Uh, oh: there are suggestions now that one solution to detect passengers with underwear bombs might be bomb sniffing dogs. Will the crotch sniffing dog become a (dreaded) fixture at airports? And can dogs be trained to go gentle when they eagerly plow their noses into crotch content evaluation chores? (And if that's not how it'll be done, how can they prevent a dog from ad … [Read more...] about Could Dogs Detect Underwear Bombs?
Al-Qaeda: Obama Must Walk in the Footsteps of Bush
Could we be seeing a bit of a revival of the legacy of George W. Bush? That's the underlying implication of this article by Yves Thréard of France's Le Figaro newspaper. For Le Figaro, Yves Threard writes in part: Humility prohibits untimely and definitive comments on al-Qaeda, that army of criminals that is regularly described as being held at bay. Does it function … [Read more...] about Al-Qaeda: Obama Must Walk in the Footsteps of Bush
Twitter Reactions Disabled
Hello TMV readers and commenters. Twitter reactions to articles/posts have been disabled due to the always evolving pornographic industry's "twitter tactics". This doesn't take away from comment functionality at all. Twitter reactions will be enabled as soon as we find a effective way of blocking pornographic twitters. Thanks to TMV reader and commenter Father Time for … [Read more...] about Twitter Reactions Disabled
Fox Could Be Blacked Out In Dispute
Two of the nation's greediest media giants are at loggerheads over fee transmissions and no matter who wins the public will pay dearly. Unless a deal is struck with News Corp.by midnight New Year's Eve, Time Warner Cable could drop all Fox programming. At the moment, the dispute affects only Time Warner subscribers. Waiting in the wings how this plays out is NBC, ABC and … [Read more...] about Fox Could Be Blacked Out In Dispute
Terrorism: Win-Win for Republicans
This trenchant observation from Steve Benen is worth quoting without comment: … [Read more...] about Terrorism: Win-Win for Republicans
On Iran, Revolution and the Words of Presidents
Charles Krauthammer thinks that the President should be issuing stronger statements about the situation in Iran, as he seems to believe that the words of the President can affect change in this situation (from his WaPo column, 2009: The year of living fecklessly): [R]evolutions succeed at that singular moment, that imperceptible historical inflection, when the people, … [Read more...] about On Iran, Revolution and the Words of Presidents
What Took You So Long, Dick?
I cannot believe that Dick Cheney waited six whole days to criticize Barack Obama for waiting three days to make a non-hysterical public statement about the attempted airline bombing on Christmas Day. How could he let Pete Hoekstra get ahead of him on such an obvious opportunity to turn a national security event into a carnival of political grandstanding? … [Read more...] about What Took You So Long, Dick?
MATH EDUCATION MADNESS
I’m glad TMV co-blogger and editor Jerry Remmers recently posted and wrote about America’s overall stupidity with respect to Mathematics. The reader comments were excellent as well and got me thinking (and now ranting). I would like to mention a few more items in this vein before turning to other posts and subjects. Since I am an authorized TMV blogger with over 2 regular … [Read more...] about MATH EDUCATION MADNESS
The Study of Religion and Politics
Earlier this month -- around the time Sen. Ben Nelson's United Methodist Church was chiming in on health care reform -- Washington University announced the formation of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion & Politics, named for the former Senator who offered a (very good) book on the same topic in 2006. This confluence of events was the subject of my latest guest … [Read more...] about The Study of Religion and Politics
Report Discredits Obama Afghan Mission
I must admit I was not shocked to hear a secret report for Pentagon brass that efforts to train the Afghan National Army (ANA) are beset with deep-rooted problems which could take years to overcome. NBC-TV foreign correspondent Richard Engel said the privately-commissioned report: 1) -- Contends nepotism, corruption and absenteeism among ANA officers makes success … [Read more...] about Report Discredits Obama Afghan Mission
Is the Middle Ground Lost, Ctd.
The editorial board of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers its take on a "decade of hyper-partisanship." One paragraph from that editorial summarizes its premise perhaps better than any other ... The money is in partisanship. A member of Congress can’t afford to be a moderate, not if he wants to keep his job. Politicians who stray too far from party purity will face a … [Read more...] about Is the Middle Ground Lost, Ctd.
Sullivan v. Allen: Misdirected Ire
Mike Allen bylines an article for Politico re: Dick Cheney's tirade about Obama "trying to pretend we are not at war." Andrew Sullivan accuses Allen of being a "stenographer" for Cheney, relaying the former VP's accusations verbatim, sans critical analysis. I don't know much about Allen and I suppose there could be a history here that triggered Sullivan's reaction; a … [Read more...] about Sullivan v. Allen: Misdirected Ire
Polarized Politics
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post This cartoon is unauthorized and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Polarized Politics
Fighting Over the Squandered Decade (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Certain decades shape the country's political life for generations by leaving behind an era to embrace or, at least as often, to scorn. The 1960s were definitely such a decade. The 1930s qualify, and so do the 1980s. But as important as all these periods have been, their significance may be dwarfed by the reckless and squandered decade that is, mercifully, … [Read more...] about Fighting Over the Squandered Decade (Guest Voice)
Dutch Home Affairs Minister Presents Preliminary Results of Amsterdam Airport Investigation
The Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad is commenting on a just-released, preliminary Dutch government report on “what happened at the Dutch airport where the would-be bomber transferred.” Parts of what the Handelsblad is reporting: "It would not be exaggerating to say the world has escaped a disaster," Dutch home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst said at a press conference … [Read more...] about Dutch Home Affairs Minister Presents Preliminary Results of Amsterdam Airport Investigation
U.S. Virtual Economy Set To Make Billions
We moved from an economy that makes things to an economy that buys things. Bad enough, really, but the BBC says we're moving on to buying imaginary, er, virtual things: [Venture capitalist Jeremy] Liew, whose firm Lightspeed Venture Partners has invested $10m in virtual goods companies, said the rapid growth of the sector was unprecedented. "We have seen companies go from … [Read more...] about U.S. Virtual Economy Set To Make Billions
Quote of the Day: Obama Takes Heat Republicans and Media Neglected to Direct at Bush on Similar Terrorism Incident
Our political Quote of the Day is the key part of a piece by Josh Gerstein in The Politico which notes that the Republicans and the news media are reacting to President Barack Obama's delayed statement on the failed airplane bombing in way totally at variance with how they reacted to Bush. In Bush's case? Not a peep when he didn't react for nearly a week: Eight years ago, … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Obama Takes Heat Republicans and Media Neglected to Direct at Bush on Similar Terrorism Incident
The Name Game for the New Millenium
I'm getting rather bored with the blame game this week, and thought perhaps we could begin winding down the year here at TMV with the Name Game instead. It's a topic which I've seen crop up in passing on a few web sites and talking head discussions on television, but I don't believe any consensus has been reached. What's it all about? We referred to the period from 1970 … [Read more...] about The Name Game for the New Millenium
How Far Would We Go To Win ?
Let me begin by making it clear that I'm not suggesting the following idea should be adopted or that it would work, I merely offer it as an interesting hypothetical. So please skip if you can comments on that angle. It came to me via a radio show I was listening to on the way home from running errands. The host was discussing the bizzare rules of engagement in Iraq and … [Read more...] about How Far Would We Go To Win ?
God Bless Mel Brooks
They inducted him into the Kennedy Center tonight and it reminded me of two important things. 1. He is an absolute genius 2. He's one of my personal idols, who I'd love to meet A few samples of his work … [Read more...] about God Bless Mel Brooks