The entire world is puzzling over the mortifying attack by U.S. Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan on his fellow soldiers. According to Luis Lema of Switzerland's Le Temps, whatever was going through his head - the lessons learned will not be encouraging. For Le Temps, Luis Lema seems to agree with Senator Joe Lieberman that the act was one of terror when he … [Read more...] about A ‘Double Lesson’ at Fort Hood: Le Temps, Switzerland
When A Boy Wears A Skirt to School
The NYTimes asks Can a Boy Wear a Skirt to School? But the story finds they already are. From this paragraph you'd almost think it's a southern phenomenon: Last week, a cross-dressing Houston senior was sent home because his wig violated the school’s dress code rule that a boy’s hair may not be “longer than the bottom of a regular shirt collar.” In October, officials at a high … [Read more...] about When A Boy Wears A Skirt to School
How the Tea Partiers Enhance the Crist – Rubio Battle
The Club for Growth has fired the next shot in the expected Republican civil war between hard line conservatives and candidates they find too milquetoast and moderate for their collective tastes. It came in the form of their long expected endorsement of Marco Rubio to be the next Senator from Florida. Analysts are already lining up to draw comparisons between this race and the … [Read more...] about How the Tea Partiers Enhance the Crist – Rubio Battle
Fall of the Berlin Wall: Of Tyranny, Jubilation…and Graffiti
Exactly 20 years ago today, the infamous Berlin Wall "came down." It would still be weeks and months before the monstrous construction would be actually torn down. However, the symbolic, emotional---and practical---impacts of that night 20 years ago were real, are still with us and are vividly remembered. The following article appeared today in the Austin … [Read more...] about Fall of the Berlin Wall: Of Tyranny, Jubilation…and Graffiti
Goldman Sachs CEO: “I’m Doing God’s Work”
There is an article in The Times that truly must be read and put in a time capsule so future generations will be able to get a glimpse of our current society. Focusing on interviews with several top Goldman execs, it is part self justification, part mock hagiography and part, "Let them eat cake." And that's not even including the threats! The "God's Work" line is in … [Read more...] about Goldman Sachs CEO: “I’m Doing God’s Work”
Iran Charges 3 American Hikers With Espionage
In what is bound to be seen as another step in Iran's increasingly deteriorating relations with the United States, Iran has charged 3 American hikers with espionage: Iran's official news agency, IRNA, reports three detained U.S. citizens have been charged with espionage. Tehran's general prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi said Monday that investigations are continuing. … [Read more...] about Iran Charges 3 American Hikers With Espionage
Don’t Mess with Madam Speaker
Love her or not -- and I'm in the "not" category, most of the time -- Speaker Pelosi's legislative maneuvering on the House health care bill was impressive. See the second item at First Read, h/t Ben Smith. … [Read more...] about Don’t Mess with Madam Speaker
Report: U.S. Intelligence Agencies Knew Hasan Was Trying To Contact Al Qaeda
ABC News reports that U.S. military officials were aware that the shooter in the Fort Hood masscre had was trying to get in touch with people associated with Al Qaeda -- a report that, if true, has a host of implications on the military, homeland security and political fronts: U.S. intelligence agencies were aware months ago that Army Major Nidal Hasan was attempting to … [Read more...] about Report: U.S. Intelligence Agencies Knew Hasan Was Trying To Contact Al Qaeda
Walls after 1989
Paresh Nath, The Khaleej Times, UAE This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Walls after 1989
Geithner Sides With Wall Street — Again
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner did something the other day that not only perfectly reveals his economic priorities (and those of the Obama Administration), it suggests the still very shaky state of some of our biggest banks. He put the kibosh on a proposal for a so-called "Tobin Tax" — named for the Nobel laureate who originally proposed it — a tax on stock sale … [Read more...] about Geithner Sides With Wall Street — Again
Our Veterans: “Here’s to the Heroes”
This one needs no commentary. Just turn up the volume and open up your hearts. … [Read more...] about Our Veterans: “Here’s to the Heroes”
How Many Years Make Up a Political Eternity?
Chris Cillizza suggests the answer is somewhere around a half century, as illustrated by a timeline map of presidential and congressional elections, 1960-2008, put together by Cillizza's WaPo colleagues. Of their work, he writes: Need a shocker? Compare the map that elected Jimmy Carter president in 1976 -- a solidly Democratic south counterbalanced by a solidly Republican … [Read more...] about How Many Years Make Up a Political Eternity?
Our Veterans: Harvard University Honors its Heroes
This is the third in a series of articles honoring our Veterans on the occasion of the upcoming Veterans Day celebration. I have frequently written about the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military award for valor in combat, and about its recipients. This Veterans Day gives Americans another opportunity to remember and thank all those heroes who have received that … [Read more...] about Our Veterans: Harvard University Honors its Heroes
Lodestar Lieberman
In moments of crisis, Gail Collins writes in the New York Times, "I generally recommend looking to see where Joe Lieberman is going. Then head the other way." Such wrong-way reliability, which has made Lieberman a lodestar for the anxious and confused, delivered two gems yesterday--on the Ft. Hood massacre and health care reform. As investigators conclude that the … [Read more...] about Lodestar Lieberman
Murdoch On Google, Copyright and Pay-To-View
In an interview with SkyNews Australia, Rupert Murdoch continued to insist that Google (and other search engines) are "stealing" his content and that newspapers should never have "given away" their content for free. And he hinted that News Corp. would soon block search engines from indexing their web sites and would successfully challenge the "fair use" of links in court. … [Read more...] about Murdoch On Google, Copyright and Pay-To-View
When Voters Disrupt the Tea Party (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Here's a story you may have missed because it flies in the face of the dreary conventional wisdom: When advocates of public programs take on the right-wing anti-government crowd directly, the government-haters lose. This is what happened in two statewide referendums last week that got buried under all of the attention paid to the governors' races in … [Read more...] about When Voters Disrupt the Tea Party (Guest Voice)
It Was Twenty Years Ago Today
Today marks the 20th anniversary of one of the seminal moments of the 20th century as the Berlin Wall fell. This event marked the beginning of the end for not only the Warsaw Pact but also the collapse of the Soviet Union. For those readers who were not alive at the time I am not sure if you can fully comprehend the incredulity of the moment. For forty years the East and … [Read more...] about It Was Twenty Years Ago Today
Lieberman’s Ego and Cao’s Conscience
Formerly Democratic, now Independent, Sen. Joseph Lieberman formally and officially confirmed to Chris Wallace this morning that his conscience requires him to vote no on health care reform when a bill reaches the Senate floor kill health care reform by joining a Republican filibuster to prevent the Senate's health care reform bill from ever getting to the floor for a vote: … [Read more...] about Lieberman’s Ego and Cao’s Conscience
Our Veterans: She Almost “Touched the Face of God.”
This is the second in a series of articles dedicated to our Veterans. According to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, Veterans Day is a day to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Of course, every man or woman who has honorably served our nation in the military is a patriot and is … [Read more...] about Our Veterans: She Almost “Touched the Face of God.”
The Affordable Health Care for America Act
Yes, it's an historic achievement: … [Read more...] about The Affordable Health Care for America Act