Comments that follow an article in a newspaper/magazine/blog generally indicate the quality of its readership. The Economist magazine does get an impressive array of views. I offer below the views, tied in a string in a random fashion, of different readers under the article "Losing Afghanistan?" Reader No. 1: "The real purpose of the (American) occupation is to extend and … [Read more...] about Why USA Wishes To Stay On In Afghanistan?
Breaking the Blue Dogs
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Breaking the Blue Dogs
Flickr Joker Parody Takedown: Censorship or Infringement?
I'm late to this story, via TechCrunch: Flickr really stepped in it this time. And they’ve sparked a free speech and copyright fascism debate that is unlikely to cool down any time soon. Sometime last week they took down a photoshopped image of President Obama that makes him look like the Heath Ledger (Joker) character from The Dark Knight. The image was created and … [Read more...] about Flickr Joker Parody Takedown: Censorship or Infringement?
Happy Blogger Learns Meghan McCain Will Host Show He Never Watches
In a summer season fraught with bad news and political unrest, there is at least one glimmer of sunshine ready to light up our miserable and tawdry lives. From her twitter account, Meghan McCain has announced that she will be sitting in for Elisabeth Hasselbeck while she is out on maternity leave. And obviously I couldn't be happier for her. Of course, this may not have much … [Read more...] about Happy Blogger Learns Meghan McCain Will Host Show He Never Watches
US Health Care Reforms & Fear Of Socialism
Suzanne White, my favourite Chinese astrologer, is an American with a no-nonsense approach that's a hallmark of her style even when she writes on non-astrology subjects. Here I am referring to her two posts: "Why Do Americans Fear Socialism?" and "Don’t Speechify. Teachify." White's first post, and here it goes: "I don’t want to 'become a socialist' anymore than I want to … [Read more...] about US Health Care Reforms & Fear Of Socialism
Tom Ridge: At Least Some Color Terror Alerts Seemed Political
Former Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge in an upcoming book will make an allegation that seemingly will confirm to many what Bush administration critics have long suspected: the administration's attempts to raise color terrorism alerts smelled political to him. The New York Times reports: Tom Ridge, the first secretary of homeland security, asserts in a new book that … [Read more...] about Tom Ridge: At Least Some Color Terror Alerts Seemed Political
Guns At Rallies
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Guns At Rallies
Get Paid To Vote Against Obamacare
If it doesn't include a public option. Kevin points out that Blue America has raised almost $200,000 to distribute to Dems who pledge to vote against any reform bill without a public option. Since Kevin's post this morning, the total has risen to $277,000. Kevin observes, The Blue America money helps make the promise to vote against any bill without a public option more … [Read more...] about Get Paid To Vote Against Obamacare
New Ideas About Healthcare Reform
Well, they're not exactly new ideas. They're new to me. More importantly, they're ideas that didn't seem to make the cut for either Democratic or Republican talking points. Which doesn't mean they're good ideas, but at least they're thought provoking. (Hat tip: david1clark) In June, New Yorker correspondent and practicing physician Atul Gawande profiled the town of … [Read more...] about New Ideas About Healthcare Reform
Afghanistan: The Fundamentals Of Counterinsurgency
This is a response to Jazz's post from earlier today. Like Jazz, I am disheartened by the carnage in Afghanistan and the lack of progress we've made over the past eight years. But I think Jazz's call to end the war now is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what US and NATO troops are actually doing in Afghanistan and why. Speaking on Tuesday to the VFW (Veterans of … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: The Fundamentals Of Counterinsurgency
Obama Fights The GOP’s War In Afghanistan
Jazz linked earlier to the new ABC-WaPo poll results on Afghanistan. I'd like to take a closer look at the data. The Post's headline reports, Public Opinion in US Turns Against Afghan War. Among all adults, 51 percent now say the war is not worth fighting, up six percentage points since last month and 10 since March. Less than half, 47 percent, say the war is worth its … [Read more...] about Obama Fights The GOP’s War In Afghanistan
More Evidence of GOP-Style “Bipartisanship”
They now say health care reform must pass with a super-super majority in order to be truly bipartisan -- a standard they never set for themselves during the Bush years, as David Wiegel tells us: … [Read more...] about More Evidence of GOP-Style “Bipartisanship”
The Nonsense Of Over-The-Hill Superstars
I have been a sports fan all my life but concede in the twilight of my existence what once was fiery passion has turned to embers. I'm not really jaded, bored or turned off because of steroids or performance enhancing drugs. No. What bothers me are the superstar athletes who don't know when to call it quits. I'm undecided whether it's the money or a severe ego problem. … [Read more...] about The Nonsense Of Over-The-Hill Superstars
The Ugly Cynicism of Chuck Grassley
Having spread lies and misinformation about the Democrats' health care reform proposals for weeks, and encouraged crowds at town hall meetings and other public events to believe that "death panels" would eliminate the old and sick, that the federal government would force them to give up the doctors they loved and saddle their descendants with debt for the next 10 generations, … [Read more...] about The Ugly Cynicism of Chuck Grassley
A Bit More About The Problems Facing The Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Recently, I posted about being uneasy with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, specifically regarding the use of composite materials. Today NewScientist has a short article that gives a clue as to why there have been so many delays: Why large carbon-fibre planes are still grounded Clearly, composites are a work in progress. The trouble, says aviation engineer Philip Irving at … [Read more...] about A Bit More About The Problems Facing The Boeing 787 Dreamliner
GOP: For a Trillion Bucks Before They Were Against It
I really enjoy reading Froma Harrop. I don't agree with everything she writes, but she strikes me as consistently reasonable and fair. If accurate, this excerpt from her latest is a kick in the head to Republican grandstanding on health care reform: [Democrats] must have been rolling in the aisles this week when Sen. Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona, announced, "There is no … [Read more...] about GOP: For a Trillion Bucks Before They Were Against It
Obama Buyer’s Remorse? Not So Much
One of the media narratives thrown about in recent weeks is the notion that lots of folks voted for and supported Obama for a variety of reasons in 2008, but have since become disillusioned. Various anecdotes have come forward - some probably concern trollish and some genuine - of people who have developed buyer's remorse. These narratives come from center-right voters who … [Read more...] about Obama Buyer’s Remorse? Not So Much
Oh, Those Tricky Massachusetts Democrats
When a political party stacks the deck in their favor, the cards they are dealt sometimes fall the wrong way. Such is the case of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass) who has sent a letter to Massachusetts elected leaders seeking a change in the 2004 state succession law and allow his Senate seat to be filled rapidly. Kennedy, who liberals love and is affectionately called the Lion … [Read more...] about Oh, Those Tricky Massachusetts Democrats
Lockerbie Bombing Suspect Released and Controversy Grows (UPDATED)
The only convicted bomber in the December 1988 Lockerbie bombing which snuffed out the lives of 243 passengers and 16 crew -- and killed 11 people on the ground -- has been released in Scotland on compassionate grounds since he is terminally ill. The bombing was a massive tragedy and a harbinger of the new Age of the Terrorist that was to come -- and there are already signs … [Read more...] about Lockerbie Bombing Suspect Released and Controversy Grows (UPDATED)
I Have No Knowledge of Their Motivations. But…
We've had lots of discussion the last few days about what motivates people opposing reforms that hinge on government-run health care. I've concluded that even educated, well-intentioned, and highly engaged people, regardless of ideological orientation, sometimes seem to have an unfortunate tendency to fit the narrative to a worldview. Take E.J. Dionne, Jr, in a Guest Post … [Read more...] about I Have No Knowledge of Their Motivations. But…