debut Week
Which Beast to Starve?
Today brings a sharp contrast in political philosophies and economic reality. As Paul Krugman discourses on three decades of Republican attempts to shrink government and "drown it in the bathtub," President Obama discloses his intention to stop feeding the free-market monster that has devoured American health care. In advance of Thursday's summit, the White House leaks a … [Read more...] about Which Beast to Starve?
Independent Voters and “Broken Government”
Is American government now "broken?" And, if so, how do independent voters view this and is there anything they can do to correct it? Those are some of the questions raised by CNN anchor Don Lemon in a segment on Sunday. I was on the independent voter panel along with Omar Ali, historian and independent, voting analyst and Nicole Kurokawa, an independent voting analyst in … [Read more...] about Independent Voters and “Broken Government”
Vudu Purchase Moves Wal-Mart Into Streaming Movie Biz
Vudu is a three-year-old Silicon Valley startup that has never turned a profit, but in its press release, Wal-Mart says: VUDU is a revolutionary service, built into a growing number of broadband-ready TVs and Blu-ray players, that delivers instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows directly through the television. Customers with broadband Internet access and an … [Read more...] about Vudu Purchase Moves Wal-Mart Into Streaming Movie Biz
Good Facts Won’t Save You This Time
This is an adaptation of the latter half of a post I just wrote at The Debate Link. The post there involved a specific debate over American views on tax policy, but the second half discussed some new research regarding how citizens understand facts in political deliberations, and that issue I thought would be more interesting to TMV readers. A friend of mine, exasperated … [Read more...] about Good Facts Won’t Save You This Time
Marc Thiessen: Wrong Then, Wrong Now, and Wrong Again
From Adam Serwer in The American Prospect, comes the thoroughly unsurprising news that Marc Thiessen has been proved wrong yet again on one of his claims in support of torture: … [Read more...] about Marc Thiessen: Wrong Then, Wrong Now, and Wrong Again
President Stamps His Imprint on ‘ObamaCare’
For the first time since the start of the health care reform debate, the president has publicly placed his imprint on the legislative package. He has proposed compromises on key elements that are different in the bills passed by the House and Senate. The summary of what we can now finally call "ObamaCare" without the ridicule from opponents is in a pdf online. It was posted … [Read more...] about President Stamps His Imprint on ‘ObamaCare’
The Fourth, Unknown, Author of the Torture Memos
Unknown until now, that is. In an important exclusive, Zachary Roth of TPMMuckraker reports that, in addition to John Yoo, Jay Bybee, and Patrick Philbin (the named contributors to the Torture Memos), there was a fourth. Her name was redacted throughout the just-released report by the Office of Professional Responsibility -- except for one mention, which was missed: … [Read more...] about The Fourth, Unknown, Author of the Torture Memos
This Can’t Be True
From Reuters (emphasis mine): … [Read more...] about This Can’t Be True
The Olympics: No Longer a Vacation from War, But Still a Happy Distraction – Nachrichten of Switzerland
According to ancient sources, from 776 BC to 393 AD on a pretty regular basis, armed conflict in Greece came to a halt every four years for the holding of the Olympic Games. In this lighthearted look at the usefulness of the Games, Swiss columnist Patrik Etschmayer writes that while they still provide a welcomed distraction, the modern Games usually involve diverting our … [Read more...] about The Olympics: No Longer a Vacation from War, But Still a Happy Distraction – Nachrichten of Switzerland
Democratic Shift? Determined to Finish Health Care Reform Bill?
Have the Democrats made a shift after being shell shocked by last summer's tempestuous anti-health care reform town hall meetings, plummeting support in polls for health care reform, lousy publicity over let's-make-a-deal horsetrading to get prima dona Democrats on board and -- the final body blow -- the election of Republican Scott Brown to fill the Senate seat long held by … [Read more...] about Democratic Shift? Determined to Finish Health Care Reform Bill?