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
Vevo is Live. Now?
UPDATE: The morning after and the site is live. But slow and buggy.... Mashable says so, "YouTube and Universal have just flipped the switch and VEVO is now live." But all I'm getting is the blog with a promise of "Launching Tonight! In the meantime, enjoy reading our blog." So which is it? Or what is it? NewTeeVee: Taking a page out of Hulu CEO Jason Kilar’s playbook, … [Read more...] about Vevo is Live. Now?
Poll: December 2009 Finds Obama and Democrats Weakening
A new poll finds yet more bad news for President Barack Obama and the Democrats, as the White House starts to show signs of defensiveness. When a politician or partisans of either party blast polls that don't make them look good -- trust us, on this one -- it isn't being done with a pristine intent to improve the pollster's methodology. The latest via McClatchy Newspapers: … [Read more...] about Poll: December 2009 Finds Obama and Democrats Weakening
More Breaking News on Health Care
UPDATE BELOW More breaking news on health care: Keith Olbermann just reported a deal in the Senate worked out by the so-Called "Gang of Ten" (it's five conservative Democrats and five progressive Democrats that got together to work on the public option). Here it is: In exchange for dropping the public option, the conservatives have agreed to a Medicare opt-in program that … [Read more...] about More Breaking News on Health Care
Afghanistan: Poland Should Remain ‘Until the End’ – Rceczpospolita, Poland
Continuing with our coverage of NATO reaction to President Obama's Afghanistan troop surge, this article from Poland's Rceczpospolita demonstrates more determination to continue to assist the United States than we've seen from newspapers in any other U.S. ally - barring, perhaps, Great Britain. But along with a staunch statement in support for the Alliance, the article also … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: Poland Should Remain ‘Until the End’ – Rceczpospolita, Poland
Send In the Health-Care Clowns
As the public option starts to morph into an expansion of Medicare and Medicaid in the main tent, two Senate buffoons, Harry Reid and Joe Lieberman, are stepping up their side shows in the health care circus. The Majority Leader is dragging slavery and woman's suffrage into the debate by invoking them as precedents for Republican resistance: "When this country belatedly … [Read more...] about Send In the Health-Care Clowns
Eating Crow With Tiger Woods
To prove how much I know and how much pull I have in the national media, I wrote a column last Wednesday headed "Leave Tiger Woods Alone." All I can say is that I still cling to that notion. That Tiger Woods' private life is none of our damned business. Well, it is now, thanks to TMZ, several dozen or so scarlet ladies and every media outlet on the planet. The avalanche of … [Read more...] about Eating Crow With Tiger Woods
Health Care In Trouble In Senate
As reported by Kathy, the Senate has voted to table the Nelson amendment on abortion. The vote was 54-45 with seven Democrats voting no and two Republicans voting yes. I think this signals serious trouble for the health care bill in the Senate. A 54-45 vote will not get you past the 60 votes needed for cloture and two of those yes votes were Snowe and Collins, both of which … [Read more...] about Health Care In Trouble In Senate
The Ayes Have It
The Senate has just voted, 54 to 45, to table the Nelson/Hatch amendment. It's dead. … [Read more...] about The Ayes Have It
More Happy Talk On Jobs From Obama
President Barack Obama outlined his proposals today to create jobs and make homes more weather resistant. Excuse me, Mr. President, but what you addressed at the Brookings Institute was happy talk. First, what he proposed. In addition to proposing a tax cut for small businesses to encourage hiring, he called for eliminating capital gains on these businesses for one year … [Read more...] about More Happy Talk On Jobs From Obama