Pets, such as dogs and cats, evoke strong and diverse emotions even within the family members. Of course, there are individuals who love all animals/pets. What happens when "dog people" and "cat people" each passionately express their belief that their preferred pet is superior? With researchers now doing some serious work on the subject, could it be time for a showdown? The … [Read more...] about Cats & Dogs: Who Is Superior?
Dianne Feinstein on Defeat of Anti-Abortion Amendment
Sen. Feinstein is the senator who spoke about the real-life examples of women whose health was endangered by pregnancy, and what can and does happen when the law demands a 100 percent guarantee that a woman will die before she can obtain an abortion, or be covered under provisions as draconian as the one defeated yesterday, which would deny federal funding for any insurance … [Read more...] about Dianne Feinstein on Defeat of Anti-Abortion Amendment
Congress Lifts Rider Preventing D.C. From Implementing Medical Marijuana Law
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) celebrates, Finally, some great news from Congress: U.S. House and Senate negotiators agreed on Tuesday on the final details of the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which contains at least three BIG victories for reformers: * Washington, DC will finally be allowed to implement the medical marijuana initiative that voters … [Read more...] about Congress Lifts Rider Preventing D.C. From Implementing Medical Marijuana Law
Uganda Makes It Official: Homosexuality Is “Not Natural”
For those who have been patiently waiting for some scientific, authoritative vindication of their theories that homosexuality is immoral, a perversion or deviancy, not natural, etc., rejoice: Uganda's ethics minister, James Nsaba Buturo, has just pronounced that homosexuality is "not natural in Uganda." No doubt the rest of the civilized world will soon follow suit. To put … [Read more...] about Uganda Makes It Official: Homosexuality Is “Not Natural”
What was Obama doing for three months?
If you don't read Shadow Government, you should. It's a blog written by a lot of very smart people who held significant positions in the Bush administration. (No, that isn't a contradiction, wiseguy.) Shadow Gov's recent posts focus (naturally) on Afghanistan. One very interesting question comes from Peter Feaver -- Did Obama's speech give us any sense of why it took him … [Read more...] about What was Obama doing for three months?
Afghanistan: A GOP twofer?
AFGHANISTAN: A GOP TWOFER? David Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee has introduced a war tax bill.“As presidential historian Robert Dallek reminds us, ‘war kills off great reform movements’,” Obey said, noting that World War I ended the Progressive Era, Korea ended Harry Truman’s Fair Deal and Vietnam ended Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society.Now, I know that's … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: A GOP twofer?
Patience, Patience, and more Patience needed
Even if we assume that God created planet earth and everything on it including human beings less than 20,000 years ago, that’s still a long time in dog or cat years, and even in human years. Assuming each generation is spaced from 15 to 25 years apart, or 20 years on average, that constitutes 1,000 generations. For most of the past 10,000 years, we practiced all sorts of … [Read more...] about Patience, Patience, and more Patience needed
Getting Tough With Pakistan
President Obama seems ready to deliver on a threat Candidate Obama made over two years ago--that, if Pakistan doesn't go after its terrorists, he will. The Surge in Afghanistan, according to White House leaks, comes with "a fairly bald warning that unless Pakistan moved quickly to act against two Taliban groups they have so far refused to attack, the United States was … [Read more...] about Getting Tough With Pakistan
Can the Senior Senator from Utah aka Orrin Hatch push aside Adam Sandler?
There's certainly a place in this world for more and more good Chanuka songs. But this one by U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch actually has potential. Be sure to read the accompanying article by The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg. (The holiday starts this Friday evening.) Eight Days of Hanukkah from Tablet Magazine on Vimeo. … [Read more...] about Can the Senior Senator from Utah aka Orrin Hatch push aside Adam Sandler?
We Need To Educate Prisoners
In Oregon, an anonymous donor helps pay for prisoners to go to college behind bars: In the past two years, The Investor has donated $294,000 so that kidnappers, bank robbers and other felons at three state prisons can go to college behind bars. His latest gift, just in time for Christmas this year, is $15,000 for women inmates at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in … [Read more...] about We Need To Educate Prisoners
Bloomberg Poll: Americans Gloomy As Many Increasingly See It On Wrong Track
A new Bloomberg poll finds that Americans are increasingly gloomy and a growing number of Americans are losing the brief boost of optimism many had after the election of President Barack Obama: the "wrong track" number is growing. Americans have grown gloomier about both the economy and the nation’s direction over the past three months even as the U.S. shows signs of … [Read more...] about Bloomberg Poll: Americans Gloomy As Many Increasingly See It On Wrong Track
The Guidofication of America
Some of you may be familiar with MTV, a television project which, a couple of decades ago, was famous for occasionally showing a music video. Well, it seems that they're back in the news and have quite a few people upset with them. The focus of all the outrage is their new series, Jersey Shore, yet another in a series of "reality" shows depicting the lives of young people … [Read more...] about The Guidofication of America
Defiant Courage in Iran’s Ongoing Turmoil
If your political mind has been entirely consumed by issues like Afghanistan and health care reform, you may have missed the reports about the continuing unrest inside Iran. Today's NYT has an update. In the course of the opposition's evolution since this summer's stolen election, it appears the most widely recognized of the losing presidential candidates, Mir Hussein … [Read more...] about Defiant Courage in Iran’s Ongoing Turmoil
George Stephanopoulos Will Take Over Sawyer’s Good Morning America Anchor Spot
George Stephanopoulos, the popular host of ABC's Sunday Morning "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" show, and a former Clinton aide who seamlessly made the transition to big time television due to his dogged preparation on issues and broadcasting skills, is poised to become the new anchor of ABC New's morning ratings powerhouse Good Morning America, The Politico reports. Is … [Read more...] about George Stephanopoulos Will Take Over Sawyer’s Good Morning America Anchor Spot
NYTimes Holiday ‘Of Color’ Gift Guide Racist?
The NYT's annual Holiday Gift Guide includes a page called "Of Color/Stylish Gifts" aimed at the paper's non-white readers. The nytpicker suggests racism: Found in the "Style & Travel" section of the Gift Guide, it stands alongside sections called "Frugal Travel," "Chic and Cheerful," and "Cosmetic Enhancements." But this page is the only one aimed squarely at readers … [Read more...] about NYTimes Holiday ‘Of Color’ Gift Guide Racist?
Rupert to the Rescue!
In an era where print journalism is appearing more and more like the last dodo, looking around and wondering where everyone went, one man still seems to think he can bring the species back from the brink. He is, of course, Rupert Murdoch. Today, in my latest column at Pajamas Media, I take a look at Murdoch's lofty goals and how he hopes to achieve them. For a perhaps chilling … [Read more...] about Rupert to the Rescue!
Afghanistan Schools: Of Bombs, Grenades & Hope
How do you defeat your perceived "enemy"? Use bombs, grenades and drones? Substitute the bombs with books? Or, have a mix of both? Greg Mortenson, a humanitarian worker and author of two best-selling books, has demonstrated the power of books, and education, even in the highly violence-ridden worlds of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson is finding admirers in unlikely … [Read more...] about Afghanistan Schools: Of Bombs, Grenades & Hope
The War-ette (Guest Voice)
The War-ette Raging Moderate, by Will Durst The best part of a long-term Afghanistan occupation is there’s no shame in failing, since we’ll be joining so many other proud names on such a very long list. The worst part of a long-term occupation of Afghanistan is the many moons it’s going to take for us to figure that out. And according to the president, we should input … [Read more...] about The War-ette (Guest Voice)
Senator Coakley (D-MA)
Technically not official until January but Massachusetts AG Martha Coakley will be the next Senator from the Bay State, taking over the legendary Kennedy seat. She easily won the Democratic primary tonight while Scott Brown won the right to get creamed by her next month. … [Read more...] about Senator Coakley (D-MA)
Historic health bill
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Historic health bill