Headline writers for newspapers and the larger Internet websites have the power to sell, taint, cajole, tease and distort the writer's works in order to lure the reader to take the bait. I took the bait, hook, line and sinker this morning from the following headline on MSNBC's web page: WHY OBAMA WISHES HE WERE KING Or at the very least, he wishes he were Mel … [Read more...] about Extra! Extra! Now Read This
Equal Moral Rights For All?
Around the country they're debating the "moral right" of doctors to refuse certain kinds of care, and the same right of pharmacists to do the same thing when it comes to filling prescriptions. But the whole question here strikes me as kind of silly. I mean, if you're a pacifist, it's obvious you shouldn't join the Armed Forces where you might be called upon to kill somone. If … [Read more...] about Equal Moral Rights For All?
Should Russians Praise or Curse ‘Those Treacherous Yankees’?: Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia
Continuing with our global coverage of President Obama's decision to scrap Bush-era missile shield plans for Eastern Europe (more from Poland, Germany and France later this evening), we just posted something by Alexander Golz of Russia's Yezhednevniy Zhurnal that is likely to surprise many American cable news viewers. What people of the neocon persuasion are calling the … [Read more...] about Should Russians Praise or Curse ‘Those Treacherous Yankees’?: Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia
Woodward, McChrystal, and Afghanistan
Greenwald: Advocates of escalation in Afghanistan chose Bob Woodward to "reprise his role as warmonger hagiographer" by publishing Gen. Stanley McChrystal's "confidential" memo to the President arguing for increased troops. As Digby notes, the vague case for continuing to occupy that country is virtually identical to every instance where America's war-loving Foreign Policy … [Read more...] about Woodward, McChrystal, and Afghanistan
The Netherlands: An Extreme in “Less Government”?
Those who long for less government, less government “interference,” and more privatization may want to take a look at The Netherlands. In an article in the Dutch NRC Handelsblad that starts with the assertion that “Nobody is in charge in the Netherlands - even democracy has been privatized,” Marc Chavannes, a Dutch journalist and political columnist, tells us: The … [Read more...] about The Netherlands: An Extreme in “Less Government”?
The President and the General
Is it the job of Gen. Stanley McChrystal to tell the POTUS what the military strategy should be in Afghanistan and threaten to resign if the President does not comply? Or is it rather Gen. McChrystal's job to recommend a change in military strategy, wait for the President's decision, and then carry out that decision as ordered? … [Read more...] about The President and the General
Michael Barone Writes, Hilarity Ensues
I think it's quite hilarious that Michael Barone, never a stranger to hyperbole, claims that liberals are anti-dissent: It is an interesting phenomenon that the response of the left half of our political spectrum to criticism and argument is often to try to shut it down. It's also hilarious that he writes this without a trace of irony. It is true, of course, that the … [Read more...] about Michael Barone Writes, Hilarity Ensues
Medal of Honor Nominee, Sgt. Rafael Peralta—The Citation Says It All
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 STATE OF HAWAII H.C.R. NO. 19 H.D.1 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO AWARD SGT. RAFAEL PERALTA THE MEDAL OF HONOR. 15 WHEREAS, his battalion redeployed to Iraq's Anbar Province 16 in 2004 as part of Operation Phantom Fury to battle … [Read more...] about Medal of Honor Nominee, Sgt. Rafael Peralta—The Citation Says It All
51 Votes: Should the Democrats Use Reconciliation to Pass Health-Care Reform?
Over at TPM, Brian Beutler has an excellent post up on why Democrats likely won't use the reconciliation process to pass health-care reform with a simple majority in the Senate. Aside from the fact that the process could actually result in a less-than-desirable bill, given that non-budgetary matters could be thrown out by the parliamentarian (with Republicans pushing to have … [Read more...] about 51 Votes: Should the Democrats Use Reconciliation to Pass Health-Care Reform?
Family Planning & Climate Change
The other day Matthew Yglesias pointed to the Treehugger for a good summary of a new report finding Contraception Five Times Less Expensive Than Low-Carbon Technology in Combating Climate Change: The report concludes that when taken purely as a method of reducing carbon emissions, family planning is far more cost-effective than the current leading low-carbon … [Read more...] about Family Planning & Climate Change
Quote of the Day: Glenn Beck and the Conservative Movement
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Commentary's Peter Wehner, who took a hard look at Fox News' talk show mega-star Glenn Beck in light of Time magazine's cover story on Beck and asked himself whether Beck was good for conservatives. And what he sees, he says, should "worry the conservative movement." I say that because he seems to be more of a populist and … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Glenn Beck and the Conservative Movement
Video of Barack Obama on Late Night With David Letterman on CBS
Here's the video of President Barack Obama's appearance last night with CBS' David Letterman: Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that the Obama appearance coincides with Letterman deciding that he will do more politically oriented humor now. FOOTNOTE: Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist, ran these Top 10 Reason Why Barack Obama Should Appear … [Read more...] about Video of Barack Obama on Late Night With David Letterman on CBS
News flash: Young adults still read newspapers
OK, anecdotes don't make up a statistically significant sample. But a collection of anecdotes, well... So yesterday my 19th century US history class discussed the development of the penny press in the mid-19th century. As I've occasionally mentioned here at TMV, I think the pre-Progressive Era press was quite a bit like today's blogosphere. It was hyper-partisan, hyperbolic, … [Read more...] about News flash: Young adults still read newspapers
Resistance
Olle Johansson, Sweden All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Resistance
Biden Remarks About Democrats and 2010 Midterm Elections Likely To Help Republican Fundraisers
They must be popping open the champagne at the RNC's fund raising office today because Vice President Joe Biden has now given them the perfect quote to stick in fundraising letters and in ads for campaign 2010. ABC News reports: Vice President Joe Biden said today that if Democrats were to lose 35 House seats they currently hold in traditionally Republican districts, it … [Read more...] about Biden Remarks About Democrats and 2010 Midterm Elections Likely To Help Republican Fundraisers
Atlanta Flooding Not Over Yet
Some areas in this region of climate change skeptics have received as much as 20" of rain since Friday. Three Interstates are closed. There are detours around detours. There have been six deaths of drivers swept off roads by water. And a 2-year-old was swept out of his father's arms in the rushing current: Just months ago the region was suffering from a massive, two-year … [Read more...] about Atlanta Flooding Not Over Yet
Embracing East Jerusalem
I’ll admit it: I’m afraid of East Jerusalem. The reason isn’t that hard to discern. It wasn’t so long ago that an Israeli Jew who found himself lost in the Arab part of the city could be stoned, pulled out of the car and attacked. These days, though, East Jerusalem is mostly safe and filled with tourists searching for the best kanafeh, a syrup-drenched cheese and dough … [Read more...] about Embracing East Jerusalem
Michael Barone Accuses Liberals of “Stifling Dissent”
Michael Barone, writing at Real Clear Politics, informs us that liberals are not used to dissent, and so are trying to stifle it: … [Read more...] about Michael Barone Accuses Liberals of “Stifling Dissent”
Vietnam Again?
As critics taunt the President about becoming another Jimmy Carter on the economy or Bill Clinton on health care reform, an older generation is haunted by the makings of another LBJ in Afghanistan. General Stanley McChrystal's call for more troops with the or-else warning that our mission "will likely result in failure" is an invitation to follow the Vietnam path that led to … [Read more...] about Vietnam Again?
All Pornography Makes You Gay
This is all over the blogosphere today. It's ridiculous on it's face. Do we agree? The speaker is Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-Okla.) chief of staff Michael Schwartz. His topic is “the new masculinity” in a breakout session at the Values Voter Summit on Saturday. Andrew Sullivan says, "His interlocutor is Pat Fagan, of Heritage, who once described using contraception as … [Read more...] about All Pornography Makes You Gay