Are we nearing the moment when the president of the United States will no longer take the risk of speaking openly about defending democracy in Taiwan, human rights in China, the Dalai Lama and Tibet, or the exchange rate of the yuan? According to Wang Wen, the international forum editor of China's state-run Global Times, the 'contradiction' of an America that needs China's … [Read more...] about America Cannot Maintain its Contradictions Toward China: Global Times, China
“They Saved the Big Banks But Kind Of Lost The Economy Doing It”
Please read the latest piece from Simon Johnson. He sounded so optimistic a few months ago, but has since become resigned. … [Read more...] about “They Saved the Big Banks But Kind Of Lost The Economy Doing It”
Census Wasting Money
So today I got a letter in the mail marked US Census. I assumed it was the form for me to fill out and send back in. Nope.. it was a letter telling me that in a week I will get another letter containing the form for me to fill out. Presumably I will get a 3rd letter telling me I got a form to fill out. And they are doing this something like 75-100 million times...... … [Read more...] about Census Wasting Money
Political Decisions: Afghanistan and Iraq.
On February 20, 2010 the Dutch coalition government collapsed over disagreements within the government on extending the Dutch military presence in Afghanistan beyond December 1, 2010. Nearly 2000 Dutch troops will be coming home by the December date. It was a political decision. On March 18, 2003, the Bush administration began the invasion of Iraq. Well over one million of … [Read more...] about Political Decisions: Afghanistan and Iraq.
The “Catastrophic” Hyperbole of Lindsey Graham
Appearing on CBS's Face the Nation yesterday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said -- I kid you not -- that using reconciliation for health-care reform would be "catastrophic." Remember when 9/11 supposedly marked the death of irony, when words like "war" and "courage" took on new meaning? In what world should the word catastrophic be thrown around this recklessly? How exactly … [Read more...] about The “Catastrophic” Hyperbole of Lindsey Graham
Ouch! A Pulitzer For The National Enquirer
Call me a snob, an elitist, a purist, a fossil. Under no circumstances would I consider the National Enquirer a candidate for journalism's most prestigious award, the Pulitzer Prize. Hold on, Jer. The New York Times, one of the top five newspaper you respect, argues the supermarket gossip tabloid may be worthy for its series of stories that knocked John Edwards out of the … [Read more...] about Ouch! A Pulitzer For The National Enquirer
Cleaning Up the Supreme Court’s Mess (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- In a city where the phrase “bipartisan initiative” is becoming an oxymoron, the urgency of containing the damage the Supreme Court could do to our electoral system creates an opportunity for a rare convergence of interest and principle. At issue is the court’s astonishingly naive decision in January that allows unlimited corporate spending to influence … [Read more...] about Cleaning Up the Supreme Court’s Mess (Guest Voice)
On Health Care Reform: — Or Get Off The Pot
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