In 1992 Bill Clinton's campaign was built around the phrase "It's the economy, stupid." That's what voters cared about. Bush One's failure in that realm was what got Clinton elected. In 1993 the newly elected President Clinton came into office and focused on health care reform. His efforts there flopped, and the rest of his presidency pretty much flopped as well. Which … [Read more...] about 1993 All Over Again?
U.S. and Beijing Disagree on Obama’s Chinese Name: Global Geographic Times, China
According to this blog entry from the Web site of China's Global Geographic Times, a U.S. Embassy request that China use a new spelling of Obama's Chinese name has been met with suspicion among that nation's 'Netizens.' So what's in a name, one might ask? For the Global Geographic Times, Scholar Jiang Huai writes in part: "On November 12, officials at the U.S. Embassy … [Read more...] about U.S. and Beijing Disagree on Obama’s Chinese Name: Global Geographic Times, China
TV Review: HBO’s ‘Terror In Mumbai’ (Six Stars out of Five)
There's the cliched phrase: "It's like watching a train wreck." In "Terror in Mumbai," which airs tonight 8 pm ET/PT on HBO, you get to see what no documentary has shown before: a "360 degree view" of a multi-pronged terrorist act, seen partly and genuinely from the terrorists point view. The reason: "Terror in Mumbai" uses actual cell phone instructional conversations … [Read more...] about TV Review: HBO’s ‘Terror In Mumbai’ (Six Stars out of Five)
Daily Show Is Serious About Media Criticism
With Joe Biden Tuesday, Lou Dobbs last night, and Hannity caught faking the news last week*, The Daily Show continues on it's long hot roll. Here's a Poytner look inside the most effective media criticism shop in America: "I feel like there are lot of critics of the government but there are very few critics of the media who have an audience and are credible and keep a watch on … [Read more...] about Daily Show Is Serious About Media Criticism
Meet the New Boss… prizes for Obama donors
No matter what you may have hoped, some things never change. The intro to this Politico piece really tells the whole story. He may have promised to change Washington, but President Barack Obama is continuing one of its most renowned patronage traditions: bestowing prized ambassadorships on big donors. Of the nearly 80 ambassadorship nominations or confirmations since … [Read more...] about Meet the New Boss… prizes for Obama donors
Healing Power Of Indian Curries
On my trips abroad, I have rarely found an Indian restaurant that would satisfy my native taste buds. In the West, there has been a "curry" revolution and its impact has been the most in Britain. However, there is a growing realization that Indian cooking is not just meant to set your tongue on fire or titillate the palate, it actually mixes common sense with the ancient … [Read more...] about Healing Power Of Indian Curries
Health Care: Presidential Popularity vs. Constituent Wishes
The NYT published today a fascinating (and somewhat frustrating) look at health care reform's supporters and detractors in Congress, by FiveThirtyEight's Nate Silver and two co-authors. Their thesis: Critics of the health care reform plan often refer to it derisively as “ObamaCare.” On the policy merits, this is highly questionable: the White House has taken a hands-off … [Read more...] about Health Care: Presidential Popularity vs. Constituent Wishes
Sarah Palin’s Mammoth Book Tour
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s Mammoth Book Tour
More Twisted Than Terrorist
The more we learn about Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the thinner the line stretches between ideology and mental illness, and the more troubling is the question of why, surrounded by psychiatrists, his potential for violence was not sufficiently recognized to remove him from his position as a healer of trauma victims. Yesterday brings a report that "military superiors repeatedly … [Read more...] about More Twisted Than Terrorist
Fox News Airs Misleading Old Footage Again
This time when talking about the crowds Sarah Palin is attracting. (Oops!) … [Read more...] about Fox News Airs Misleading Old Footage Again
ABC Reports C.I.A. “Black Site” Found in Lithuania
This is just incredible: … [Read more...] about ABC Reports C.I.A. “Black Site” Found in Lithuania
The Senate Health Care Bill Has Been Released
The entire text is online. It's 2,074 pages. Via Ron Chusid, who has a reading plan: … [Read more...] about The Senate Health Care Bill Has Been Released
Adam Lambert: Out, But Not THAT Out
"I don't think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear I'm gay... I've been living in Los Angeles for eight years as a gay man. I've been at clubs drunk making out with somebody in the corner. I’m proud of my sexuality. I embrace it. It’s just another part of me." That from Adam Lambert in a Rolling Stone cover story interview shortly after he was named the American Idol … [Read more...] about Adam Lambert: Out, But Not THAT Out
The GOP’s No-Exit Strategy (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Normal human beings -- let's call them real Americans -- cannot understand why, 10 months after President Obama's inauguration, Congress is still tied down in a procedural torture chamber trying to pass the health care bill Obama promised in his campaign. Last year, the voters gave him the largest popular vote margin won by a presidential candidate in 20 … [Read more...] about The GOP’s No-Exit Strategy (Guest Voice)
It’s Time To Lighten Up: With a Classic Pie-Fight
And who better to extricate us (for a while) from the name-calling of modern politics than the Three Stooges (who now seem civilized in comparison): FOOTNOTE: A lot of their work is available on DVD. … [Read more...] about It’s Time To Lighten Up: With a Classic Pie-Fight
New Breast Exam Guidelines
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about New Breast Exam Guidelines
When Bush dithered on Iraq
Jackson Diehl:[After months of deliberation in 2006], no one accused George W. Bush of dithering. So why does Barack Obama keep hearing the taunt as he deliberates about Afghanistan -- and why do even some who sympathize with his dilemma find it hard to shake the feeling that this commander in chief lacks resolve? One part of the answer is easy: Bush was renowned for … [Read more...] about When Bush dithered on Iraq
“You Can’t Vote Against Healthcare and Call Yourself a Black Man”
Geeeesum! Could Jesse Jackson be more insulting with this? The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday night criticized Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) for voting against the Democrats' signature healthcare bill. "We even have blacks voting against the healthcare bill," Jackson said at a reception Wednesday night. "You can't vote against healthcare and call yourself a black … [Read more...] about “You Can’t Vote Against Healthcare and Call Yourself a Black Man”
Sherlock Holmes is on the case
Andrew Sullivan informs his readers that he is taking a brief pause to pore over Sarah Palin's new book:Since the Dish has tried to be rigorous and careful in analyzing Palin's unhinged grip on reality from the very beginning - specifically her fantastic story of her fifth pregnancy - we feel it's vital that we grapple with this new data as fairly and as rigorously as … [Read more...] about Sherlock Holmes is on the case
The netroots eat their own
On Monday, Think Progress trashed liberal pundit Mark Shields for allegedly saying, with regard to Obama's patience on Afghanistan,[It] makes me nostalgic for those days when we had a manly man in the White House who could say, “Let’s kick some tail and ask questions afterwards” you know? That’s what we really need instead of any reflection.Kevin Drum read TP's post and … [Read more...] about The netroots eat their own