OK, anecdotes don't make up a statistically significant sample. But a collection of anecdotes, well... So yesterday my 19th century US history class discussed the development of the penny press in the mid-19th century. As I've occasionally mentioned here at TMV, I think the pre-Progressive Era press was quite a bit like today's blogosphere. It was hyper-partisan, hyperbolic, … [Read more...] about News flash: Young adults still read newspapers
Resistance
Olle Johansson, Sweden All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Resistance
Biden Remarks About Democrats and 2010 Midterm Elections Likely To Help Republican Fundraisers
They must be popping open the champagne at the RNC's fund raising office today because Vice President Joe Biden has now given them the perfect quote to stick in fundraising letters and in ads for campaign 2010. ABC News reports: Vice President Joe Biden said today that if Democrats were to lose 35 House seats they currently hold in traditionally Republican districts, it … [Read more...] about Biden Remarks About Democrats and 2010 Midterm Elections Likely To Help Republican Fundraisers
Atlanta Flooding Not Over Yet
Some areas in this region of climate change skeptics have received as much as 20" of rain since Friday. Three Interstates are closed. There are detours around detours. There have been six deaths of drivers swept off roads by water. And a 2-year-old was swept out of his father's arms in the rushing current: Just months ago the region was suffering from a massive, two-year … [Read more...] about Atlanta Flooding Not Over Yet
Embracing East Jerusalem
I’ll admit it: I’m afraid of East Jerusalem. The reason isn’t that hard to discern. It wasn’t so long ago that an Israeli Jew who found himself lost in the Arab part of the city could be stoned, pulled out of the car and attacked. These days, though, East Jerusalem is mostly safe and filled with tourists searching for the best kanafeh, a syrup-drenched cheese and dough … [Read more...] about Embracing East Jerusalem
Michael Barone Accuses Liberals of “Stifling Dissent”
Michael Barone, writing at Real Clear Politics, informs us that liberals are not used to dissent, and so are trying to stifle it: … [Read more...] about Michael Barone Accuses Liberals of “Stifling Dissent”
Vietnam Again?
As critics taunt the President about becoming another Jimmy Carter on the economy or Bill Clinton on health care reform, an older generation is haunted by the makings of another LBJ in Afghanistan. General Stanley McChrystal's call for more troops with the or-else warning that our mission "will likely result in failure" is an invitation to follow the Vietnam path that led to … [Read more...] about Vietnam Again?
All Pornography Makes You Gay
This is all over the blogosphere today. It's ridiculous on it's face. Do we agree? The speaker is Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-Okla.) chief of staff Michael Schwartz. His topic is “the new masculinity” in a breakout session at the Values Voter Summit on Saturday. Andrew Sullivan says, "His interlocutor is Pat Fagan, of Heritage, who once described using contraception as … [Read more...] about All Pornography Makes You Gay
Obama’s bids for world esteem and victory in Afghanistan
A misunderstanding of the meaning of victory in asymmetrical wars is a main reason why the US remains stuck in the bloody quick sands of Afghanistan and Iraq. Since military power is unable to deliver a sustainable peace, alternative strategies deserve consideration. As President Barack Obama seeks world esteem for US leadership during top-level talks in New York and … [Read more...] about Obama’s bids for world esteem and victory in Afghanistan
After 9-11, Iraq was Punished for America’s Mistakes: Iraq of Tomorrow, Iraq
Iraqis ponder the impact of September 11 on them. So how were Iraqis feeling on September 11, 2009, eight years after the attacks that led - justifiably or not - to the invasion of their land? Judging by this op-ed from Iraqi magazine Iraq of Tomorrow, the people of the country are anything but grateful for the role America has played in their nation's recent history - … [Read more...] about After 9-11, Iraq was Punished for America’s Mistakes: Iraq of Tomorrow, Iraq
Mission Creep In Afghanistan
To the dismay of our military leaders, President Barack Obama is pulling a Brett Favre in deciding to send more troops to Afghanistan. While weighing a change in strategy by the president , Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal warns that unless he is provided more forces and a robust counterinsurgency strategy, the war in Afghanistan is most likely lost. Today I am filing a … [Read more...] about Mission Creep In Afghanistan
Why Obama is Right to Avoid/Ignore Fox News
Can you blame President Obama for "snubbing" Fox News yesterday? Steve Benen: "Fox News spent months promoting last weekend's right-wing protests in Washington, encouraging viewers to go register their outrage. And during the event itself, the Republican news network went a step further, encouraging the crowd to get louder once the cameras were on." (HuffPo has … [Read more...] about Why Obama is Right to Avoid/Ignore Fox News
Momentum Builds for National Security
Guest post by Frankie Sturm and Matt Rhoades Frankie Sturm is communications director at the Truman National Security Project and a free-lance journalist. Matt Rhoades works on Operation FREE for the Truman Project, where he is an intern. ********** Operation FREE, a coalition of national security experts and military veterans, has been a leading voice in arguing that … [Read more...] about Momentum Builds for National Security
Are Health Insurance Profits Really A Problem?
I often read that health insurance company profits are the major problem in the system and if only insurance was run by an entity without profit motive then things would be OK. This is uh, not the case at all. As NPR notes, insurance profits make up approximately 1% of total health expenditures. By contrast, health cost inflation is averaging 5-8% a year. This means that … [Read more...] about Are Health Insurance Profits Really A Problem?
A Most Unusual Look at the Bush “Self-Correcting” Presidency
This morning’s Op-Ed piece in the New York Times by Ross Douthat will certainly raise a lot of eyebrows, produce a lot of frowns, bring out a lot of smiles and everything in between---and beyond. For the article is a little bit about the good and a lot about the bad and the ugly of a person whom Americans either love, or love to hate. You guessed it; it is about George W. … [Read more...] about A Most Unusual Look at the Bush “Self-Correcting” Presidency
Irving Kristol (1920-2009)
Irving Kristol, father of Bill and one of the founders of neoconservatism, died on Friday at the age of 89. You can find obituaries, among other places, at the Times and the Post, as well as from Robert Kagan (a close friend of Bill and a leading neocon) and John Podhoretz (son of Norman, another founding neocon, at Commentary, one of the key neocon publications). I usually … [Read more...] about Irving Kristol (1920-2009)
Quote of the Day: Barack Obama on News and Blogs
Our political Quote of the Day comes from President Barack Obama on the direction of 21st century America's news media: I am concerned that if the direction of the news is all blogosphere, all opinions, with no serious fact-checking, no serious attempts to put stories in context, that what you will end up getting is people shouting at each other across the void but not a … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Barack Obama on News and Blogs
After the Missile Shield: It’s Time for Kremlin to Bring Itself to Reciprocate – Gazeta of Russia
So the long-rumored deed is done: American has decided that the anti-missile shield, parts of which were to be built in Poland and the Czech Republic - is best set aside for other considerations. When one get's past all the bravado and one-upmanship of foreign affairs, what impact will it have on Russian behavior? This editorial from Russia's Gazeta newspaper, notably owned … [Read more...] about After the Missile Shield: It’s Time for Kremlin to Bring Itself to Reciprocate – Gazeta of Russia
Did Barack Obama Read the Baucus Bill?
Yesterday I took some friendly fire from readers for my dubious response to President Obama's claims to George Stephanopoulos that charging people money if they don't have health insurance was not a tax increase. George broke out the dictionary definition of "tax," which the President blew off. In other areas, people like Steve Benen crowed about how Obama had "schooled" George … [Read more...] about Did Barack Obama Read the Baucus Bill?
More Tidbits From Upcoming Latimer Bush Book
The Huffington Post has some more tidbits from Speechwriter Matt Latimer's new book about his days working for George Bush -- and what went on at the White House. Here are a few tidbits. First the setup: Disclosure: Latimer's bookis officially embargoed until Tuesday. I read it in manuscript form months ago and blurbed it on the back of the book, saying good things … [Read more...] about More Tidbits From Upcoming Latimer Bush Book