Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Too Revealing
Senator Christopher Dodd Not Running Again
That's two D senators down. Not to mention Democrat Bill Ritter, Governor of Colo, said to announce tomorrow he will not be running for a second term. His limp tenure, lack of progress, lack of vitality, are the reasons, pundits say. There are others who are 'suddenly' retiring, stepping down, choosing not to run again. What's happening? Looks like both political … [Read more...] about Senator Christopher Dodd Not Running Again
Great Musical Performances: Food Glorious Food from Oliver
One of my favorite musicals of all time is Lionel Bart's "Oliver." To be sure, it's based on the great Dickens novel. Then why do I tear up at several points in this musical? It happened when I watched the movie version as a teen, played the part of Fagin in the Amity Summer Theater Music Workshop while in high school in the late 60s, and listen to the album. Is it the tragedy … [Read more...] about Great Musical Performances: Food Glorious Food from Oliver
Human Sexuality and Christian Branding
From the very heart of fundamentalist Christian religious rightness -- Donald Douglas at American Power -- comes a statement I never thought I would hear from his lips (so to speak): … [Read more...] about Human Sexuality and Christian Branding
The US and the UN: resetting relations
After nearly 30 years of on and off coolness, the Obama administration is resetting relations with the United Nations because no other organization offers access to dialogue with so many countries. Among other things, Barack Obama wants to be remembered as the President willing to talk sincerely to America’s enemies before imposing sanctions or picking up the gun. In 2010, the … [Read more...] about The US and the UN: resetting relations
The U.S. is #19 on 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index
On the Transparency International list, that's ahead of Barbados, Belgium, and Qatar but behind the UK (only just), Japan, Austria, Ireland, Germany, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Norway, Iceland, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, Denmark, and the country perceived to be the least corrupt on the globe, New Zealand. The Corruption Perceptions … [Read more...] about The U.S. is #19 on 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index
Hide this Tiger We Weren’t Able to See!: Le Monde, France
Beyond the question of what it means to the sport of golf, coverage of the Tiger Woods affair reflects that never-ending battle between the American Puritans and the European sophisticates. Continuing our coverage of this European-American cultural fissure, sports columnist Jean-Louis Aragon writes for France's Le Monde: A few casual sexual encounters are exposed and, … [Read more...] about Hide this Tiger We Weren’t Able to See!: Le Monde, France
Obama Criticizes Intelligence Agencies Over Christmas Day Failed Airplane Attack
President Barack Obama emerged from a major huddle with officials on national security, airline security and the failed Christmas day underwear bomber attack to issue a stern statement that didn't mince words. He said there had been enough info behind the scenes on the attempted Christmas Day attack to stop it. The bottom line, he said, is that the system "failed...to … [Read more...] about Obama Criticizes Intelligence Agencies Over Christmas Day Failed Airplane Attack
Dorgan To Retire
In what has to be a blow to Democrats three term incumbent Byron Dorgan of North Dakota has announced he will not seek re-election in 2010. Democrats do have popular Congressman Earl Pomerey who could run for the seat but his House seat would then be a likely switch to the GOP. Republicans have equally popular Governor John Hoeven in the wings and he had been leading Dorgan … [Read more...] about Dorgan To Retire
Is This a Wait-and-See Story?
UPDATED: Darleen Click at Protein Wisdom simultaneously links to this post, and embraces her inner sixth-grader. Click and laugh. The right is all over this story about Michael Yon being handcuffed and questioned at the Seattle airport. For them, this is an open-and-shut case of overzealous airport security hassling an obviously harmless American citizen. Now, I'm not saying … [Read more...] about Is This a Wait-and-See Story?
Continental Bumps Joan Rivers Off Flight in Costa Rica Due to “Suspicious” Passport
A Continental flight attendant booted comedian Joan Rivers off a flight from Costa Rica because the agent found her passport suspicious. The story is surprising for two reasons: (1)She's Joan Rivers and so far there have not been many elderly female Jewish terrorists blowing up airplanes (but whatever). (2)Stopped due to her PASSPORT? It would have been understandable if the … [Read more...] about Continental Bumps Joan Rivers Off Flight in Costa Rica Due to “Suspicious” Passport
Our Yemeni Enemy
Although Yemen has been on the United States terrorism watch list for years, it is only since the Christmas Day underwear bomber that the fiefdom on the Arabian Peninsula became a household word to Americans, courtesy of our media's flavor of the month and gotcha journalism. In examining the stronghold al-Qaeda has grasped in Yemen, it makes the threat of that terrorist … [Read more...] about Our Yemeni Enemy
Blackwater ‘No Better Than al-Qaeda’: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
Here's a story that has gone under the radar screens of most Americans, but which almost uniformly angers and confuses Muslims around the world. Days ago, a U.S. federal court judge threw out charges against five former Blackwater security guards implicated in the shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad's Nisour Square in 2007. This article by K. Selim of … [Read more...] about Blackwater ‘No Better Than al-Qaeda’: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
Nigeria Upset Over New U.S. Security Measures
According to the AFP, Nigeria has "branded new security measures for passengers flying to the United States unfair and said they amounted to discrimination against its 150 million people." Nigeria, home of failed underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is one of 14 countries from which all air travellers to the U.S. will be "subjected to extra checks including body … [Read more...] about Nigeria Upset Over New U.S. Security Measures
Tiger, Tiger Still Burning Bright
The immortal hand and eye that frame his symmetry are those of Annie Liebovitz for a naked-to-the-waist Vanity Fair cover as Tiger Woods enters the new decade, not as the unflappable figure addressing a golf ball on Sunday afternoon TV but as a subject of sermonizing for the morning political pundits. On Fox News, Brit Hume suggests that Buddhism may be below par for Woods' … [Read more...] about Tiger, Tiger Still Burning Bright
Between Iran and a Hard Place
Guest post by Ali Ezzatyar and Bryan A. Tollin Ali Ezzatyar is a U.S.-trained corporate lawyer currently practising in Paris. He has taught courses in Political Economy in the International and Area Studies Department of the University of California at Berkeley and has previously published articles about Iran in the L.A. Times. Bryan A. Tollin is a corporate lawyer … [Read more...] about Between Iran and a Hard Place
On Refusing to be a “Good Jew”
The "good Jew" is a common trope in Jewish history. A statement attributed to a variety of Nazi officials was that every German "knows one good Jew" -- the exceptions that belie the general rule of Jewish mendacity, parochialism, ruthlessness, avarice, and evil. We should not be distracted. Meanwhile, within the Jewish community, there are those who assume they can escape … [Read more...] about On Refusing to be a “Good Jew”
A Conference Committee is not Required
The New Republic has reported (along with other sources) that the Democrats may bypass the conference committee as the means by which to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the health care reform bill (EXCLUSIVE: Dems 'Almost Certain' to Bypass Conference): According to a pair of senior Capitol Hill staffers, one from each chamber, House and Senate Democrats are … [Read more...] about A Conference Committee is not Required
Breaking: Michael Yon Detained at Seattle Airport?
Picked this up via Twitter from several people (H/T Ed Morrissey) but it seems that Michael Yon, independent photojournalist who has done a ton of work in Iraq and Afghanistan, was detained and handcuffed at Seattle airport for not answering pressing national security questions such as... how much money he earns? When they handcuffed me, I said that no country has ever … [Read more...] about Breaking: Michael Yon Detained at Seattle Airport?
Massachusetts Senate Race Down To Nine Points
A new poll shows the race to succeed the late Ted Kennedy is down to 50-41. I still expect the Democrat Coakley to win and with this poll out there will probably be more of a get out the vote effort, so she'll probably win by 10-15 points. But it is interesting to see the race this close given that the state has only about 20% Republican voters. … [Read more...] about Massachusetts Senate Race Down To Nine Points