The self-styled victim of "the politics of personal destruction" has struck back at her tormenters by leaving Alaska's statehouse with trademark twinkly, crinkly aggression. Sarah Palin dropped her bombshell on the eve of a holiday weekend, sending TV's talking heads scrambling back from vacation to studios or huffing over long-distance phone lines to parse her resignation. … [Read more...] about Palin: The Media Martyr’s Revenge
Sarah Palin Resignation Coverage
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Resignation Coverage
Of Joy, Concern and Hope this Independence Day
For the past six to seven years, Americans have celebrated Independence Day with both joy and concern. Joy, because, for more than 230 years, Americans have had every reason to celebrate the undeniable fact that our nation and our people are still part of the greatest experiment in liberty, “the pursuit of happiness,” and democracy the world has ever seen. Concern, … [Read more...] about Of Joy, Concern and Hope this Independence Day
The Alacrity of Nope
Of the available choices... Scandal - public records revealed that SBS supplied the materials for her Wasilla house OR last week Alaska blogger Linda Kellen-Biegal successfully raised roughly $6,000 to pay the cost associated with a freedom of information request for email; Money & Fame - Anchorage Rep. Hawker noted that Palin's decision to quit "gives her unfettered … [Read more...] about The Alacrity of Nope
Happy Independence Day
I would like to extend my wishes to all of TMV's loyal readers for a happy, safe and patriotic fourth of July. The first of today's pictures will show you that Old Glory is flying in fine form, even up here in the remote mountain regions. That shot was taken on Wed. evening shortly after we arrived, during one of the few breaks in the cloud cover. We've not seen that much open … [Read more...] about Happy Independence Day
NPR Ombudsman Says No to Greenwald Interview on Torture
One of the continuing topics of discussion at Glenn Greenwald's Salon blog is the use, by many news organizations, of euphemisms like "harsh [or "enhanced"] interrogation techniques" when writing about the interrogation practices sanctioned and used by the Bush administration -- even when these same organizations use the word "torture" to characterize similar or identical … [Read more...] about NPR Ombudsman Says No to Greenwald Interview on Torture
Sarah Palin: Orthogonian
Rick Perlstein's excellent book Nixonland exploits a college fraternity motif to explain the entirety of Richard Nixon's political appeal.. At Whittier College, Nixon's alma mater, there was the social "in" crowd that formed an elite social club called the Franklins. Only the wealthiest students could deign to join the Franklins. Young Nixon, ever the outcast in this circle … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin: Orthogonian
Sarah, We Hardly Knew Ya
My first reaction was shock... until reality stepped in. Sarah Palin says she will resign her post as governor of Alaska at the end of July. Nothing this woman does surprises me anymore. It took about a nanosecond for the pundits and second guessers to opine on her future from the cable channels to websites and Twitter. I haven't a clue what she plans to do, if anything. … [Read more...] about Sarah, We Hardly Knew Ya
Palin Resigning as Alaska Governor
There was speculation that Alaska Governor (and right-wing darling) Sarah Palin would not run for re-election in 2010, both to give time to run for President in 2012, and to avoid a potentially embarrassing upset defeat which could derail her political career altogether (see Allen, George). But in a stunning announcement, Gov. Palin is in fact planning to resign the … [Read more...] about Palin Resigning as Alaska Governor
I Wasn’t Expecting This…Sarah Palin Will Resign As Alaska’s Governor
From MSNBC.com: Report: Palin resigning as Alaska governor I generally don't try to anticipate the strategies of politicians, I have a life to live, but I certainly wasn't expecting Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to resign her office this early, before campaigning for the 2012 Presidential election began in earnest. I'm sure even if there is a follow-up announcement regarding the … [Read more...] about I Wasn’t Expecting This…Sarah Palin Will Resign As Alaska’s Governor
Palin Quits As Governor
UPDATE: MSNBC is now reporting that sources tell Andrea Mitchell that Palin is out of politics for good. They indicate this is NOT a first step in a 2012 campaign for President but her decision to shift from political candidate to some sort of pundit type. I agree that there certainly seems to be more behind this story that meets the eye, perhaps a new scandal or possibly … [Read more...] about Palin Quits As Governor
Laugh in Tune! Listen to the Capitol Steps’ 4th of July Show
Laugh in Tune! Listen to the Capitol Steps' 4th of July Show on your local NPR station or online! Tune in to hear Mark Sanford, Joe Biden, Arlen Spector, and several Somali pirates as we perform our July 4th radio special in front of a large audience in a confined space. Get local broadcast info now. Hear what's in store on this promo clip. Find a Station or LISTEN … [Read more...] about Laugh in Tune! Listen to the Capitol Steps’ 4th of July Show
Road To A More Sensible Immigration Policy
On the surface, it is extremely suspicious the New York Times news pages are working in concert with the Obama Administration's initial steps towards immigration reform: A kinder, gentler approach in stark contrast to those employee raids conducted by the junior George Bush. I'll use the link to the story and you can decide for yourself. What I do know is that Obama's … [Read more...] about Road To A More Sensible Immigration Policy
The Dreaded Double Dip
After plunging in 2008 and early this year, since March the Dow soared some 36 percent. In the last two weeks, however, it has taken another nasty slide. Could this a signal we are about to experience.... The Dreaded Double Dip There are few worse fears among the seers who give guidance to The Street, Than an upward turn they claimed to discern that … [Read more...] about The Dreaded Double Dip
Michael Jackson: Symbol of a Near-Dead Music Industry – Nachrichten of Switzerland
Is Michael Jackson - and along with him U2 and Madonna - the last vestige of a music industry in its death throes? For Switzerland's Nachrichten newspaper, Patrik Etschmayer writes in part: "Ever since Michael Jackson, King of Pop, extra-terrestrial, and whatever else he was dubbed, shuffled off this mortal coil, commentators around the world have absolutely flipped. … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson: Symbol of a Near-Dead Music Industry – Nachrichten of Switzerland
Happy Motoring, America; Shafted Again
A rogue oil commodities broker was caught manipulating a spike in world oil prices forcing his company to eat $10 million in losses. The disclosure occurred Tuesday when the price of crude oil reached a year's high $73.50 a barrel at a time when the U.S. posts its highest demand on gasoline for the summer vacation season. By Thursday oil prices fell to $66.50 a barrel, down … [Read more...] about Happy Motoring, America; Shafted Again
More News from Mother Nature
Being socked in by repeating lines of storm fronts, I find myself with more time for those pesky internets than I might have liked. Today's exhibit in photography is an interesting effect found when rain clouds totally swamp a set of mountain peaks, with ghostly tendrils hanging down from the main cloud body like moss on a tree. There's an entire line of mountain peaks beyond … [Read more...] about More News from Mother Nature
Judge Overturns Guilty Verdicts in MySpace Suicide
Wired: A federal judge on Thursday overturned guilty verdicts against Lori Drew, issuing a directed acquittal on three misdemeanor charges. Drew, 50, was accused of participating in a cyberbullying scheme against 13-year-old Megan Meier who later committed suicide. The case against Drew hinged on the government’s novel argument that violating MySpace’s terms of service was … [Read more...] about Judge Overturns Guilty Verdicts in MySpace Suicide
Quote of the Day: On Republican Opposition to Sonia Sotomayor
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt, on GOP opposition to President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will begin confirmation hearings July 13, shrugged off the GOP concerns being raised about Sotomayor, saying some in the GOP were going to oppose … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On Republican Opposition to Sonia Sotomayor
Mark Sanford, Mental Case?
I've written a lot already on the whole Mark Sanford saga and I don't intend to write too much more on it this morning. Let me just say this: Is it really necessary to delve into the man's psyche, and specifically to do so without actually examining him, and, what's more, so publicly? He does seem to be going through some sort of adolescent mid-life crisis. And he does … [Read more...] about Mark Sanford, Mental Case?