You may remember Wendell Potter, the former Vice President of corporate communications at CIGNA, one of the largest health insurance companies in the US. Now a fellow at the Center for Media and Democracy, he gave senate testimony as a whistleblower last year against the HMO industry. I quoted him then from an interview on Bill Moyers Journal about that testimony. He was on … [Read more...] about Wendell Potter Speaks In Favor Of The Health Care Reform Bill
Around the Sphere
TMV is re-instituting its highly popular Around the Sphere linkfest now for two reasons: (1) because many weblogs have requested it given a trend on the part of many blogs to link less to other blogs, (2) in memory of the late Jon Swift, aka Al Weisel, who worked with skippy to try and foster more linking between blogs. Our linkfest will appear one or two times a week. Links … [Read more...] about Around the Sphere
Will McDonald v Chicago Incorporate 2nd Amendment Rights?
The Supremes are considering another 2nd amendment case which might have far reaching consequences (in a good way) on this particular battle front. George Will has a good column this week which takes a look at the history of the fight and what the implications of McDonald v Chicago might be. It probably will result in a routine ruling that extends a 2008 decision and renders … [Read more...] about Will McDonald v Chicago Incorporate 2nd Amendment Rights?
Netanyahu Abbas make up
Hajo de Reijger, The Netherlands This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Netanyahu Abbas make up
A Woman’s Place, Then and Now
I am currently reading an historical novel by English author Hilary Mantel about Sir Thomas Cromwell, the powerful adviser to King Henry VIII. It's called Wolf Hall; it won the 2009 Man Booker Prize; and it's a great read. … [Read more...] about A Woman’s Place, Then and Now
Does Anyone Really Care About The Oscars
If it were not for the battle between Disney/ABC and cable providers I might have gone until tomorrow night without remembering the Oscars were on (I presume at some point tomorrow evening I would have noticed the listing). Setting aside the debate on the Disney vs cable battle, how may of us really care about the show tomorrow ? … [Read more...] about Does Anyone Really Care About The Oscars
Is Obama Taking Heed of Outrage on KSM Trial Reversal?
It's hard to know, of course, whether this latest news means that the Obama administration is backing away from reports earlier this week indicating that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's trial might take place in Guantanamo, or whether a report earlier this week by Anne Kornblut and Peter Finn was inaccurate to begin with. Either way, it's good news that the White House is not as close … [Read more...] about Is Obama Taking Heed of Outrage on KSM Trial Reversal?
CBO Projects Ten Trillion In Extra Debt
Ten trillion more of debt.... (just to show how big that is I actually typed billion at first, just unable to process the t-word) Before anyone accuses me of partisanship, I have been mad at every deficit spending President and Congress in my lifetime, Republican and Democrat. But when we start talking trillions of dollars in debt we start talking about more than just … [Read more...] about CBO Projects Ten Trillion In Extra Debt
Pakistan Fails Miserably to Protect its People from the U.S: The Nation, Pakistan
The case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a U.S.-trained neuroscientist who has been charged with attempted murder and ties to al-Qaeda, continues to anger Pakistanis, many of whom who are sure she has been framed by the United States and abandoned by their government. This editorial from Pakistan's The Nation well illustrates not only mistrust of the United States, but the … [Read more...] about Pakistan Fails Miserably to Protect its People from the U.S: The Nation, Pakistan
Catholic Bishops Want to “Help” Get Agreement from House Democrats to Use Senate HCR Bill to Effectively Ban Abortion
UPDATED David Dayen flags this latest example of the Catholic Church working directly with legislators who want to make abortion completely unavailable to American women who cannot afford to purchase health insurance in the private market, which is of course the vast majority of American women: … [Read more...] about Catholic Bishops Want to “Help” Get Agreement from House Democrats to Use Senate HCR Bill to Effectively Ban Abortion
“Right the Wrongs You Made”
Tracy Chapman wrote this song, "Freedom Now," for Nelson Mandela: … [Read more...] about “Right the Wrongs You Made”
RNC Loses Donor Over Foot In Mouth Leaked Fundraising Presentation
TMV's first Foot In Mouth Award for 2010 goes to...the Republican National Committee, which saw a fundraising presentation leaked to The Politico -- a presentation that used caricatures and cartoons more befitting a segment of Glenn Beck's TV show or Rush Limbaugh's failed TV show of some years ago than a political party. And here's what's worse: it showed virtual contempt for … [Read more...] about RNC Loses Donor Over Foot In Mouth Leaked Fundraising Presentation
Michael Moore For Chief Of Staff
Michael Moore places his bid to replace Rahm Emmanuel as President Obama's chief of staff. Mikey, as usual, is entertaining but a bit off the wall. Earth to Planet Moore: The oval office represents all the people, not just liberals. But I do like his Rahmbo style. … [Read more...] about Michael Moore For Chief Of Staff
President Chavez Criticizes Hillary Clinton as a ‘Blond Condoleezza’: Government of Venezuela
No one can say that Hugo Chavez doesn't have the knack for a memorable turn of phrase. Since the creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Latin America's newest alliance which excludes the United States, the tension seems to have heated up between the U.S. and Venezuela. In this latest rhetorical salvo, the Venezuelan leader has gone after Secretary of … [Read more...] about President Chavez Criticizes Hillary Clinton as a ‘Blond Condoleezza’: Government of Venezuela
Anatomy Of A Rumor
Surprise! Surprise! I wasn't fired as some readers suggested yesterday for speculating on what Sarah Palin would do with the free swag she grabbed at a West Hollywood gift shop promoting the Academy Awards. To the charge of speculating, I plead guilty. Allow me the Bill O'Reilly defense. I was exercising my opinion as a columnist. That's what we do. If I were a hard news … [Read more...] about Anatomy Of A Rumor
Washington Post’s Dana Milbank Issues a Major Correction
The Washington Post's Dana Milbank has issued a major correction due to new facts revealed by Karl Rove. … [Read more...] about Washington Post’s Dana Milbank Issues a Major Correction
The Really Big Election This Weekend: Not in Iraq But In Iceland
Attention world: Iceland is about to speak. And maybe everyone, including the world's financial elite, better listen closely. There's a referendum today in that tiny country with just 319,000 people. A vote with a great deal more symbolic as well as practical importance than the vote in Iraq tomorrow. This vote involves whether the people of Iceland will reimburse the … [Read more...] about The Really Big Election This Weekend: Not in Iraq But In Iceland
Take A Peek at the Drudge Report Alternatives
If you're an independent voter or Democrat who is getting a bit tired of the Internet powerhouse Drudge Report's political positioning of news items and/or have been turned off by some of its big news scoops that didn't quite pan out in terms of the HUGE HEADLINES (the ones that have simply vanished off the site with no explanation) there are alternatives. Or, if you're a … [Read more...] about Take A Peek at the Drudge Report Alternatives
Second Amendment Case
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Second Amendment Case
Radio: Mathesons, Massa and Mayhem, Oh My!
Due to some scheduling issues, Mid Stream Radio will be taking to the air a bit early this weekend, at 10 am eastern time. We'll be catching up with my neighbors in NY-29 and the upcoming resignation of Eric Massa, Obama's Matheson appointment boondoggle, the John Patrick Bedell shooting, Governor David Paterson's painful delusions and more. I'll be joined, as always, by The … [Read more...] about Radio: Mathesons, Massa and Mayhem, Oh My!