Two polls have suggested that Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman is in the lead in the race for the 23rd Congressional District in the State of New York. The first poll released yesterday, comes out this way: Hoffman with 31.3%, Democrat Bill Owens with 27.0%, and Republican Dede Scozzafava with 19.7%. Twenty-two percent are undecided. The second poll released … [Read more...] about About Doug Hoffman’s Lead
Suicide Bombers Are Better Than Gay Marriage
From a 3 page statement distributed by the local Catholic Archdiocese on the island of Guam in opposition to Bill 185, which would would allow same-sex couples to enter into legal domestic partnerships: The culture of homosexuality is a culture of self-absorption because it does not value self-sacrifice. It is a glaring example of what John Paul II has called the culture of … [Read more...] about Suicide Bombers Are Better Than Gay Marriage
Drug Busts in U.S. Belie the True Danger: El Heraldo, Honduras
Amid the torrent of news, one might have missed one of the largest drug busts in history just days ago - against La Familia - Mexico's most deadly narco-trafficking mafia group. Confiscated by over 3,000 agents from emergency and security services in 19 states were 1,100 pounds of marijuana, 770 pounds of methamphetamine, 138 pounds of cocaine, $3.4 million, 144 weapons of … [Read more...] about Drug Busts in U.S. Belie the True Danger: El Heraldo, Honduras
Harry Potter Dinner Infringes Copyright
Making the rounds in copyleft circles, a Harry Potter themed dinner at a house in West London has been banned by Warner Brothers, because they say it infringes its copyright: Guests would have been led down 'Diagon Alley' by the side of the house and been met by a portrait of the "Fat Lady" who would have demanded a password before they could be let in. But the plans were … [Read more...] about Harry Potter Dinner Infringes Copyright
Peace and Nationalism in the Middle East
Matthew Yglesias has some interesting thoughts on conflicting values for progressives in the Israel-Palestinian conflict: … [Read more...] about Peace and Nationalism in the Middle East
Sublime Compromise to Achieve a Pyrrhic Victory on Healthcare Reform
I predict that the “public option” in healthcare reform will be a completely useless Rube Goldberg concoction in order to please and displease everyone simultaneously. However no one on the left or right should fear it because it will never come into existence even if it written and passed into law. The public plan that will emerge from the joint conference committee … [Read more...] about Sublime Compromise to Achieve a Pyrrhic Victory on Healthcare Reform
California High School Student, 15 Years Old, Gang-Raped for Over Two Hours While a Crowd Watched
UPDATED: This is the most brutal, savage, inhuman crime I have read about it in a long time. In addition to the individuals who were directly involved, a crowd of witnesses gathered to watch for almost the entire time the girl was being raped, and did nothing. According to this CNN report, some of them participated: … [Read more...] about California High School Student, 15 Years Old, Gang-Raped for Over Two Hours While a Crowd Watched
Fashionable racism?
Yesterday, I was flipping through the Brooks Brothers fall catalogue. The catalog tells a story, in which all the models are part of one multi-generational (super-rich, super-WASPy) family. Except for the two black models. These two -- one man and woman -- seem to be married to each another (see page 112, for example). Perhaps they fell in love because of their shared … [Read more...] about Fashionable racism?
Michael Goldfarb’s war on J Street
Michael Goldfarb is not interested in constructive criticism of J Street. What Mike wants is to expose J Street as a fringe, left-wing activist group that only pretends to be pro-Israel to advance it's relativist agenda. So call Mike partisan, but don't forget that partisan critics often make substantive points, regardless of their intentions. And Mike is both very sharp … [Read more...] about Michael Goldfarb’s war on J Street
Lieberman Intends to Filibuster HCR With Public Option
This is what Democrats in Congress get for allowing Lieberman to keep his prestigi0us committee chair assignment. … [Read more...] about Lieberman Intends to Filibuster HCR With Public Option
Expert Quits Afghan Mission And Rattles The Brass
For those of you who believe our mission in Afghanistan is a war of futility as I do then this article in today's Washington Post reaffirms that notion. As you will learn, Matthew Hoh is no peacenik rabblerouser but a seasoned combat Marine, civil engineer and member of an elite Foreign Service team whose resignation shocked the top civilian foreign policy leaders in the … [Read more...] about Expert Quits Afghan Mission And Rattles The Brass
Halloween Horror Movie Salute
With our spookiest holiday just around the corner, as is traditional we'll be having a celebration of the best (and worst!) horror movies on Movie Addict Headquarters today at 4 pm eastern time. Actress Rosemary Gore (pictured here) and Mad Movie Man A.J. Hakari will be joining Betty Jo Tucker and I to review some of the winners and losers of the horror genre. I can always use … [Read more...] about Halloween Horror Movie Salute
UPDATED: Lieberman Threatens; Nelson Undecided; Snow Disappointed
Per a breaking news email from Politico: Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) says he will join a Republican filibuster against the Senate Democrats' health care reform bill unless the public option is removed. More here. From CNN: Also Tuesday, conservative Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska warned that his vote remains uncertain for a bill with a public … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Lieberman Threatens; Nelson Undecided; Snow Disappointed
H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine
Aislin, The Montreal Gazette This cartoon is copyrighted and authorized to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine
Small Business And The Curb Tax
A lyric from an old Blues song goes, "Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die." There's a similar disconnect when it comes to the relationship of government to small business. Every government says it wants to help this critically important sector of the U.S. economy. But in countless ways, year by year, most governments continue to make it more difficult for … [Read more...] about Small Business And The Curb Tax
Health Care’s Heart Failure
As Congress stumbles toward a final deal, the process is a reminder of the disheartening political climate in which we live today. No one will really be happy with the final result. How could they be? In a world where human considerations are swamped by partisan posturing, the bottom line, if anyone can figure out what it is, will not be how much better or worse it makes our … [Read more...] about Health Care’s Heart Failure
Quote for the Day
"This idea that we're suddenly going to establish litmus tests and all across the country we're going to purge the party of anybody who doesn't agree with us 100 percent; that guarantees Obama's reelection, that guarantees Pelosi as Speaker-for-life." -- Newt Gingrich, defending his decision to back GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 special election this year. … [Read more...] about Quote for the Day
A Snapshot of the Health Care Debate
Courtesy of Andrew Sullivan. At the very least, that chart illustrates the trajectory of this individual's journey through the swamp of the health care debate. That chart might also explain "the answer." No need to add to more information if confusion already reins. … [Read more...] about A Snapshot of the Health Care Debate
Why Is The Government Still Ashamed ?
Congress has passed and the President will sign a new hate crimes law named after Matthew Shepard. The law would broaden current laws to include attacks based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender identity or mental or physical disability. Current laws already allow federal jurisdiction over crimes based on race, color, religion or national origin. The bill would also … [Read more...] about Why Is The Government Still Ashamed ?
Google Voice With Your Existing Number
My partner and I use Google Voice as a single number that rings all our phones (home, both mobile and both offices) so that if a friend is trying to find us, one number does it. Because it's another number for friends to learn, it hasn't caught on. Now we can port our existing mobile numbers over to Google Voice. It's not a full port, Google says they're still working on … [Read more...] about Google Voice With Your Existing Number