Okay, here's what I really think about President Obama's strategy to fight al Quada in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It sucks. It is a short-term approach that in the end will not improve our national security. The president makes a good case for a stable, self-governing Afghanistan. That's wishful thinking. He failed to convince me how that will translate to a more stable … [Read more...] about Obama’s Folly
Should Dick Cheney Run in 2012?
In his most recent editorial, Newsweek's Editor Jon Meacham poses "Why Dick Cheney should run in 2012." After dismissing the expected "rolling of their eyes dismissively" and warning Liberals not to spit out their lattes, Meacham explains that he is serious about a Dick Cheney bid for the presidential nomination in 2012, as such a run would be "good for Republicans and good … [Read more...] about Should Dick Cheney Run in 2012?
UPDATED: NY Senate Votes NO on Gay Marriage This Afternoon
UPDATE 3 PM ET -- Gothamist: ...the New York State Senate voted 38-24 against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill was finally brought to the floor for an up or down vote today after overcoming legislative roadblocks from opponents. During the emotional debate, one of the bill’s sponsors, State Senator Thomas K. Duane of Manhattan, who is gay, said, "This … [Read more...] about UPDATED: NY Senate Votes NO on Gay Marriage This Afternoon
Sleeping through Skipped Formalities
Nearly a year after President Obama took office, I'm still more positive than negative on his decisions, and of the times I've been negative, the subjects of concern have often amounted to little more than a passing annoyance. Take the Nobel Peace Prize, for instance. Though it's old news, the Prize will not be formally awarded to the President until next week. When … [Read more...] about Sleeping through Skipped Formalities
Using GoogleWave To Engage The Public
The SeattleTimes tried an experiment Monday. It created a public Wave (pdf) to share information about the Sunday shooting of four Pierce County police officers. Here are some tips if you are considering GoogleWave* as a platform for engaging the public. … [Read more...] about Using GoogleWave To Engage The Public
Divorce Ban In California
A man in California wants a ballot measure to ban divorce. His basic point is that if you banned same sex marriage to 'protect traditional marriage' then should you not also ban divorce, since it leads to the breakup of 50% of traditional marriages. An interesting point I think, even if the measure won't go anywhere. … [Read more...] about Divorce Ban In California
Howard Dean isn’t Helping
According to Ezra Klein, Howard Dean, once thought to be a leading health-care guru in the Democratic Party, thinks that "this bill is worthless and should be defeated" -- if it doesn't include a public option. Like Ezra, and as I've written here many times, I'm a supporter of the public option and want Democrats to push for its inclusion, preferably in a robust form. But … [Read more...] about Howard Dean isn’t Helping
Tiger Woods ‘Profound Apology’ For ‘Transgressions’
The full statement from his website, Tiger comments on current events: I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those … [Read more...] about Tiger Woods ‘Profound Apology’ For ‘Transgressions’
Thoughts on Obama’s Afghanistan Speech
As expected, it was an admirable speech (transcript), regardless of the questionable content, but, then, we've come to expect such lofty rhetorical flights from Obama. The tone was serious, which it had to be, and, on the whole, the president made his case effectively, I thought. But do we buy the case? I do not. In making the case for war, Obama sounded at times a lot … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Obama’s Afghanistan Speech
Obama’s Afghanistan Plan: Recipe for Success or Political and Military Failure?
No matter how you slice it, President Barack Obama's announcement last night that he will order another 30000 US troops to Afghanistan is a historical turning point. The question is: which way will it turn? Is it the recipe for success, or political and military failure? One thing for sure: it is a political and military obstacle course with myriad paths that can lead to … [Read more...] about Obama’s Afghanistan Plan: Recipe for Success or Political and Military Failure?
Some Useful Wall Street Definitions
These days many people are confused by economic reports for a very simple reason: The terms employed by pundits don't comport well with their traditional meanings. So here's a dozen updated definitions that will allow you to better understand what's been going on in the markets. Economic Recovery — A period when things get worse more slowly between two periods when they get … [Read more...] about Some Useful Wall Street Definitions
Obama’s Change
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obama’s Change
Supporting the President in a Time of War
I am not one who believes that criticizing presidential war policy gives you a big fat F on the litmus test for patriotism. But the high-profile bloggers and media pundits on the far right certainly adhere to that belief. Or at least they did adhere to it, throughout the eight years of the Bush presidency. … [Read more...] about Supporting the President in a Time of War
The Fallacy of ‘Waiting Us Out’
I made brief mention of this in my earlier response to the Obama Afghanistan speech but I wanted to expand upon an important point in the current debate over counterinsurgency policy. The common critique among Republicans is that by broadcasting a withdrawal date we have simply given the Taliban a chance to "wait us out" and then re-emerge after July 2011 comes to pass. Forget … [Read more...] about The Fallacy of ‘Waiting Us Out’
Blue Dog Tanner To Retire
Democrat Blue Dog John Tanner of Tennesse has unexpectedly announced he will retire in 2010. This is the second retirement (the other being Dennis Moore of Kansas) of a Blue Dog Democrat in a marginal district and thus will likely present the GOP with a pickup opportunity. UPDATE: State Senator Roy Herron is going to run. I agree the race leans to the Democrats but … [Read more...] about Blue Dog Tanner To Retire
Near Tie In Atlanta, Recount Likely
The runoff for mayor of Atlanta appears headed for a recount. With 98% of the votes counted, Kasim Reed, an African American state senator holds a 758 vote lead over white businesswoman Mary Norwood. This race had attracted attention because it was thought Norwood would become the first white mayor in many years. At this point the results are so close that a recount is … [Read more...] about Near Tie In Atlanta, Recount Likely
Full Video of President Barack Obama’s Afghanistan Policy Address
Here is a video of President Barack Obama's complete address on his Afghanistan war policy: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy UPDATE: Here's the full text of Obama's speech. UPDATE II: What Obama told reporters earlier in the day at lunch. … [Read more...] about Full Video of President Barack Obama’s Afghanistan Policy Address
The Obama Doctrine, Like It Or Not
On the banks of the Hudson River at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point the country and world heard spelled out the Obama Doctrine by the nation's commander-in-chief. Kill al Qaeda who murdered more than 3,000 innocent civilians on Sept. 11, 2001, render the Taliban impotent by increasing our troop levels, improve the Afghan security forces and support Pakistan's … [Read more...] about The Obama Doctrine, Like It Or Not
The Clock Is Running Mr. President
With all of the very effective pre-speech leaks there wasn't a whole lot of surprise in the speech tonight but as I listened to it I did have a few thoughts. Overall I do support the combined goal of stabilizing the government in Afghanistan and then getting our troops out of there as quickly as possible. Based on what he said that seems to also be the goal of the President but … [Read more...] about The Clock Is Running Mr. President
Flawed tactics
The President's tactics were flawed. It was a good idea, positioning himself as commander on the stage at West Point, as if he were announcing an order of battle in Afghanistan to the 4,600 cadets, which they would have understood and appreciated. But the President had to make it a policy speech, too, and it was not at all a good idea to ask the cadets, at the end of a typical … [Read more...] about Flawed tactics