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
Personal Finances Stabilize
There's definitely good news here in Glimmerland. Like the U.S. economy, which according to many recent reports from government and private analysts is stabilizing, personal finances in this country also appear to be nearing a bottom. You may have lost your job. But if you can't find another one, that simply means your job prospects haven't gotten worse. They have bottomed … [Read more...] about Personal Finances Stabilize
The Right Side of History: Obama Stands Up For “the Courage and Dignity of the Iranian People”
I have defended Obama on Iran, I continue to defend him, and I'll defend him here. I tend to be quite hawkish (as a liberal) on democracy and freedom, and I would love to see Iran shake off the shackles of theocracy and tyranny and embrace liberty and diversity and the sovereignty of the people, but, unlike war-now neocons and the many other hawkish conservatives, I also … [Read more...] about The Right Side of History: Obama Stands Up For “the Courage and Dignity of the Iranian People”
Sanford Admits Affair
A while back I wrote a post in which I discussed the fact that Democrats seem to be unable to keep their financial affairs in order while Republicans seem to be unable to keep it in their pants. Just a few days ago we had Nevada Senator John Ensign admit to an affair, now we have South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admitting to an affair. It seems his venture to Argentina … [Read more...] about Sanford Admits Affair
‘Revolutionary Gerontocracies’ Should Grab Obama’s Hand: El Nuevo Diario, Nicaragua
Have the ripple effects of President Obama's Cairo speech now reached Latin America? Many people now believe that the elections in Lebanon and Iran were a direct or indirect result of the president's speech to Muslims. This article by columnist Artemio Cruz of Nicaragua's El Nuevo Diario shows that that beyond the fact that President Obama's two speeches to Muslims … [Read more...] about ‘Revolutionary Gerontocracies’ Should Grab Obama’s Hand: El Nuevo Diario, Nicaragua
CARTERIZING OBAMA
John McCain, who relaxed during last year's campaign by improvising a "Bomb Iran" ditty, is back to lead a Republican chorus taunting Barack Obama as another Jimmy Carter. The tune is familiar, but the words are all wrong. Three decades ago, Carter dealt with a vulnerable revolution in Iran by fumbling every move from allowing the deposed Shah into the US to watching … [Read more...] about CARTERIZING OBAMA
Conservative Contradictions: The Right-Wing Assault on Obama Over Iran
The other day, TNR's Michael Crowley effectively captured the contradiction at the core of the conservative assault on Obama over Iran: So Now Obama Really Is Moses? For more than a year conservatives have ridiculed the alleged belief that Obama's special rhetorical powers can do anything, including parting the waters. Now they're all clamoring for him to change he course … [Read more...] about Conservative Contradictions: The Right-Wing Assault on Obama Over Iran
Women, Abortion, Helen Thomas and Richard Nixon
(picture of President Nixon in China - Helen Thomas in Red - courtesy of Time, Inc.) One hundred fifty four hours of Nixon tapes were released yesterday and as usual they do not disappoint. The two of the more controversial issues on the recordings are Nixon's statements regarding abortion and women in Republican politics. On the abortion issue, Nixon is pretty … [Read more...] about Women, Abortion, Helen Thomas and Richard Nixon
Anticipating 2010: Line of the Day
From Jim Vandehei's and Jonathan Martin's article today on what might fuel or fetter a GOP comeback: In politics, the resurrection of the out party almost always comes from the failure or excesses of the in party. A runner-up "line of the day" from the same article: "The voters are likely to use Republicans as a check" in 2010, said former Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.). "Even … [Read more...] about Anticipating 2010: Line of the Day