We have all seen the chilling video of the 27-year-old Iranian woman, Neda Agha-Soltani, dying in the streets of Tehran. In his press conference a few minutes ago, President Obama mentioned the "searing image of a woman bleeding to death on the streets [in Tehran]" He also mentioned how "powerful images and pointed words have made their way to us through cell phones and … [Read more...] about Where Did the “Searing Image” of Neda Dying Come From?
Answers Come on the Iran Questions
Yesterday quite a few of our regular TMV readers engaged in a lengthy, spirited debate on the subject of the unrest in Iran in the comments section of my column on this topic. It was a topic which our friend Ed Morrissey of Hot Air and I were debating and certainly an important one. In that column, I posed three questions for our readers. Two of them were, who won the election … [Read more...] about Answers Come on the Iran Questions
Obama’s Press Conference, Iran…and Neda Agha-Soltan
First, my usual disclosures. I voted for Obama. I like Salon's Joan Walsh. I especially liked the cool, calm, collected, and informed way she recently debated---whenever she wasn't rudely interrupted---a boorish, fuming, huffing and puffing, uninformed O'Reilly on Dr. Tiller's murder and on O'Reilly's previous ranting on this subject---prior to the murder. I also … [Read more...] about Obama’s Press Conference, Iran…and Neda Agha-Soltan
The Strange, Troubling Saga of Mark Sanford, AWOL
So apparently Mark Sanford, the AWOL Republican governor of South Carolina, is hiking the Appalachian Trail. (UPDATE: Sanford staff is now saying that the governor will be back in the office on Wednesday. Still, it's all very, very troubling.) So, case closed, right? Story over? Well... For all I know, Sanford may very well be hiking. And he may very well have been … [Read more...] about The Strange, Troubling Saga of Mark Sanford, AWOL
RIP Ed McMahon, 1923-2009
We've lost another of the classic names of the small screen. NBC News is reporting that legendary Tonight Show sidekick and promoter of everything, Ed McMahon has passed away. He had been battling a number of different medical problems for some time. The era of the Tonight Show when he partnered with Johnny Carson was a part of the fabric of life for so many Americans. A long … [Read more...] about RIP Ed McMahon, 1923-2009
Stop Publishing Our Military Strategies!
With a hat tip to Ed at Hot Air, we find out that U.S. forces in Afghanistan will soon stop attacking Taliban elements in urban and suburban areas where civilian casualties are more likely. KABUL — The top U.S. general in Afghanistan will soon formally order U.S. and NATO forces to break away from fights with militants hiding in Afghan houses so the battles do not kill … [Read more...] about Stop Publishing Our Military Strategies!
A Shout for Democracy (Guest Voice)
A Shout for Democracy By Martha Randolph Carr Sometimes other countries look at America and mistake how we practice capitalism with the ideal of democracy. They call for our demise based on the former, which is a business model, even while they’re lunging toward the latter, which is a much bigger dream. Take Iran, for example, which recently had presidential elections … [Read more...] about A Shout for Democracy (Guest Voice)
Ayatollah Prayer Rug
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Ayatollah Prayer Rug
Sotomayor Shaping Up As Major Liability — For Republicans
Have we ever seen a case in recent history of a party taking such careful aim and shooting itself in the foot? This one perhaps is one for the political ages: New poll numbers really seem to bear out the fears of some Republicans: The GOP’s quasi-opposition to Sotomayor seems to be hurting the party among Latinos in a big way. The latest numbers from the nonpartisan … [Read more...] about Sotomayor Shaping Up As Major Liability — For Republicans
Canadian ‘Health-Care Socialism’: When Will Americans Learn?
My two friends (surely they can't be described as "socialists" by any stretch of imagination) have come out in full support of the US government's SINGLE PAYER HEALTH INSURANCE scheme. However, they are amazed at the misinformation that is being spread regarding the scheme in the US media and the ads. Shyamal Bagchee, PhD, FRSA, Professor of English and Film Studies, … [Read more...] about Canadian ‘Health-Care Socialism’: When Will Americans Learn?
Iran: Protesters Chase Riot Police, Riot Police Run Away
I've never seen anything quite like it ... and have more than a few shares of 'protest/march/show up and be heard' street creds. Here is a must-see film clip from Iran, mounted on the BBC Middle East site Half way through the film clip the most amazing thing occurs.... as the Iranian riot police in tan uniforms start hurling tear gas canisters into the crowd of protesters … [Read more...] about Iran: Protesters Chase Riot Police, Riot Police Run Away
Iran Freedom
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Iran Freedom
What Abortionist Killers Believe
What are the beliefs that motivate extreme anti-abortion activists to murder the doctors that perform abortions? My friend and colleague Jon Shields provides careful answers to a question that usually provokes little more than partisan rhetoric. Jon, now a professor at Claremont McKenna, recounts the influence on the extremist movement of violent activist Michael … [Read more...] about What Abortionist Killers Believe
Don’t Get Too Optimistic About Iran
CNN talks to Fareed Zakaria: Fareed Zakaria: One of the first things that strikes me is we are watching the fall of Islamic theocracy. CNN: Do you mean you think the regime will fall? Zakaria: No, I don't mean the Iranian regime will fall soon. It may -- I certainly hope it will -- but repressive regimes can stick around for a long time. I mean that this is the end of … [Read more...] about Don’t Get Too Optimistic About Iran
Kentucky Fried BEEF?
KFC's new grilled chicken is made with rendered beef fat and plenty of MSG (monosodium glutamate). There are two ways you can find this out. First, you can read the 37-page long list of ingredients in all of KFC's products. Or you can read this post by Laura McClure on Kevin Drum's blog. Thanks for nothing, guys. Now I can't tell my wife I'm being healthy when I get … [Read more...] about Kentucky Fried BEEF?
Too Funny
God exists, and she has a wicked sense of humor: … [Read more...] about Too Funny
Should Western Firms Sell Spyware To Iran?
SHOULD WESTERN FIRMS SELL SPYWARE TO IRAN? Unquestionably, it's pretty shameful for Nokia and Siemens to help the Iranian government monitor dissidents online. It's one of those rare cases where private firms really should forego profits in the name of the public good. On the other hand, the sale of monitoring capabilities may have lulled Tehran into believing it had the … [Read more...] about Should Western Firms Sell Spyware To Iran?
About That New Republican Majority
I don't link to ThinkProgress all that often, but here is one story that's unfortunately worth a look. It centers on MSNBC regular Pat Buchanan. Please go read the article, but it features Pat hosting an event where they would discuss the best way for Republicans to regain their majority status. One avenue under discussion was to fight for English only initiatives. (For the … [Read more...] about About That New Republican Majority
Gov. Mark Sanford, Missing for Four Days, Has Been Found
If this is not an example of the explanation being even weirder than the thing being explained, I'm stumped for what would be (emphasis mine): … [Read more...] about Gov. Mark Sanford, Missing for Four Days, Has Been Found
Lawyer for Scientology Attacks Position of France: Le Figaro, France
The ongoing battle in the streets of Iran isn't the only political-religious clash going on. For Scientologists, perhaps the most pressing current conflict has been taking place in a Paris court. Seven French members of the group, the organization itself and its bookstore have been charged with organized group fraud and illegal use of pharmaceuticals. Scientology frames the … [Read more...] about Lawyer for Scientology Attacks Position of France: Le Figaro, France