After telling members of the inaugural national Tea Party convention what they wanted to hear in a speech Saturday night, the Nashville dining hall roared with chants of "Run, Sarah, Run" when a moderator during a question period asked Sarah Palin if she planned to run for President in 2012. Palin, the former governor of Alaska, avoided an answer. She did say her first … [Read more...] about Tea Party To Palin: ‘Run, Sarah, Run’
U.S. Prayer Breakfast: Zapatero in the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’: El Confidential, Spain
There are those in Spain today, laughing at Prime Minister Zapetero's appearance at America's annual National Prayer Breakfast. The implication is that as an 'avowed enemy of Christianism,' he's a hypocrite. And by the looks of it, according to right-wing columnist Federico Quevedo of Spain's El Confidencial the once-coveted visit to Obama's side isn't likely to do him any … [Read more...] about U.S. Prayer Breakfast: Zapatero in the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’: El Confidential, Spain
Super Bowl Thread
Just to give you all a place to discuss, debate, etc on the big game. I'm not much of a footbal fan but by family loyalty I'm rooting for the Colts but I wouldn't mind seeing the Saints win. If I had to guess I'd suspect the Saints win it but we will find out tomorrow. … [Read more...] about Super Bowl Thread
New Orleans Mayor
Somewhat lost in the hype over the Super Bowl is the fact than New Orleans is electing a mayor tonight. Based on early returns it looks like Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu is an easy winner. … [Read more...] about New Orleans Mayor
The Government Could Never Make a Mistake
Glenn Greenwald on the label "terrorist" (emphasis in original): … [Read more...] about The Government Could Never Make a Mistake
BREAKING NEWS: Americans Held in Haiti Fire their Lawyer
ABC News has just reported that the Americans held in Haiti and charged with child abduction and criminal conspiracy have fired their Haitian lawyer. For more details, background and updates please click here. … [Read more...] about BREAKING NEWS: Americans Held in Haiti Fire their Lawyer
White House Makes Full Copyright Claim on Photos
Let me preface this post by reminding folks that IANAL (I am not a lawyer). The U.S. government policy on photographs and copyright is pretty straightfoward: photos produced by federal employees as part of their job responsibilities are "not subject to copyright in the United States and there are no U.S. copyright restrictions on reproduction, derivative works, … [Read more...] about White House Makes Full Copyright Claim on Photos
What good are the Democrats?
That's the question in big, bold letters on the cover the new New Republic. What TNR's editors mean by that is what a lot of liberal writers have been saying since the morning after Scott Brown became the 41st Republican in the Senate. Does Barack Obama have the guts to get health care passed, or is he just another Democrat who gets scared and runs to the center when the GOP … [Read more...] about What good are the Democrats?
Politicians Are All the Same. They Give Us Exactly What We Ask For. (Postscript Below)
I just read an article in Slate by Jacob Weisberg that speaks directly to one of my biggest frustrations in political discussions: the fatalistic shoulder-shrugging platitude, "What do you expect? They're all politicians and politicians are all the same." … [Read more...] about Politicians Are All the Same. They Give Us Exactly What We Ask For. (Postscript Below)
In Praise of Likes. And Blogging.
Fred likes liking. I do, too. "Liking" is a feature of the Disqus comment software we use on this blog. Clicking the “Like” button next to a comment earns the commenter a positive reputation point on Disqus and helps other readers discover popular comments. Fred says: I often reply to a comment that I like without adding anything to the discussion just to signal that I liked … [Read more...] about In Praise of Likes. And Blogging.
Shelby and the Constitution
Sen. Richard Shelby is having a surprisingly easy time of it with conservative bloggers who usually are very much opposed (at least verbally) to earmarks and pork projects. With a couple of notable exceptions, even centrist bloggers are remarkably sympathetic toward Sen. Shelby: … [Read more...] about Shelby and the Constitution
Poll: One Third of Americans Favor Tea Party Movement But Most Have No Opinion
As the Tea Party movement holds its first big convention this weekend -- amid talk about it consolidating and expanding its constituency, becoming a potent force in American politics, and awaiting a big speech by former Arkansas Gov. Sarah Palin -- a new poll finds that to many Americans the movement is still a yet-to-be-completely-defined, kind of blank slate: So the … [Read more...] about Poll: One Third of Americans Favor Tea Party Movement But Most Have No Opinion
Lost: The “Old” John McCain
As someone who was a huge supporter of John McCain in 2000 and who registered as a Republican to vote for him in the 2000 California primary, I second the views of THIS COLUMN by Dana Milibank. … [Read more...] about Lost: The “Old” John McCain
The Super Bowl and those Super Ads (With Preview Ads Video)
On Superbowl Sunday there will be a huge audience watching the games -- and the ads. This has led to highly anticipated and creative "super ads" that DO have an impact: Reuters notes that this year's advertisers are going for the FUNNYBONE: Some of this year's ads are already being "advanced" on the Internet via You Tube: Here's the upcoming Gatorade … [Read more...] about The Super Bowl and those Super Ads (With Preview Ads Video)
Double Dip Recession
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Double Dip Recession
U.S. Arms Sale to Taiwan ‘Not Necessarily Bad’: Global Times, People’s Republic of China
Should China treat America's proposed weapons sale to Taiwan as a blessing in disguise? According to this article by a writer with the pen name Young Mao in the state-controlled Global Times, Beijing must use this experience to rally the nation and overcome the long-term policy of the United States to "contain China." For the Global Times, Young Mao writes in … [Read more...] about U.S. Arms Sale to Taiwan ‘Not Necessarily Bad’: Global Times, People’s Republic of China
America To Me
For all of our debates, arguments, disagreements, let us all be glad we live in a society where we are all free to say what we think. … [Read more...] about America To Me
Did Zinn Refuse to Be Confused by the Facts?
The Regime in Beijing is Becoming More Assertive
What is the European Union About?
The US government doesn't know primarily because the Europeans don't seem to know, according to the BBC's Gavin Hewitt. … [Read more...] about What is the European Union About?