This week's solar eclipse grabbed major headlines in Asia and the world (pics here). "Solar eclipses are indeed a marvel of Nature, and the media’s excitement was justified," says Sri Lankan journalist Nalaka Gunawardene, our Guest Columnist. "For once, it was good to see them devoting a great deal of airtime and print/web space for something that was not violent, … [Read more...] about Solar Eclipse: Media Forgets Asia’s “Other” Eclipse
Obama Political Danger: Are His Press Conferences Becoming “Snoozeconferences”?
Ever since a young, dynamic and charismatic President named John F. Kennedy realized that a televised press conferences could be a potent political weapon in talking directly to the American people and communicating substance as well as charisma, it has been a political weapon Presidents have used with varying degrees of success -- including some uses of that backfired. Is … [Read more...] about Obama Political Danger: Are His Press Conferences Becoming “Snoozeconferences”?
Some thoughts on the depths of idiocy
This excerpt from The Daily Show titled "The Born Identity" illustrates exactly how idiotic the "birther movement" is: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c The Born Identity www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Joke of the Day --- Is it "post-partisan" to say that some political stance is idiotic? I say it is, … [Read more...] about Some thoughts on the depths of idiocy
Politicians and Rabbis Arrested in New Jersey in Federal Money Laundering Probe
Overheard in New York: A five-year-old girl, gets off the train to Grand Central Station, holds her nose and says to mother: "It smells here! It smells like New Jersey! Mommy! It smells like New Jersey!" Now breaking via news outlets throughout the world: Authorities feel something else apparently smells in New Jersey, so today some 30 people that included mayors and even … [Read more...] about Politicians and Rabbis Arrested in New Jersey in Federal Money Laundering Probe
Rationing Health Care
Is it bad, or can it be good, or even if it's seen as good can it be bad? A great place to start this debate is by reading Ron Beasley HERE. … [Read more...] about Rationing Health Care
Would A Webcam At Gates’ Home Have Changed Anything?
I'm guessing it would have... Interesting that this tops the news this morning. I was in the middle of my post last night when Obama made his comments. Still, some part of me felt I should have been giving health care its due. Not so the traditional media. A ratings bonanza! I noticed the police report had been taken down both by the Boston Globe and the NY Daily News. … [Read more...] about Would A Webcam At Gates’ Home Have Changed Anything?
Saving the Uninsured
Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Saving the Uninsured
Sunshine! Well Done, Mr. President
Yesterday we discussed the refusal by the Secret Service to provide a list of health care executives who had visited the President at the White House to discuss policy changes. Shortly after President Obama's presser, as promised, the list was delivered. I would like to retract my previous comments and simply say, well done, Mr. President. That's what we need to see. By … [Read more...] about Sunshine! Well Done, Mr. President
“World’s Only Hyperpower” Suffers Healthcare Trauma
To those following the health care reform debate raging in the United States of America from outside the borders of the "world's only hyperpower", are amused how most of the discussion on public issues gets narrowed down to "good versus evil", "socialism versus capitalism", "liberalism versus conservatism", and so on...Let public good/interest be dammed. In the current US … [Read more...] about “World’s Only Hyperpower” Suffers Healthcare Trauma
The Politics Of Tenacity (Guest Voice)
The Politics of Tenacity by E.J. Dionne, Jr. Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- Wow, what big and unexpected news! Reforming the health care system is really hard, and Republicans want President Obama to fail. Imagine that. Oh, yes, and when the public gets a close look at the sausage-making process in Washington, it doesn't like what it sees. And one … [Read more...] about The Politics Of Tenacity (Guest Voice)
Black Man Arrested
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Black Man Arrested
Harvard’s Henry Louis Gates Jr., “A Black Man in America” (Continued)
From the transcript of President Obama's news conference last night in response to Lynn Sweet's question about the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his home in Cambridge: OBAMA: Well, I should say at the outset that Skip Gates is a friend, so I may be a little biased here... Now, I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that. … [Read more...] about Harvard’s Henry Louis Gates Jr., “A Black Man in America” (Continued)
Why Moderate Republicans Suck
Okay, that the above title might be a bit harsh. But even so, we Moderates really are in a world of hurt. The moderate/liberal movement in the GOP that once had the likes of Thomas Dewey and Dwight Eisenhower is barely alive these days. Some of that is due to the fact that social conservatives have driven moderates out of the party with their emphasis on issues like … [Read more...] about Why Moderate Republicans Suck
Don’t Buy A Kindle; Give It A 1-Star Review
Defective By Design updates it's 1-star reviews and tags action. They've generated hundreds: If you haven't written a review yet, here are direct links to the review forms. Take a few minutes to explain to potential Kindle buyers why they shouldn't get one: 6" Kindle, Kindle DX. If your review wasn't published by Amazon, definitely let us know. We'll be busy picking our … [Read more...] about Don’t Buy A Kindle; Give It A 1-Star Review
The Obama Health Plan as Seen By Ted Kennedy
President Obama has just finished his news conference, intended to explain his health care reform plan and to gather support for an early passage. While I am sure the O’Reillys and the Limbaughs will judge the conference to be a miserable failure, I believe that the president did a good job in generally outlining the need for, the objectives of, the intended results and the … [Read more...] about The Obama Health Plan as Seen By Ted Kennedy
At Last: A Mainstream Answer to Fearmongering on Health Care
The argument against public health care is so strong that the health insurance industry has to cherrypick and misrepresent poll data in order to make its case that the current system is a better deal: … [Read more...] about At Last: A Mainstream Answer to Fearmongering on Health Care
Could Obama Be Choreographing The Healthcare Reform Story Suspense
What if the ongoing new and old media narrative about suspense over the fate of President Barack Obama's centerpiece healthcare reform was really all in effect choreographed -- and a bill was more of a done deal that many know? The L.A. Time's Andrew Malcomb looks at the possibility HERE. … [Read more...] about Could Obama Be Choreographing The Healthcare Reform Story Suspense
The Obama-Cheney Merge
Long time readers will recall that I was one of those annoying dogs yapping at the heels of Dick Cheney when he had all those secret meetings with oil industry executives while establishing U.S. energy policy. I differed from the Bush administration's position that executive privilege shielded the content of those meetings, as well as the industry attendees. Yes, I'm sure the … [Read more...] about The Obama-Cheney Merge
Russia’s Opposition and Liz Cheney: Allies Confronting Obama – Nezavisimaya Gazeta of Russia
Is President Obama more aligned with Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin than Bush was? And is Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, a better advocate for the Russian opposition that President Obama? According to this intriguing article By Alexei Victorovich Chadayev for Russia's Nezavisimaya Gazeta, the answer to both questions is … [Read more...] about Russia’s Opposition and Liz Cheney: Allies Confronting Obama – Nezavisimaya Gazeta of Russia
I Can’t Believe I Said This
Conspiracy theories know no political boundaries. The assassinations of President Lincoln and Kennedy and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are replete with theories still being debated today. But, the current so-called "birther" flap over President Obama boggles rationality. And, therein rests the problem with all conspiracy theorists: They won't accept factual … [Read more...] about I Can’t Believe I Said This