Democrats were understandably glum after Scott Brown's win over Martha Coakley in the special election for the unexpired US Senate term of the late Edward Kennedy. Brown could make life difficult for President Obama, who has made health care a centerpiece of his presidency. But if I read Barack Obama correctly, he may just now be seeing a silver lining in Brown's … [Read more...] about Obama’s Silver Lining in Brown Win
Haiti: Update on Progress of the U.S. “Invasion” (UPDATES)
A few days ago, in “Haiti: The U.S, Military Steps Up to the Plate" and in subsequent updates, I highlighted and commended the initial relief efforts by our military in the wake of the Haiti earthquake. In this one, I commented on, and hopefully debunked, preposterous allegations by French Cooperation Minister Alain Joyandet, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, Nicaragua’s Daniel … [Read more...] about Haiti: Update on Progress of the U.S. “Invasion” (UPDATES)
Don’t Overread Supreme Court Ruling
As most of you already know the Supreme Court today voted 5-4 to strike down some of the restrictions on contributions by corporations and labor unions. Since there are already a number of discussions on the net regarding the specifics of the ruling I'm not going to go into depth on that area. Personally though I've always been a little reluctant to assign First Amendment … [Read more...] about Don’t Overread Supreme Court Ruling
John Edwards (Finally) Admits Paternity and Separates from his Wife
You really have to ask yourself, has there been a bigger sleaze personally on the political scene than John Edwards? After a zillion denials and evasions he finally has admitted that the baby his former mistress had was indeed his: Former senator John Edwards on Thursday admitted paternity of a daughter with former mistress Rielle Hunter, despite his previous denials, in a … [Read more...] about John Edwards (Finally) Admits Paternity and Separates from his Wife
Obama has lost more than Massachusetts
President Barack Obama’s acknowledgement that “we have somehow lost the sense of direct contact with the Americans on their core values” may be too little too late in the world’s eyes. Obama has extended a hand of dialogue to many countries, including enemies, but they will grasp it only if they feel that his other hand has a firm grip on power within the US. Republican … [Read more...] about Obama has lost more than Massachusetts
The Contradictions of Obamaism (Guest Voice) UPDATED
Editor's Note: This column has been updated so we're running this again at the top of TMV. WASHINGTON -- It turns out there were core contradictions in the promises Barack Obama made to the country in 2008. They caught up with his party on Tuesday in Massachusetts. Things will not get easier. Republicans in Congress will be empowered to hold to their course of … [Read more...] about The Contradictions of Obamaism (Guest Voice) UPDATED
Supreme Court Overturns Campaign Finance Laws
Says corporations are free to directly finance ads for or against candidates. Personally this is a bit disappointing because I think that big money really corrupts our electoral process. On the other hand I welcome the discontinuation of those insanely passive aggressive "issue" ads that are far more pernicious than overt attack ads. UPDATE: Here's MSNBC's take on … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Overturns Campaign Finance Laws
Haiti: Plans to Rebuild Lives
The disaster in Haiti has brought out both the best and the worst in people. A man of God, Pat Robertson, suggested that Haiti’s catastrophic misfortunes flowed from the “fact” that ancestors of the present victims made a pact with the devil. Fortunately, a flood of prayers and goodwill for the victims drowned out such drivel. A famous entertainer, Rush Limbaugh, … [Read more...] about Haiti: Plans to Rebuild Lives
Goodbye Super Senate Majority — And Good Riddance!
For much of 2009 the political world in Washington was mesmerized by a Democratic "Super-Majority" in the Senate, with 60 votes there supposedly being a magic number that along with a big Democratic majority in the House would ensure the Obama agenda would become law. Now that 60-vote, veto-proof majority is gone. And good riddance! In reality terms rather than Beltway … [Read more...] about Goodbye Super Senate Majority — And Good Riddance!
Larry Sabato: Republicans Can Reduce Democratic Senate Majority to 52 Seats
Based on recent political trends, in particular the triumph of Republican Scott Brown in the special election to fill the late Teddy Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts, political scientist Larry Sabato -- who has an excellent record in making political predictions -- now estimates that in 2010 the GOP has a chance to reduce the Democrats' Senate majority to 52 seats. The … [Read more...] about Larry Sabato: Republicans Can Reduce Democratic Senate Majority to 52 Seats
The Senate’s 62-Vote Supermajority
That's right. Not 59. Not 60. But 62. Sen. Susan Collins has signaled a willingness to support a revised health-care bill that focuses on widely shared goals for reform. Yes, that probably means a smaller, less ambitious bill. But if Collins is willing to back such a bill, her Maine counterpart, Sen. Olympia Snowe, probably would be, too. And as multiple sources … [Read more...] about The Senate’s 62-Vote Supermajority
Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown
When the Democrats had 60 votes in the Senate, the working theory in the majority party was that they had to get Republican votes to pass health care reform. Now that the Democrats have 59 votes in the Senate, there is a new working theory: that the Democrats must get Republican votes to pass health care reform: … [Read more...] about Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown
Lessons Learned? For Democrats, Not the Correct Ones
If Democrats were Republicans, they would be doubling down the day after electoral defeat. They would be pushing through their agenda even harder -- not bemoaning the "message" voters had sent. But Democrats are not Republicans. Democrats are Democrats, and so they are doing what Democrats do better than anyone else on the planet: cave, run, admit defeat. … [Read more...] about Lessons Learned? For Democrats, Not the Correct Ones
Obama One Year
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obama One Year
Liberal Dems: Where’s our spine?
Congressional Democrats are abandoning ObamaCare like passengers on a sinking Titanic. Liberal writers are deeply ashamed. Kevin Drum writes: I and my readers are mostly the sober, pragmatic sorts. Willing to compromise. Sensitive to political realities. Etc. And even we're disgusted. I can't remember ever being as embarrassed to be a Democrat as I am today.I actually give … [Read more...] about Liberal Dems: Where’s our spine?
Google’s Attempted ‘Threat to Chinese Sovereignty’: People’s Daily, People’s Republic of China
There are some mixed signals emerging from China in regard to Google's threat to pull out of the country - some of them quite startling. Below are three articles on the issue published in state-controlled newspapers over the past three days. The first article by Li Hongmei of the People'e Daily is what one would have expected. Li Hongmei charges that by threatening to leave … [Read more...] about Google’s Attempted ‘Threat to Chinese Sovereignty’: People’s Daily, People’s Republic of China
End of the Kennedy Legend
If his widow had run for Ted Kennedy's seat, would she have won yesterday's election? Although Victoria Reggie Kennedy had spent a lifetime in politics and, on the weekend of the wake, showed unusual poise and grace, the Senator's widow rebuffed all suggestions that she run for his seat in a special election to be his proxy in passing legislation for what he called "the … [Read more...] about End of the Kennedy Legend
Another Factor in Scott Brown’s Victory in Massachusetts
While most pundits have centered on GOPers, and independent voters, and ire over the economy, there was one other factor that helped Martha Coakley’s: progressives/liberals (choose your word of preference according to your bias) didn't turn out. … [Read more...] about Another Factor in Scott Brown’s Victory in Massachusetts
Will Brown’s win derail the Democratic agenda? (Guest Voice)
Will Brown's MA win derail the Democratic agenda? by Jon Wells With Republican Scott Brown's earth-shaking victory in Massachusetts, the Democrats have lost their filibuster-proof 60-vote majority. Though they still maintain a more than healthy 59-41 vote advantage, Brown's win tonight in liberal Massachusetts should rightly send warning signs to Congressional Democrats and … [Read more...] about Will Brown’s win derail the Democratic agenda? (Guest Voice)
Massachusetts A Red State
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Massachusetts A Red State