The House of Representatives may not be able to do much these days to draw praise from this corner of the room, currently having a joint approval rating somewhere in the range of fifteen points below Dick Cheney, but let the record show they can pass something. I mean, they're turning the health care debacle into a national tragedy right before our eyes, and can't seem to pass … [Read more...] about Your Tax Dollars at Work: Joe Wilson’s Censure
Obama Calls Kanye A ‘Jackass’
NOTE: "Kenya" in original title has been changed to "Kanye". - TS Last night, for his bad manners at the VMA. Terry Moran let it slip in a tweet... Now, an ABC spokesperson explains to POLITICO what happened: "In the process of reporting on remarks by President Obama that were made during a CNBC interview, ABC News employees prematurely tweeted a portion of those … [Read more...] about Obama Calls Kanye A ‘Jackass’
Where is the Right Right Now?
And can it be righted? Being perceived as only being against things is not a winning political formula; the Democrats have been taught that lesson many times since the 1970s. Conservatism seemed to break away from its philosophical moorings four years ago, anyway. [This has been crossposted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about Where is the Right Right Now?
The F-22 Cancellation Aftermath: Secretary Gates into the Lion’s Den
In April of this year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates recommended several military budgetary cuts, including for the production of the F-22 Raptor fighter jet to stop at 187 aircraft, which means that only four more F-22s will be produced. It was a move that drew a firestorm of criticism from Congress, the military, the military aerospace industry and the military aerospace … [Read more...] about The F-22 Cancellation Aftermath: Secretary Gates into the Lion’s Den
The Goddess of Right-Wing Ideology
If you read nothing else online this week, read Jonathan Chait's book review (of two new biographies of Ayn Rand) cum extended essay on Rand's philosophy and continuing influence on the American right. It's a long article, but don't let that stop you -- I usually get restless reading lengthy pieces on the Internet, but this one had me riveted. … [Read more...] about The Goddess of Right-Wing Ideology
Kennedys Inspire Great Families in Other Nations: The People’s Daily, China
It's hard to know how to react to this article in China's state-controlled People's Daily. But it's certainly interesting. An ode to the ideals held by the Kennedy family and the recently deceased Senator Ted Kennedy, columnist Li Hong writes that ambitious families in so-called communist China and other countries like Brazil, could learn a lot from the Kennedy clan, and … [Read more...] about Kennedys Inspire Great Families in Other Nations: The People’s Daily, China
Czars are good! No, they’re bad! No, wait…
Our friend Ed Morrissey has today jumped on the bandwagon of Republicans who have decided that President Obama's penchant for appointing "czars" such as Van Jones, who recently moved into new digs under the Obama bus, is a bad thing. Describing them as a "proliferation of unaccountable commissars in government," Ed sees this as a dangerous trend. It’s well past time for the … [Read more...] about Czars are good! No, they’re bad! No, wait…
Uncovering the Race Card–Reluctantly
Joe Wilson's blurtout last week lit a fuse to set off a slow-motion exposure of race in the national anti-Obama rage. Today the House Black Caucus takes the lead in censuring the South Carolina Congressman with what are clearly mixed feelings about dealing publicly with an issue that seemed to have been settled by the inauguration of a "post-racial" president only a few … [Read more...] about Uncovering the Race Card–Reluctantly
Why the Military is Worried About Climate Change
Guest post by Jonathan Powers Jon Powers is the Chief Operating Officer of the Truman National Security Project. He is a veteran of the Gulf War and the founder of War Kids Relief. He was previously Veterans Program Director at the Eleison Group, where he worked on outreach efforts by the progressive community to veterans and military families. This post, co-written with … [Read more...] about Why the Military is Worried About Climate Change
Talking to Americans a Most Distasteful Prospect: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
'THE TRIAL OF EMBASSY WORKERS' Who detests the other more: The United States government or the regime at the helm of the Islamic Republic of Iran? Based on this article from the tightly state-controlled Kayhan newspaper, one would have to think that the Iranian Mullahs come out on top on that question. For Kayhan, that newspaper's regular columnist on foreign affairs, … [Read more...] about Talking to Americans a Most Distasteful Prospect: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Health Care Rocket Science: Better Human Delivery Systems & Checklists
Dr. Jim Yong Kim will become the 17th president of Dartmouth College next week. A guest on Bill Moyers' Journal last Week, Kim is an internationally recognized physician and humanitarian. His goal at Dartmouth is to tell young people that "a few committed souls can change the world." Yong says that in his 25 years working in global health what he's learned is that the … [Read more...] about Health Care Rocket Science: Better Human Delivery Systems & Checklists
Is a New Military Power Balance Emerging In the Gulf?
Has one largely publicized consequence of the saber and nuclear power rattling of the Iranian government been the emergence of a new counter-Iran conventional power balance in the Gulf? In an article on RealClearWorld, Michael Knights, a Boston-based Lafer fellow of The Washington Institute, specializing in the military and security affairs of Iraq, Iran, and the Persian Gulf … [Read more...] about Is a New Military Power Balance Emerging In the Gulf?
Sizing Up Saturday’s 9/12 Glenn Beck Promoted Washington Protest
The debate on all sides goes on. Here's a good roundup. … [Read more...] about Sizing Up Saturday’s 9/12 Glenn Beck Promoted Washington Protest
Jay Leno Show Premieres to Mixed Reviews
In case you missed it, (and judging by the early overnights at TV By the Numbers, plenty of you did) Jay Leno premiered last night for his experiment in moving late night television into prime time. The Washington Post gave the square jawed funnyman a fairly charitable review, soothing fears on the part of some viewers that "the new Jay" would be terrible. It was, they note, … [Read more...] about Jay Leno Show Premieres to Mixed Reviews
An Attempt At a Real “Reset Button” on Health Care (Guest Voice)
An attempt At a Real "Reset Button" on Health Care'' by Jon Wells With the convening of Congress, the debate over health care reform has once again reared its ugly head. Despite promises of pushing a "reset button" on the back-and-forth rhetoric, the President's speech served more as a further partisan rebuke to critics rather than a genuine moment of leadership and … [Read more...] about An Attempt At a Real “Reset Button” on Health Care (Guest Voice)
Gallup: 68 Percent of Americans Don’t Approve of Wilson’s “You Lie” Comment
If you assert that most Americans support Rep. Joe Wilson's shouted comments during President Barack Obama's address to a joint session of Congress, then you lie, a new Gallup poll shows: Americans come down strongly in opposition to South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's "You lie!" outburst during President Obama's address to Congress on healthcare last Wednesday, though … [Read more...] about Gallup: 68 Percent of Americans Don’t Approve of Wilson’s “You Lie” Comment
You Lie
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about You Lie
Protecting The Right To Be A Jerk
A lawsuit has been filed in New Jersey after three teenagers refused to stand during the playing of God Bless America at a minor league baseball park. There is some debate as to whether the teens refused to stand deliberately as some protest against the US or if they simply didn't think about it one way or the other. There is also some dispute as to the exact details of the … [Read more...] about Protecting The Right To Be A Jerk
Rumored Google ‘Flipper’ Launches as ‘Fast Flip’
Announced today at the TechCrunch50, a new visual way to display Google News: The name “Fast Flip” comes from the idea that with this visual look, you can easily flip through the news. If you find an article you like that looks interesting, you click through to read it, if not, just flip left or right to go to another. And it is fast. Really fast. If you do like an article, … [Read more...] about Rumored Google ‘Flipper’ Launches as ‘Fast Flip’
Sometimes, Comment Is Not Necessary
Via Mahablog: … [Read more...] about Sometimes, Comment Is Not Necessary