One small backfire in the right-wing project to kill health care reform (emphasis is mine): … [Read more...] about Conservative Group Misuses UK Critics of NHS to Attack Health Care Reform in U.S.
“Honey, We Shrunk the President”
After months of a bigger-than-life presidency, Barack Obama is being cut down to size--by the enormity of an economic crisis, by orchestrated fear of Change as a reality rather than an idea and by exhaustion of the hope and idealism he stirred up during two years of campaigning. But behind the falling poll numbers and raucous town halls, something else may be going on. … [Read more...] about “Honey, We Shrunk the President”
Religion vs. Flag?
I am a Catholic, and I didn't know. I didn't know that the Catholic Church bars the draping of coffins with the American flag during funeral ceremonies in the church---even if the coffin contains the remains of a fallen military hero. I imagine that this "policy" applies to all national flags, because in an article in the Times Union of Albany, N. Y., quoting Ken … [Read more...] about Religion vs. Flag?
Bruce Bartlett on The GOP’s Misplaced Rage
What do we think of Bruce Bartlett? The iconic supply-side domestic policy adviser to President Reagan and deputy assistant secretary for economic policy at Treasury under President George H.W. Bush, he began his career working for Ron Paul. He went on to become an outspoken critic of President George W. Bush. In The Daily Beast this week he says the Obama-hating town-hall … [Read more...] about Bruce Bartlett on The GOP’s Misplaced Rage
The Gorilla Dust of Health Care (Guest Voice)
Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of TMV or its many writers. The Gorilla Dust of Health Care by Michael Winship When I was 15, my father was in a near-fatal car collision with a semi-trailer truck. At Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY, he lay in a coma for two months. As the medical bills mounted and the insurance was … [Read more...] about The Gorilla Dust of Health Care (Guest Voice)
Un-American? Protests are as American as Apple Pie (Guest Voice)
Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of TMV or its many writers. Un-American? Protests are as American as Apple Pie by Floyd and Mary Beth Brown Un-American, disruptive, distorters of truth, manufactured outrage, Astroturf, hired guns, and Nazis are all terms used by President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and their liberal allies to disparage those who … [Read more...] about Un-American? Protests are as American as Apple Pie (Guest Voice)
Judge Says Gay Claims Not Defamatory
That in the libel case by Howard K. Stern, Anna Nicole Smith's former lawyer, against Rita Crosby. Crosby claimed in a book that Stern is gay. The judge ruled that the gay sex claims could not be libelous because homosexuality is no longer viewed as contemptible: Stern claimed the book, which was published six months after Smith's death, contained 19 libelous statements, … [Read more...] about Judge Says Gay Claims Not Defamatory
Summer Fantasy Poll Question: Movies You’d Like to See Made
Thinking of all the books you've ever read, common stories passed down from generation to generation, the lives of real people who you find interesting, radio shows or more, what movie would you like to see made which has never been produced? Or, to widen the field a bit, we could include movies which actually were made, but were done poorly or before the technology was … [Read more...] about Summer Fantasy Poll Question: Movies You’d Like to See Made
Right-Wing Craziness Has Always Been*
The difference now, writes Rick Perlstein in a Washington Post op-ed, is that the media has "normalized" the looniness -- mainstreamed it, as it were (I have bolded the punchline): … [Read more...] about Right-Wing Craziness Has Always Been*
For the College Students
The fall semester begins soon, and many new college students will be away from home for the first time as adults. It seems likely that a small portion TMV readers are college students, and many other readers know at least one college student. Please feel free to forward this to any college students or young adults you know. Hey guys. I know this is a pretty cool time in your … [Read more...] about For the College Students
Lighting the Debate
Jeff Parker, Florida Today This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Lighting the Debate
Squeaky, Michael, Gary and Me
How much of a debt do we owe to those who have paid their debt to society? In the 1962 classic, Birdman of Alcatraz, Burt Lancaster plays the role of Robert Stroud, a double murderer who learns to care for tender young birds while in the lonely hole of solitary confinement. The killer goes on to become one or our foremost authorities on ornithological matters, winning over … [Read more...] about Squeaky, Michael, Gary and Me
Healthcare Debate Threatens Obama
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. . All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Healthcare Debate Threatens Obama
Quote of the Day: Are Barack Obama and the Democrats Incompetent?
Our Quote of the Day comes from Glenn Reynolds, who quotes from a Robert Reich column where the former Clinton administration Labor Secretary criticizes Obama and the Democrats for not having an actual healthcare plan in place which then left an opening for health care protesters. Reynolds writes: Remember how Bush was supposed to be the idiot who went into Iraq without … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Are Barack Obama and the Democrats Incompetent?
Whole Foods Boycott Picks Up Steam (Guest Voice)
EDITOR'S NOTE: In the past we ran a line about Guest Voice posts not necessarily representing the opinion of TMV or its writers. But after we ran many Guest Voice columns by conservative talk show host Michael Reagan (whose posts we run usually once a week from Cagle Cartoons), liberals, moderates etc. we felt it wasn't necessary to run that line at the top anymore. However, a … [Read more...] about Whole Foods Boycott Picks Up Steam (Guest Voice)
World Tour of Humor in Seventy Countries: Le Monde, France
What makes people in different countries and of different sexes laugh? According to this article on global humor by Macha Sery of France's Le Monde newspaper, a recent study on the subject concluded: "All countries, or almost all, have made a specialty of mocking their leaders and their neighbors, territories or populations. ... The best customers for jokes, whatever their … [Read more...] about World Tour of Humor in Seventy Countries: Le Monde, France
Sabato’s Crystall Ball: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MANIA
Larry J. Sabato: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MANIA - From "Fifth Wheel" to Powerhouse (July 30, 2009) In the mid-nineteenth century, a delegate to a Virginia constitutional convention argued against the office of lieutenant governor, calling it, "the fifth wheel of a wagon, and much more useless." Worse has been said about the vice presidency over the centuries. Franklin … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystall Ball: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MANIA
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Are The Top Journalists Insiders Or Outsiders?
Larry J. Sabato: ARE THE TOP JOURNALISTS INSIDERS OR OUTSIDERS? Something truly astonishing appeared in a Washington Post column on July 25, 2009 (click here to view). It was written by Frank Mankiewicz, former press secretary to Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) and the man who is perhaps most widely remembered for announcing RFK's death in June 1968. Mankiewicz was … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Are The Top Journalists Insiders Or Outsiders?
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: House Schemes And Pipe Dreams
Isaac Wood: HOUSE SCHEMES AND PIPE DREAMS - The GOP's list of 70 House targets debunked It's a game both parties play: pretend that this will be the year you go on the offensive in places where your candidate is, in reality, as likely to win American Idol as the November general election. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) dutifully played their part on … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: House Schemes And Pipe Dreams
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Tweets of the Week
4:42 AM Aug 6th: The left and right are the same, in flooding town meetings and being obnoxious. It's OK when their side does it, wrong when the other side does. 4:44 AM Aug 6th: Passion can be a good thing in politics, but leaders must channel it, lest it degenerate into pure rudeness and nastiness. MORE: Larry J. Sabato: Tweets of the Week 08/13/2009 Larry … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Tweets of the Week