Guest post by Michael Lieberman Michael Lieberman, a Truman National Security Project fellow, is an associate at Steptoe & Johnson LLP in Washington D.C., where he works on international regulatory and compliance issues. He was previously a law consultant at The Asia Foundation. (The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Steptoe & Johnson LLP.) In a … [Read more...] about Climate Change is a Real National Security Threat, Even for a Realist
Around The Sphere
Our linkfest taking you to sites with varying opinions. Is Jenna Bush Being Treated Like Royalty? There were some rumblings about how GWB daughter Jenna Bush is being treated like royalty after she got a non-political gig on ABC's Good Morning America. But as Jules Crittenden points out here such criticism often seems to downplay or ignore the role of the Kennedys as … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere
Daily Kos — Anatomy Of A Bad Poll
For the first time in my life, professional pollsters tracked me down and actually asked my opinion on what they considered vital questions on the state of the union. Naturally, I was flattered. But the conversation went downhill in a hurry. It was a legitimate poll conducted by Pew Research Center of Princeton, New Jersey, and I suspect the woman conducting the poll was a … [Read more...] about Daily Kos — Anatomy Of A Bad Poll
More Good Economic News That Isn’t
I've been an economics and financial writer for 30 years. I used to enjoy my work. I used to take pride in it. The markets were kinky, sure, but that made the writing more fun. And even though a slew of picaresque and flagrantly self-serving characters might for a time generate oddball quirks in markets and even the overall economy, even in the midst of the most extreme bouts … [Read more...] about More Good Economic News That Isn’t
Seventy Years Ago Today The European Phase Of World War II Started
In these days where the word Nazi is being used as a political tool to describe "offenses" that don't even come close to approaching the crimes committed, and when idiot Americans are offering the "Heil Hitler" salute to an elderly Jewish man who disagrees with their politics, we need to remember history. World War II didn't start with the invasion of Poland on September 1, … [Read more...] about Seventy Years Ago Today The European Phase Of World War II Started
The NASA Earth Observing System satellite looks at California wildfires
The view of the smoke from the Station Fire in California from a NASA satellite: Smoke from Station Fire Blankets Southern California --- Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. … [Read more...] about The NASA Earth Observing System satellite looks at California wildfires
Disney Buys Marvel
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Disney Buys Marvel
Who Does Charlie Rangel Think He’s Kidding?
Congress is coming back to "work" this week after their peaceful August sojourns and Nancy Pelosi has a tough decision waiting for her. How will she justify (assuming she does) allowing Congressman Charlie Rangel (D. NY) to continue on as Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means committee? For those who missed it, Rangel has been facing one instance after another of large … [Read more...] about Who Does Charlie Rangel Think He’s Kidding?
Is An iTunes TV Subscription in the Works?
Jordan Golson, responding to Gene Munster's claims — he thinks we’ll see Apple TV by 2011 -- says maybe: Munster also thinks the Mac maker is going to launch a television that wirelessly syncs with your other Apple devices, and predicts an Apple set-top box with TV input and DVR capabilities. Both Chris Albrecht and I think most of that stuff is bunk, but I’m going to … [Read more...] about Is An iTunes TV Subscription in the Works?
Atlanta’s Black Democratic Establishment: Backwards And Clueless
The Associated Press writes yesterday that for the first time in 35 years, Atlanta could elect a white mayor: After 35 years, next Atlanta mayor could be white By ERRIN HAINES (AP) ATLANTA — The city that became a post-civil rights movement emblem of the political power held by African-Americans could have a white mayor for the first time in a generation — a … [Read more...] about Atlanta’s Black Democratic Establishment: Backwards And Clueless
Yes We Can … What?
Team Obama is in full campaign mode, firing off e-mails and organizing events to push ahead for health care reform, but nobody knows exactly where the goal line is. According to the Washington Post, "President Obama's supporters hope to recapture the energy of last year's triumphant election campaign in a bid to regain control of the health-care debate, planning more than … [Read more...] about Yes We Can … What?
Kennedy Election Set, Law May Change
The special election to fill Senator Kennedy's vacant senate seat has been set for January 19th, 2010 (a date which oddly enough was predicted right here at TMV). This would presumably mean special primaries sometime in December (one source cites December 8th), unless the parties go the convention route. Speculation is growing the new Senator could be Joe Kennedy. Also … [Read more...] about Kennedy Election Set, Law May Change
Evidence That Torture Doesn’t Work
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Evidence That Torture Doesn’t Work
Poland and Germany Remember WWII’s Beginning
Poland and Germany mark the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II: … [Read more...] about Poland and Germany Remember WWII’s Beginning
For Annie Leibovitz Even $40 Million In Real Estate Is Not Enough
Errors begin to tell the story... The Independent: In our article, “Annie get your lawyer: Leibovitz sued over $24m loan” [link] (1 August 2009) we quoted an anonymous source who said that Art Capital Group were ‘pretty scary guys, they are predatory lenders’. The article also included a statement from Annie Leibovitz’s publicist that the lawsuit brought by Art Capital … [Read more...] about For Annie Leibovitz Even $40 Million In Real Estate Is Not Enough
Lockerbie: It’s So ‘Touching’ to See a Terrorist Return Home: Folha, Brazil
'HEADWINDS' The fascinating planetary split on whether or not it was correct to release Lockerbie bombing convict Abdul Basset Ali Al-Megrahi continues with this article by columnist Joao Pereira Coutinho who writes for the Brazilian newspaper Folha. For Folha, Coutinho writes in a sarcastic rejoinder to the release: "For 'compassionate' reasons, the Scottish … [Read more...] about Lockerbie: It’s So ‘Touching’ to See a Terrorist Return Home: Folha, Brazil
How to Win the Anti-Torture Debate
Ryan Sager offers a tutorial, the content of which should probably be intuitive but, in the twisted present, is not necessarily so. H/t Patrick Appel. … [Read more...] about How to Win the Anti-Torture Debate
Bob McDonnell No Fan of Gays & Feminists
He's not big on unwed mothers or no-fault divorce either. The Left is having a field day with Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell's law school thesis (PDF) from CBN University. Founded by Pat Robertson and named for his Christian Broadcasting Network, the school is now known as Regent University. TPMMuckraker has the juiciest excerpts and this DNC … [Read more...] about Bob McDonnell No Fan of Gays & Feminists
How The Right-Wing Lost Me
I was born and raised in Orange County, Calif., the hotbed of right-wing political conservatism. As a young reporter on The Tustin News I met and admired James. B. Utt, my congressman and probably the most conservative Republican to ever walk the halls of the House of Representatives. The closest clone to Utt in today's Congress would be Ron Paul. But Utt was a flaming … [Read more...] about How The Right-Wing Lost Me
Shortage of Linguists Hurting U.S. War on Terror. Surprised?
An article in the Washington Times this morning, titled "EXCLUSIVE: Lack of translators hurts U.S. war on terror," caught my attention. Not because it is a surprise that our nation is woefully short of linguists and translators. Not because such shortage does indeed hobble our ability to effectively fight the war on terrorism, especially in the Pakistan-Afghanistan … [Read more...] about Shortage of Linguists Hurting U.S. War on Terror. Surprised?