Our political Quote of the Day comes from President Barack Obama on the direction of 21st century America's news media: I am concerned that if the direction of the news is all blogosphere, all opinions, with no serious fact-checking, no serious attempts to put stories in context, that what you will end up getting is people shouting at each other across the void but not a … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Barack Obama on News and Blogs
After the Missile Shield: It’s Time for Kremlin to Bring Itself to Reciprocate – Gazeta of Russia
So the long-rumored deed is done: American has decided that the anti-missile shield, parts of which were to be built in Poland and the Czech Republic - is best set aside for other considerations. When one get's past all the bravado and one-upmanship of foreign affairs, what impact will it have on Russian behavior? This editorial from Russia's Gazeta newspaper, notably owned … [Read more...] about After the Missile Shield: It’s Time for Kremlin to Bring Itself to Reciprocate – Gazeta of Russia
Did Barack Obama Read the Baucus Bill?
Yesterday I took some friendly fire from readers for my dubious response to President Obama's claims to George Stephanopoulos that charging people money if they don't have health insurance was not a tax increase. George broke out the dictionary definition of "tax," which the President blew off. In other areas, people like Steve Benen crowed about how Obama had "schooled" George … [Read more...] about Did Barack Obama Read the Baucus Bill?
More Tidbits From Upcoming Latimer Bush Book
The Huffington Post has some more tidbits from Speechwriter Matt Latimer's new book about his days working for George Bush -- and what went on at the White House. Here are a few tidbits. First the setup: Disclosure: Latimer's bookis officially embargoed until Tuesday. I read it in manuscript form months ago and blurbed it on the back of the book, saying good things … [Read more...] about More Tidbits From Upcoming Latimer Bush Book
Our Globalized Economy
Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Our Globalized Economy
Warping the Debate about Government (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- It's time to cast aside the political shorthand and ideological pigeonholing that distort our debates over health care in particular and government's role in American life more broadly. The way words such as "centrist" and "bipartisan" are now deployed turns the discussion away from useful arguments over how various proposals might work and toward arid … [Read more...] about Warping the Debate about Government (Guest Voice)
The Bush Eastern Europe Missile Defense Versus the Obama Eastern Europe Missile Defense
The controversy -- with people lined up along party and ideological lines -- rages on. But what is the real difference between the two plans? This makes it easier to understand... … [Read more...] about The Bush Eastern Europe Missile Defense Versus the Obama Eastern Europe Missile Defense
Glenn Beck
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck
Rumsfeld’s Army You Have and Gates’ Army You Want
I will never forget then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's answer to a question by Army specialist Thomas Wilson of the 278th Regimental Combat Team, back in December of 2004, nearly two years after the start of the Iraq war. The setting was a town-hall style meeting Rumsfeld was holding with over 2,000 Iraq-bound troops in a cavernous hangar at a remote desert camp … [Read more...] about Rumsfeld’s Army You Have and Gates’ Army You Want
Renewed Controversy Over Patriot Act
I have a blog post up at Comments from Left Field on the upcoming battle over reauthorization of three provisions of the Patriot Act. … [Read more...] about Renewed Controversy Over Patriot Act
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
This is a day late since International Talk Like a Pirate Day was yesterday, but it's worth putting up anyway. When I lived in France I visited Lyon and ran across this restaurant, the Resto Pirate, which offers "wild food": A little bit of silliness is good for the soul... --- Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. --- Technorati : International Talk … [Read more...] about International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Economics By The Letters
The techniques that economists use to understand their specialized studies, and to decree the nostrums the rest of us must now follow, are so exotic, so elaborate, so far beyond the ken of ordinary mortals, they must be greatly simplified when transmitted to lesser minds. Thus, describing the future before us is today often reduced to single letters — V, U, W or L. In a V … [Read more...] about Economics By The Letters
Your Best Headline of the Weekend Award
And the winner comes to us from the New York Times. Belatedly, Egypt Spots Flaws in Wiping Out Pigs. … [Read more...] about Your Best Headline of the Weekend Award
Hookworms, Allergies & Asthma
In recent weeks a friend has been suffering a severe bout of asthma. With him in mind I perked up when I heard the story of Jasper Lawrence -- "a modern-day entrepreneur whose passion for hookworms stems from lifelong battles with allergies and asthma" -- in this fascinating Radio Lab hour on parasites. Lawrence believes he has been able to keep his asthma and severe … [Read more...] about Hookworms, Allergies & Asthma
Obama on tax hikes: deceptive or just uneducated?
As part of his weekend press junket around the dial, President Obama stopped by This Week with George Stephanopoulos. George has, in the past, been somewhat shy at times about questioning Democrats too harshly. (To put it kindly.) But today, he did himself proud when he tried to pin down the President on the effect of taxing millions of middle class Americans by imposing a … [Read more...] about Obama on tax hikes: deceptive or just uneducated?
It’s the White House Versus Fox News’ Chris Wallace
The most notable fact about President Barack Obama's Sunday morning media blitz has been that he is making the rounds of the networks' news shows -- except Fox News. This has led Fox News' Chris Wallace to go after the White House for being a bunch of crybabies and being thin skinned. But if Wallace expected a sudden invitation from the White House -- he is wrong. He has … [Read more...] about It’s the White House Versus Fox News’ Chris Wallace
CNN Poll of Poll: Obama Poll Numbers Are Holding Steady
As President Barack Obama makes the rounds of network talk shows (except Fox) and the conventional wisdom is that his political fortunes are starting to sag at an alarming rate, a new CNN poll of polls finds that Obama's poll numbers are holding remarkably steady: President Barack Obama's approval rating is holding steady in the mid-50's, according to a new CNN Poll of … [Read more...] about CNN Poll of Poll: Obama Poll Numbers Are Holding Steady
Gates Explains Missle Defense for the Technology Impaired
I caught some flack from my conservative friends last week when I agreed with President Obama on the decision to shelve the star wars missile defense boondoggle in Eastern Europe. While anyone could rightly question my bona fides on such issues, they may want to pay a little more attention when no less a personage than Secretary of Defense Robert Gates weighs in on the … [Read more...] about Gates Explains Missle Defense for the Technology Impaired
Are You Ready for some Football?
And for you non-US readers, I'm talking about real football. Not soccer. Well, it's Sunday and it's September, so we're off to the races in week two of the NFL's 2009 big dance. My New York Jets (currently undefeated *cough cough*) will be taking on the always dangerous New England Patriots, and the Giants travel to Dallas to meet the Cowboys. I'm picking them both to win, … [Read more...] about Are You Ready for some Football?
The Future of Candy: Inhalable Chocolate
And not even 1 calorie per hit. From CBS Sunday Morning and The Tomorrow Show. Mo Rocca on the past and future of candy... RELATED: Sweet Old World, The humble origins of American candy dynasties. … [Read more...] about The Future of Candy: Inhalable Chocolate