First of all, before I get rebuffed by the right side of my readers, let me clearly explain that I am not supportive of the President's lack of action on the Iranian elections. However, what exactly is Barack Obama supposed to do? Is the President of the United States supposed to disregard the sovereignty of a nation-state because some of their people are demonstrating … [Read more...] about Anyone Forget Bush v. Gore?
The Nanny Corporation
University of Chicago law professor Todd Henderson examines the "nanny corporation" and what he calls the "market for paternalism." I'm going to be blogging all summer covering Chicago's "works in progress" talks for the Faculty blog. There should be one going up each week -- your chance to take a peek at what's percolating at one of the world's top intellectual centers. … [Read more...] about The Nanny Corporation
Obama’s Catalog Of Universal Rights
The president's news conference this afternoon provides much food for thought (transcript here). The president has been very careful until now about asserting that democracy and human rights are universal values. Yet today, he said once, and then repeated twice that: As I said in Cairo, suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. The Iranian people have a … [Read more...] about Obama’s Catalog Of Universal Rights
In Praise Of Inter-Species Marriage
The Pennsylvania legislature is now debating whether or not to legalize gay marriage. One hears the usual, the predictable arguments from both sides in this debate. But the other day I heard one argument from people opposing the right of gays to marry that had never occurred to me—the possibility that if we allow this to go forward in Pennsylvania it would put us on a slippery … [Read more...] about In Praise Of Inter-Species Marriage
Forceful John Bolton, Meet Timid John Bolton
Okay, how idiotic is this? John Bolton slams Pres. Obama, on Sean Hannity's show, for "abandoning the people in the streets [of Iran] and [not] providing any possibility of concrete assistance to them." Then, in the next breath, in response to a question from Hannity, he turns around and says exactly the opposite (emphasis in original): … [Read more...] about Forceful John Bolton, Meet Timid John Bolton
Racism First: Pat Buchanan, the Republican Party, and the New (White Nationalist) Majority
Yes, it's quite amusing that (white nativist) Pat Buchanan and "white nationalist" Peter Brimelow spewed their bigotry and ignorance beneath a banner that misspelled the word "conference" -- it was spelled "conferenece," with an extra 'e' (for eugenics?) -- but what's rather more serious, if not genuinely disturbing, is that this sort of bigotry and ignorance still plays so … [Read more...] about Racism First: Pat Buchanan, the Republican Party, and the New (White Nationalist) Majority
Where Did the “Searing Image” of Neda Dying Come From?
We have all seen the chilling video of the 27-year-old Iranian woman, Neda Agha-Soltani, dying in the streets of Tehran. In his press conference a few minutes ago, President Obama mentioned the "searing image of a woman bleeding to death on the streets [in Tehran]" He also mentioned how "powerful images and pointed words have made their way to us through cell phones and … [Read more...] about Where Did the “Searing Image” of Neda Dying Come From?
Answers Come on the Iran Questions
Yesterday quite a few of our regular TMV readers engaged in a lengthy, spirited debate on the subject of the unrest in Iran in the comments section of my column on this topic. It was a topic which our friend Ed Morrissey of Hot Air and I were debating and certainly an important one. In that column, I posed three questions for our readers. Two of them were, who won the election … [Read more...] about Answers Come on the Iran Questions
Obama’s Press Conference, Iran…and Neda Agha-Soltan
First, my usual disclosures. I voted for Obama. I like Salon's Joan Walsh. I especially liked the cool, calm, collected, and informed way she recently debated---whenever she wasn't rudely interrupted---a boorish, fuming, huffing and puffing, uninformed O'Reilly on Dr. Tiller's murder and on O'Reilly's previous ranting on this subject---prior to the murder. I also … [Read more...] about Obama’s Press Conference, Iran…and Neda Agha-Soltan
The Strange, Troubling Saga of Mark Sanford, AWOL
So apparently Mark Sanford, the AWOL Republican governor of South Carolina, is hiking the Appalachian Trail. (UPDATE: Sanford staff is now saying that the governor will be back in the office on Wednesday. Still, it's all very, very troubling.) So, case closed, right? Story over? Well... For all I know, Sanford may very well be hiking. And he may very well have been … [Read more...] about The Strange, Troubling Saga of Mark Sanford, AWOL
RIP Ed McMahon, 1923-2009
We've lost another of the classic names of the small screen. NBC News is reporting that legendary Tonight Show sidekick and promoter of everything, Ed McMahon has passed away. He had been battling a number of different medical problems for some time. The era of the Tonight Show when he partnered with Johnny Carson was a part of the fabric of life for so many Americans. A long … [Read more...] about RIP Ed McMahon, 1923-2009
Stop Publishing Our Military Strategies!
With a hat tip to Ed at Hot Air, we find out that U.S. forces in Afghanistan will soon stop attacking Taliban elements in urban and suburban areas where civilian casualties are more likely. KABUL — The top U.S. general in Afghanistan will soon formally order U.S. and NATO forces to break away from fights with militants hiding in Afghan houses so the battles do not kill … [Read more...] about Stop Publishing Our Military Strategies!
A Shout for Democracy (Guest Voice)
A Shout for Democracy By Martha Randolph Carr Sometimes other countries look at America and mistake how we practice capitalism with the ideal of democracy. They call for our demise based on the former, which is a business model, even while they’re lunging toward the latter, which is a much bigger dream. Take Iran, for example, which recently had presidential elections … [Read more...] about A Shout for Democracy (Guest Voice)
Ayatollah Prayer Rug
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Ayatollah Prayer Rug
Sotomayor Shaping Up As Major Liability — For Republicans
Have we ever seen a case in recent history of a party taking such careful aim and shooting itself in the foot? This one perhaps is one for the political ages: New poll numbers really seem to bear out the fears of some Republicans: The GOP’s quasi-opposition to Sotomayor seems to be hurting the party among Latinos in a big way. The latest numbers from the nonpartisan … [Read more...] about Sotomayor Shaping Up As Major Liability — For Republicans
Canadian ‘Health-Care Socialism’: When Will Americans Learn?
My two friends (surely they can't be described as "socialists" by any stretch of imagination) have come out in full support of the US government's SINGLE PAYER HEALTH INSURANCE scheme. However, they are amazed at the misinformation that is being spread regarding the scheme in the US media and the ads. Shyamal Bagchee, PhD, FRSA, Professor of English and Film Studies, … [Read more...] about Canadian ‘Health-Care Socialism’: When Will Americans Learn?
Iran: Protesters Chase Riot Police, Riot Police Run Away
I've never seen anything quite like it ... and have more than a few shares of 'protest/march/show up and be heard' street creds. Here is a must-see film clip from Iran, mounted on the BBC Middle East site Half way through the film clip the most amazing thing occurs.... as the Iranian riot police in tan uniforms start hurling tear gas canisters into the crowd of protesters … [Read more...] about Iran: Protesters Chase Riot Police, Riot Police Run Away
Iran Freedom
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Iran Freedom
What Abortionist Killers Believe
What are the beliefs that motivate extreme anti-abortion activists to murder the doctors that perform abortions? My friend and colleague Jon Shields provides careful answers to a question that usually provokes little more than partisan rhetoric. Jon, now a professor at Claremont McKenna, recounts the influence on the extremist movement of violent activist Michael … [Read more...] about What Abortionist Killers Believe
Don’t Get Too Optimistic About Iran
CNN talks to Fareed Zakaria: Fareed Zakaria: One of the first things that strikes me is we are watching the fall of Islamic theocracy. CNN: Do you mean you think the regime will fall? Zakaria: No, I don't mean the Iranian regime will fall soon. It may -- I certainly hope it will -- but repressive regimes can stick around for a long time. I mean that this is the end of … [Read more...] about Don’t Get Too Optimistic About Iran