Swiss neutrality is an article of faith among the people of that country, which is why something of a civil war has erupted between Switzerland's collective head of state and its judiciary over whether documents, which are rumored to show CIA meddling in Swiss national affairs, should be destroyed. In a nutshell, the documents involve Swiss nationals who helped Pakistan … [Read more...] about Does the CIA ‘Have a Free Ride’ in Switzerland? Are We the 51st State?: Nachrichten of Switzerland
Obama Is Misreading Iran Domestic Turmoil
The White House is misreading the signals from Iran’s turmoil and may find itself in a box by the September deadline President Barack Obama has set to intensify pressure if Teheran does not offer cooperation. Following the street demonstrations contesting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s election, Iranian domestic politics have changed fundamentally and the country has entered a … [Read more...] about Obama Is Misreading Iran Domestic Turmoil
The Irresponsibility of Mark Sanford (Even His Top Staff Didn’t Know Where He Was
I haven't written on the Mark Sanford saga in a while -- mainly because there hasn't been much new/newsworthy to report (he's still in office and he's apparently trying to reconcile with his wife), but also because, I admit, I grew tired of it -- but The State has some new details on Sanford's trip to Argentina to see his mistress (or, to be more precise, on the story he spun … [Read more...] about The Irresponsibility of Mark Sanford (Even His Top Staff Didn’t Know Where He Was
Positive Reaction to the House Democrats’ Health-Care Plan
House Democrats released their long-awaited health-care reform bill yesterday, and the plan it proposes includes a government-run component (a so-called "public option"). No, it's not exactly the single-payer, universal system that many of us prefer (and that we have here in Canada), but it's comprehensive and ground-breaking, and likely would ensure coverage for the vast … [Read more...] about Positive Reaction to the House Democrats’ Health-Care Plan
Be Careful What You Wish For (Guest Voice)
Be Careful What You Wish For by Average Joe Aaron Sorkin as usual has an uncanny capacity to encapsulate an argument. A couple of characters in his screenplay of A Few Good Men seem to explain the Bush Administration’s obsession with gathering domestic intelligence nicely. Kaffee, played by Tom Cruise in tells Colonel Jessep, played by Jack Nicholson, he thinks he is … [Read more...] about Be Careful What You Wish For (Guest Voice)
Senate’s Supreme Soap Opera
As the Sotomayor Show drones on, Democrats and Republicans are pushing dueling plot lines--an American dream of minority upward mobility vs. the Conservative nightmare of activist judges tilting the scales in favor of it (see firemen, New Haven). Behind these postures is the reality that Supreme Court confirmations are now TV soap operas in which politicians emote to their … [Read more...] about Senate’s Supreme Soap Opera
Sotomayor: Day Three, More of the S(h)ame?
It appears that today, the third day of Republican grilling of Judge Sotomayor, will once again focus on those horrible, unnatural, non-human life experiences, empathy and "what's in your heart," that no self-respecting judge should ever be caught with. This appears to be the case from listening to dealing-with-disabilities-is-a-game-of-golf Cornyn, who is presently grilling … [Read more...] about Sotomayor: Day Three, More of the S(h)ame?
Canadian Study: A Single Job Application Spelling Mistake Can Cost You The Job
Warning to job seekers: if you've heard over the years that a single typo on your job application, cover letter or resume can cost you the job, it's not mere chatter but now confirmed in a Canadian study: Typing mistakes in a job application can kill a would-be employee's chance of landing a job as employers bet that a sloppy resume means the applicant will do a sloppy … [Read more...] about Canadian Study: A Single Job Application Spelling Mistake Can Cost You The Job
Jiminy
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Jiminy
On Loving and Leaving the Democrats
"Be Careful What You Wish For." While I didn't vote for Barack Obama, I must still confess that I was one of the ex-Republican, libertarian leaning folks who found reason to quietly cheer his election. On some of the key issues of the day, I was simply done with the GOP. I couldn't stand our foreign policy under Bush and I was horrified at the prospect of having another … [Read more...] about On Loving and Leaving the Democrats
Observations On The Confirmation Process
As many bloggers both here at TMV and around the net have already pointed out it seems likely that Justice to Be Sotomayor will win a fairly easy confirmation. It is probable that she will get unanimous support from the Democrats and a decent level of support from the GOP. So I thought I would offer a commentary on the criticism already appearing in some quarters about how … [Read more...] about Observations On The Confirmation Process
Democrats and Republicans Play To The Future In Increasingly Peppery Sotomayor Supreme Court Hearings
As the Senate Supreme Court hearings for President Barack Obama's nominee Sonia Sotomayor head into their third day, one thing has become abundantly clear: both parties are now playing to the future -- reflecting and trying to consolidate their present constituencies while giving hints of their political warmaps for the future Supreme Court battles to come. On the Democratic … [Read more...] about Democrats and Republicans Play To The Future In Increasingly Peppery Sotomayor Supreme Court Hearings
Family Values 101
Here's a cram course in "Family Values" for those who need the refresher. … [Read more...] about Family Values 101
Secret CIA Program: Al Qaeda Hit Teams, or Death Squads?
This CIA assassination team story is getting bigger, and the questions are multiplying. … [Read more...] about Secret CIA Program: Al Qaeda Hit Teams, or Death Squads?
Sotomayor Hearings
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Sotomayor Hearings
Coming Up: It’s Round Two For Hillary Clinton In Asia
While the big (usually politically polarizing) flavor of the day political stories grab most attention in the new and old media, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been doing some far quieter work of her own: setting a new tone and shoring up links with Asian countries and their leaders. In a post on Real Clear World, Simon Tay, chairman of the Singapore Institute of … [Read more...] about Coming Up: It’s Round Two For Hillary Clinton In Asia
West Side Story II
RJ Matson, The New York Observer This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about West Side Story II
Sotomayor: It’s Day Two, and Sen. Kyl Stands Out
Yesterday, I commented on the single-minded approach and the one-track mind of Republican Senators during their introductory statements at Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings. It was a cacophony of insinuations and implications, all of which included one, some or all of the following: The “Wise Latina" comment;” Sotomayor's personal background, gender, … [Read more...] about Sotomayor: It’s Day Two, and Sen. Kyl Stands Out
Sotomayor and Whitehouse
Sonia Sotomayor will be confirmed easily by the Senate, with substantial Republican support, but Conservatives like Dear Leader Rush will continue to take ugly swipes at her, just as they have all along. But no matter. She is, as she proved once again yesterday, with her opening statement, a remarkable woman and an impressive jurist. Yes, she said all the right things, and her … [Read more...] about Sotomayor and Whitehouse
Sotomayor Day Two: Dog and Pony Show
The confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor are dragging through their second day, and it's getting harder to stay awake while watching them. Thus far, not only are there few surprises, but I tend to agree with Ben Pershing at the Washington Post, who has concluded that the Democrats no longer really care if they get a single Republican vote coming out … [Read more...] about Sotomayor Day Two: Dog and Pony Show