Recently, I bought a pair of Nixon-Agnew cufflinks, issued to commemorate their second inauguration in 1973. I bought them for the kitsch value and because they were cheap. Regrettably, I don't really know much about Nixon, beyond the Cliffs Notes I've picked up from various books and newspaper articles about other subjects. Until this morning, all I could've told you … [Read more...] about The Pink Lady
Bankers’ Show Trial Begins
“If we ignore history, we are bound to bail it out again.” That was the opening note of the bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission struck yesterday by its chairman, Phil Angelides, the former state treasurer of California. In an atmosphere that Madame Defarge would have loved, America's bankers are now in the dock of public opinion, which has been boiling over … [Read more...] about Bankers’ Show Trial Begins
Best military books of the decade
Military Times has posted a list of the 16 best military books of the decade. Regrettably, I can only say that I've read two-and-a-half of them. The first is The Unforgiving Minute, by my classmate and friend Craig Mullaney, which made the NYT bestseller list. Since I have a small cameo in the book, I must agree that it's a superb work in all regards. The half book I read … [Read more...] about Best military books of the decade
Sending Congress Home
A titillating idea, though one offered in jest. Conservative Republican senatorial candidate Marco Rubio of Florida engaged in a rather dark moment of humor on CNBC this week while being interviewed on the subject of high unemployment and what to do about it. (Video and recap available at TrogloPundit.) Well the problem is the people in Washington don’t understand what’s … [Read more...] about Sending Congress Home
Haiti’s Ambassador to U.S. Pwns Pat Robertson
The ambassador's name is Raymond Joseph, and he seized the initiative at the start of an interview with Rachel Maddow to deliver this rebuke to Pat Robertson: … [Read more...] about Haiti’s Ambassador to U.S. Pwns Pat Robertson
Communists Say Avatar Director ‘Robbed’ Soviet Science Fiction: Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russia
The controversy surrounding the movie Avatar has taken on a bit of a Cold War tinge, only this time, Russian Communists and American right-wingers have joined forces against common enemies: James Cameron and the Obama White House! With Republican pundits and blogs attacking Cameron for appearing to criticize the American military, Russian communists are calling for an … [Read more...] about Communists Say Avatar Director ‘Robbed’ Soviet Science Fiction: Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russia
Late Night Comedy
There is no question too easy for Sarah Palin to have no answer. And who would have thought it'd be Glenn Beck calling male cow excrement on her? Via Eric Kleefeld at TPMLivewire, with a hat tip to David Kurtz at TPM Editors Blog. … [Read more...] about Late Night Comedy
Stay Informed
Maybe there’s a reason we’re not watching as much TV. Just sayin’. … [Read more...] about Stay Informed
An Open Letter from a Pastor to Pat Robertson
Two simple suggestions...and why I make them here. … [Read more...] about An Open Letter from a Pastor to Pat Robertson
Obama: Wimp or warrior?
The NY Times has stirred the pot by asking this question on the front page of its latest Week in Review. Bob Stein suggests this is just a tread-worn conservative talking point with no merit to speak of. Yet strangely, the Times didn't even bother to ask any actual conservatives whether Obama has gone soft. Instead, prominent liberals provided the necessary grist for the … [Read more...] about Obama: Wimp or warrior?
Is Obama Too Cool?
That's the question being asked in today's online dispatch from The Week. I talked about this as a potential problem for then-Senator Obama during the 2008 campaign. Fair or not, perceptions are usually taken as reality. The perception of the President as cool and detached may not be one he wants to foster. … [Read more...] about Is Obama Too Cool?
Is Obama Flexing His Jeffersonian Muscle?
Is President Barack Obama flexing his "Jeffersonian muscle" in foreign policy? Glenn Reynolds, aka, Instapundit has this 12-minute PJTV interview with Walter Russell Mead, Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for Foreign Policy HERE. … [Read more...] about Is Obama Flexing His Jeffersonian Muscle?
World Mourns Haiti
Patrick Corrigan, The Toronto Star This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about World Mourns Haiti
John Maynard Keynes Had A Plan
Whatever your view of John Maynard Keynes, or Keynesianism (mine is quite favorable) last week Planet Money did a terrific, brief but wonderfully complete and insightful piece on the origins of his thinking. Their guest: As great figures from history go, John Maynard Keynes should consider himself lucky, at least when it comes to his biography. His biographer, Lord Robert … [Read more...] about John Maynard Keynes Had A Plan
There You Go Again, Pat Robertson
Why is it whenever there is a natural or man-made tragedy, Evangelical preacher Pat Robertson uses his television podium to claim God is punishing us for tolerating abortions and homosexuality and in the devastating ruins of Haiti a "pact to the Devil." Risking God striking me with a bolt of lightening for saying this: Mr. Preacher Man, you are a disgrace to your religion … [Read more...] about There You Go Again, Pat Robertson
Jesus Christ and the Movie ‘Avatar’: BolPress, Bolivia
The global commentary about the movie Avatar keeps on coming - and one might say, getting stranger. Along with reports that Russian communists want to have James Cameron arrested for pilfering the work of Russian science fiction writers, this article from Bolivia likens the film's main character to Jesus Christ. For the BolPress of Bolivia, columnist Huascar Vega Ledo writes … [Read more...] about Jesus Christ and the Movie ‘Avatar’: BolPress, Bolivia
When You Lie Down With the Devil….
Pat Robertson explains why Haiti just lost thousands of people to a natural disaster: "Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it," he said on Christian Broadcasting Network's "The 700 Club." "They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, … [Read more...] about When You Lie Down With the Devil….
Videos: Aftermath of Haiti’s Earthquake
Here's some video of the aftermath of the earthquake. Truly catastrophic: Here's a video that tells you how you can help earthquake victims: Here's a rescue from the top of a toppled building: These three were CBS News raw videos. Some videos from other sources: The earthquake leaves a town in dust: Sky News' initial report: … [Read more...] about Videos: Aftermath of Haiti’s Earthquake
Simon Cowell Judges American Tonight Show Idol
RJ Matson, The New York Observer This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Simon Cowell Judges American Tonight Show Idol
What Can One Write?
Haiti has been struck by another terrible natural disaster. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere has had many prior political, economic and climatic disasters. The U.S. and other nations quickly will respond with the normal flurry of humanitarian aid. Then we inevitably leave without making this nation any better able to meet the next disaster or even able to … [Read more...] about What Can One Write?