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?
Must Read Explanation Of China-US Trade Imbalance
Michael Pettis is by far the best trade theorist I've come across and is supremely prescient and logical. He has changed my thinking a ton since I've started reading him, but his latest post is perhaps the most world altering for me. It explains what China's currency peg really means, and why their massive reserves won't protect them from a financial crisis. … [Read more...] about Must Read Explanation Of China-US Trade Imbalance
The “Truth” About Disabled Children
THIS JUST IN! Here is the "truth" about disabled children. According to Virginia State Delegate Bob Marshall (R). disabled children are God's punishment to women who have aborted their first pregnancy. Question: Will Sara Palin dispute or denounce this on her Facebook page? … [Read more...] about The “Truth” About Disabled Children
When Rhetoric Gets in the Way of Good Ideas
E.J. Dionne thinks this week -- the week of the health care summit -- "will determine the shape of American politics for the next three years." Even if it's not as momentous a week as Mr. Dionne suggests, I hope it does (at the very least) mark the beginning of the end of the unproductive ways in which the debate has, so far, been framed. Case in point: Published in … [Read more...] about When Rhetoric Gets in the Way of Good Ideas