Representative Niki Tsongas (D-MA) bravely showed up at a town hall to discuss health care reform, and rather than being shouted down, (thankfully) she got the chance to take a serious question from one of the people in the audience. (Please see the full story and video from Ed Morrissey at Hot Air.) CONSTITUENT: My question to you, Congresswoman Tsongas, is that if this is … [Read more...] about Niki Tsongas Explains Why Obamacare Works… for her
Which Politicians Have Become More Unpopular and Popular Over The Past 6 Months?
It has been a tempestuous 2009 and so the question comes up: if you use polling as a key indicator, which politicians are now more popular and unpopular than then were six months ago? Daniel Stone at Newsweek's The Gaggle blog lists some of them. In a nutshell: President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Ted Kennedy are down. Stone then asks: " But has … [Read more...] about Which Politicians Have Become More Unpopular and Popular Over The Past 6 Months?
Health Care Riots
Cartoon by Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Health Care Riots
If Only Iraq Had One Bill Clinton!: Sotal Iraq, Iraq
President Clinton is receiving some extraordinary praise from Iraq - and that nation's government an equal portion of criticism. After watching President Clinton's mercy mission to North Korea, Iraqi columnist Mahdi Qasim laments his nation's lack of leaders like Clinton, who 'value the lives, the dignity and freedom of their citizens more than anything else, and exert all of … [Read more...] about If Only Iraq Had One Bill Clinton!: Sotal Iraq, Iraq
Who’s The Power Behind Barack Obama’s Throne?
Is Michelle Obama the power behind the White House throne in Washington? Or is it the American Vice-President Joe Biden? Or, Chief of White House staff Rahm Emanuel? Could it be State Department chief Hillary Clinton? Or, Barack Obama's mother-in-law, Marian Robinson? "You may not recognise her face, or her name. Yet Valerie Jarrett is arguably the most powerful person in … [Read more...] about Who’s The Power Behind Barack Obama’s Throne?
Why Not Freebies For Food ?
In debating the subject of cash for clunkers I recently heard talk show host Tom Sullivan make some interesting comments. One point he made was the fact that the program is probably not really helping with the people it was intended to help. The theoretical goal of the program is to get polluting cars off the road and to get people into cars that are in better condition. The … [Read more...] about Why Not Freebies For Food ?
Is Kenneth Gladney a Democratic Plant?
Watching these town hall battles -- which seem to have settled into a stasis as supporters of health reform have decided to show up finally -- has convinced me of one thing: Obama is winning this August health care battle. No, his ideas aren't necessarily winning plaudits among various elements of elite political commentary. Nor are skeptics necessarily embracing any of the … [Read more...] about Is Kenneth Gladney a Democratic Plant?
Follow the Money?
Sometimes, money does the following. … [Read more...] about Follow the Money?
The Danger to the West of Not ‘Helping Russia’: Le Monde, France
Is it incumbent on the West to 'help' Russia overcome its past of self destructive behavior and global domination? According to André Fontaine of France's Le Monde, if President Obama's vision of a 'strong, peaceful and prosperous Russia,' occupying 'its rightful place as a great power' were to come to pass without that - we're all in trouble. In this warning directed in … [Read more...] about The Danger to the West of Not ‘Helping Russia’: Le Monde, France
Dick Cheney’s “Battlefield Experience”
A couple of weeks ago, Time Magazine's cover story was "The Final days of Bush and Cheney." It was a fascinating, intimate look at what TIME’s Managing Editor Richard Stengel himself describes as "The tale of the rift between George W. Bush and Dick Cheney...an inside look at the complex relationship that shaped so much of this decade." The special report also tells us … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney’s “Battlefield Experience”
Good news: Saving our children has become easier
In these dismal times, there is a piece of good news for over three billion poor people around the world. An effective public private partnership is required to make it work but the methods are quite easy and low cost. According to the World Health Organization and several other expert groups, it will prevent the loss of nearly one percentage point of GDP on average caused … [Read more...] about Good news: Saving our children has become easier
Basic Economics: What Works, What Doesn’t
The government wanted to reanimate the auto industry. It allocated billions to car makers to help them produce more energy efficient vehicles. This might reduce our dependence on wasteful polluting vehicles in a few years, or it might not. Just by offering cash for clunkers, however, within one week tens of thousands of inefficient gas guzzlers were replaced on our roads by … [Read more...] about Basic Economics: What Works, What Doesn’t
Mastering the Art of Marriage
Nora Ephron's new movie recalls the morning Julia Child burned my breakfast toast. In the 1970s, her husband Paul and I were in their Cambridge kitchen talking heatedly about politics while Julia sort of tended the broiler but was more interested in leaning over to hear what we were saying. When smoke started pouring from the oven, she pulled out a tray and dumped the … [Read more...] about Mastering the Art of Marriage
Lame Questions for Alberto Gonzales. Cheesy, Whiny Answers
I enjoy Deborah Solomon's weekly interviews ("Questions For...") in The New York Times Magazine, a column that has appeared in the Times' weekend magazine since 2003. Although her interview techniques and the published results of her interviews have come under fire, I find them interesting and generally learn something from them. Sadly, I could not say the same about her … [Read more...] about Lame Questions for Alberto Gonzales. Cheesy, Whiny Answers
SLOW TRAIN TO HELL
I am never surprised by the ignorance of many people, but some expressions of stupidity sometimes amaze me. I find it difficult to swallow when some Americans compare any U.S. elected official they oppose to Chancellor Adolph Hitler of Germany’s Third Reich. Many years ago, a few on the left suggested that of President Bush but most mainstream Democrats publicly repudiated … [Read more...] about SLOW TRAIN TO HELL
Reading Incomprehension Strikes the Palin Faithful
I know all about being a die hard fan, so immersed in your belief that you tend to deny reality. After all, I'm a veteran of decades of support for the New York Jets. (This is the year! I SWEAR it is this time!) Unfortunately, we sometimes have to face up to the fact that our team simply sucks. This is a lesson that could prove useful to "Smitty" over at The Other McCain blog, … [Read more...] about Reading Incomprehension Strikes the Palin Faithful
MIA Hurricane Season, PLUS Climate Challenge Update
I was outside this morning having my first cup of coffee and looking at the dismal progress of my tomatoes, (which are totally failing to ripen) and it got me to thinking about the odd weather we've been having this summer. Summer is, of course, the traditional hurricane season, but have you seen many of them in the news? I haven't seen much about it in the blogosphere. I … [Read more...] about MIA Hurricane Season, PLUS Climate Challenge Update
Is The Town Hall Meeting Now A Political Antique?
Isn't it time to ask the question? Isn't it perhaps time to consider deep sixing the traditional big-issue Town Hall meetings held by elected officials? Haven't these meetings now become little more than media events, events literally begging to be manipulated by interest groups on each side? Aren't traditional Town Halls now overwhelmed by the power and impact of new … [Read more...] about Is The Town Hall Meeting Now A Political Antique?
This Time, the Americans Have Gone Too Far!: The Frontier Post, Pakistan
While the United States is having some success targeting militants in Pakistan with drone aircraft, winning over the local population on the ground is another story. According to this angry editorial from Pakistan's Frontier Post - a newspaper located along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border that often has a militant flavor to it - American disrespect for the locals and plans … [Read more...] about This Time, the Americans Have Gone Too Far!: The Frontier Post, Pakistan
Anti-Health Care Nazi
Gary McCoy, Cagle Cartoons This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Anti-Health Care Nazi