I don't see how anyone could have possibly predicted this. Seventy-one percent (71%) of U.S. voters say President Obama’s policies have increased the size of the federal deficit, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. A plurality of voters (37%) say cutting the federal deficit in half in the next four years is number one among the four priorities … [Read more...] about 71% say Obama driving up deficit. 73% say cancer is bad.
The F-22 Program Cancellation: The Aftermath
Way back in January, 2009, I started posting on the F-22 Raptor program, on how, “One of the first weapon systems-related decisions the Obama administration will have to make is whether to purchase additional Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptors, after the last one of a 183 aircraft order has been delivered.” Already back then, the F-22 issue, and those of related weapon systems, … [Read more...] about The F-22 Program Cancellation: The Aftermath
Obama: Getting it Right on the Rhetoric
Good for you, Mr. President: "The President discussed how the current tone and culture in Washington made it more difficult than it has been in the past to work in a bipartisan fashion. In particular, he singled out Republican Senators who are trying to work in a bipartisan fashion even in the context of a vocal minority in their party who doubt that the President was born … [Read more...] about Obama: Getting it Right on the Rhetoric
Obama’s Race Game Will Kill The G.O.P
Ever since Obama swore the oath of office, I have followed the political discourse in America very closely. I paid particular attention to how America now deals with the issue of race. I saw the premature declarations that America was now entering a ‘post-partisan’ era as...well, interesting. I personally feel that Obama is a very talented politician, maybe the most … [Read more...] about Obama’s Race Game Will Kill The G.O.P
Iran’s Ahmadinejad Sworn In For Second Term
Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been sworn in to be Iran's President again -- beginning his second term seen by many in Iran and even more abroad as someone who has been put into power by the country's power elite via a rigged election. Here's a Reuters video report: … [Read more...] about Iran’s Ahmadinejad Sworn In For Second Term
Bloodsucking Bankers Immune to Change
The Obama Administration is making an effort to "name and shame" them, but the vampires in banking and on Wall Street are still busy draining liquidity out of the American financial system. According to the McClatchy newspapers, "The first report under the Home Affordable Modification Program, involving more than 30 lenders that together collect payments on 85 percent of … [Read more...] about Bloodsucking Bankers Immune to Change
Let’s Let Viral Video Kill the Music Video
Chris Albrecht, cross-posting on Business Week, wonders Will Viral Video Kill the Music Video? Historically, music videos were promotional vehicles that ran on outlets such as MTV. Big budgets were spent on lavish productions meant to captivate watchers, prodding them into buying the single or album the song was on. But while music videos have proven enormously popular on … [Read more...] about Let’s Let Viral Video Kill the Music Video
Quote of The Day: The Rehabilitation of Bill and Hillary Clinton As The Conventional Wisdom Errs Again
Our political Quote of the Day comes from the Atlantic's always perceptive Marc Ambinder who notes how former President Bill Clinton has rebounded and how "those talented Clintons are "defying Expectations Again," thus providing yet another example of how conventional wisdom often withers when matched later reality. Ambinder recalls two warnings President Barack Obama got … [Read more...] about Quote of The Day: The Rehabilitation of Bill and Hillary Clinton As The Conventional Wisdom Errs Again
Marine Corps Bans Social Network Sites
The U.S. Marine Corps has banned Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other social media sites from its networks. Wired's Danger Room: “These internet sites in general are a proven haven for malicious actors and content and are particularly high risk due to information exposure, user generated content and targeting by adversaries,” reads a Marine Corps order, issued Monday. “The … [Read more...] about Marine Corps Bans Social Network Sites
Avoiding The Tough Calls (Guest Voice)
Avoiding The Tough Calls by Ruth Marcus Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- Does President Obama care more about passing health care reform that truly gets costs under control or getting re-elected? Does he care more about getting the nation's fiscal house in order or getting re-elected? Right now, the evidence points to getting re-elected. Exhibit A … [Read more...] about Avoiding The Tough Calls (Guest Voice)
And Now, Your Latest Nut Job (Guest Voice)
And Now, Your Latest Nut Job by Eugene Robinson Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- If there's been a more clinically insane political phenomenon in my lifetime than the "birthers," I've missed it. Is this what our national discourse has come to? Sheer paranoid fantasy? I'm talking about the people who have convinced themselves that Barack Obama was not … [Read more...] about And Now, Your Latest Nut Job (Guest Voice)
A Needed Song For Our Times
A needed song for our times comes from another time: "Put On A Happy Face" from Bye Bye Birdie. NOTE: OK, so we couldn't get Dick Van Dyke -- but in the You Tube below you can watch Steven and Sara Brattman lip syncing it: And if the lyrics didn't get through to you with that rendition, here are Gail Farrell, her husband Ron Anderson, and their friend Michael Redman … [Read more...] about A Needed Song For Our Times
Returning Soldiers
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. . All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Returning Soldiers
Blackwater Founder Linked to Murder of Witnesses in Criminal Investigation
If these affidavits, filed in federal court yesterday by two former Blackwater employees, are true, the founder and owner of the biggest security contracting company in Iraq during the previous administration is not just a felon, but a psychopath: … [Read more...] about Blackwater Founder Linked to Murder of Witnesses in Criminal Investigation
Sgt. Peralta’s Denied Medal of Honor: An Issue Worthy of “Meddling”
I have been a vocal critic of the previous administration---as I am beginning to be of this administration---for what I believe is a shameful lack of recognition for the valor and heroism of our brave troops who have been fighting and sacrificing, oftentimes with their lives, in the hells of Iraq and Afghanistan. In turn, I have been criticized for “meddling in the business … [Read more...] about Sgt. Peralta’s Denied Medal of Honor: An Issue Worthy of “Meddling”
Some Poignant Thoughts On Barack Obama’s Birthday
It's Barack Obama's 48th birthday today -- and here are some poignant thoughts by someone who I read everday. I thank God that he's alive. … [Read more...] about Some Poignant Thoughts On Barack Obama’s Birthday
Bill Clinton Is a Total Mensch
So all it took to get two American journalists "convicted" of espionage home was Bill Clinton's star power? Kim Jung Il just wanted to feel that we felt that North Korea is important enough to send a world-famous, charismatic former President of the United States there to pick up Laura Ling and Euna Lee from the ball and bring them home in his coach? … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton Is a Total Mensch
Bill Clinton Back to the Future
Off-the-books diplomacy, recalling Bill Richardson's career as an unofficial negotiator with Saddam Hussein and Slobodan Milosevic in the Clinton era, is back with the former President himself in North Korea to arrange release of two imprisoned American journalists, employees of a media unit headed by former VP Al Gore. Bill Clinton's gig is complicated by his wife's status … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton Back to the Future
Tinklenberg Drops out of Minn 6 Race
It's now official. El Tinklenberg is dropping out of the race to remove Michele Bachmann (R-Mars) from her seat for Minnesota's sixth Congressional District. Apparently, there were enough Democrats interested in sending Michele a one way ticket back to Crazytown that Tinklenberg didn't want to be involved in the internecine bloodbath. This may be a result of too many Democrats … [Read more...] about Tinklenberg Drops out of Minn 6 Race
How Journalist Lisa Ling’s Unusual Pleadings Helped Two US Women Be Freed by North Korea
UPDATE: Miss Ling and Miss Lee are said to be aboard an aeroplane along with Bill Clinton, heading for California where their families await them. Yay. Safe journey to all. ..... But, the feat is not Bill Clinton's alone. Here is today's article about how Miss Ling's sister, well known journalist Lisa Ling used the polite form of apology and supplication publicly to ask North … [Read more...] about How Journalist Lisa Ling’s Unusual Pleadings Helped Two US Women Be Freed by North Korea