It sounds as if the Democrats are starting to form a circular firing squad over the public option in the health care debate. At a time when the party is losing independent voter support, some progressives are saying public option or political purge. From TPMDC: "If Harry Reid does not have the leadership skills to get 60 votes for cloture and give a Democratic president an … [Read more...] about Public Option Furor: Democrats Form Circular Firing Squad?
My Algorithm Proves You’re Gay!
There is an article in The Boston Globe about an MIT project dubbed Project Gaydar. The pair weren’t interested in the embarrassing photos or overripe profiles that attract so much consternation from parents and potential employers. Instead, they wondered whether the basic currency of interactions on a social network - the simple act of “friending” someone online - might … [Read more...] about My Algorithm Proves You’re Gay!
“So the Years Spin By, and Now the [Girl] Is Twenty”
Yesterday was my daughter's birthday. She is 20 years old. Joni Mitchell's achingly beautiful song "The Circle Game" seemed appropriate (especially as I used to sing it to her when she was younger). I found this lovely alternate version of the song, by Ian McCulloch, at YouTube. I hope you all will indulge me: … [Read more...] about “So the Years Spin By, and Now the [Girl] Is Twenty”
Hypocricy Reaches New Heights
Funny how he was ok with it when he was making money off of them. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20309404,00.html … [Read more...] about Hypocricy Reaches New Heights
N. Korea Abandons Communism
As reported by our friend Dave Schuler at Outside the Beltway, the North Koreans have revamped their constitution and abandoned communism. SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has officially made Kim Jong-il its “supreme leader” and his “military first” policy its guiding ideology, according to the text of the country’s newly revised Constitution made available on … [Read more...] about N. Korea Abandons Communism
114 isn’t a magic number after all
Physicists have produced element 114, which was thought might be relatively stable among the super-heavy elements, but it turns out that it was not. On to 120... --- Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. --- … [Read more...] about 114 isn’t a magic number after all
Democrats Losing Independent Voters: GOP Comeback?
A new Gallup Poll confirms the way it has been trending: Democrats are losing an increasingly large chunk of independent voters to Republicans and are now ahead with that vital group -- with the smallest difference between the two parties among independents since 2005. Which raises the question: Are the Republicans now poised for a comeback? … [Read more...] about Democrats Losing Independent Voters: GOP Comeback?
The National Parks: America’s Best Socialism?
Ken Burns just announced a follow-up to The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. The film is tentatively titled, “The Baldwin Brothers: Not So Much.” Ironically, the Wayans brothers will be doing the voice-overs. “In the late 1900s a boisterous band of Baldwin brothers headed for southern California, packing their Ford Pinto full of hopes, dreams, and hair products. … [Read more...] about The National Parks: America’s Best Socialism?
Swiss ‘Not in America’s Pocket’; ‘Proud’ of Polanski Arrest: Le Temps, Switzerland
Continuing our foreign press coverage of the Roman Polanski saga, this news item from Switzerland's Le Temps reports that an embarrassed Swiss foreign ministry is denying any deal related to the UBS scandal and that the people of Switzerland 'can be proud' that Polanski has been nabbed by Swiss authorities. The article also offers a description of how Polanski's arrest was set … [Read more...] about Swiss ‘Not in America’s Pocket’; ‘Proud’ of Polanski Arrest: Le Temps, Switzerland
Fat, Poor & Sick
Daniel Engber: Being fat can make you poor, and being poor can make you sick, which means that being fat can make you sick irrespective of any weight-related diseases. Fatness (or the lifestyle associated with obesity) also creates its own health problems, regardless of how much money you have—and health problems tend to make people poor, through hospital bills and missed days … [Read more...] about Fat, Poor & Sick
Afghanistan: UN Mission Splits Over Galbraith’s Dismissal
I always admired Prof John K. Galbraith, the US ambassador to India, for his remarkable insight, professionalism and warmth. His son, Peter W. Galbraith, until recently the top American in the UN mission in Afghanistan, appears to have inherited the same wonderful qualities of his no-nonsense dad. Peter Galbraith was fired yesterday after refusing to take part in what he … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: UN Mission Splits Over Galbraith’s Dismissal
The Iraqi Army Diaries (Entry 1)
The Iraqi Army Diaries, Entry 1 (First in a series) By S.D. Liddick In the spring of 2009 I embedded with the U.S. Army’s 1-63 Combined Arms Battalion, in the small town of Mahmudiyah, 20 miles south of Baghdad. The town is a cardinal point on what American soldiers have termed the Triangle of Death. Within a month I was offered a de facto embed spot with the Iraqi … [Read more...] about The Iraqi Army Diaries (Entry 1)
Quote of the Day
"[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