As Congress and the President continue to make preparations for the possible end of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, our subject, Karen Greenberg wrote the book on its earliest stages, The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo's First 100 Days. The interview is cross-posted at the talking dog, and may be found, in its entirety, after the jump. As always, thanks to Team TMV for … [Read more...] about Interview with Karen Greenberg
A small island off the coast of Europe
I just got back from a very short trip to the UK to attend the wedding of an old classmate. One thing that struck me while I was there was the complete unpopularity of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The polls show Labour trailing the opposition Conservatives by as much as 15 points, with less than ten months to go until the next election. In the old British colony now known … [Read more...] about A small island off the coast of Europe
“Taliban Now Winning”
It was certainly quite a jolt to pick up my Wall Street Journal and see this big headline smack in the middle of Page One: Taliban Now Winning. The article is based on an interview with US commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal. The very first words in the story are, The Taliban have gained the upper hand in Afghanistan, the top American commander there said,But no matter how … [Read more...] about “Taliban Now Winning”
Flying rabbis battle swine flu
A cost effective approach to health care:Dozens of rabbis and Kabbalah mystics armed with ceremonial trumpets took to the skies over Israel on Monday to battle the swine flu virus, according to local media reports. About 50 Jewish holy men chanted prayers and blew shofars (ritual rams' horns) in an aircraft circling over the country in the hope of stopping the spread of the … [Read more...] about Flying rabbis battle swine flu
Are Rush Limbaugh and Republican Senator Johnny Isakson Advocating Death Panels?
Did you know that August is "National make-a-will month"? I didn't, until I happened to hear Rush Limbaugh mention it today in an advertisement counseling his listeners on the importance of having a will and a living will, and providing the name of a company that would assist them in getting those important documents prepared. The company mentioned by Rush Limbaugh … [Read more...] about Are Rush Limbaugh and Republican Senator Johnny Isakson Advocating Death Panels?
Porn Industry Blues & The Truth About Funny People
The LATimes finds the porn industry in a tech-induced slump: Industry insiders estimate that since 2007, revenue for most adult production and distribution companies has declined 30% to 50% and the number of new films made has fallen sharply... At least five of the 100 top websites in the U.S. are portals for free pornography, referred to in the industry as "tube sites," … [Read more...] about Porn Industry Blues & The Truth About Funny People
Could Republican Town Hall Protests Backfire?
The emerging narrative in a lot of the major press coverage of heatlh care reform is that President Barack Obama has lost control of his message, which is why he was out on the hustings today at a town hall meeting. But now The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder writes that he now senses a slight relief at the White House. Why? Because, according to Ambinder, there's a growing feeling … [Read more...] about Could Republican Town Hall Protests Backfire?
ALTERNATE HEALTHCARE BILLS NEEDED
A public plan or option does not necessarily require a governmental entity as an administrator, nor the creation of a subsidized non-profit foundation, a healthcare co-operative, or anything resembling a government-run program as part of the proposed local Health Care Exchanges. We could merely require that minimum healthcare coverage be offered to every American in a “public” … [Read more...] about ALTERNATE HEALTHCARE BILLS NEEDED
The Conflagration over [email protected]
Up front, let me remind readers that, in the current health care debate, I have multiple, strong reservations about the so-called "public option." I'd much rather see Congressional energy focused on enacting these fundamental consumer protections sans a "public option." Some will argue you don't get the latter without the former, but I'm just not convinced that's true. … [Read more...] about The Conflagration over [email protected]
This is the USA: We Don’t “Take Care” of “People Who Need Help”
Here is an amusing exchange between Sen. Arlen Specter and a woman at a townhall meeting on health care reform: … [Read more...] about This is the USA: We Don’t “Take Care” of “People Who Need Help”
The Myth of “Discretionary”Spending
Here is a good piece by Ezra Klein from last month on the attitude disconnect between defense spending and everything else. The "fighter jet" reference is to the F-22: … [Read more...] about The Myth of “Discretionary”Spending
Did Some Geeked-Up Texas Lawmen Roust A Bunch of Gays?
If so, it's not clear yet how they'll be called to account for it. Forty years after Stonewall: Fort Worth cops raid a gay bar and put one customer in intensive care. Seven men were arrested. The police chief says that the violence of the cops was because - wait for it - the cops were hit on [link]: "You're touched and advanced in certain ways by people inside the bar, … [Read more...] about Did Some Geeked-Up Texas Lawmen Roust A Bunch of Gays?
The Lost Kennedy Sister
The eulogies for Eunice Shriver as a tireless humanitarian bring to light again the story of a forgotten Kennedy, Rosemary, who was diagnosed as mentally retarded and, at the age of 23, underwent a lobotomy and spent the rest of her life in an institution. When JFK was on his way to the presidency, no one talked publicly about a sibling who did not fit into the picture of a … [Read more...] about The Lost Kennedy Sister
It’s Not Just Bonus Abuse, It’s The Whole Economy
There comes a time when the Obama Administration has to show it's really serious about changing the way Wall Street operates. That time has arrived. And the key decision in this regard involves a new wave of bonuses that banks are planning to give their best "producers" — on top of the $1 million-plus bonuses that more than 5,000 of these Wall Streeters got last year during the … [Read more...] about It’s Not Just Bonus Abuse, It’s The Whole Economy
Quote of the Day: Are The Democrats Genetically Naive?
As a former Political Science major who has been in both political parties, and been both a liberal and a conservative, depending on the era, I've been watching the increasingly frenzied battle over heath care reform and a little voice has been nagging me, whispering in my head: "Didn't the Democrats see this coming? Did they forget political history? Weren't they prepared for … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Are The Democrats Genetically Naive?
Why DID Hillary Clinton Snap “My Husband Is Not The Secretary Of State”?
The new and old media like nothing better than a You Tube moment that seemingly reveals the "real" public figure -- not the one who's scripted or the one who's answering policy questions, but shows you a bit how he or she really is "offstage" and what he or she may really think. And Secretary of State Hillary Clinton provided one that will be re-run for a long time to … [Read more...] about Why DID Hillary Clinton Snap “My Husband Is Not The Secretary Of State”?
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Special Olympics Angel and JFK Sister Dies, 88
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the younger sister of the late President John F. Kennedy who founded the Special Olympics and promoted it to the very depths of her soul, has died at 88. As someone who used to write obituaries as part of my stint as a staff reporter on two newspapers (the old Wichita Eagle in Wichita, Kansas and the San Diego Union in San Diego, CA) I know full well … [Read more...] about Eunice Kennedy Shriver Special Olympics Angel and JFK Sister Dies, 88
Pot Today: Walgreens, Moms & NYC Cops
Here in Milledgeville, GA, our local Walgreens has a "Back to School Special" on At Home Marijuana Tests. The times sure are a-changin'. Meanwhile, AOL's MomLogic -- "Real Stories. Real Advice. Real Moms" -- looks at parents who say smoking pot is better than drinking: "I want my children to grow up to believe that laws are just and rational, and if there's … [Read more...] about Pot Today: Walgreens, Moms & NYC Cops
Myanmar ‘Convicts’ Opposition Leader
In a ruling only slightly less surprising that a Daley win in Chicago the government of Myanmar has 'convicted' democracy advocate and opposition leader Suu Kyi of violating security laws. Needless to say this is not going to improve the junta and it's standing in the world. Although it has been ruled (both as Burma and Myanmar) by a military junta since 1962 the regime has … [Read more...] about Myanmar ‘Convicts’ Opposition Leader
Stimulus as a State of Mind
Nothing significant has happened, but suddenly the economy is looking better. Excitement over snippets of good news, or more accurately less-bad news, is underscoring how much of it all is psychological and suggesting that Obama's aggressive stimulus attack, no matter how flawed, wasteful and even wrong-headed, has been crucial to keeping us from going over the edge. In the … [Read more...] about Stimulus as a State of Mind