Over the next seven days I'll either be posting a lot less or posting off and on with several days totally off. The reason: I'm on a major trip, driving through the American West and Northwest. Some drives between major stops entail 1100 mile drives. Sunday through Wed I will drive more than 1200 miles total during three days, ending with an appointment in LA, then driving 3 … [Read more...] about Editor’s Note and The Ailing American Newspaper
Dancing the Tango with The Hammer
Full Disclosure: I didn't like Tom DeLay when he was in politics, I don't like him now, and I probably will never like the man. Sorry! Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I do have a disclaimer: I am not an expert when it comes to dancing. And a caveat: This post contains some satire. If I think of some other proviso, disclaimer, etc., I'll let you … [Read more...] about Dancing the Tango with The Hammer
It Will Soon Be Time For A New New-Deal
First of all, I want to say I'm very glad that unemployment benefits are being (temporarily) extended yet again. I was afraid that with that the recession being "over," there would be political pressure (or laziness) not to, and this bill helps hundreds of thousands of people who were about to see their income dry up. It is crazy to think that many people are about to run … [Read more...] about It Will Soon Be Time For A New New-Deal
Spitting Nails Over Indefinite Detention
One of the negative effects of changes in national security policy during the Bush administration was the advent of "indefinite detention" as a way of handling potentially dangerous terrorists. (Or, in some cases, people who were picked up for being in the wrong place at the wrong time with a name having too many vowels in it.) Out on the campaign trail last year, one of the … [Read more...] about Spitting Nails Over Indefinite Detention
What is the difference between socialism and modern liberalism?
So I just laid out in another post the classically liberal origins of modern liberalism and now a regular commenter at TMV has asked, perceptively, how is modern liberalism different from socialism. Surely socialism also has roots in classical liberalism too, so the common ancestry is of little meaning on its own. So what is the difference between socialism and modern … [Read more...] about What is the difference between socialism and modern liberalism?
Is Extremism Becoming Mainstream?
TPMDC's Eric Kleefeld summarizes findings in a new national survey from Public Policy Polling: The poll found that only 59% of voters believe that President Obama was born in the United States, with 23% saying he was not, and 18% undecided. Among Republicans only, a 42% Birther plurality say he was not born here, 37% say he was, and 22% are undecided. As for the left, check … [Read more...] about Is Extremism Becoming Mainstream?
Charity Begins With Charities (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- If the uninsured can't count on the do-gooders to help them, where else can they turn? The question arises because certain leaders of the sector of our society devoted to civic endeavors moved this week to block a perfectly reasonable way of raising some money to extend health coverage to those who don't have it. At issue is a proposal by a number … [Read more...] about Charity Begins With Charities (Guest Voice)
Obama Overexposed? CNN Poll Says No
In the course of two days, President Barack Obama appeared on a slew of network Sunday interview programs and on Late Night With David Letterman -- begging the question of whether a network would soon offer him his own daily show (bet it won't be Fox). And raising the issue among TV-cable talking heads, new media pundits, talk show hosts and bloggers: Is Obama overexposing … [Read more...] about Obama Overexposed? CNN Poll Says No
Gadhafi Addresses The U.N.
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Gadhafi Addresses The U.N.
Senator Kirk (D-MA) Seems Likely
Now that the Massachusetts legislature has passed the revisions in the law it is looking very likely that the new Senator will be former DNC official Paul Kirk. Governor Patrick still has to do some paperwork to allow him to make the appointment now but that is a mere formality. Update: Kirk has been appointed. … [Read more...] about Senator Kirk (D-MA) Seems Likely
Reclaiming “liberty” for liberals
As I teach my students on a regular basis, modern liberalism and classical liberalism are two different ideologies. Classical liberalism, rooted in John Locke's natural rights theory - all men are created with the right to life, liberty and property - is more akin to modern libertarianism than it is to modern liberalism. So, how did modern liberalism evolve? Does it have … [Read more...] about Reclaiming “liberty” for liberals
ACORN Sues, Frank Condemns
ACORN has sued the activists who caught various ACORN workers seemingly supporting the importation of underage sex slaves. While I long ago gave up on the idea that the people running this group were smart, this is mind bogglingly stupid. If, as in this case, you sue based on reputation then you are basically opening up all of your records to review by the attorneys for the … [Read more...] about ACORN Sues, Frank Condemns
The Missing Pillar
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)