Americans love a juicy scandal spiced with sex, intrigue, lies and ultimate redemption, especially when it involves a rather high-profile person such as Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina. It would not surprise me if in Sanford's high school yearbook he was voted the least likely senior to have an affair, let alone writing steamy emails to his paramour at a time his … [Read more...] about The Mark Sanford Case
Sanford Smitten
To a pair of ancient eyes, the fallen Governor of South Carolina has the hapless look of Edward VIII giving up the throne of England in 1936 for "the woman I love," a man undone by unexpected passion after a lifetime of being trained to follow all the rules of a straight-laced society. The bizarre details of his downfall testify to the emotions that must have overcome Mark … [Read more...] about Sanford Smitten
The Humanity and Hypocrisy of Mark Sanford
"Mark Sanford is no longer missing, but he's obviously lost." So writes Slate's John Dickerson to open an article on the Mark Sanford saga that, in light of what we learned yesterday, adds some much-needed humanity, largely out of respect to Sanford's own humanity, to what has been, in some circles, a case of gleeful Schadenfreude. It's an article that really got me … [Read more...] about The Humanity and Hypocrisy of Mark Sanford
Supreme Court on Strip Searches in Schools
In a victory for common sense, the Supreme Court has ruled 8-1 that the strip search of a 13 year old girl was unconstitutional. Among the factors that the court considered were that the girl's parents were never called, the fact that she was effectively held hostage in the Assistant Principal's office for 2 hours, the lack of corrroborating evidence, and the nature of the … [Read more...] about Supreme Court on Strip Searches in Schools
Argentinean News Web Site Claims to Have Details on Sanford’s Lover
Of course, the Spanish/Latin American press and web are full of stories on the "Yankee Governor" who instead of hiking in the Appalachian Mountains, was having an affair way down South, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There are literally scores of articles describing the scandal in varying levels of detail. Here are some of the headlines and links to some of those articles … [Read more...] about Argentinean News Web Site Claims to Have Details on Sanford’s Lover
Obama, Dukakis: Really?
Jazz already noted Ed Morrissey's breathless declaration of a "Dukakis moment" for the President. Jazz suggests Ed might be going a bit overboard. I'd say: "More than a bit." I like Ed. In fact, I respect Ed. He is, in my experience, one of the most reasonable and insightful of today's rightwing bloggers. But this particular analogy to Dukakis belies Ed's otherwise … [Read more...] about Obama, Dukakis: Really?
Lynch: Don’t Back Down on Settlements
Mark Lynch has come back from Israel and has a message for Obama: don't back down on the settlements. I mostly concur, and give my additional analysis here … [Read more...] about Lynch: Don’t Back Down on Settlements
A Genuine Islamic Revolution
Guest post by Hamid M. Khan While history is replete with revolutions, successful ones are able to match a collective will with an endemic philosophy for change. Days ago, Iranians gathered to elect a president, but in the ensuing firestorm from Iran's electoral results found reason to challenge Iran's current government. And while there are almost an infinite number of … [Read more...] about A Genuine Islamic Revolution
Some Critical Questions on Obama-Care
Like many of you, I also listened to President Obama recently fielding questions on proposed health care reforms currently under consideration. One of the less artful answers came on the subject of what kind of health care he would like for his own family. Ed Morrissey found it to be telling, labeling it a Dukakis moment. I'm not sure if it was quite that bad, but it certainly … [Read more...] about Some Critical Questions on Obama-Care
Will Dems Become Party of Fiscal Responsibility?
Two of them -- House Majority Leader Hoyer and House Education & Labor Committee Chair Miller -- certainly use the right rhetoric in proposing "paygo" legislation, the underlying principle of which many people (including me) support. Then again: We know how empthy rhetoric and proposals can be -- e.g., the Republican spendthrifts of '00 to '06. We know that both … [Read more...] about Will Dems Become Party of Fiscal Responsibility?
Quote of the Day: Did The World Media Miss Iran’s Brutal Tiananmen Square?
Our Quote of the Day comes from the site Threat Watch which contends the world media missed events in Iran yesterday when the regime there implemented its own, patently brutal, horrorific version of Tiananmen Square. Here's part of the post: Iran has executed its Tiananmen Square. Baharestan Square has become synonymous with barbarity, cruelty, massacre and … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Did The World Media Miss Iran’s Brutal Tiananmen Square?
Don’t Cry For Governor Sanford
RJ Matson, Roll Call The above cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Don’t Cry For Governor Sanford
Go Green the Fun Way
Be environmentally conscious without all that hassle. This week's cartoon holds the slacker's secrets to loving your Mother Earth. … [Read more...] about Go Green the Fun Way
Iran Regime Says, ‘Double Plus Good’ on President Obama: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Perhaps unaware that it was using a phrase taken from the nightmarish, counter-intuitive language known as Newspeak from George Orwell's novel 1984, the Iranian regime today complimented President Obama for his restraint - and lowered the boom on Great Britain. This article by Kian Mokhtari of the Islamic Republic's conservative, state-controlled Kayhan newspaper says in … [Read more...] about Iran Regime Says, ‘Double Plus Good’ on President Obama: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
If You Ask for Half a Loaf, You Will Get a Quarter of a Loaf
Or less. True compromise -- meaningful compromise -- only happens when each side's starting point is a whole loaf. If your starting position is half a loaf, you will end up with even less -- and that's not compromise. It's agreeing to surrender before you even begin. … [Read more...] about If You Ask for Half a Loaf, You Will Get a Quarter of a Loaf
Why Medvedev Can Meet Ahmadinejad – But Obama Cannot: Novosti of Russia
Commenting on the criticism President Obama has been receiving for not more roundly condemning the Iranian regime after the June 12 election, this article from Russia raises the question: Is it an advantage for Russia that it's President can meet with the likes of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, because it 'doesn't try to preach to others or impose morality'? According to this article … [Read more...] about Why Medvedev Can Meet Ahmadinejad – But Obama Cannot: Novosti of Russia
So Wrong It Has To Be Right
Sometimes things are just so unbelievably wrong that they need very little by way of introduction. With that, the extremely disturbing styling of Ted Pillman. Also known as the worst advertisement for Snickers candy bars... EVAH. (Warning: there is no nudity or language to make this NSFW, but it's still really disgusting.) … [Read more...] about So Wrong It Has To Be Right
Joe Klein Tells John McCain to “Be Quiet” on Iran
On Larry King two nights ago, Joe Klein gave the definitive put-down to John McCain's non-stop attacks on Barack Obama for not sufficiently supporting Iranian street protesters against the Iranian government: … [Read more...] about Joe Klein Tells John McCain to “Be Quiet” on Iran
Don’t Cry For Him, Argentina
I can't believe Joe didn't make that joke in his first post about Mark Sanford's extra-marital adventures. Nor did Patrick or any of the commenters. Has America lost its sense of humor? In the blogosphere, it shouldn't be long before this becomes a story that is more about the media than it is about Sanford. There will be an avalanche of coverage and we'll have to ask … [Read more...] about Don’t Cry For Him, Argentina
Two Reasons Why Mark Sanford’s Political Career Is Now Dead
The announcement by South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford that the "mystery" about his whereabouts stemmed from him being in Argentina conducting an extramarital affair will likely end his political career -- and not just because he had an affair. There are two other specific factors that will make him a dream for any Democrat at any level to run against at any point in his … [Read more...] about Two Reasons Why Mark Sanford’s Political Career Is Now Dead