Jennifer Rubin of Commentary, reacting to Obama's UN speech: … [Read more...] about The Missing Pillar
Pittsburgh: Capital of Appalachia
As the G20 summit convenes in Pittsburgh this week the story nationally - and internationally - is the stunning reversal of fortune for a city that essentially imploded in the early 1980s. When the steel industry collapsed in Pittsburgh in 1982 the city's population was cut in half and Pittsburghers scoured the nation for work. The horrendous air and water pollution made … [Read more...] about Pittsburgh: Capital of Appalachia
Obama Wimp Factor at the UN
The President spoke to a contentious body of politicians today, asking them to stop bickering and start working together, and was greeted with applause. No one yelled "You lie!" The United Nations, as critics will be quick to point out, is not the US Congress, and this attitude was summed up in a UK Telegraph headline even before the speech: "The UN loves Barack Obama … [Read more...] about Obama Wimp Factor at the UN
Couric’s Salary Is More Than The Annual Budgets of NPR’s Two Top News Shows
At the end of today's Good Morning America story on Gaddafi's tent, anchor Diane Sawyer observed, "I've been in Gaddafi's tent. In Libya. And it's perfumed, you should know." I guess that's why we pay her the big bucks. And perhaps that's what's wrong with television news, says Michael Massing: While doing some recent research on the news business, I came upon this … [Read more...] about Couric’s Salary Is More Than The Annual Budgets of NPR’s Two Top News Shows
Republicans and Governance
Ezra Klein comments today on a new NBC-WSJ poll that, in my view (and Klein's, obviously) suggests some interesting things about the GOP style of governance. Here is the part that he quotes: … [Read more...] about Republicans and Governance
Newspapers’ online salvation: subscribers and multipliers
I hope Nicholas Negroponte at MIT doesn't get mad if I quote two full paragraphs from his 1995 book, "Being Digital." I only do it because 1) I desperately want newspapers to survive their transition from newsprint to digital. Even Barack Obama was talking about that survival over the weekend. There must be a business model, he said. Well, here it is. Here are Negroponte's … [Read more...] about Newspapers’ online salvation: subscribers and multipliers
Market Madness On Steroids
O.K. I'll admit it. I thought the stock market couldn't get any crazier. I was wrong. Forget massively skewed valuations. Forget companies like AIG whose stock has been soaring for no discernible reason. Forget all those terrible earnings reports greeted with joy by traders because they beat analyst expectations, and because of the rosy predictions about the future from the … [Read more...] about Market Madness On Steroids
Sticking Pittsburgh With the G-20 (Guest Voice)
Sticking Pittsburgh With the G-20 by Bill Steigerwald Dear President Obama. We Pittsburghers sincerely hope you enjoy your visit to our beautiful city later this week, when you’ll be chairing the exciting G-20 Summit that you so thoughtfully chose our city to host without finding out whether we could handle it or afford it. But please, Mr. President, don’t think … [Read more...] about Sticking Pittsburgh With the G-20 (Guest Voice)
What Should Obama Do About Afghanistan?
With McChrystal et al. pushing for a significant troop increase -- an irresponsible one, in my view, given that it's not clear anymore what the purpose of the war is -- this comes as something of a pleasant development: President Obama is exploring alternatives to a major troop increase in Afghanistan, including a plan advocated by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to scale … [Read more...] about What Should Obama Do About Afghanistan?
Palin Now Sees China Clearly from Hong Kong Hotel Window
After becoming an expert on U.S-Russia relations during her campaign for the vice-presidency by claiming that Russia could be seen from Alaska, Sarah Palin can now add a second major power to her foreign policy credentials: China. By reading a prepared, major foreign policy speech before a packed ballroom in Hong Kong’s Grand Hyatt hotel, Sarah Palin has now clearly and … [Read more...] about Palin Now Sees China Clearly from Hong Kong Hotel Window
Eric Cantor and Republican “Compassion”
According to Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), if you're sick (even seriously sick, like with cancer) and don't have insurance, you should either look for "an existing government program" or beg for charity. This is what passes for Republican "compassion" these days. You're sick? Tough luck. ********** "No one in this country, given who we are, should be sitting without an … [Read more...] about Eric Cantor and Republican “Compassion”
They’re all a bunch of hypocrites!
A hypocrite is someone other than me! That seems to be a good working definition for most of us. Of course the pious are already distancing themselves from my definition. But they are all a bunch of hypocrites. Seldom, if ever, do we pair the word hypocrite with a first-person pronoun. We all know that we’re not the hypocrites in the room. It’s those other people over … [Read more...] about They’re all a bunch of hypocrites!
Quote of the Day: Glenn Beck “Post Conservative”?
Our political Quote of the Day is from Nate Silver, who adds some perspective on rumblings within the conservative movement (which seemingly has already been split between the descendents of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan and the talk radio political culture conservatives) about talk show host mega-star Glenn Beck: Buried in the cross-tabs of the new NBC/Wall Street … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Glenn Beck “Post Conservative”?
Netflix: Brilliant Innovation or Privacy Violation?
The big tech news Monday was that Netflix announced a winner in its infamous contest to improve the accuracy of its recommendation algorithm, Cinematch, by 10 percent. The $1 million Netflix Prize was offered three years ago. The race ended in a mathematically statistical tie. Under the contest's complex rules the winners beat the second place team by only 23 minutes: The … [Read more...] about Netflix: Brilliant Innovation or Privacy Violation?
German Editorials on the Missile Shield: ‘The Time for Confrontation is Over’ – Financial Times Deutschland
Continuing with our global coverage of President Obama's decision to put an end to Bush-era anti-missile bases in East Europe, this is a German editorial roundup of nine regional newspapers from the Financial Times Deutschland. They are unanimously supportive of ditching the bases. For example, medium-sized newspaper, the Fuldaer Zeitung of Fulda, opines on the president's … [Read more...] about German Editorials on the Missile Shield: ‘The Time for Confrontation is Over’ – Financial Times Deutschland
Kanye West Interrupts Barack Obama (Video)
This just in!! … [Read more...] about Kanye West Interrupts Barack Obama (Video)
The Fox News Target Audience
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about The Fox News Target Audience
Bill’s Boswell, Nixon Shrink, Obama Cool
The mental health of presidents comes to the fore with Taylor Branch's new book about eight years of confessional conversations with Bill Clinton in the White House. In more than 70 hours-long sessions, Clinton poured out his feelings to a journalist/friend, a cathartic adventure that recalls the furtive relationship of Richard Nixon with a therapist that started before his … [Read more...] about Bill’s Boswell, Nixon Shrink, Obama Cool
Afghanistan War Issue Heats Up In U.S. and Europe
The Afghanistan war issue is heating in the U.S. and Europe as the war reaches a fork in the road -- and a decision point about the future: Ron Beasley looks at Obama and Afghanistan against the context of LBJ and Vietnam. Sen John McCain calls for more troops. Obama considers a strategy shift. NRO's Jim Geraghty says the Democrats never really meant what was said … [Read more...] about Afghanistan War Issue Heats Up In U.S. and Europe
Talk Radio Feud: Mark Levin Blasts Glenn Beck
As Bugs Bunny used to say, "Of course you know, this means war!" But this time it's verbal war: it's rising conservative bombastic talker Mark Levin against Glenn Beck. As we noted in this earlier post, Beck is coming under fire now from some conservatives who feel he's bad for the conservative movement. Beck is being seen by some to be a bad image for conservatives and … [Read more...] about Talk Radio Feud: Mark Levin Blasts Glenn Beck