"[Let's] remember we should care about people even after they're born. ..." Alan Grayson, speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives about the recent Harvard study showing that 44,000 Americans die every year because they lack health insurance. … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day
Grassley Amendment to Require Photo ID for Healthcare Voted Down
Roman Polanski Arrest
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Roman Polanski Arrest
NRO’s John Derbyshire Opposes Voting Rights for Women
Derbyshire told Alan Colmes on his radio show today that women should not have the right to vote (emphasis is in original): … [Read more...] about NRO’s John Derbyshire Opposes Voting Rights for Women
Indonesia Toll May Be In Thousands
Word coming in now that the death toll in Indonesia could be in the thousands..... … [Read more...] about Indonesia Toll May Be In Thousands
The Public Option Only Looks Dead (Guest Voice)
EDITOR's NOTE: This column was put on a timer. Due to a technical glitch the PROPER byline that was set up did NOT appear when this first went on the site for the first 90 minutes. Although this does say "Guest Voice" on top, it did NOT show the byline of Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, Jr. It is now fixed. TMV regrets the error. WASHINGTON -- The strangest aspect of … [Read more...] about The Public Option Only Looks Dead (Guest Voice)
Double Standard on Congressman Grayson?
As some of you have probably heard, Florida Congressman Alan Grayson has declared that Republicans want everyone to die quicker because they do not support single payer health care. When asked to apologize he basically refused, instead again attacking the GOP. Now when idiot Republicans like Joe Wilson or Jean Schmidt say stupid and outrageous things, they are quite properly … [Read more...] about Double Standard on Congressman Grayson?
The Good News About Afghanistan Ambivalence
The War on Terror, confusing and anxious-making as it may be, has produced one encouraging side effect in American politics: The gung-ho is gone as all sides concede the military effort in Afghanistan is a dangerous enterprise with an unknowable outcome. As President Obama goes face-to-face with General McChrystal today by tele-conference, the debate over what to do next has … [Read more...] about The Good News About Afghanistan Ambivalence
Hard Truth: Poland Needs America More Than America Needs Us – Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
For those who have been following the European reaction to President Obama's decision to ditch the Bush-era anti-missile shield, you know that the divide between East and West Europe has been stark. This article by Bartosz Weglarczyk of Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza, in very cool-eyed fashion, councils Poles on some down home truths and urges people in that nation to accept the … [Read more...] about Hard Truth: Poland Needs America More Than America Needs Us – Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
Obama’s Odd Olympic Odyssey
Let me begin by saying that I don't really have strong feelings one way or another when it comes to President Obama heading to Denmark to push Chicago for the Olympics. But as the story has developed I've heard some things that do make me wonder about the whole story. When I first heard the reports that he was going to make this trip I assumed it would be for a few days and … [Read more...] about Obama’s Odd Olympic Odyssey
A Cat’s Meow
Where have you heard this before: "We believe that the decision to perform a medical or surgical procedure should be made by the ____ in consultation with their ____." If you filled in the blanks with "patient" and "physician," you were wrong. The correct answer is your cat and veterinarian. In California, it seems the health care debate has spread to cats. … [Read more...] about A Cat’s Meow
Newsmax, the Military Coup Column Call, and Conservatives
Newsmax.com has pulled the column it ran that called for a military coup against President Barack Obama. If you missed this controversy be sure to read THIS POST on TMV, and the debate in comments. But it's important to keep something in mind: not all conservatives agree with the increasingly shrill, escalating rhetoric of demonization -- or view the Newsmax piece as … [Read more...] about Newsmax, the Military Coup Column Call, and Conservatives
A Never Ending Mistake?
Just when you think you couldn't get angrier about the utter stupidity of our military engagement in Iraq, another news item comes along to extend and enlarge the rage. This was a tidbit I ran across this morning in the English version of today's Tehran Times. It reports that the speaker of Iraq's parliament is in Iran now to discuss security cooperation between the two … [Read more...] about A Never Ending Mistake?
Defending Polanski; or, How the Hollywood Left Has Completely Lost Its Marbles
Yesterday, I posted on the truth about Roman Polanski, and this was my conclusion: Whatever you think of the cinema and celebrity of Roman Polanski, it is the truth that should matter most, including the truth about what happened over three decades ago. What is that truth? That he drugged and raped a minor, a 13-year old girl (read the sordid details here). That is … [Read more...] about Defending Polanski; or, How the Hollywood Left Has Completely Lost Its Marbles
Potential for Conflict in a Melting Arctic
Guest post by John Malone John Malone, a VP/Senior Analyst with John S. Herold, an energy investment research firm in Connecticut, is a Truman National Security Project fellow. ********** Given the threats we as a nation have faced since 9/11, it's reasonable to think in terms of how climate change will affect societies that are already under stress – how countries … [Read more...] about Potential for Conflict in a Melting Arctic
Earthquake In Indonesia
Seems the planet is a bit cranky this week. Another massive earthquake, this time in Indonesia, has killed at least 75 people and the toll is likely to exceed 100. In this case the quake was close enough to land that there does not appear to be any risk of tsumani. … [Read more...] about Earthquake In Indonesia
Police Crack Down On Babysitters
Here's the picture, a stay at home mom offers to help out her neighbors by keeping an eye on their kids for the 15-40 minutes between when the parents head to work and the school bus arrives. The kids are all friends, the mom is just trying to be a good neighbor. Well according to the state of Michigan she's a lawbreaker, illegally operating a day care. The fact that she … [Read more...] about Police Crack Down On Babysitters
Obama Rebuilds the Iron Curtain: Romania Liberia, Romania
As this article from the Romanian newspaper Romania Liberia shows once again - the divide between East and West Europe over President Obama's decision to cancel the Bush-era missile shield couldn't be starker. What West Europe regards as a reasoned and rational decision to bring Moscow more into the fold, Eastern Europe regards as naive if not betrayal. For Romania Liberia, … [Read more...] about Obama Rebuilds the Iron Curtain: Romania Liberia, Romania
The Bipartisan Consenus…
for incivility. It reminded me of this: So, at least on incivility, there does seem to be bipartisan agreement in Washington. The pols like it...except when the other party does it. [This is being crossposted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about The Bipartisan Consenus…
Dave and Jenny: New York To New Delhi
My last post took note of American arms sellers camping in New Delhi (see here). This post is about the increasing number of expats/professionals (including Americans) who are making India their home, and feel more than welcome here. Dave Prager and Jenny Steeves (photo above), who arrived in New Delhi from Brooklyn in 2007, say: "Unlike most countries in the world, Indians … [Read more...] about Dave and Jenny: New York To New Delhi