It was the lack of any Bushian pretense that our purpose in Afghanistan is to spread human rights or establish democracy (emphasis is Glenn's): … [Read more...] about Glenn Greenwald on a Welcome Omission From Obama’s West Point Speech
Iran Nuke Talks
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Iran Nuke Talks
Of Adding Troops, Mapping an Exit Plan, and Writing Headlines.
I don't know anything about the intricacies of publishing a newspaper, or about the relationships or sequence and timing between the on-line and printed versions of a major newspaper such as the New York Times. Although I am not a journalist, I remember from my Journalism 101 class that newspapers pay a lot of attention to their headlines---to every word and every … [Read more...] about Of Adding Troops, Mapping an Exit Plan, and Writing Headlines.
Jobs Summit
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Jobs Summit
Huckabee’s Political Career On Life Support
I feel sorry for Mike Huckabee. Nine years ago as governor of Arkansas he commuted the sentence of a man who this past week killed four police officers in Lakewood, Wash., and the next day was gunned down by police. To hear Huckabee tell it, Maurice Clemmons was not the murderer and rapist he commuted but an impoverished black at the age of 16 unjustly sentenced to 108 years … [Read more...] about Huckabee’s Political Career On Life Support
How the Free Market Kills Job Growth
There's a title I bet you never expected to see over my byline, did ya? But the advent of President Obama's highly touted "jobs summit" seems like an excellent time to open a discussion which I believe is long overdue. As with many of these big ticket items, I'm afraid I have some observations which won't sit well with partisans on either side of the political divide, but they … [Read more...] about How the Free Market Kills Job Growth
Yes, Americans Do Want A Public Option
Yet another poll has come up with the same results: Americans want a public health care option. But -- count on it -- Republicans and conservative Democrats will continue to thwart the will of the people. … [Read more...] about Yes, Americans Do Want A Public Option
Tiger Loses
Patrick Corrigan, The Toronto Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Tiger Loses
The $45 Billion Man
The headline reads "Bank of America pays off $45 billion in TARP Money to The Government." That's the headline. Dig a little deeper, though, and you get the real story. Why is the BofA paying off this money now, where is it getting the money to make the payoff, and how is this payoff being regarded by Wall Street? That's the real story. BoA is paying off TARP at a time it is … [Read more...] about The $45 Billion Man
New York Senate Rejects Same-Sex Marriage
Well, yes, this was a bad defeat for the forces of good: The New York State Senate decisively rejected a bill on Wednesday that would have allowed gay couples to wed, providing a major victory for those who oppose same-sex marriage and underscoring the deep and passionate divisions surrounding the issue. The 38-to-24 vote startled proponents of the bill and signaled that … [Read more...] about New York Senate Rejects Same-Sex Marriage
Afghanistan’s problems are “99 percent economics”
Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen wrote a good column based on an interview with Stephen Landrigan, a US aid worker who has spent five years working on humanitarian projects in Afghanistan. Landrigan supports the surge of troops, but recognizes that there isn't a military solution to Afghanistan's problems. Money quote: "It's 99 percent economics,'' Landrigan said. "You … [Read more...] about Afghanistan’s problems are “99 percent economics”
Apple Voids Warranties Over Smoking ?
Emphasizing that this story is still in the early stages, there are reports that several Apple stores have denied warranty services to customers because they were smokers. Obviously if true this is both illegal (as there are no such conditions in the warranty documents) and stupid. Apple … [Read more...] about Apple Voids Warranties Over Smoking ?
Comcast Swallows NBCU In Takover Deal
And so it goes: cable giant Comcast is gobbling up NBC Universal in another sign of the economic -- and new media -- times: General Electric Co's (GE.N) sale of a majority stake in its NBC Universal media arm to Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O) marks a big step forward in what could be a time of significant restructuring at the largest U.S. conglomerate. The long-expected sale … [Read more...] about Comcast Swallows NBCU In Takover Deal
Honduran Congress Overwhelmingly Votes Down Return by Zelaya
A few months ago, we had several expressive posts and hundreds of emotional comments on the removal of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya from power, his inelegant, unceremonious departure from Honduras and his trials and tribulations when attempting to return to Honduras and reclaiming power. There was a recent post (November 30) on TMV on the Honduran presidential … [Read more...] about Honduran Congress Overwhelmingly Votes Down Return by Zelaya
What Is America’s Agenda In Afghanistan?
What are the long-term gains/losses for the USA in sending more troops to Afghanistan? Is it a smoke-screen for America's "other" ambitions? Or, is this another naive manifestation of the decade-old American foreign policy? Will the US "surge" in Afghanistan lead to more violence locally and elsewhere? In terms of future US containment strategy of China, Afghanistan air … [Read more...] about What Is America’s Agenda In Afghanistan?
Getting it Right? A Half-Hearted Afghanistan Strategy Revealed (Guest Voice)
Getting it Right? A Half-Hearted Afghanistan Strategy Revealed by Michael Reagan As many of you will recall, in previous writings I urged President Obama to do the right thing when it came to providing Gen. McChrystal with his requested troop increases in support of the war effort in Afghanistan. And during the early debate over troop levels, I even accepted the … [Read more...] about Getting it Right? A Half-Hearted Afghanistan Strategy Revealed (Guest Voice)
Liking Ike: A Memorable Evening
"Did you notice," E.J. Dionne asks, "that the president did not choose to quote any of his party’s own giants...? Instead, he quoted a Republican, Dwight D. Eisenhower." For those who doubt that Barack Obama has anything in common with Ike, herewith the story of a memorable evening with the nation's 34th president: In the summer of 1964 I fell in love with the man I had … [Read more...] about Liking Ike: A Memorable Evening
The Magazine of the Future Imagined
Time Inc. imagines how their magazines will look on the upcoming "Tablet of Newspaper Salvation," the Apple Tablet: Time Inc. [has] released a video demonstration of a tabletized Sports Illustrated. The demo is actually quite impressive, including a decent amount of interactivity, some video elements, several different ways of browsing through the content, and a somewhat … [Read more...] about The Magazine of the Future Imagined
Review: The New Mac Magic Mouse
Boing Boing's Rob Beschizza says it makes casual use easier and serious use harder: Visually, Magic Mouse is an archetypally beautiful Apple product. There are just two curving surfaces, which meet to trace the geometrical form otherwise represented in nature by shoe horns. On top is the expansive white button/trackpad. Underneath is the metal base, broken up by two long … [Read more...] about Review: The New Mac Magic Mouse
Nuclear Power and Israel’s Inexplicable Abuse of Iran: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Cyrus the Great, who ruled Persia as the Roman Republic was just getting off the ground - and after the Jewish people had been ejected from Judea and exiled to Babylon. Why do Westerners, Jews and particularly Israelis mistrust Iran so? That seems to be the question that this historical defense of Iranian morality and behavior seeks to address. From Iran's state-run Kayhan … [Read more...] about Nuclear Power and Israel’s Inexplicable Abuse of Iran: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran