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
Threading the needle
Let me first echo David Adesnik's remarks on President Obama's Afghanistan speech. The moral basis for action was clear from the beginning, and Obama proclaimed American supremacy with more robustness than he has ever done before. The obvious point of debate is the 18 month withdrawal order. Adesnik rightly questions just how fast this withdrawal will take place. My sense … [Read more...] about Threading the needle
Code Pink responds to Obama
As if you need me to say what I think about this. Almost the equal of MoveOn's "General Betray-us". Original image here. Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about Code Pink responds to Obama
New Guidance from Washington on “Underwater” Homes
While everyone is understandably focused on Afghanistan, health insurance reform, Dubai, and Tiger Woods driving ability, the Treasury Department quietly released rules that may have an impact on house sales near you. Specifically, the new rules will apply to "short sales", where the home is not worth what is owed on it, so the bank will end up "short" money at the end. … [Read more...] about New Guidance from Washington on “Underwater” Homes
Live-blogging the speech (plus wrap-up)
Live-blogging below. Bottom line here: The President was crystal clear about why we are sending more troops to Afghanistan. We were attacked on 9/11. If the Taliban take back Afghanistan, Al Qaeda will come back with them. America's security is directly at stake. Right now, we only have enough troops for a stalemate, not for success. How will our military strategy … [Read more...] about Live-blogging the speech (plus wrap-up)
Five officers murdered in one month
In one month’s time five officers have been murdered in Washington, my home state. Would you join me in a moment of silence. . . Not a prayer, nor a recollection, but an actual moment of silence. Five officers have been murdered and there is nothing we can do to change this horrible reality. We can weep, we can rage, we can blame, and we can accuse, but nothing will make … [Read more...] about Five officers murdered in one month
Pakistan Cannot Allow American Surge Along its Border: The Nation, Pakistan
As the world awaits the President's new Afghanistan strategy, the government of Pakistan appears to be throwing down the gauntlet in the event of an Obama "surge." This editorial from Pakistan's The Nation warns that a buildup of U.S. troops along the Pakistan border would be bad for the United States, bad for Afghanistan, and nearly catastrophic for Pakistan. The … [Read more...] about Pakistan Cannot Allow American Surge Along its Border: The Nation, Pakistan
Right or Wrong, This is to Be Admired About What Obama Announces Tonight
In the epilogue to his book, Presidential Courage, Michael Beschloss recalls that five years before being elected President, John Kennedy lamented that US politics had become "so expensive, so mechanized and so dominated by professional politicians and public relations men...[And further, because of] the tremendous power of mass communications, any unpopular or unorthodox … [Read more...] about Right or Wrong, This is to Be Admired About What Obama Announces Tonight