"Understanding the Hobbesian nature of international relations fundamentally grounds conservative foreign policy in reality."That quote is from John Bolton's op-ed in today's Washington Times. Does Bolton's description accurately characterize George W. Bush's foreign policy? What about Dick Cheney's? Hawkish policymakers like Cheney and Bolton certainly emphasize the … [Read more...] about What Defines A Conservative Foreign Policy?
America Doesn’t Deserve Barack Obama
What can a responsible satirist satirize at a time when America is blessed with a President who transcends irony and sarcasm? The American people, of course: "Obama Drastically Scales Back Goals For America After Visiting Denny's" Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about America Doesn’t Deserve Barack Obama
Why Tiananmen Still Matters
While I was away, the 20th anniversary of the Tiannamen Square massacre on June 4, 1989 was observed (except in China). Dan Twining has a great post on why Tiannamen still matters today. Here's his starting point: "We should start from the premise that the crackdown, and China's subsequent rise as an authoritarian rather than a democratic superpower, was not inevitable. We … [Read more...] about Why Tiananmen Still Matters
Ignorance Is Bliss
In my eight lackadaisical days on St. Kitts, I didn't pick up a single newspaper. I saw a handful of headlines while checking my e-mail, but didn't read any full stories. Once in a while, CNN would be turned in one of the bars where I was having a drink. In short, I simulated the diminished state of news-awareness experienced every day by tens of millions of Americans, who … [Read more...] about Ignorance Is Bliss
Hate (Guest Voice)
Hate by Anastasia Pantsios The timing was uncanny. Before he left on vacation, my editor at the publication I work for wrote this week’s cover story which hit the streets this morning, imploring George Voinovich as a sane — if not exactly as-moderate-as-described — Republican who is retiring and whose office is therefore not vulnerable to attacks from right-wing crazies, … [Read more...] about Hate (Guest Voice)
Murderous Math in the Museum
Old age is an education in asymmetry as the ratio of effort to result keeps worsening, as it takes many times the previous exertion to get a fraction of the results for the simplest act. In that light, what happened yesterday at the Holocaust Museum is a reminder that the rules of nature are not so simple: An 88-year-old with the strength to press a trigger kills a young man … [Read more...] about Murderous Math in the Museum
Obama, Netanyahu, Israel And The Return Of Shoe Politics
Was a photo of President Barack Obama that showed his shoes and the context in which it was taken offensive or not? We link you decide... … [Read more...] about Obama, Netanyahu, Israel And The Return Of Shoe Politics
Citizen Of The World
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Citizen Of The World
Jeremiah Wright Is Right
Some readers emailed me asking why I haven't posted as much over the past two weeks. Here's part of the answer: President Barack Obama's controversial former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is blaming "them Jews" for keeping him from speaking to the president. Wright, the former pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, said he hasn't spoken to Obama since … [Read more...] about Jeremiah Wright Is Right
David Brooks Backs Sotomayor but Still Espouses the Racist Double Standard of the Right
In his most recent NYT column, occasionally interesting conservative pundit David Brooks came out in support of Sonia Sotomayor and even had some nice things to say about her: If you look at the whole record, you come away with the impression that Sotomayor is a hard-working, careful-though-unspectacular jurist whose primary commitment is to the law. She is quite liberal. … [Read more...] about David Brooks Backs Sotomayor but Still Espouses the Racist Double Standard of the Right
Can Do Conan? Conan O’Brien’s Late Night Ratings Show Slippage?
Is NBC's Conan O'Brien starting to sag already in his new gig as Jay Leno's late night replacement going up against Leno's former NBC and late night nemesis David Letterman? And is this an unwelcome harbinger for the peacock? The L.A. Times reports some that there are some numbers that are likely to raise eyebrows -- and possibly beads of sweat -- at NBC: On June 1, the … [Read more...] about Can Do Conan? Conan O’Brien’s Late Night Ratings Show Slippage?
Wedgie (Cartoon)
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Wedgie (Cartoon)
WHO Declares Swine Flu Pandemic
The New York Times: The World Health Organization has told its member nations it is declaring a swine flu pandemic — the first global flu epidemic in 41 years, news services reported. The move came after an emergency meeting with flu experts here that was convened after a sharp rise in cases in Australia, which reported 1,224 cases on Wednesday, and rising numbers in … [Read more...] about WHO Declares Swine Flu Pandemic
Immigration and Health Care
One (and only one) of the most significant knocks against “illegal” immigration is its impact on our healthcare system. They are such a burden, but does this assertion really hold water? Illegal Immigrants: Some percentage, probably fairly small, of the estimated eight to ten million illegal aliens in the US use our hospital emergency rooms because they have no health … [Read more...] about Immigration and Health Care
Brazil Supreme Court Rules for American Father. But, Is This the End?
According to the Associated Press, Brazil's Supreme Court, yesterday, in a 10-0 decision ruled that 9-year-old Sean Goldman should be reunited with his father, thereby turning back the efforts by Brazil's Progressive Party to overturn a similar ruling by a lower federal court. An obviously delighted, but still cautious, David Goldman appeared this morning on NBC's Today Show … [Read more...] about Brazil Supreme Court Rules for American Father. But, Is This the End?
Defensively Spinning the Truth Away
There's a fair amount of spin going on regarding yesterday's tragic shooting at the Holocaust Museum and as a result, many Republican and conservative leaning blogs and writers are on the defensive as their political opposites attempt to score points. It looks, in fact, very much as it did in April when the DHS report came out. Unfortunately for the defense, though, I'm … [Read more...] about Defensively Spinning the Truth Away
Will America Go the Way of General Motors?: Nachrichten of Switzerland
According to Swiss columnist Patrik Etschmayer, the United States bears a striking resemble to GM just before it collapsed. For Nachrichten, Etschmayer writes in part: "The United States today seems like General Motors did not too long ago. It's still the greatest power in the 'market,' but customers are beginning to turn away from the goods it offers. ... Brand 'USA' … [Read more...] about Will America Go the Way of General Motors?: Nachrichten of Switzerland
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Who’s Afraid of Big Government? Not Us
Alan I. Abramowitz on Who's Afraid of Big Government? Not Us Barack Obama has been pulling the wool over the eyes of the American people. At least that's what some conservative pundits are claiming. Despite his current popularity, commentators such as Michael Barone, Dick Morris, and Karl Rove are predicting that Mr. Obama's approval ratings will come crashing down to earth … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Who’s Afraid of Big Government? Not Us
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Back to the Future for Obama
Alan I. Abramowitz on Back to the Future for Obama: Comparing the 2004 and 2008 Presidential Elections Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election represented one of the most dramatic shifts in political power in American history. In terms of both style and substance, the contrast between Obama and George W. Bush is perhaps as great as that between any … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Back to the Future for Obama
DYSFUNCTIONAL ARIZONA
In contrast with the Republican-controlled Legislature, Republican Governor Jan Brewer is earnestly trying to fix problems that have been brewing for decades in Arizona. She inherited her position earlier this year when former Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano became Secretary of Homeland Security in the Obama Administration. The dysfunctional state tax system was … [Read more...] about DYSFUNCTIONAL ARIZONA