In Vanity Fair: CNN changed the nature of politics and political reporting by compressing the time it took for something to happen, for it to become widely known, and for newsmakers and the public to react to it (i.e., the news cycle) to half a day—whereas the newspaper news cycle, from next-day publication to day-after reaction, was 48 hours, and network television’s news … [Read more...] about Michael Wolff on Politico
I Got Sidetracked on the Way to a Ted Kennedy Round-Up
What ran me off the rails was Dr. Melissa Clouthier. She has a post that links to another post by Rachel Lucas about a trip she made to Auschwitz and Birkenau. Lucas's post is very well-written and very powerful. … [Read more...] about I Got Sidetracked on the Way to a Ted Kennedy Round-Up
Political Cartoonists Honor Ted Kennedy
Political cartoonists are honoring Senator Ted Kennedy, the last surviving Kennedy brother, who died early this morning. Here are a few of the cartoons: RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star Taylor Jones, Politicalcartoons.com These cartoons are copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. … [Read more...] about Political Cartoonists Honor Ted Kennedy
The Love/Hate Obits Of Ted Kennedy
Professional journalists in America, those who record the first chapter in the books of history, are challenged writing obituaries of our fallen leaders when the person's life is filled with complexities, contradictions and accomplishments such as that of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Citizen journalists, those who write blogs, are not constrained by such niceties. They call it as … [Read more...] about The Love/Hate Obits Of Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy’s Humanity (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Ted Kennedy was treasured by liberals, loved by many of his conservative colleagues, revered by African-Americans and Latinos, respected by hard-bitten political bosses, admired by students of the legislative process, and cherished by those who constituted the finest cadre of staff members ever assembled on Capitol Hill. The Kennedy paradox is that he … [Read more...] about Ted Kennedy’s Humanity (Guest Voice)
Dominick Dunne Dead in Manhattan at 83
His Vanity Fair pieces were a guilty pleasure for me. From his CNN obit: Called "Nick" by his friends, Dunne was putting the finishing touches on his final novel, which he said he planned to call "Too Much Money," when his health took a turn for the worse. He flew to Germany earlier this month for another round of stem cell treatments at the same Bavarian clinic where the … [Read more...] about Dominick Dunne Dead in Manhattan at 83
A Turnaround In The Housing Market?
The great debate in economic circles these days is whether there's a turnaround going on in the American housing market. To help determine whether this is occurring, computers used to defeat a Russian chess master in a mere 32 moves have been employed, along with mathematical models that are rumored to have been salvaged from a UFO that went down in Roswell, N.M. in 1947. … [Read more...] about A Turnaround In The Housing Market?
Ted Kennedy’s “Littlest Refusenik”
Only a few hours after the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, there is a flood of stories on the life and the accomplishments of the Lion of the Senate. The vast majority of the stories are complimentary of the Senator. There are some exceptions. As all humans, Ted Kennedy had his flaws and made his share of mistakes. I understand that the Senator will be buried at … [Read more...] about Ted Kennedy’s “Littlest Refusenik”
Health Care Must Reads
And if they're not "must reads," then they're at least "worthy reads." Both from today's NYT. Up first: David Leonhardt, who riffs on "real choice" (i.e., the lack thereof) among health insurance options. From his conclusion: ... the defenders of the employer system have some legitimate arguments. An insurance exchange may end up having some of the same pitfalls as … [Read more...] about Health Care Must Reads
The Kennedy Brother Who Died in Bed
At the age of twelve, he pestered his family to let him contribute to a memorial volume about his oldest brother, Joe, who had been lost in World War II. What Teddy Kennedy chose to remember was how, after hounding Joe into letting him crew in a sailboat race and failing to help him win, he found himself thrown into icy water, only to be lifted back up seconds later by his … [Read more...] about The Kennedy Brother Who Died in Bed
Tweeting His Heart Out for Ted Kennedy
I am planning to do a round-up of Ted Kennedy coverage, remembrances, commentary, and so on -- but for right now I want to point to the Twitter page of Matthew Elliot, aka matttbastard, who is among other things a contributing writer at Comments from Left Field. Matt has been twittering pretty much non-stop about Sen. Kennedy's death since the news broke around midnight. … [Read more...] about Tweeting His Heart Out for Ted Kennedy
Massachusetts To Change Election Law?
Reports coming out today that the Massachusetts legislature might try to change the succession law to allow a temporary replacement to be appointed to fill the Kennedy seat. I will be interested to see the legal foundation for such a change (if it indeed happens, obviously rumors tend to fly at a time like this). As far as I can remember from my law school days you generally … [Read more...] about Massachusetts To Change Election Law?
John McCain on Ted Kennedy
Ben Smith characterizes it as a "classic" statement. But "classy" was the "c" adjective it prompted for me. I'd also add "genuine" and "heartfelt" to the list. Judge for yourself. … [Read more...] about John McCain on Ted Kennedy
The Lion and a Cub
In 2002, when I was still working for JoAnne Barnhart, the Commissioner of Social Security, I traveled with her to Boston for an event unveiling a program called "Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency." Senator Ted Kennedy was instrumental in getting the legislation passed and the Commissioner wanted to present him the 1st Ticket at the ceremony. He was larger than life. I … [Read more...] about The Lion and a Cub
Nancy Reagan on Ted Kennedy
Per The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, the former First Lady issued the following statement on the passing of the Lion of the Senate: I was terribly saddened to hear of the death of Ted Kennedy tonight. Given our political differences, people are sometimes surprised by how close Ronnie and I have been to the Kennedy family. But Ronnie and Ted could always find common ground, … [Read more...] about Nancy Reagan on Ted Kennedy
Microsoft’s Photoshop Blunder Becomes A Meme
And in other news.... Microsoft apologized Tuesday for using photo editing techniques to change the race of a person depicted on the company's Web site. In a photo on the company's U.S. Web site, three businesspeople--one black, one white and one Asian are shown as part of a pitch for Microsoft's business productivity software. In the same photo on the site of Microsoft's … [Read more...] about Microsoft’s Photoshop Blunder Becomes A Meme
The Kennedy Boys: Back Together at Last
As has already been noted here by some of our fine writers, Ted Kennedy has at long last gone on to join his equally famous siblings in history. While he was the youngest of nine, most of the early attention was focused on Joe, who died in the war, John the iconic president, Bobby - who came close but was cut off before following his brother - and Ted himself. Ted, I think, … [Read more...] about The Kennedy Boys: Back Together at Last
Ted Kennedy and Mary Jo Kopechne
Every person's life is like a kaleidoscope. Some pick up another's life, hold it to the light and all the glass chips fall this way or that. And the person sighting through the cylinder puts it down and turns away, saying they've seen it all, when in fact, they've only seen one facet, one pattern in another's life. Thus some remember only one thing or two about the life of … [Read more...] about Ted Kennedy and Mary Jo Kopechne
Senator Kennedy Dies
Just breaking, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. This marks the first time in 56 years that there has not been a Kennedy in the Senate. However I do not expect this condition to remain forever. The late Senator's son Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) may well run for the Senate at some point and there are many Kennedy family members still … [Read more...] about Senator Kennedy Dies
How To Fudge the Truth With Precise Language
As Spencer Ackerman thoroughly documented here, those two memos from 2004 and 2005 that former vice-president Dick Cheney wanted the CIA to release because, he said, they would prove that a set of alternate procedures torture produced actionable intelligence that saved lives and prevented terrorist attacks, prove no such thing. … [Read more...] about How To Fudge the Truth With Precise Language