Conservative columnist and former CNN "Crossfire" creator and host Robert Novak who had the nickname "The Prince of Darkness," has died of cancer at age 78. Novak's columns were sometimes controversial, but one fact could not be denied: he was an old-school journalism guy who did his homework and had sources and didn't just do columns just containing his own opinions. His … [Read more...] about Robert Novak, Former CNN Crossfire Host and Conservative Columnist Dies At 78
Anthony Weiner Tears off the Mask
On this morning's edition of Morning Joe on MSNBC, Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) showed up to talk about his version of health care reform which he will be pushing for a vote on in September. He also expressed regret about President Obama's lack of enthusiasm for insisting on a public plan and his general unwillingness to go "far enough" in restructuring health care in this … [Read more...] about Anthony Weiner Tears off the Mask
Animated Family Guy Campaigning To Win Emmy
Family Guy, former Hanna Barbera animator Seth MacFarlane's not-just-for-kiddies, cutting-edge humor cartoon that virtually rose from a cartoon drawn in his kitchen to television dead meat to DVD sales bonanza to a $1 billion franchise and now one of the TV's biggest comedy hits, is now campaigning hard to win the Best Comedy Award at the Emmys. Here's the cartoon's highly … [Read more...] about Animated Family Guy Campaigning To Win Emmy
I Don’t Understand Why You Don’t Understand
This morning, co-blogger Joe Windish points to a paper that says Americans are resisting health care reform because we're racist; it's a legacy from slavery. Our bottom line is that Americans redistribute less than Europeans for three reasons: because the majority of Americans believe that redistribution favors racial minorities, because Americans believe that they live in … [Read more...] about I Don’t Understand Why You Don’t Understand
A Legacy of Slavery Hinders Healthcare Reform
Alex Blaze says that America is still paying for the sin of slavery and quotes Nathan Glazer from this paper to explain why working class whites are really worried about a big government takeover of healthcare: AGS [Alesina, Glazear and Sacerdote] report, using the World Values Survey, that "opinions and beliefs about the poor differ sharply between the United States and … [Read more...] about A Legacy of Slavery Hinders Healthcare Reform
The Tinker Damned
One of the books I read this summer was Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew B. Crawford. I don' line up for every philosophical treatise that comes down the pike, but this one really peaked my interest. It deals with our evolving relationship with "things" and how we view them, as well as the denigrating view taken of youths who choose to go into "the trades" rather than … [Read more...] about The Tinker Damned
Health Care Reform, The Real Miracle: We Are Still Here
WE ARE THE ATOMIC CHILDREN AND WE ARE STILL DANCING It began before we went to school... we asked for live ponies, but received inflatable whales made of polypropylene instead. But it was okay. We waited and waited for April so we could dance can-can tournaments in the rain. We wore eerie iridescent swim suits glowing like uranium. Our swimsuits were always too … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform, The Real Miracle: We Are Still Here
The Petulance of the Beijing Regime
The repressive regime in Beijing doesn't want Australians to learn more about their despotism. [This will be crossposted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about The Petulance of the Beijing Regime
One Option Is To Go On Offense (Guest Voice)
One Option Is To Go On Offense by Eugene Robinson Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- It's true that politics is the art of the possible, but it's also true that great leaders expand the scope of possibility. Barack Obama took office pledging to be a transformational president. The fate of a government-run public health insurance option will be an early … [Read more...] about One Option Is To Go On Offense (Guest Voice)
Why American Musical Theater Classics Could Survive
On a recent trip to New Mexico, I had lots of time to listen to FM and satellite radio (I am burned out on talk radio) and one topic came up: whether the classics of American theater will survive as America heads into the 21st century. My answer: YES. Why? Just surf YouTube -- and you'll find many examples of young people who are hooked on some of the classics, such as this … [Read more...] about Why American Musical Theater Classics Could Survive
Will Obama’s Juggling Act On “The Public Option” Work?
When Barack Obama was elected President in November many commentators suggested that besides the Republicans he was going to likely wind up doing battle at some point with another chunk of American's polity: his own party's progressive wing. And that is precisely what seems to be happening now, as the debate over the 'public option" in health care reaches a fever pitch. Will … [Read more...] about Will Obama’s Juggling Act On “The Public Option” Work?
Michael Vick’s Second Chance
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen These cartoons are copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Michael Vick’s Second Chance
Fed Indictment For Biggest Data Breach Ever: 130 Million Bank Cards
The DOJ announced an indictment today in what looks to be the biggest credit card data breach of all time. Ars Technica: Indeed, before today, the former high score was represented by the scarlet letter on TJX's forehead, parent company of retailer T.J. Maxx. That data breach involved "at least" 45.7 million credit and debit card numbers that occurred between mid-2005 and … [Read more...] about Fed Indictment For Biggest Data Breach Ever: 130 Million Bank Cards
Of Dr. E., Me, and Dick Cheney
We call her Dr. E., one of the most remarkable women I have had the privilege of knowing almost exclusively through TMV and one delightful hour-long telephone conversation on her nickel. We share numerous ailments brought about by the scavenging effects of diabetes but, if you read her post today, it dwarfs my ailments to a mere pittance. Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes in simple … [Read more...] about Of Dr. E., Me, and Dick Cheney
Holding Firm on the Public Option
On Memeorandum right now, there is an avalanche of commentary about the White House’s signaling that it’s ready to cave on the public option. Because there is so much progblog analysis, and because there are so many distinct issues involved with this legislation, I’ve decided to organize the progblog analysis by the talking points. … [Read more...] about Holding Firm on the Public Option
Tom DeLay Dancing With the Stars
ABC News announced today: “Indicted Former Republican Congressman Cast on 'Dancing With the Stars,’” and, referring to Tom DeLay, asks, “Does He Know the 'Perp Walk?” ABC News continues: To the amazement of many in Washington, Tom DeLay, the former Republican Congressional leader who became a poster boy for cronyism and ethical lapses, was named one of the 16 … [Read more...] about Tom DeLay Dancing With the Stars
Self Care, Preventative Care, Pre-Existing Conditions: How Some Are Coping
In the past, we literally had to sell our house to pay a huge hospital bill. The hospital sent the bloodhounds. My husband had just lost his job. I was near death. Afterward, anything related to that crisis was big red lettered 'pre-existing condition," by any and every insurer we'd ever had... and although undertaking scrupulous selfcare (dont drink dont smoke, dont do … [Read more...] about Self Care, Preventative Care, Pre-Existing Conditions: How Some Are Coping
Undertow Of Today’s News
I feel connected with Michael Corleone in Godfather III when he was on the brink of ridding himself from Mafia past, they pull him right back. Take today's news. Please. Item: One of candidate Barack Obama's agent of change messages was to improve the professionalism of our diplomatic corps. So far, 38 of his first 65 ambassadorial appointments have been political. Among … [Read more...] about Undertow Of Today’s News
American Decline Not Fault of Obama: de Volkskrant, The Netherlands
Is there some benefit for President Obama to inheriting from George W. Bush the governance of a weakened nation? According to the Thomas von der Dunk of Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, this has given Obama the opportunity to slaughter some sacred cows that had to go: "This is the interesting paradox: the fact that America is in visibly worse shape than before forces Obama to … [Read more...] about American Decline Not Fault of Obama: de Volkskrant, The Netherlands
C’EST LA VIE
President Obama may or may not be a lame-duck after the 2010 Midterm elections and be swept from office in 2012, but such prognostications are really a waste of time because greater forces will dictate what happens to the U.S. both politically and economically. The reasons behind his moving so fast on so many fronts may be that he senses the ephemeral nature of political power … [Read more...] about C’EST LA VIE