I have been away for a little while but I have collected my thoughts about a few items that may make you want to hmmm... 1) Memphis is a great city. Beale Street has the best blues clubs in the country. Graceland was interesting but I have a question: Why is U.S. 51 named for Danny Thomas in town but Elvis Presley outside of Memphis? Is the King not good enough to have … [Read more...] about Memphis, Veterans Day, F.B.I. and Matt Stover
Dumping Dobbs: Good News for News
CNN has struck a blow for journalism on cable TV by forcing Lou Dobbs to take his "advocacy" elsewhere. Somewhere between the right-left divide of Fox News and MSNBC, the network has been comparatively fair-minded with the glaring exception of Dobbs, who occupied a unique spot of blowhard wrong-headedness on the political spectrum. When I started blogging in 2006, my … [Read more...] about Dumping Dobbs: Good News for News
2012
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about 2012
Why Beau Biden Should Not Run
There has been considerable speculation that Delaware AG Beau Biden is having second thougths about running for the seat formerly held by his father VP Joe Biden. The speculation grew when Biden attended a major Democratic event but did not, as many expected, announce his candidacy. I think Biden would be wise to pass on the race in 2010. To begin with he would have a … [Read more...] about Why Beau Biden Should Not Run
Joe Lieberman, Hospital Orderly
Taylor Jones, Politicalcartoons.com This cartoon is copyrighted and authorized to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Joe Lieberman, Hospital Orderly
Don’t Let Abortion Destroy Health Care Reform (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- For some years, Democrats have denounced parodies casting their party as utterly closed to the views of those who oppose abortion. Last weekend, Democrats proved conclusively that they are, indeed, a big tent -- and many in the ranks are furious. From the outraged comments of the abortion rights movement, you'd think that Rep. Bart Stupak's amendment to … [Read more...] about Don’t Let Abortion Destroy Health Care Reform (Guest Voice)
Why Should Public Dollars Pay for the Vanity of Old Men?
Digby is fed up with paying for Viagra: … [Read more...] about Why Should Public Dollars Pay for the Vanity of Old Men?
Afghan Flypaper
As Decision Day nears and the President considers four options for Afghanistan, a question hovers over his agonizing: Is it a war or an endless occupation? Will 30, 40 or even 80,000 troops stabilize an unstable country with a corrupt government or, when turmoil persists, stir rage and hatred at Americans for making their people's lives worse? We went in eight years ago … [Read more...] about Afghan Flypaper
The Scozzafava Meme
In all the stories about former GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava and why she pulled out the race, there has developed a certain meme as to why she did not win in a three way race: she was a bad candidate. In more than a few blog posts not only from her detractors, but from those who say they want a more expanded GOP, this meme has stuck and it even has an image, one of … [Read more...] about The Scozzafava Meme
Passings
A couple of deaths today caught my attention Carl Ballantine died at the age of 92. For those not familiar with the name he was a talented comedian and magician that many of us knew from his role as con man Gruber in McHales Navy. He also did a great deal of voice over work and so many knew the voice from cartoons but not the name. The next name was John J. O'Connor III, … [Read more...] about Passings
If War Breaks Out, Venezuela’s ‘Fifth Column’ Will Have to Be Confronted: El Universal, Venezuela
Hold on to your hats! As if there wasn't enough conflict occurring at the present time, the war of words between Colombia and Venezuela seems to be escalating - along with the paranoia. And just as Washington has won permission to open seven military bases in Colombia. This somewhat hair-raising article from Venezuela's El Universal shows just how thorny such a war would be … [Read more...] about If War Breaks Out, Venezuela’s ‘Fifth Column’ Will Have to Be Confronted: El Universal, Venezuela
Keith Olbermann And The Kettle
In a recent broadcast MNSBC reporter/commentator Keith Olbermann attacked the New York Post for reportedly having an agenda to 'get Obama'. According to the broadcast there has been a semi-official policy at the Rupert Murdoch owned newspaper to do all they can to attack the Obama administration. Now to make it clear I'd would like to say that while I've not seen proof of … [Read more...] about Keith Olbermann And The Kettle
Lou Dobbs Leaves CNN
Lou Dobbs surprised everyone when he announced that he is leaving CNN effective immediately. Dobbs has been the longest running anchor at the network but his recent shift from a pure financial reporter into an advocate against illegal immigration upset many at the center-left network. Speculation has been he could end up at Fox but for the time being he has not announced any … [Read more...] about Lou Dobbs Leaves CNN
An Abortion Carried Too Far
I'm facing a moral crises over some fundamental issues regarding health reform legislation. First, I believe a woman has the right to choose an abortion, not the government nor any religious organization. At the same time, I would not encourage my wife to abort our child unless it would save her life. Second, as a policy issue, I have no moral grounds to oppose the Hyde … [Read more...] about An Abortion Carried Too Far
Let’s Save or Create Even More Jobs!
The latest tale of woe regarding administration claims of jobs "saved or created" by the porkulous bill comes to us from Massachusetts. The lede to this story pretty much says it all. While Massachusetts recipients of federal stimulus money collectively report 12,374 jobs saved or created, a Globe review shows that number is wildly exaggerated. Organizations that received … [Read more...] about Let’s Save or Create Even More Jobs!
A Brief Interlude
Stepping away from the politics for a moment, here at Chez' Jazz we had a Mexican dinner tonight, including some sour cream and guacamole as condiments. The small sour cream container was emptied during the course of the meal and my wife decided to allow our tiny schnauzer, Max, a chance at licking it clean before it was thrown away. I suppose what came next was inevitable. He … [Read more...] about A Brief Interlude
Absent from Berlin, Obama Misses Grand Opportunity: Le Figaro, France
'HOPE FOR THE OTHER WALLS' Despite the mind-boggling number of issues he must attend to - was it a mistake for President Obama to refrain from traveling to Germany for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall? According to Le Figaro's chief editorialist, Pierre Rousselin, President Obama not only missed a chance to demonstrate the strength of democracy, he … [Read more...] about Absent from Berlin, Obama Misses Grand Opportunity: Le Figaro, France
Afghanistan: Blame Game instead of Great Game?
Who is to blame that we are not winning in Afghanistan? Karzai, Obama, NATO, the Europeans, or Jimmy Carter again? Afghanistan's President Karzai was criticized a lot lately. Now the Wall Street Journal's Bret Stephens comes to his defense and puts the blame on NATO. He makes the dubious claim that: Matters went abruptly south in Afghanistan after several years in which … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: Blame Game instead of Great Game?
GUEST VOICE: Veterans Day 2009, Military Man Does Not “Honor the Troops,” Rather The Person
This GUEST VOICE piece is by Rafael Jesús González from California, on Veterans' Day 2009. It is a perspective on 'supporting the troops' ...or not. I brought it here to give a small x-ray into how one family's three generations of soldiers is evolving nearly ninety years after what was supposed to have been 'the war to end all wars, World War One' ...GUEST VOICE by Rafael … [Read more...] about GUEST VOICE: Veterans Day 2009, Military Man Does Not “Honor the Troops,” Rather The Person
Questioning Direct Democracy
That's precisely what I did in my latest guest commentary for St. Louis Public Radio, aired yesterday. This missive was originally prompted by my disgust with the recent, seemingly endless flood of anti-stem-cell initiatives in Missouri. Granted, those initiatives -- manifestations of direct-democracy that I oppose -- are only attempting to overturn an earlier … [Read more...] about Questioning Direct Democracy