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
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