Politics, perhaps depressingly at its best, is about strategic compromise, the "art of the possible," as was once so famously put by German-Prussian politician Otto Von Bismarck. A goodly proportion of that art, then, is the fine skill of knowing what is and what is not possible at any given time. Because, to borrow from another socio-political prophet: you can achieve some … [Read more...] about Don’t Let Kerlikowske’s Comments Send Your Analysis to Pot
THE EPHEMERAL REVENGE OF THE RICH OLD WHITE GUYS
We may have recently elected a President who is a young, mixed-race natural-born U.S. citizen, but the political and economic power of this country still rests with a few thousand rich old white guys (ROWGs) born well before 1960. If one looks at the U.S. Senate, less than a dozen of these guys are making most of the decisions on how to run the U.S. – all the while principally … [Read more...] about THE EPHEMERAL REVENGE OF THE RICH OLD WHITE GUYS
A Feisty Texas Horse Comes out of the Barn: Kay Bailey Hutchison
Yesterday, I wrote on Texas Governor Rick Perry's follies, including his secession nonsense, his refusal to accept federal funds to help the Texas unemployed, his phony anti-Washington rhetoric, and his sheer hypocrisy when it comes to rejecting and then accepting---begging for---federal stimulus funds and federal loans. I also quoted an Austin American-Statesman editorial … [Read more...] about A Feisty Texas Horse Comes out of the Barn: Kay Bailey Hutchison
Mumbai Attacks: Pakistan Army, ISI & Musharraf
While the Pakistan's former president/military dictator Pervez Musharraf is now in a virtual exile in London, the country's Supreme Court has asked Musharraf to return and "explain his action of imposing Emergency in 2007 and sacking of 60 judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhary," who has now been reinstated. (See here...) Meanwhile a British Muslim … [Read more...] about Mumbai Attacks: Pakistan Army, ISI & Musharraf
Does Iran’s Constitution Reflect Two Irans?
Some thoughts from Kevin Sullivan HERE. … [Read more...] about Does Iran’s Constitution Reflect Two Irans?
Cambridge Bungler
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Cambridge Bungler
Keep Abortion Funding Out Of Health Reform
I will come right out and say it. No federal funding for abortion procedures should be stipulated in the healthcare legislation now being deliberated in Congress. It pains me to say that because on principle I am pro-choice. The decision should rest with the doctor and the woman, the father, perhaps the pastor and definitely not the government. I realize this position is … [Read more...] about Keep Abortion Funding Out Of Health Reform
This Recession Has An Artist Upside
There are many problems with writing for a living, the most obvious being that it's a lousy way to make a living. You not only have an endless need to justify to others why you are not only caging a free meal from them as a prelude ot asking for a loan, you have the equally difficult task of explaining why you think the projects you are currently working on have a good chance … [Read more...] about This Recession Has An Artist Upside
Judiciary Approves Sotomayor
The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted 13-6 to send the nomination of Justice to Be Sotomayor to the full Senate. Democrats votes 12-0 in favor while Republicans voted 6-1 against. Sadly it seems that the trend which prevailed in the Roberts and Alito nominations is continuing. A full track of all announced Senators can be found here. … [Read more...] about Judiciary Approves Sotomayor
Unedited: Bill Kristol on The Daily Show
No one is more media savvy than Bill Kristol (even if he did land a big belly-flop at the NYTimes). Last night he was Jon Stewart's guest on The Daily Show: Bill Kristol bets that Sarah Palin will come on The Daily Show and admits the government can provide first-class health care. The televised interview was cut. Here, then, the unedited version: Think Progress … [Read more...] about Unedited: Bill Kristol on The Daily Show
AP’s Tech-Driven Copyright Crackdown: Much Ado About Nothing
Ed Felton on the Associated Press announcement last week that it would be developing some kind of online news registry to control use of news content: It was hard to make sense of this, so I went looking for more information. AP posted a diagram of the system, which only adds to the confusion -- your satisfaction with the diagram will be inversely proportional to your … [Read more...] about AP’s Tech-Driven Copyright Crackdown: Much Ado About Nothing
Chris Dodd Has Some More ‘Splainin to Do
It seems that the mortgage troubles of two Democratic Senators - Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad - just won't go away. (Let's remember, Dodd was the same one who claimed he had no idea who inserted a clause in the stimulus bill to allow AIG executives to collect huge bonuses, and then later recalled that it was him.) After assuring us that he never received any special, preferential … [Read more...] about Chris Dodd Has Some More ‘Splainin to Do
The Way Things Should Be Done
Why doesn't this happen more often, on more issues? … [Read more...] about The Way Things Should Be Done
PC World: Rumored Apple Tablet Is a Train Wreck
One might suspect bias. Michael Scalisi: Given the rumor mill chatter, it sounds like the mythical Apple tablet is all but a done deal. People seem to be talking with certainty about how, either later this year or early next year, Apple will unveil a multitouch tablet with a 10-inch screen, 3G wireless broadband, and iPhone OS possibly subsidized by a Verizon Wireless … [Read more...] about PC World: Rumored Apple Tablet Is a Train Wreck
A Brief History of Franking
Following our last discussion on the Franking Commission, I did a bit more digging on the history of Franking. There were also more nuggets buried in the news containing quotes from the various players involved in this mess. With that in mind, I invite you to read my latest column, currently up at Pajamas Media, titled The Franking Sign Monster. As always, your witty … [Read more...] about A Brief History of Franking
A Culture Critic Is Born
Politics' loss is society's gain as Sarah Palin stepped into her new career with "some straight talk" about the media and Hollywood. "You represent," she told assembled journalists, "what could and should be a respected, honest profession, and what could and should be a cornerstone of our democracy--and that's why our troops are willing to die for you. "So how about in … [Read more...] about A Culture Critic Is Born
Birthers and Valley Girls
I cannot decide which made me laugh harder: Patrick's video of the Valley Girl trying to say something about vegetable trees at a Santa Cruz town hall meeting, or this video of Republican congressmen running from Mike Stark, a reporter for The Huffington Post and Firedoglake -- and in one case, looking at pens for 20 minutes -- in order to avoid having to answer Mike's … [Read more...] about Birthers and Valley Girls
For End of Day, A Sweet for the Soul
Here at YouTube, over 9 million people have watched this. I watched it. I cried. Not because of the occasion, not because this is how it used to be, in a different form, in my deeply ethnic childhood when I saw my dad do it at every event of this kind... but because tonight, I so wished my dad, had he lived past his 88th year, could have seen this little film tonight too. He … [Read more...] about For End of Day, A Sweet for the Soul
Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night
Rage, rage, against the dying of the light. … [Read more...] about Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night
The Race Card: How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse
I posted this here on May 21, 2008, during the primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The original title of the post was Racism and sexism: it’s time to change the paradigm. I changed the title this time because recent events have changed my emphasis and give it renewed relevance. Ford's message is one I personally take very much to heart. Richard Thompson … [Read more...] about The Race Card: How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse