'HEADWINDS' The fascinating planetary split on whether or not it was correct to release Lockerbie bombing convict Abdul Basset Ali Al-Megrahi continues with this article by columnist Joao Pereira Coutinho who writes for the Brazilian newspaper Folha. For Folha, Coutinho writes in a sarcastic rejoinder to the release: "For 'compassionate' reasons, the Scottish … [Read more...] about Lockerbie: It’s So ‘Touching’ to See a Terrorist Return Home: Folha, Brazil
How to Win the Anti-Torture Debate
Ryan Sager offers a tutorial, the content of which should probably be intuitive but, in the twisted present, is not necessarily so. H/t Patrick Appel. … [Read more...] about How to Win the Anti-Torture Debate
Bob McDonnell No Fan of Gays & Feminists
He's not big on unwed mothers or no-fault divorce either. The Left is having a field day with Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell's law school thesis (PDF) from CBN University. Founded by Pat Robertson and named for his Christian Broadcasting Network, the school is now known as Regent University. TPMMuckraker has the juiciest excerpts and this DNC … [Read more...] about Bob McDonnell No Fan of Gays & Feminists
How The Right-Wing Lost Me
I was born and raised in Orange County, Calif., the hotbed of right-wing political conservatism. As a young reporter on The Tustin News I met and admired James. B. Utt, my congressman and probably the most conservative Republican to ever walk the halls of the House of Representatives. The closest clone to Utt in today's Congress would be Ron Paul. But Utt was a flaming … [Read more...] about How The Right-Wing Lost Me
Shortage of Linguists Hurting U.S. War on Terror. Surprised?
An article in the Washington Times this morning, titled "EXCLUSIVE: Lack of translators hurts U.S. war on terror," caught my attention. Not because it is a surprise that our nation is woefully short of linguists and translators. Not because such shortage does indeed hobble our ability to effectively fight the war on terrorism, especially in the Pakistan-Afghanistan … [Read more...] about Shortage of Linguists Hurting U.S. War on Terror. Surprised?
Arizona Pastor Repeats Wish For Barack Obama’s Death
The toxic and putrid combination of early 21st century hate/demonization politics and the language of outright violence continues to escalate: Parishioners leaving the Faithful Word Baptist Church in the East Valley Sunday carried not just their Bibles, but guns as well. Pastor Steven Anderson said he and his congregation have received death threats after a … [Read more...] about Arizona Pastor Repeats Wish For Barack Obama’s Death
Harry Reid in Local Feud
Nevada's senior Senator and the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has taken time out to make a new enemy. Reid publicly threatened the Las Vegas Review Journal -- the state's largest daily paper -- saying he hoped it would go out of business. He later added that "he wants the Review-Journal to continue selling advertising because the Las Vegas Sun is delivered inside the … [Read more...] about Harry Reid in Local Feud
Ethics, Etc.
If you're in need of some starry-eyed optimism, don't read this column, the latest from St. Louis' Bill McLellan. … [Read more...] about Ethics, Etc.
Why are Jews liberals?
That is the title of Norman Podhoretz's new book. It won't be out until September 8th, but the current issue of Commentary presents a symposium on the book, with contributions from prominent Jewish authors, mostly conservatives. Best I can tell from the symposium, the main thrust of Podhoretz's argument is that American Jews have confused the Torah of Judaism with "the … [Read more...] about Why are Jews liberals?
All-GOP Ohio Supreme Court rules breastfeeding unconnected to pregnancy
Who knew!? You know, I've been pregnant three times, gave birth to live, healthy babies three times and nursed each of my three babies. If breastfeeding my babies was not related to pregnancy, someone tell me what was going on with my body, k? Kate Harding at Salon.com has an excellent take-down and analysis of this gobsmackingly narrow decision regarding … [Read more...] about All-GOP Ohio Supreme Court rules breastfeeding unconnected to pregnancy
The Moral Question (Guest Voice)
The Moral Question by Betsy Newmark In Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, he poses the moral question of whether a person could or should kill one person if it would benefit humanity. Would you agree to the death of an unknown person in China if no one would know and the Chinaman's wealth could be used to benefit you and your family. Raskolnikov goes beyond the death of … [Read more...] about The Moral Question (Guest Voice)
What Would Jesus Heckle? (Guest Voice)
What Would Jesus Heckle? by Doug Bursch Host of The Family Spiritual Show I wanted to write today’s column about angry town hall hecklers, spurious email forwards, and the morally bankrupt dialogue permeating so much of our political discourse. I wanted to address some of the inexcusable name calling and derogatory labeling, the reckless use of words such as socialist … [Read more...] about What Would Jesus Heckle? (Guest Voice)
How Obama Can Win On Health Care (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- President Obama can still secure major health care legislation this year if he learns from his mistakes in recent months and spends more time reminding Americans why they were once eager for fundamental change. His White House lost sight of the need to make a strong case that reform would deliver specific benefits to the insured as well as the uninsured. … [Read more...] about How Obama Can Win On Health Care (Guest Voice)
Japan Sumo-wrestling
Paresh Nath, The Khaleej Times, UAE This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Japan Sumo-wrestling
Wherefore Art Thou, Tax Reform?
Bill Bradley has an interesting, if not entirely realistic op-ed in the New York Times this week which seeks to address the virtues of bipartisan spirit in Congress. He does so by drawing parallels between the current health care debate and the landmark tax reform passed in the 80's by Reagan and a divided Congress. It's an admirable, if somewhat pie in the sky, nostalgic … [Read more...] about Wherefore Art Thou, Tax Reform?
Obama Must ‘Dispense with Republican Sensibilities’: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
Judging by these articles from Dutch and German newspapers we posted during the weekend, it doesn't look like Europeans have much sympathy for Dick Cheney's view of the virtues of 'enhanced interrogation techniques,' or dire Republican warnings about 'socialized medicine.' The first, an editorial from Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, counsels President Obama that it's … [Read more...] about Obama Must ‘Dispense with Republican Sensibilities’: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
What if we really did have a multiparty democracy?
So I'm reading through the results of today's local German elections and I'm marveling at the political analysis. Three states - Thuringia, Saarland and Saxony - held local elections and the result was a mixed bag where near-majority Christian Democrats lost to a plethora of minor parties on the left and right including the Free Democrats (economic conservatives), the Left … [Read more...] about What if we really did have a multiparty democracy?
Oversight Is Crucial, But Don’t Demoralize Us
If Dick Cheney (channeled through Joby Warrick and Walter Pincus) didn't want the CIA to be hung out to dry, perhaps he shouldn't have thrown the CIA in the washer and left them by the clothesline with a bag of clothes pins: … [Read more...] about Oversight Is Crucial, But Don’t Demoralize Us
Quote of the day
America doesn't revolve around any one group of people, and no one racial or ethnic group exclusively defines what it means to be an American. I wholeheartedly believe that. We all contribute. -2morrowKnight --- Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. --- Technorati : quotes, race Del.icio.us : quotes, race Zooomr : quotes, race Flickr : quotes, race … [Read more...] about Quote of the day
A concise illustration of how I help people with computer problems
From the webcomic xkcd, which is an entertaining read, the Tech Support Cheat Sheet. It hits the nail squarely on the head... --- Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. --- Technorati : computers, geek cool, humor Del.icio.us : computers, geek cool, humor Zooomr : computers, geek cool, humor Flickr : computers, geek cool, humor … [Read more...] about A concise illustration of how I help people with computer problems