From Newt Gingrich? … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Does Some Heavy Lifting
A Stock Market Primer
I play the stock market for a hobby (and also because it helps me take in revenue that allows me to work at a job that I enjoy but pays little) most of the time rather successfully, but I am very hesitant to give advice since I don't want people to get mad if I lose them money. The one time I gave even a brief opinion on the stock market on TMV was in a comment last fall and … [Read more...] about A Stock Market Primer
Blogging Ethics: You Strongly Disagree With Me I Expose Your Identity
The late Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill once said "All politics is local." But now, more than ever before, that needs to be adjusted to: "All politics is personal." This has been increasingly apparent in the escalating stridency of personal attacks in political campaigns every year, demonizing slash-and-burn talk radio's overall influence on the nation's political … [Read more...] about Blogging Ethics: You Strongly Disagree With Me I Expose Your Identity
Glimmers of Economic Hope: The Flip Side
As an optimist when it comes to our economic recovery, when it comes to our president succeeding---not failing---in his efforts to revive the economy and to set a new economic course for our nation, I have been highlighting the positive aspects of what I perceive to be a slow and difficult, but steady recovery. Of course, the “doom and gloomers” have persistently continued … [Read more...] about Glimmers of Economic Hope: The Flip Side
Can Barack Obama’s “Global Populism” Work?
He holds press conferences abroad where his words are often aimed at the citizens -- particularly newer generation citizens -- on the street. His public rhetoric breaks with the recent rhetorical style of most past presidents. He extends what supporters feel are olive branches and opponents contend is the edge of a surrender flag hid by a border of seeming apology to foes. He … [Read more...] about Can Barack Obama’s “Global Populism” Work?
A Uniquely American Means to Combat Medical Tourism: We’re Easier to Sue!
KevinMD: How are American doctors fighting medical tourism trend? Cardiologist DrRich’s latest post details the concern the American College of Surgeons have for the burgeoning medical tourism industry, and how they are using malpractice as a reason not to travel overseas for your procedure. “Indeed, the potential difficulty in suing foreign doctors appears to be the … [Read more...] about A Uniquely American Means to Combat Medical Tourism: We’re Easier to Sue!
Hamas: Matchmakers?
From the life is stranger than fiction files. … [Read more...] about Hamas: Matchmakers?
American Teenager’s Tough Outback Ride
Australia is famous for its outback and the journey on the Ghan - its iconic trans-continental train - is a great tourist attraction. But for an American teenager Chad Vance, 19, it turned out to be a nightmare, who survived through sheer grit and luck. The Times of London reports: "Vance survived a terrifying late night train ride, clinging to the side of a train as it … [Read more...] about American Teenager’s Tough Outback Ride
U.S. Republicans Don’t Get It: Bush Soiled Use of the Term ‘Democracy’: L’Express of France
Why is it that U.S. Republicans have been complaining that Barack Obama failed to utter the word democracy in his speech to Muslims - and for that matter, has dropped the term 'War on Terror' altogether? According to Philippe Coste, who writes for the French weekly L'Express, it's simply this: they fail to grasp that President Bush rendered them counterproductive terms to … [Read more...] about U.S. Republicans Don’t Get It: Bush Soiled Use of the Term ‘Democracy’: L’Express of France
Three short words
Three short words... They have a power that is almost unimaginable until one hears them from someone that is important... ...or when one doesn't hear them. Hearing them can inspire, can heal, can ease the pain that is life. Not hearing them can hurt, can destroy, can cause the loss of will to overcome the pain that is life. Yet some cannot say them without prompting, even if … [Read more...] about Three short words
With E.U. and U.S. United, Israel is Bound to Budge: Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alscace of France
Now that the United States and Europe are on the same 'wavelength' in regard to the Israeli-Palestinian imbroglio, is it a foregone conclusion that Israel will comply and stop building or expanding settlements on what is slated to become part of Palestine? For France's Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace, Jean-Claude Kiefer writes in part: "Heard with a European ear, Barack … [Read more...] about With E.U. and U.S. United, Israel is Bound to Budge: Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alscace of France
Ghosts of Harry and Louise
The Senate Republican leader is channeling a couple of GOP golden oldies to oppose a public option in the health care reform pending in Congress. Unlike Harry and Louise in the 1993 TV commercials to torpedo the Clintons' initiative, Mitch McConnell's protagonists are real people--sort of--Bruce Hardy of England and Shona Holmes of Canada, who have been brought out to … [Read more...] about Ghosts of Harry and Louise
CNN’s Rick Sanchez Gets “Rare” Correction From Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly
In the battle between the cable networks the nastiest battle is between MSNBC and Fox News. CNN more often than not stays on the sidelines or, if an anchor takes a swipe, it's on a different level than the "war" between the other two networks. But CNN's Rick Sanchez recently decided to call Fox News' Bill O'Reilly on another one of O'Reilly's blanket attack assertions...this … [Read more...] about CNN’s Rick Sanchez Gets “Rare” Correction From Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly
Liberal Democrats Opposing Anti-FOIA Legislation
Democratic leaders in Congress, among them Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank, may vote against the supplemental war funding bill unless the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)-destroying Lieberman-Graham legislation, which is included in the bill, is taken out. … [Read more...] about Liberal Democrats Opposing Anti-FOIA Legislation
President Obama at Buchenwald
Yesterday, President Obama visited the infamous Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany---the first U.S. president to visit this camp. At Buchenwald alone, an estimated 56,000 innocent Jewish men, women and children were murdered by the Nazis during World War II. If it is possible to even say so, perhaps a relatively "small number" compared to the obscene numbers of Jews … [Read more...] about President Obama at Buchenwald
Fear + Principle = Nothing
Philip Mudd, a senior CIA official in the Bush administration, has withdrawn his nomination for intelligence chief at Homeland Security for fear of questions about his role in the CIA's harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists. Vice President Joe Biden and other top Obama administration officials have withdrawn from attending a national mayors conference in Rhode Island … [Read more...] about Fear + Principle = Nothing
Pathetic
That's the first word I thought of while reading this article on the Gitmo trials. "Obscene" is the word if it's actually enacted. Let me step back and detail exactly what they are proposing. 9/11 was the second biggest psyche changing attack in our history (or biggest depending on whether you believe that it was inevitable we would join WWII or not) and has now dominated … [Read more...] about Pathetic
The Privatization of “Obama’s War” (Guest Voice)
The Privatization of "Obama's War" Michael Winship The sudden reappearance of former Vice President Dick Cheney over the last few months - seeming to emerge from his famous undisclosed location more frequently now than he ever did when he was in office - does not mean six more weeks of winter. But it does bring to mind that classic country and western song, "How Can I … [Read more...] about The Privatization of “Obama’s War” (Guest Voice)
ObamaCare (TM) Revealed: Right Wing Remembers 4th Amendment
Word on the street is that the President is pushing for healthcare reform in a big way, and draft legislation is being circulated. I don't have much hope that this is going to be enacted in any sort of frugal, sensible fashion, but I agree that there is room for improvement in the system if it's handled intelligently. Unfortunately, we may not be off to a smashing start, as Ed … [Read more...] about ObamaCare (TM) Revealed: Right Wing Remembers 4th Amendment
Fleshing Out Adolph Hitler’s Evil
Do black and white photos contribute to people not realizing how evil can appear in seemingly everyday human forms? Some new material involving Adolph Hitler, the German dictator who wreaked havoc in the first part of the 20th century and who killed millions of Jews, has now come to light -- color material, and even material revealing his private voice. And it somehow adds to … [Read more...] about Fleshing Out Adolph Hitler’s Evil