The poll is from mid-June, and was discussed by Sam Stein at The Huffington Post: … [Read more...] about Recent Poll Shows 76% of Americans Want Public Option
Shiva Limbo
Shiva Limbo by Brian Blum The most disconcerting thing about my trip to the U.S. for my father’s funeral was the “pre-shiva” period (known in Hebrew as aninut). Shiva is the seven days stipulated by Jewish tradition for mourning following burial. My father died on a Sunday. But the funeral didn’t take place until Wednesday. The official reason was that it took time … [Read more...] about Shiva Limbo
Selling Out Healthcare for GOP Votes
Here is one blogger's take on the effectiveness of local or regional nonprofit insurance cooperatives, which is the alternative the Gang of Six are touting to a full-throated public option: … [Read more...] about Selling Out Healthcare for GOP Votes
Just When You Thought Partisan Demonization Can’t Go Any Lower
We may as well copy this headline and this first short paragraph (and we will) since we will likely have to use it again and again -- as the political bar with what constitutes debate in our country goes lower and lower: It DOES. Details here. … [Read more...] about Just When You Thought Partisan Demonization Can’t Go Any Lower
The Point Is Health Care Reform, Not GOP Support
Health care reform is about to die because Democrats cannot handle being the majority in Congress, or having a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate: … [Read more...] about The Point Is Health Care Reform, Not GOP Support
Sue & Sue Again
Legal briefs... Overlawyered's Walter Olson: Former tenant Amanda Bonnen had just 22 followers on Twitter when she commented in a strongly negative way about Horizon Realty of Chicago. And here’s what a spokesman for Horizon is quoted as saying about its lawsuit: We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization. ArsTechnica has more on that. And this: A … [Read more...] about Sue & Sue Again
Is The Healthcare Reform Public Plan Option DOA?
Is the public plan option DOA in the ongoing Congressional discussions on President Barack Obama's stalled healthcare reform plan? Several reports suggest it could well be. The best summary comes from Bill Press, writing on The Hill's Pundit Blog: Don’t look now, but Democrats are about to abandon their commitment to a public plan option, if they haven’t already done … [Read more...] about Is The Healthcare Reform Public Plan Option DOA?
Quote of the Day: Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton
Our political quote of the day is the final two paragraphs of Maureen Dowd's must-read column contrasting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: As McCain pal and Republican strategist Mike Murphy so sagely observed recently: “If Sarah Palin looked like Golda Meir, would we even be talking about her today?” Sarah should follow her own … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton
White House Beer
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about White House Beer
Republican Candidate in the Making
From an event Monday night in the St. Louis area, hosted by Sen. McCaskill's staff, h/t Jake Wagman ... Agree or disagree with him (and I'm much more in the latter camp than the former), you have to admire this young man's focus, stage presence, and ability to electrify a crowd. (Move over, Sarah Palin. Oh wait ... she already did.) Picking up on one of this young … [Read more...] about Republican Candidate in the Making
Microsoft and Yahoo! Internet Search Pact
As expected, Microsoft and Yahoo! have announced an internet search deal: Microsoft and Yahoo, whose talks about a merger failed last year, on Wednesday announced a 10-year collaboration in Web search and advertising. Under the agreement, which both companies hope will allow them to compete better with Google, Microsoft will power Yahoo’s Web search while Yahoo will become … [Read more...] about Microsoft and Yahoo! Internet Search Pact
The Great Performers: Harpo Marx and the Harp
If you're literally a lifelong student of comedy as I am, you have to constantly watch and study the comedy greats. The era is unimportant: you study the work of great film and TV comedians of the 20th and early 21st century. And any student of comedy has to view at least some of the classic Marx Brothers movies, where they'll be amazed at the antics of all of the brothers -- … [Read more...] about The Great Performers: Harpo Marx and the Harp
White House Brewski
Cartoon by Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about White House Brewski
Race Matters in America (Guest Voice)
Race Matters in America by Martha Randolph Carr Often when there is a question of race in America people lose a certain amount of common sense. On Thursday, July 16th at 12:44 p.m. Harvard scholar, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. was arrested by Cambridge police for attempting to unstick his own front door at the upscale Ware Street home near Harvard Square. There was a mild … [Read more...] about Race Matters in America (Guest Voice)
Is a Bad Health Care Reform Bill Better Than None?
This is what some supporters of health care reform are starting to ask: … [Read more...] about Is a Bad Health Care Reform Bill Better Than None?
The words of Sarah Palin as interpreted by William Shatner
On The Tonight Show, William Shatner did a "reading" of the poetry inherent in Sarah Palin's farewell address as governor of Alaska: I'm speechless... --- Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. --- Technorati : Sarah Palin, William Shatner Del.icio.us : Sarah Palin, William Shatner Zooomr : Sarah Palin, William Shatner Flickr : Sarah Palin, William … [Read more...] about The words of Sarah Palin as interpreted by William Shatner
Deported By U.S., Accused Nazi Gets Royal Treatment in Austria: Neues Deutschland, Germany
Would the United States government deport a confirmed Nazi murderer to Austria, only to see him live out his life in a luxury apartment with 24-hour a day care? Those of you who answered yes win the prize. Hot on the heels of the case of John Demjanjuk, a former Nazi collaborator and naturalized American from Cleveland now standing trial as an accomplice to 27,900 murders, … [Read more...] about Deported By U.S., Accused Nazi Gets Royal Treatment in Austria: Neues Deutschland, Germany
Alert the Media
Coming up shortly, I'll be one of the guests on The Rick Moran Show to discuss the birther movement and the state of health care reform today. For those of you here screaming at me recently on either of these issues, you can stop by, call in, and scream in person if you wish. Follow the link for details. See you on the radio! … [Read more...] about Alert the Media
Covering the Really Important Stuff
How can six senators who all come from overwhelmngly rural states -- Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Iowa, and Maine -- come up with health care reform legislation that addresses the needs of Americans living in large metropolitan areas? You will not even see that question asked -- much less answered -- in this New York Times article, titled "Health Policy Is Carved Out at Table … [Read more...] about Covering the Really Important Stuff
Christian Converts in Iran Face Increasing Hostility from Regime: Rheinischer Merkur, Germany
Unfortunately for Iran's Christians, post-election protesting and riots over vote fraud have resulted in increased suspicion and persecution. According to this article by Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh, writing for Germany's Rheinischer Merkur newspaper, efforts are afoot in Iran's parliament to alter the nation's legal code to impose the death penalty on people who convert to … [Read more...] about Christian Converts in Iran Face Increasing Hostility from Regime: Rheinischer Merkur, Germany