Our Quote of the Day comes from an extensive commentary by Greg Sheridan, Foreign Editor of the Australian, posted on RealClearWorld that needs to be read in full. His point: the world needs U.S. leadership. Here are a few highlights: There seems to be a whole class of international relations commentators, not least among our bunyip faux wise men in Australia, eagerly … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The World Needs U.S. Leadership
Airport Screening Machines’ “Achilles Heel”: If Detonator Worked Northwest Flight 253 Plane Would Have Come Down
Amid all of the inspiring stories about heroism on Northwest flight 253 when a terrorist tried to set off a detonator, officials now say there are two sobering facts: FACT ONE: The fact that suspect Umar farouk Abdulmutallab got on board with the device indicates a serious -- potential grave -- achilles heel in existing scanning machines, precisely the kind of achilles heel … [Read more...] about Airport Screening Machines’ “Achilles Heel”: If Detonator Worked Northwest Flight 253 Plane Would Have Come Down
The Way We Live Now
The terrorist who set his pants on fire on a crowded plane is a Christmas bookend to the Thanksgiving White House party-crashers--reminders that, as the Marx Brothers would put it, there is "no sanity clause" in our contract for security in today's world. Both incidents undermine the belief that poverty and oppression are the main sources of danger, with the perpetrators … [Read more...] about The Way We Live Now
Al-Qaeda Shows Up at Yemen Protest; Warns Yemenis Not to Resist: Yemen Times, Yemen
Members of al-Qaeda address a crowd and take photos in Yemen's southern province of Abyan, where the government and Saudi Arabia have been bombing al-Qaeda positions. They said they had no issues with the Yemen Army, and warned civilians not oppose al-Qaeda or its war against America. With news emerging that the Nigerian terror suspect who tried to bomb a U.S. plane may … [Read more...] about Al-Qaeda Shows Up at Yemen Protest; Warns Yemenis Not to Resist: Yemen Times, Yemen
Terrorist in Failed Plane Bomb Attack Wore Suicide Underwear
Has it come to this? In the future will TSA inspectors at airports ask you "Boxers or briefs or explosives?" and then check to see whether your underwear was made by Fruit of the Loom or Al Qaeda? Perhaps: ABC News reports that Al Qaeda bigwigs may now be clothes horses since they've created a new wardbobe item for the best dressed murder-to-be terrorist: suicide underwear -- … [Read more...] about Terrorist in Failed Plane Bomb Attack Wore Suicide Underwear
Acting Dutch Prime Minister Thanks Hero of Northwest Flight 253
According to the Dutch newspaper, NRC Handelsblad, the Acting Dutch Prime Minister Wouter Bos today thanked Dutch video director and producer from Amsterdam, Jasper Schuringa, for his actions aboard the Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. Bos thanked Schuringa on behalf of the Dutch Cabinet for the role he played in subduing the alleged terrorist, Umar … [Read more...] about Acting Dutch Prime Minister Thanks Hero of Northwest Flight 253
Is the Middle Ground Lost?
This Politico report from yesterday suggests it might be ... After nearly a year, this is what’s become of the health care debate: Democrats hunkered behind closed doors on a bill struggling to gain public support, Republicans lobbing one partisan grenade after the next. In the wake of this grinding fight, Obama’s campaign pledge [of bipartisanship] now seems hollow, … [Read more...] about Is the Middle Ground Lost?
James Cameron and the Hubris of Celebrity
Avatar and Titanic director James Cameron is rightfully hailed for his incredible vision, directing, and his determination which has not just generated huge movie grosses but raised the bar on cinematic art by putting on the screen ever drop of creativity that bubbled in his mind. But, as is not unusual in the celebrity world, he is not-so-blessed with some hubris -- the hubris … [Read more...] about James Cameron and the Hubris of Celebrity
Travel Restrictions On Last Hour of All Flights
How will this go over with air travelers? New rules imposed by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration also limit on-board activities by customers and crew in U.S. airspace that may adversely impact on-board service. Among other things, during the final hour of flight customers must remain seated, will not be allowed to access carry-on baggage, or have personal … [Read more...] about Travel Restrictions On Last Hour of All Flights
Osama bin Laden: The Decade’s ‘Sinister Victor’ – Nachrichten, Switzerland
When one looks back at the stated goals of Osama bin Laden, one might conclude that much of what he sought has come to pass. As bin Laden is reported to have said in 2004, "We are continuing this policy of bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy. Allah willing, and nothing is too great for Allah." According to Patrik Etschmayer of Switzerland's Nachrichten newspaper, in … [Read more...] about Osama bin Laden: The Decade’s ‘Sinister Victor’ – Nachrichten, Switzerland
My Absolute Favorite Christmas Song
"And So This Is Christmas," with John Lennon and a children's choir. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone at TMV: … [Read more...] about My Absolute Favorite Christmas Song
Did Failed Terrorist Plan Attack Signal New Threat — and New Terrorist Technique?
As federal officials scrambled to find out more about yesterdays failed terrorist attack on an airplane, and to tighten airport security -- and as one Republican reacted immediately by trying to politicize it before he reportedly even was briefed on the facts -- experts are now pondering a serious new question: Did the failed attack on a trans-Atlantic Northwest Airlines … [Read more...] about Did Failed Terrorist Plan Attack Signal New Threat — and New Terrorist Technique?
The New Way To Rake It In On Wall Street
Planning to make a career on Wall Street? Harken to this advice. Don't do a good job. Don't do a poor job. Do a really terrible job, but do it in a way that makes it seem that only you can salvage a bit of the ruins you helped to generate. That's not only the lesson we see on view at firms that tanked in 2008, needed government bailouts to survive, have since managed to pay … [Read more...] about The New Way To Rake It In On Wall Street
Scientific Discovery of 2009 Explains the Economic Crash: Nachrichten of Switzerland
Ardipithecus ramidus What does the economic crisis have to do with Ardipithecus ramidus, the so-called missing link discovered in 2009? According to Patrik Etschmayer of the Swiss newspaper Nachrichten, everything. For Nachrichten, Patrik Etschmayer writes in part: If you find yourself asking again, why the damned economy has collapsed and who you should blame for … [Read more...] about Scientific Discovery of 2009 Explains the Economic Crash: Nachrichten of Switzerland
A Broken Congress
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about A Broken Congress
Officials: Failed Plane Attack Was Attempted Terrorism With Possible Al Qaeda Connection
Federal officials are now saying that a failed attempt by a Nigerian national to light an incendiary device on a Northwest Airlines flight was an attempted terrorist act -- with possible Al Qaeda connections. New details are emerging in a story where when passengers realized the passenger was up to no good, they tackled him. The Washington Post reports: A Nigerian … [Read more...] about Officials: Failed Plane Attack Was Attempted Terrorism With Possible Al Qaeda Connection
A Stunning Achievement
Who knew that Harry Reid had the kind of steel in his spine that it took to get health care reform through the Senate? If anyone had told me a year ago that he would have the fortitude, perseverance, toughness, and sheer guts that it took to pass this legislation against the implacable, uncompromising opposition and nihilistic obstructionism of Senate Republicans, I would have … [Read more...] about A Stunning Achievement
All I Want For Christmas
If you're hard core enough to read a political blog on Christmas day, you deserve a cartoon. … [Read more...] about All I Want For Christmas
Will Dur$t’$ 2009 Xma$ Gift Wi$h Li$t
Will Dur$t’$ 2009 Xma$ Gift Wi$h Li$t Raging Moderate, by Will Durst It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Just ask anybody. Oh, they’ll tell you. Over and over and over again. On the radio, they’ve been pounding it into our heads ever since November 1. That’s when a lot of stations went 24/7 Christmas. And every single one of them went 24/7 Christmas ad nauseam. A … [Read more...] about Will Dur$t’$ 2009 Xma$ Gift Wi$h Li$t
Christmas Day Comedy Classic (Attention Aspiring Comedians and Animated Cartoon Fans) Jack Benny’s Christmas Shopping
Here's a full comedy classic TV episode that is MUST Christmas viewing for the holidays, for famlies, aspiring comedians, cartoon fans, comedians, and for older folks hooked on nostalgia -- but it's value goes far BEYOND nostalgia. The great comedian Jack Benny often did a version of his Christmas shopping show on radio and on TV where he would frustrate clerks in a store with … [Read more...] about Christmas Day Comedy Classic (Attention Aspiring Comedians and Animated Cartoon Fans) Jack Benny’s Christmas Shopping