The Democrats in Congress and the Administration are aghast that the health insurance lobby has announced their subtle dismay with the Baucus proposed healthcare reforms. Big Insurance's financial experts project that these reforms may increase health insurance costs to the majority of insured Americans even faster than originally projected without reforms. They cite the … [Read more...] about HEALTH INSURANCE LOBBY MAY BE ONTO SOMETHING
Obama to Shift Focus Away from Taliban (Guest Voice)
Obama to shift focus away from Taliban by Jon Wells Pick your preferred source on this one, whether it's the AP or the Times of London. The Obama administration appears to be headed down a course that would see the focus of military operations in Afghanistan shift away from fighting the Taliban toward simply hunting al-Qaeda. During the shift the administration is … [Read more...] about Obama to Shift Focus Away from Taliban (Guest Voice)
The Passion of President McCain
If the election had gone the other way, Americans would have been spared all this doubt and deliberation about the Middle East. Asked whether adding 10 or 20,000 troops for Afghanistan would suffice, John McCain tells CNN it would be "an error of historic proportions" not to meet Gen. McChrystal's request for 40,000 or more. If Barack Obama were as sure of anything as … [Read more...] about The Passion of President McCain
Prizing Peace on the Home Front (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- It is a sign of our weird political moment that the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama will probably hurt him among some of his fellow citizens. His opponents are describing the award as premature. The deeper problem is that the Nobel will underscore the extent to which Obama is a cosmopolitan figure, much loved in European capitals because … [Read more...] about Prizing Peace on the Home Front (Guest Voice)
Revenge of the Girthers
David Broder asks an important question in the Washington Post which should cause us all to ask how we evaluate political "figures" on their own merits. Call it, if you will, a result of the law of unintended consequences falling out from the current health care debate. As we focus on exactly how much health care money is spent on treating the negative consequences of obesity … [Read more...] about Revenge of the Girthers
What the Norwegians were thinking
The President's reaction to winning the Nobel Prize was to say he will "not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments." Presidents rarely refuse to take credit for any sort of achievement, so I won't give Obama a hard time. What's more interesting is how the Prize committee framed its decision: Agot Valle, a Norwegian politician and member of the committee, said … [Read more...] about What the Norwegians were thinking
Van Gujjars: India’s Troubled Nomadic Tribe
Van Gujjars are India's legendary & colorful nomads, mostly Muslims, tending to their buffaloes in the green pasture land in the Himalayas or its foothills. Their entry into forests, their abode for centuries, is now being increasingly blocked in the name of environmental protection. The New York Times brings this poignant story alive in a beautiful photo-essay Showcase: … [Read more...] about Van Gujjars: India’s Troubled Nomadic Tribe
A Study in Contrasts
Earlier today, TMV's Jack Grant chose Dr. Steven Taylor's commentary on the value to Americans of being admired by the rest of the world rather than disliked. … [Read more...] about A Study in Contrasts
Thousands March For Equality In Washington
In case you were not aware, today is National Coming Out Day and the event is being marked by a large Gay Rights rally in Washington DC (check out C Span for live coverage). Thousands of people have marched through the streets of Washington and are now at the US Capitol building. This is one of the largest gay rights events in many years and the speakers are encouraging … [Read more...] about Thousands March For Equality In Washington
Frank Rich on Afghanistan and the Three Amigos
Although I have written a couple of commentaries on the Afghanistan war, mainly illustrating the complexity of that conflict, I will be the first one to admit that I am by no means an expert on that issue and that I have no relevant suggestions on how to proceed. The real experts are hard at work, hopefully to come up with a successful strategy, corresponding troop levels, … [Read more...] about Frank Rich on Afghanistan and the Three Amigos
The Norwegians ‘Got Carried Away’ with Obama: Dagens Nyheter, Sweden
So what do the Swedes - the custodians of every other Nobel Prize - think of the Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision to award the Peace Prize to President Barack Obama? This editorial from Sweden's Dagens Nyheter says in part: "That the Norwegians got carried away with euphoria over Obama's election is understandable, but that doesn’t make their decision any more … [Read more...] about The Norwegians ‘Got Carried Away’ with Obama: Dagens Nyheter, Sweden
No Bush Nobel
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about No Bush Nobel
In Washington, Revolving Doors are Bad for Your Health (Guest Voice
In Washington, Revolving Doors are Bad for Your Health by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship On Tuesday, October 13, the Senate Finance Committee finally is scheduled to vote on its version of health care insurance reform. And therein lies yet another story in the endless saga of money and politics. The majority of Americans favor a non-profit alternative - like Medicare … [Read more...] about In Washington, Revolving Doors are Bad for Your Health (Guest Voice
Adoption: An Overlooked Crisis (Guest Voice)
Adoption: An Overlooked Crisis by Michael Reagan As our health care system is debated in Congress and we continue to face down pro-choice challenges in the bill, I want to take the time to remind all of us of another vulnerable segment of our population. This is one area in which we should be in full agreement, but still one we too often overlook: the thousands of … [Read more...] about Adoption: An Overlooked Crisis (Guest Voice)
Democrats Poised To Lose New Jersey and Virginia Governor’s Races
The latest -- and biggest -- political news is that the Democrats now seem poised to lose governor's races in two key states, losses that will mean the old conventional political wisdom will be tossed out and the new narrative will be how the Democrats have seriously lost independent voter support and how the GOP's hopes of regaining power soon are no longer perceived as … [Read more...] about Democrats Poised To Lose New Jersey and Virginia Governor’s Races
Quote of the day
From Steven Taylor, who is not known as a fan of liberal causes: Look, I have already stated my incredulity at Obama winning the prize after so short a period of time on the world stage, but the fact of the matter is, it is actually in the national interest of the United States for its president to be liked and respected within the international system. I am not talking ponies … [Read more...] about Quote of the day
Both Sides, Now
UPDATE BELOW: So, in the 36 hours or so since the world found out that Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, we have been reading, hearing, talking, and writing about the seemingly near-universal feeling of disbelief, leading to various degrees of displeasure for many, that he was nominated for the award only two weeks after he was inaugurated, and won it after only nine … [Read more...] about Both Sides, Now
Is Obama’s Nobel Just to Repudiate George W. Bush?: Corriere della Sera, Italy
Americans aren't alone in thinking that President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize was nothing more than a West-European rejection of the polices of President Bush. For Italy's Corriere della Sera, columnist Franco Venturini gives vent to his fear that this Nobel may have ben erroneously awarded: "If not an indictment of his predecessor, what is this Nobel for Barack Obama, which … [Read more...] about Is Obama’s Nobel Just to Repudiate George W. Bush?: Corriere della Sera, Italy
Who Nominated Obama?
After being bombarded with spin, stonewalling and lies, it doesn't take long for a journalist to become a cynic. Skepticism grows along with a thick skin and a demeanor where one needs to ask the tough questions. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. If not the journalist, then whom? In my column yesterday questioning the merit of President Barack Obama winning the Nobel … [Read more...] about Who Nominated Obama?
Um, Why Don’t You Call Oslo and Ask the Nobel Committee, Chip?
Yesterday's White House presser was consumed with questions about the Nobel Committee's decision to award the Peace Prize to Pres. Obama. Absolutely nothing unexpected or untoward about that, of course. But one reporter's line of questioning was, shall we say, a bit over the top? Bizarre might be a better word. If you've watched these briefings before, you will not be surprised … [Read more...] about Um, Why Don’t You Call Oslo and Ask the Nobel Committee, Chip?