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
A Vote For Literacy Tests ?
One of the steps in the civil rights movement was the elimination of literacy tests for voting. These tests had been used improperly by racists to deny minorities the right to vote. However when I see a video like this I start to wonder if maybe we need to bring them back … [Read more...] about A Vote For Literacy Tests ?
911 Tape in Gates Arrest Raises New Questions
From the Boston Globe: … [Read more...] about 911 Tape in Gates Arrest Raises New Questions
Birthers Rejoice: Michele “Batty” Bachmann to the Rescue
As a freelance pundit and political addict, I must pause to bow my head and give thanks for one small thing. Even after Sarah Palin stepped down from the public stage, we'll always have Minnesota, home of Jesse Ventura, Al Franken and... our favorite member of Congress for high comedy. Today, Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) introduced a resolution commemorating the 50th … [Read more...] about Birthers Rejoice: Michele “Batty” Bachmann to the Rescue
Chinese Government Upset
Wah! Maybe if the Beijing regime didn't oppress people, they could, as they put it in their warning to Japan, focus "on important issues," like freedom for their people, an end to religious and other forms of persecution, and bullying others economically. [This has also been posted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about Chinese Government Upset
Law Enforcement: Jackson’s Doctor Did It
Administered the drugs that killed him, that is. I wouldn't want to be that doctor. Last night The Daily Beast had Marcia Clark (blonder than I remember her) pondering the next trial of the century. Clark says prescription-drug abuse is the drug story of our time and prescription narcotics "the cocaine of the new millennium." … [Read more...] about Law Enforcement: Jackson’s Doctor Did It
Birthers
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Birthers
Pelosi: “You Hate Me. You Really, Really Hate Me.”
Nancy Pelosi is a woman on a mission. We may not know exactly what that mission is or where these train tracks end, but she's on a path. America, having had more than sufficient time to observe her leadership as our first female Speaker of the House, has registered a rather overwhelmingly negative view of her performance to date, but would a little thing like that bother … [Read more...] about Pelosi: “You Hate Me. You Really, Really Hate Me.”
Sarah Palin Leaves Governorship: So What’s Next?
If you want to know, here's a MUST READ ROUNDUP of blog, Facebook and Twitter analysis and opinion at Booker Rising. … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Leaves Governorship: So What’s Next?
911 Caller in Gates Arrest Never Said ‘Black Suspects’
The 911 tape has been released. CNN: In the call, Lucia Whalen reports seeing "two larger men, one looked kind of Hispanic, but I'm not really sure, and the other one entered, and I didn't see what he looked like at all." "I just saw it from a distance, and this older woman was worried, thinking somebody's breaking in someone's house and they've been barging in," Whalen … [Read more...] about 911 Caller in Gates Arrest Never Said ‘Black Suspects’