There may well be no stranger figure to arise from the election of 2008 than Levi Johnston. One minute he was just another high school jock, bragging to his buddies about how he was "getting some" from the Governor's daughter. The next he was a soon to be father with a soon to be Mother-in-law who was running for vice president and quickly becoming one of the most divisive … [Read more...] about The Rise and Fall of Levi Johnston
The White House Gets Letters….
Where'dja get those guts, guys? They look good on you: … [Read more...] about The White House Gets Letters….
Kennedy Candor
“Atonement is a process that never ends,” Ted Kennedy writes in his memoir, confronting the shame shadowing his life that was avoided in a weekend of tributes--the death of a young woman at Chappaquiddick. In a preview of the 532-page volume to be published later this month, the New York Times discloses that Kennedy "called his behavior after the 1969 car accident that … [Read more...] about Kennedy Candor
MSNBC Removes Buchanan Piece; Issues Non-Explanatory Statement
Politico's Michael Calderone reports that MSNBC has taken down Pat Buchanan's article claiming that World War II was Britain's fault, and that Hitler really never wanted to murder six million Jews. Of course, abruptly yanking the piece in response to a storm of outrage on the Internet (including a tweet to Rachel Maddow from yours truly) does not explain why MSNBC promoted it … [Read more...] about MSNBC Removes Buchanan Piece; Issues Non-Explanatory Statement
Man Finds Dead Frog In Pepsi Can
Here's yet another item about something weird showing up in a product that isn't the best P.R. for a corporation, via AFP: A Florida man who cracked open an ice cold can of Pepsi found dismembered remains of a frog, the US Food and Drug Administration said today. "It has been verified, and it was indeed a frog," Charles Watson, a spokesman at the US food inspection … [Read more...] about Man Finds Dead Frog In Pepsi Can
Still Time for Obama to Let His Allies Help Him: Liberation, France
With President Obama confronting a confluence of issues that appear to threaten his chances of having a successful term in office, his supporters in Europe are also sounding alarmed. For France's Liberation, columnist Bernard Guetta writes in part: "The likelihood is that Obama has already failed to become a new Roosevelt, an architect of a modern New Deal that without … [Read more...] about Still Time for Obama to Let His Allies Help Him: Liberation, France
Simple Answers to Easy Questions
David Broder asks, in the context of possible criminal trials for high-ranking Bush officials who ordered and sanctioned torture (a word he does not use, of course): … [Read more...] about Simple Answers to Easy Questions
On 70th Anniversary of WW II, Wounds in Europe Still Sting: NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands
With a face perhaps reflecting contrition, German Chancellor Merkel lays a candle after giving a speech at a ceremony in Poland on the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of WW II. She said, 'We caused unending suffering in the world. I bow before the victims.' Even after 70 years, the wounds and rivalries that triggered and resulted from the last 'war to end all wars' still … [Read more...] about On 70th Anniversary of WW II, Wounds in Europe Still Sting: NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands
One of the Most Interesting, Effective Members of the Senate
Olympia Snowe. [Crossposted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about One of the Most Interesting, Effective Members of the Senate
Winning in Afghanistan, Whether From Offshore or Onshore
While many Americans were accused of not supporting our troops, of being unpatriotic, and worse, for criticizing our involvement in Iraq and the way that war was being managed, I will not accuse Conservative George Will of anything. In 'Why are we still in Afghanistan?", (replace "Afghanistan with "Iraq" and see how familiar that sounds), George Will is having second … [Read more...] about Winning in Afghanistan, Whether From Offshore or Onshore
Obama in trouble
Patrick Chappatte, The International Herald Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama in trouble
TV Milestone: Reading Rainbow Comes To End
A TV milestone: PBS's Reading Rainbow is coming to an end due to not just funding but a change in philosophy: Reading Rainbow comes to the end of its 26-year run on Friday; it has won more than two-dozen Emmys, and is the third longest-running children's show in PBS history — outlasted only by Sesame Street and Mister Rogers. The show, which started in 1983, was … [Read more...] about TV Milestone: Reading Rainbow Comes To End
Health Care Reform Supporter Bites Off Health Care Opponent’s Finger
It wouldn't be news if someone on one side of the debate gave some on the other side other the finger at a healthcare reform meeting. But it IS news it someone bites off someone else's finger. KTLA reports: - A 65-year-old man had his finger bitten off Wednesday evening at a health care rally in Thousand Oaks, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform Supporter Bites Off Health Care Opponent’s Finger
Why Not?
Described by the NYT as "a veteran health care expert who oversaw the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs for the first President George Bush and advised Senator John McCain in his presidential campaign last year," Gail Wilensky tells the paper: ... the entire health care system should stop paying doctors an individual fee for each service they provide patients — … [Read more...] about Why Not?
Quote of the Day: Obama Is Retaining His Base (But Now What?)
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball's guest columnist Alan I. Abramowitz who notes that Obama is holding onto the base that got him elected: Despite the grumbling on the left, however, there is little evidence thus far of erosion in support for the president among the groups that comprised his electoral base in the last election. [Gallup … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Obama Is Retaining His Base (But Now What?)
When Government is the Better Option
Nicholas Kristof approaches the health care debate from a starting point that I and others have previously acknowledged, namely: We don't leave everything to the free market. There are certain areas in which we commonly acknowledge that government is the better actor. Perhaps health care coverage is one of them. Granted, Kristof seems to suggest (upon first read at least) … [Read more...] about When Government is the Better Option
Australia: Mending Relations With Muslims
In the wake of 9/11 attacks in the USA, the relations between the "Christian West" and the "Muslim World" took a nose-dive. Australia is among the few countries who made a concerted effort to win over the hearts and minds of the Muslims in their own country and elsewhere. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, now on a visit to India, announced in New Delhi that … [Read more...] about Australia: Mending Relations With Muslims
Health Care Reform: Quote for the Day
Ezra Klein: "This is the irony of the health-care endgame: The bill becomes much more conservative if it loses its final Republican." … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform: Quote for the Day
Distorting the Voice of the People (Guest Voice)
Distorting the Voice of the People by E.J. Dionne, Jr WASHINGTON -- Health care reform is said to be in trouble partly because of those raucous August town hall meetings in which Democratic members of Congress were besieged by shouters opposed to change. But what if our media-created impression of the meetings is wrong? What if the highly publicized … [Read more...] about Distorting the Voice of the People (Guest Voice)
Pat Buchanan’s Vile Defense of Hitler
Pat Buchanan's anti-Semitic, ahistorical screed about Hitler and World War II (linked through Matthew Yglesias) has caught some attention today, although not nearly enough considering that this is the same man who accused Sonia Sotomayor of being a racist: … [Read more...] about Pat Buchanan’s Vile Defense of Hitler