Last winter, Bongani Masuku, International Relations Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), part of the "tripartite alliance" that currently governs South Africa and a leading proponent of a boycott campaign against Israel, decided he had something to say to his country's Jews: We want to convey a message to the Jews in SA that our 1.9-million workers … [Read more...] about South Africa Conveys a Message Back to Bongani Masuku
NATO Still ‘Clueless’ About What to Do Next: Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russia
As always, with just a smattering of what Germans call schadenfreude, this article by Vladislav Vorobyev of Russia's Rossiyskaya Gazeta lays out what, from Moscow's point of view, NATO still doesn't understand. First - that it isn't Russia that NATO needs to worry about. And second - that the battle for Afghanistan hinges in no small measure on whether Washington can get it's … [Read more...] about NATO Still ‘Clueless’ About What to Do Next: Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russia
Democrats Seek to Adjust Nominating Process
Political scientist Steven Taylor offers analysis. … [Read more...] about Democrats Seek to Adjust Nominating Process
World Cartoonists Skewer Tiger Woods Alleged Affairs
Cartoonists all over the world are having a lot fun skewering golfer Tiger Wood's alleged affairs -- which by the latest count include allegations involving six women. Here's a cross section of the sometimes acid cartoons: Paul Zanetti, Australia RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch Aislin, The Montreal Gazette Manny Francisco, Manila, The … [Read more...] about World Cartoonists Skewer Tiger Woods Alleged Affairs
Sarah Palin Wowed ‘Em at the Gridiron Dinner
Sarah Palin wowed 'em at the Gridiron dinner, the place where journalistic and political big wigs meet for dinner for an evening where politicians say things that are intentionally hilarious. The Christian Science Monitor gives some details on Palin's 11 1/2 minute talk. Usually the comments are off the record and not to be reported but -- in a sign of both changing times … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Wowed ‘Em at the Gridiron Dinner
Mad Mrs. Tiger Woods
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Mad Mrs. Tiger Woods
The Afghan Ambush (Guest Voice)
The Afghan Ambush by Michael Winship The decision has been made. The months of meetings and briefings are over. Tuesday night, the President made it official: 30,000 more American troops to Afghanistan. Along with Friday's announcement of an additional 7,000 from our NATO allies, after all those weeks of debate and consultation, the result's pretty much exactly what our … [Read more...] about The Afghan Ambush (Guest Voice)
Martha’s Big Adventure – ‘Tis the Season
Martha’s Big Adventure – ‘Tis the Season By Martha Randolph Carr The holiday season is the time of year when we are all reminded to treat each other with a bit more respect and a lot more love. We take the time to give to those who do their best to make our lives a little easier like the mailman or the doorman and we volunteer to wrap presents or feed the hungry. All … [Read more...] about Martha’s Big Adventure – ‘Tis the Season
The Gray Lady’s Non-Defense of their Climategate Coverage
The New York Times' Public Editor, Clark Hoyt, has published a much needed, but strangely unsatisfying and contradictory explanation of his newspaper's coverage (or lack thereof) of the hacked climategate e-mails from the University of East Anglia. Much of his response focuses on answering charges that Times reporter Andrew Revkin was "too cozy" with some of the climate … [Read more...] about The Gray Lady’s Non-Defense of their Climategate Coverage
Outlaws and Activists
"Pretty Boy Floyd" by Woodie Guthrie. … [Read more...] about Outlaws and Activists
Politics + Religion: WARNING: Don’t Mix These Two
I pray for God's hand of protection to keep Sarah Palin out of the White House. … [Read more...] about Politics + Religion: WARNING: Don’t Mix These Two
Coburn-Vitter “Gotcha” Amendment “Gotcha’s” Them
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) signed on to an amendment written by Tom Coburn and David Vitter the sole purpose of which was to embarrass Democrats. The amendment would require members of Congress to use the public option themselves -- the idea, of course, being that even Democrats don't want the public option for their own health care. … [Read more...] about Coburn-Vitter “Gotcha” Amendment “Gotcha’s” Them
Et Tu, Baucus?
The question is timing. Why is Max Baucus, the Senate master of health care reform, telling the world on a Saturday morning that he "is currently in a mature and happy relationship with Melodee Hanes,” adding that “They are both divorced, and in no way was their relationship the cause of their respective divorces.” Well, yes, congratulations and all that, but why is the … [Read more...] about Et Tu, Baucus?
App Store As Cellphone Game Changer
The iPhone is a turning point in the industry, not so much for its popularity or features. But rather because, as the first popular handheld computer, it has spawned an app ecosystem: Gone are the days when mobile developers had to negotiate with major telecommunications companies if they had any hopes of publishing their applications on a mobile phone. “It took six to nine … [Read more...] about App Store As Cellphone Game Changer
Die Slowly Or Move To The Big City
Rural America is not served well by the medical profession because there is a lack of family practice doctors, a problem that could be addressed somewhat in the health reform bills now before Congress. That's the good news. The bad news is that the reform package, if passed, would extend insurance coverage to millions more in areas where there are a lack of doctors to attend … [Read more...] about Die Slowly Or Move To The Big City
A Quick Way to End the Afghanistan War
Want to end the Afghanistan War quickly? Just send this bomb over to Afghanistan. … [Read more...] about A Quick Way to End the Afghanistan War
About That Jobs Report
A friend's son graduated college this past June. He majored in journalism. He was an honor student, has freelanced pieces to several publications, and speaks two foreign languages. After months of looking he finally got a job — writing press releases for a local religious institution at a salary that doesn't allow him to move out from his parents' house. I thought of this … [Read more...] about About That Jobs Report
Quote of the Day: The Center Holds Under Barack Obama
Our political Quote of the Day comes from a must-read-in-full post by Susan J. Demas, a political analyst for Michigan Information & Research Service, writing on mlive.com, the Lansing, Michigan, Capital Chronicles website. She argues that the center is holding under Barack Obama, despite fierce attacks from the left and the right and despite what you may read in … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The Center Holds Under Barack Obama
Is The Republican Party Morphing Into a Narrowly Defined “Movement?”
Is the GOP morphing into a more narrowly defined, exclusionary "movement?" CNN's Bill Schneider believes it is. In a piece in National Journal Magazine, Schneider points to a new poll that suggests many GOPers would prefer ideological purity to electability and writes: Republicans may soon get their own version of the Ten Commandments. Led by James Bopp Jr. of Indiana, … [Read more...] about Is The Republican Party Morphing Into a Narrowly Defined “Movement?”
Nicolas Sarkozy’s ‘Neither-Nor’ on Afghanistan: Le Monde, France
According to diplomatic correspondent Natalie Nougayrede of France's Le Monde newspaper, President Barack Obama isn't the only NATO leader going through contortions over Afghanistan. And in the case of President Nicolas Sarkozy of France there is a paradox: "after exhibiting the most spectacular gestures toward the United States at the end of the Bush era, he seemed to lose … [Read more...] about Nicolas Sarkozy’s ‘Neither-Nor’ on Afghanistan: Le Monde, France