HERE are 10 "true things" Time's Mark Halperin says Barack Obama's foes have gotten wrong. … [Read more...] about Are Obama’s Foes Wrong About Him?
Iran: Now It’s Official
Jeff Parker, Florida Today This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Iran: Now It’s Official
Obama to Extend Some Benefits to Gay Federal Workers
How surprising. A leak. Politico: Reacting to a rising tide of anger from gay and lesbian supporters at a series of slights and deferred promises, President Obama will tomorrow sign an executive order extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. The move, which mirrors the policy of many large corporations, will have an immediate effect for many workers, … [Read more...] about Obama to Extend Some Benefits to Gay Federal Workers
By Refusing Gitmo Prisoners, Germany’s Making a Big Mistake: Die Zeit, Germany
Former Guantanamo detainees - all Uighurs from China - now residing in Bermuda With its 'petulant' attitude toward accepting Guantanamo detainees who are presumed innocent, is German Chancellor Merkel missing a golden opportunity to get into President Obama's good graces? For Germany's Die Zeit, Martin Klingst writes in part: "With a bit of goodwill from the … [Read more...] about By Refusing Gitmo Prisoners, Germany’s Making a Big Mistake: Die Zeit, Germany
Twitterverse Tries To Confuse Iranian Censors
UPDATE: In comments, Twitter is down for maintenance. 1:30 am in Iran, they delayed to minimize the impact there. ++++++++++++++++ Both CNN and Reuters are reporting that the Obama administration asked Twitter to delay going down for scheduled maintenance last night to ensure Iranians could continue using the service to communicate to each other and the outside world. … [Read more...] about Twitterverse Tries To Confuse Iranian Censors
Obama’s Plan For Gay Rights
Check it out. Following up on this morning's post, it looks like a perfect storm is brewing. … [Read more...] about Obama’s Plan For Gay Rights
‘I Pray for the Greatness of the Iranian People’
Per Views from the Occident, via Sullivan, the following point -- made near the end of a statement from Grand Ayatullah Husayn (Hossein) 'Ali Montazeri -- is remarkable, given both its source and its alignment with what I've always understood to be a core value of our founding fathers: A legitimate state must respect all points of view. If you think that point resonates, … [Read more...] about ‘I Pray for the Greatness of the Iranian People’
David Letterman Apology, Bristol Palin: How To Create A Whore (In Some Minds)
I thought the time had passed when emotionally vulnerable young women were called out and excoriated by men... for having loved a man-- and become pregnant with new life.... and without having first stood before a someone who said words that sealed under the laws of the state, what is called marriage contract. I haven’t commented on Bristol Palin and her mother Governor … [Read more...] about David Letterman Apology, Bristol Palin: How To Create A Whore (In Some Minds)
Twisted Shooter Nominations
You've heard of "straight shooters" -- people who say what they mean, and do what they say? "Twisted shooters" are their obvious opposite, and if there were awards for twisted shooters, I'd open the nominations today with two. One nom for the GOP leaders who decry any attempt to vote against war funding, except when it's them casting the "nay's." (What goes around comes … [Read more...] about Twisted Shooter Nominations
Tribe Theory – Reborn
Everyone knows that humans cannot survive in the wild as individuals. Throughout time humans have survived by banding together in tribes for the common good. Successful leaders ruled for the benefit of all and his tribe expanded often without the need of warfare. Great leaders know that their position and power depend on those within the tribe. Even he cannot survive in the … [Read more...] about Tribe Theory – Reborn
People, Not Technology, Distort Reality
James Joyner voices concern that rapid-fire communication technologies (Twitter, et. al.) may be forcing snap-decisions on issues before those issues can be fairly and fully evaluated. I share some of Joyner's concern. Compelled to react to the Iranian situation over the weekend and yesterday, I authored what I think (in retrospect) were some remarkably thin, shallow, … [Read more...] about People, Not Technology, Distort Reality
What the AMA is Really About (Hint: Not Health Care)
My friend Barbara O'Brien (a.k.a. Maha of the very fine Mahablog) runs the Mesothelioma Law & Politics blog at the Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center and has been writing extensively on health-care reform. Take, for example, this must-read post on the American Medical Association's appalling (if all-too predictable) opposition to a "public option," that is, to a … [Read more...] about What the AMA is Really About (Hint: Not Health Care)
Come help us demonstrate our lack of support for the troops
Back in 2003 when I was still a card carrying member of the Republican Party, I swear that I felt like the only person in the GOP who opposed the Iraq war. But I kept right on protesting and speaking out against it, and finally my efforts have paid off. I see that today the entire House Republican membership is going to vote against further funding for the war. It's good to … [Read more...] about Come help us demonstrate our lack of support for the troops
Mounting Criticism of the ‘Disturbing’ Justice Dept DOMA Brief
The NYTimes editorial today on the recent Department of Justice brief defending DOMA: The Obama administration, which came to office promising to protect gay rights but so far has not done much, actually struck a blow for the other side last week. It submitted a disturbing brief in support of the Defense of Marriage Act, which is the law that protects the right of states to … [Read more...] about Mounting Criticism of the ‘Disturbing’ Justice Dept DOMA Brief
Admirable Nuance: Obama’s Measured Response to the Iranian Election and Its Aftermath
The right has been all over Obama's measured response to the Iranian election -- seriously, what was he to do? push America's weight around with the situation still unclear, and with allegations of corruption and vote-rigging unproven, however credible, thereby likely driving the wedge between Washington and Tehran deeper at a time when the U.S. is seeking to open up diplomatic … [Read more...] about Admirable Nuance: Obama’s Measured Response to the Iranian Election and Its Aftermath
Ex-Beatle McCartney For Meatless Mondays
The ex-Beatles pop music sensation Sir Paul McCartney and his two daughters are avidly campaigning for meatless Mondays to "reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the world's livestock, among the most serious contributors to global warming." The Independent reports: "The McCartneys have attracted support from across the worlds of showbusiness, science, business and the … [Read more...] about Ex-Beatle McCartney For Meatless Mondays
SPY HARD
News from two-thirds of the former Axis of Evil raises questions about whether US intelligence services are doing their jobs. How much do they really know about what's going on in Iran and North Korea? The meaning of election results from Tehran and insight into Kim Jong-il's successor are as opaque as they would have been in a world without air travel, computers, satellites … [Read more...] about SPY HARD
As Vatican Seeks Muslim Souls, Europe Fears U.S. Abandonment: La Stampa of Italy
Has President Obama's Cairo speech exposed a deep-seated European fear of 'Islamization?' This article from the country that houses the Vatican in part blames the Catholic Church for the phenomena. For Italy's La Stampa, Guido Ceronetti chastises his European brethren for being too lily-livered to support a stronger European defense and stand up to oppose those they fear - … [Read more...] about As Vatican Seeks Muslim Souls, Europe Fears U.S. Abandonment: La Stampa of Italy
California Budget Circus Part 23
The year was 1987. Ronald Reagan was President, Pac Man and Ms. Pac Man were tops at the video arcade, Michael Jackson was only slightly odd and NASA launched the Buck Rogers on the last of America's deep space probes (well maybe not that last one). However one other thing that happened that year was the California legislature failed to pass a budget on time and they have … [Read more...] about California Budget Circus Part 23
Joe Being Joe: Lieberman Says No to “Public Option” on Health-Care Reform
Joe Lieberman, non-Democrat, is always just in it for himself, isn't he? He's with McCain and the Republicans before the '08 election, campaigning vigorously against Obama, then he's with Obama, if not so much with the Democrats, whom he formally rejected following his loss to Lamont (becoming an "independent"), when Obama wins and the Republicans are reduced to an extremist … [Read more...] about Joe Being Joe: Lieberman Says No to “Public Option” on Health-Care Reform