Reports from Bratislava, Slovakia, today indicate NATO defense ministers support Gen. Stanley McChrystal's recommendations to increase counterinsurgency strategy, nation building and additional troops in Afghanistan. Easy for them to say. More than two-thirds of the 28-country NATO forces totalling 104,000 troops are American and far less than those one-third are involved in … [Read more...] about NATO Ministers Support McChrystal — Easy For Them To Say
Defining the Problem
What's the Obama administration's problem with Fox? asks Joe Klein: … [Read more...] about Defining the Problem
A Long, Melancholy Roar: The Human Most Likely To Cause Your Violent Death Is You
Among those things I am involved with is suicide prevention. A friend in our local coalition forwarded this third and final piece in a fascinating series about predators. The whole series is worth a read, but these final paragraphs are what she highlighted for us: Today, in many parts of the world, the human being most likely to cause your violent death is: you. Yes. You … [Read more...] about A Long, Melancholy Roar: The Human Most Likely To Cause Your Violent Death Is You
Rocking Guantanamo
Life imitates and irritates art as leading musicians join a Freedom of Information suit to discover how loud rock was used as an instrument of torture against Guantanamo detainees. Members of REM, Pearl Jam and Nine Inch Nails want to know details of when and how their work was employed to break down terror suspects, although the CIA insists that the sounds were "not for … [Read more...] about Rocking Guantanamo
Sarah Palin Sides With Conservative Base Against Republican Party Establishment: Backs Conservative Party’s Hoffman
If you had any doubts that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin intends to run for President in 2012 and her upcoming book wasn't enough for you, then here's a second sign: she has sided with the party's conservative activist base against the Republican party establishment to endorse the conservative party's candidate in a closely watched New York state race. The LA Times' Andrew … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Sides With Conservative Base Against Republican Party Establishment: Backs Conservative Party’s Hoffman
The Turkey from Cranberry Township; or, When a Conservative Attacks Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
Guest post by Frankie Sturm Frankie Sturm is communications director at the Truman National Security Project and a free-lance journalist. I work with veterans on a daily basis. Lately, I've been burning the midnight oil as part of Operation FREE, a coalition of veterans groups and national security organizations that are looking to raise awareness about the links between … [Read more...] about The Turkey from Cranberry Township; or, When a Conservative Attacks Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
Welcome To My Own Pledge Central
Now it's time to return to Silverstein Family's Pledge Cental. Mike Silverstein, how are things going over there? A little slow, Sylvia. And frankly, I'm disappointed. We only ask for financial help from our freinds and neighbors five or six times a year. But the phones are pretty quiet now. Can I interrupt you for a second, Mike? Certainly, Sylvia. As Mike has been saying, … [Read more...] about Welcome To My Own Pledge Central
Extensive Public Option: Pelosi Reportedly Can’t Find Votes
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly told the press that she has the votes for a robust public option -- but a report in The Politico contends she has now run into trouble: Speaker Nancy Pelosi counted votes Thursday night and determined she could not pass a “robust public option” — the most aggressive of the three forms of a public option House Democrats have been … [Read more...] about Extensive Public Option: Pelosi Reportedly Can’t Find Votes
Pie Throwing TV Comedian Soupy Sales Dies, 83 (An Appreciation of His Art)
Pie-throwing TV Golden Age comedian Soupy Sales has died at 83 -- one more tidbit of news that signifies an end of an era for Baby Boomers but also the end of a personal story about an entertainer who had a rare gift: he did a show ostensibly aimed at kids that was loved and adored by many teens, college age kids and adults. And his adult fans included some of the biggest … [Read more...] about Pie Throwing TV Comedian Soupy Sales Dies, 83 (An Appreciation of His Art)
Balloon Dad
Gary McCoy, Cagle Cartoons This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Balloon Dad
The Youngest (4 Years Old) Hip Hop Dancer Ever
Just watch this video of 4 Year-Old hip hop dancer Miles Brown on the Ellen Show: Of course hip hop music is popular with ALL ages. Here's a senior choir performing a medley of hip-hop: … [Read more...] about The Youngest (4 Years Old) Hip Hop Dancer Ever
Brain Drain? You’ve got to be kidding.
The newest critique against the Federal Government limiting executive salaries in companies that it has essentially saved from liquidation or in which it holds a major ownership interest, is that it will cause a brain drain of the best people to other companies. I have one response to such a meritless argument: Bullshit. Some of our private sector oligarchs are so … [Read more...] about Brain Drain? You’ve got to be kidding.
MSNBC Calls Jesse Jackson Al Sharpton
I am not saying this is that big of a deal, the script said Al Sharpton and I can easily see where when you are used to reading the words on the page you can make a mistake. We're all human and I've certainly been looking at a friend and for no reason in particular called them by the wrong name. But imagine if this happened on Fox, how would the left have reacted ? … [Read more...] about MSNBC Calls Jesse Jackson Al Sharpton
No Sympathy for the American Devil: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
It would appear from this angry article in Iran's rigidly state-controlled Kayhan newspaper, that when it suits its own interests, the leadership in Tehran condones listening to the music of the Rolling Stones. With allusions to the all-seeing-eye of the Freemasons and a section on how Americans abuse women, this is the regime's latest verbal assault on the United States. … [Read more...] about No Sympathy for the American Devil: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
The Public Option Is Back? This Is News?
Hasn't it been back for weeks now? I mean, I've written several posts about this very thing at TMV, haven't I? Am I hallucinating? … [Read more...] about The Public Option Is Back? This Is News?
We Invaded Iraq and All We Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt
If I hadn't just used this formulation for another post, I would have titled this one, "Dude, Where's My Oil Contract?" … [Read more...] about We Invaded Iraq and All We Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt
Rape Victims’ Hobson’s Choice
The choice: Protect yourself against possible HIV infection, or find an insurer who is willing to sell you a health insurance policy. You can do either one, but not both: … [Read more...] about Rape Victims’ Hobson’s Choice
More Good News To Make You Cry
Statistics, the things economists use to justify their professional existences, haven't always been highly regarded by people who aren't economists. Mark Twain, for example, once noted that "there are lies, damn lies and statistics," with the later being the worst lies of all. To test this view, let's look at the batch of stats that came our way in just today. Leading … [Read more...] about More Good News To Make You Cry
Proof Mike Pence Is Running For President?
There has been increasing speculation that Indiana Rep. Mike Pence is gearing up to run for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination. But we now have proof? It certainly sounds like he is actively bowing down to courting Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. … [Read more...] about Proof Mike Pence Is Running For President?
Of Rogues, Rouge and Rancor
As Joe Windish pointed out earlier, a cadre of villainous progressives are apparently launching a book of their own on the same day that Sarah Palin's memoirs, Going Rogue, will hit the shelves. Titled "Going Rouge," the jacket has an almost identical cover picture of the half term Alaska governor and the only other change to the text is the substitution of "An American … [Read more...] about Of Rogues, Rouge and Rancor