Philly Inquirer op-ed: Obama should pack the Supreme Court by Jon Wells In an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer that is stunning in its partisan short-sightedness and frightening in its implications for the belief system of many on the hard left, Stan Isaacs pushes the notion that President Obama, faced with a Supreme Court that is likely to rule against him in a narrow … [Read more...] about Philly Inquirer op-ed: Obama Should Pack the Supreme Court (Guest Voice)
“I Wish I Had a River I Could Skate Away On”
Joni Mitchell never wrote a bad song, but "River" is one of my favorites: … [Read more...] about “I Wish I Had a River I Could Skate Away On”
Latin America Has Excluded the U.S. … So What Now?: La Razon, Bolivia
Now that almost all of Latin America has formed the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States - without the United States - what will be the fate of the Organization of American States? Continuing with our coverage of reaction to the new alliance from around the region, this editorial from La Razon of Bolivia casts a surprisingly skeptical eye on the new … [Read more...] about Latin America Has Excluded the U.S. … So What Now?: La Razon, Bolivia
Reconciliation — Playing Parliamentary Games with America’s Future (Guest Voice)
Reconciliation -- Playing Parliamentary Games with America's Future by Michael Reagan Well, the not-so-surprising news of the week out of Washington is that President Obama is now calling on Congress to schedule a straight vote on the Democrats’ health care reform measure. The new twist is that Democrats now recognize that their flawed plan, which has been met with … [Read more...] about Reconciliation — Playing Parliamentary Games with America’s Future (Guest Voice)
Obama Health Plan Bites
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obama Health Plan Bites
A Death in the Family
The blogger who wrote under the name Jon Swift with a wit worthy of his namesake has died at the age of 46, leaving an ache in those of us who not only enjoyed his high style but benefited from his uncommon warmth and generosity. In a world of so much me-me-me with links, the man whose real name was Al Weisel presided over Blog Amnesty Day to call attention to the work of … [Read more...] about A Death in the Family
Desperate Measures Amid a “Perfect Storm”
The latest example of Republicans' last-minute mania to kill health care reform is a version of divide and conquer -- but they are playing it so ineptly that it's more amusing than alarming: … [Read more...] about Desperate Measures Amid a “Perfect Storm”
Obama Runs the Gauntlet On Health Care Reform: Will House Democrats Derail it?
President Barack Obama is now running the political gauntlet on health care reform. The time to jumpstart the proposed legislation is past. Now it's crunch time: Obama's must get it passed to avoid him and his party from being politically crunched and the Republicans are hoping Democrats will crunch him for them as they make their own strongest effort to hear the snap. And, … [Read more...] about Obama Runs the Gauntlet On Health Care Reform: Will House Democrats Derail it?
Checkmate on the Global Warming Argument?
Oh lovely. Here's a fine complication for those folks who question some of the global warming assertions: Critics of the teaching of evolution in the nation’s classrooms are gaining ground in some states by linking the issue to global warming, arguing that dissenting views on both scientific subjects should be taught in public schools. [...] For mainstream scientists, … [Read more...] about Checkmate on the Global Warming Argument?
Health Care Reform: Those “Irreconcilable Differences”
In an Editorial last Friday, USA Today discussed how the health summit exposed “irreconcilable differences” between Democrats and Republicans on the issue of health care reform. It said in part: That at least makes it clear where reform goes from here. Obama and his party have three choices: They can give up and blame GOP intransigence. They can try to settle for the … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform: Those “Irreconcilable Differences”
Wide Stance II?
Republican anti gay politician state Senator Roy Ashburn was arrested for alleged drunk driving.. after leaving a gay bar -- and CBS News notes that as details come out it gets worse, worst and worster for him in the media. … [Read more...] about Wide Stance II?
Obama, Democrats Ready to Move Forward on Health-Care Reform
It looks like the process has been worked out: Sen. Tom Harkin told POLITICO that Senate Democratic leaders have decided to go the reconciliation route. The House, he said, will first pass the Senate bill after Senate leaders demonstrate to House leaders that they have the votes to pass reconciliation in the Senate. It's not clear how Senate Democrats will "demonstrate" … [Read more...] about Obama, Democrats Ready to Move Forward on Health-Care Reform
The Big Lie About Reconciliation (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- For those who feared that Barack Obama did not have any Lyndon Johnson in him, the president's determination to press ahead and get health care reform done in the face of Republican intransigence came as something of a relief. Obama's critics have regularly accused him of not being as tough or wily or forceful as LBJ was in pushing through civil rights and … [Read more...] about The Big Lie About Reconciliation (Guest Voice)
Irony in Three Parts
The Republican-controlled Missouri House has officially voiced opposition to an individual mandate to purchase health insurance. Last weekend, Missouri Republicans lauded retiring U.S. Senator Kit Bond. One of the speakers heaping praise on Bond was Catherine Hanaway, who once served as an aide to the Senator and subsequently as Speaker of the State House. Hanaway … [Read more...] about Irony in Three Parts
Thou Shall Not Use the Word ‘Census’
At the very least, you shouldn't use it like the RNC did for the purpose it did. And at least two Republicans agree ... Two House Republicans have signed on to legislation that would outlaw fundraising mailings that could be confused with official Census documents. The bill, introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, was inspired by a Republican National Committee mailing … [Read more...] about Thou Shall Not Use the Word ‘Census’
A Personal Note: Mourning Blogger Journalist Al Weisel aka Jon Swift
So much has been written about the sudden and tragically untimely death of Al Weisel aka Jon Swift that this morning I read the blog tributes and thought: how can I DARE try to add to it? What gives me the right to even try? So many moving and relevant things have been said by those who knew him. I didn't -- yet I did. And some things need to be said that perhaps … [Read more...] about A Personal Note: Mourning Blogger Journalist Al Weisel aka Jon Swift
The Americanization of Me
Age and ego conspire on an 86th birthday to see my life as a metaphor for America over the past century. In 1921, “The Americanization of Edward Bok” appeared. Bok was, as I am, the child of immigrants who became, as I would, editor of a large magazine and took part, as I did, in public life. His book won a Pulitzer Prize and is still read, an artifact of those Horatio Alger … [Read more...] about The Americanization of Me
John Boehner Plays The Br’er Rabbit Card
Is John Boehner, in a gesture of cross-the-aisle compassion, trying to help Democrats not lose seats in Congress later this year by warning them not to pass health care legislation? Or is the Republican leader of the House playing the old Br'er Rabbit card? Br'er Rabbit, you'll recall, in a popular Disney movie, was in a tight spot. The critter was about to be done in by … [Read more...] about John Boehner Plays The Br’er Rabbit Card
Race, Academics, and Context
I teach at Towson University which is the second largest public university in Maryland. Yesterday, it was announced that an adjunct art professor was fired because he used the "N" word during lecture. The adjunct, Allen Zaruba, said that he made the comment (click here for the comment) in the course of illustrating the rights and benefits of adjunct professor at Towson … [Read more...] about Race, Academics, and Context
Do the Crime, Do the Time. Forever.
We're in a buyer's market across the board. If you're ready to spend money on a home, you're a hot commodity. And if you're ready to spend money to expand your business, you're even hotter. When roughly one out of every ten Americans is looking for work, competition for jobs is fierce. So in this economic climate, these folks are pretty much out of luck: With the … [Read more...] about Do the Crime, Do the Time. Forever.