My boss is not an Obama fan. No, I'm not referring to Mr. Gandelman. I'm referring to the other boss -- the one at the company that pays me for what I do. That boss is not an Obama fan -- and he struggles to understand why I am. Two days before Christmas, that boss dropped by my office. I was one of the few still there; many had already left for some extended R&R over … [Read more...] about Obama’s First Year
The STUPIDEST NEWS STORIES of 2009 (a song)
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE DAY TMV READERS! "To us the things on cable news seem so freakin' dumb, And we can only hope that we're not the only ones... But since they're still reporting it....we just might be the only ones." -- Lyrics by Hank, Music by Rhett & Link. … [Read more...] about The STUPIDEST NEWS STORIES of 2009 (a song)
The New Deal That Isn’t
Economists still argue about whether the New Deal policies of the 1930s saved the economy or prolonged the Depression. You can make a good case either way. But there's no argument about the fact that it was an enormous political success. It gave people in this country hope for their future, a belief that their institutions were being fixed for the better, and that their … [Read more...] about The New Deal That Isn’t
Tim Pawlenty Understands Spending Priorities
I had to check the date to make sure it wasn't April Fools day instead of New Years Eve. Why? Because it's so rare to see a politician these days who actually seems to grasp the basics of government spending during a disastrous fiscal period such as the one we're in now. Fresh from YouTube, an encouraging interview with Minnesota Governor and 2012 presidential hopeful, Tim … [Read more...] about Tim Pawlenty Understands Spending Priorities
Good Bye 2009
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Good Bye 2009
A Mall Massacre in Gun Free Europe
Despite a name that at first glance could raise eyebrows among some, it turns out it's another "weirdo." (May I be the first to say it? Good riddance to 2009...) Details here. … [Read more...] about A Mall Massacre in Gun Free Europe
US Warnings of Terrorist Attack Tonight In Bali
Will this be another pro forma New Year's Eve? According to reports, the U.S. has issued a warning that there are fears tonight could be marred by the same scourge that has cursed this most unhappy of decades: terrorism: Terrorists may be planning a New Year's Eve attack on the Indonesian island of Bali, Indonesian and US Embassy officials warned today. In an Embassy email … [Read more...] about US Warnings of Terrorist Attack Tonight In Bali
The inevitable 2009 top ten stories column
You knew it was coming, I'm sure. Every Tom, Dick and Harriet with a pencil or a keyboard is probably assembling their own list of the political news stories which shaped the news in 2009. Never being one to shy away from running with the herd, I've assembled my own and you can find it this morning at Pajamas Media. But when you're finished with that, I thought it might be fun … [Read more...] about The inevitable 2009 top ten stories column
Rush Limbaugh Hospitalized in Hawaii
UPDATE: Jan 1, 2010: Mr. Limbaugh says he did not have a heart attack and does not have heart disease: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100101/ap_on_re_us/us_limbaugh_hospital UPDATE: Rush Limbaugh will “take a lot of tests” according to Walter Williams, guest host on Mr. Limbaugh's radio show while Mr. L is vacationing in Hawaii. "While pains [in chest] can be an indicator of … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh Hospitalized in Hawaii
True Believers: Abdulmullatab and Cheney
"Passionate hatred," Eric Hoffer wrote half a century ago, "can give meaning and purpose to an empty life. Thus people haunted by the purposelessness of their lives try to find a new content not only by dedicating themselves to a holy cause but also by nursing a fanatical grievance." Days after a 23-year-old Nigerian demonstrates the enduring truth of this observation by … [Read more...] about True Believers: Abdulmullatab and Cheney
Poll: Obama Most Admired Man, Palin Clinton Most Admired Women
A new USA Today/Gallup Poll finds that President Barack Obama is the country's most admired man -- and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are tied as the country's most admired women. President Obama is the man Americans admired most in 2009, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, while Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Alaska … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama Most Admired Man, Palin Clinton Most Admired Women
Could Dogs Detect Underwear Bombs?
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