Is there a more tragic -- yet hope-inducing -- story than Connie Culp's? In September 2004, the attractive woman's husband shot her squarely in the face in a murder-suicide. He died. She didn't. But her suffering continued, in more ways than one. The shot blew away the center of her face. But now -- a sign we are truly in a new century where things will be different -- Culp … [Read more...] about First U.S. Face Transplant Gunshot Victim Patient Goes Public
This Cracked Me Up…
[This is being crossposted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about This Cracked Me Up…
Fed Should Not Buckle To Investor Lobby
HELP WANTED: The Obama administration is seeking private investors to infuse billions of dollars into struggling banks. SERVICES OFFERED: Dozens of equity capitalists are standing by to invest billions in these banks. Problem solved? Not exactly. Here's the catch: Investors want controlling interest in the banks they salvage. The Federal Reserve says no they can't buy … [Read more...] about Fed Should Not Buckle To Investor Lobby
Why Moderate Republicans Matter, Revisited
Yesterday's post was primarily a response to why Ross Douthat's snarky dismissal of New England or Rockefeller Republicans was off base. Using a column by Ross' workmate at the New York Times, David Brooks, I offered that moderate Republicans are not opportunists as they are bearers of an old tradition in the GOP, one that makes the case for a civic-minded … [Read more...] about Why Moderate Republicans Matter, Revisited
Obama to out Israel on Nukes?
We've been around this particular block too many times for me to get my hopes up, but the Washington Times is claiming a scoop, saying that President Obama may be ready to bring discussions of the secret everyone already knows to light. President Obama's efforts to curb the spread of nuclear weapons threaten to expose and derail a 40-year-old secret U.S. agreement to shield … [Read more...] about Obama to out Israel on Nukes?
What Will Likely Happen To The Lawyers Who Wrote The Bush Administration’s “Torture Memos?”
The Obama administration's Justice Department's likely course: sanctions but no prosecution. … [Read more...] about What Will Likely Happen To The Lawyers Who Wrote The Bush Administration’s “Torture Memos?”
Maine Gov. Baldacci Signs Same-Sex Marriage Bill
Becoming the fifth state to permit gay marriage: The governor's signature came barely an hour after the measure won final approval in the state Legislature, with a final 31-8 vote in favor in the Maine Senate. Baldacci said in a statement that while he has opposed gay marriage in the past, “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and ofequal protection … [Read more...] about Maine Gov. Baldacci Signs Same-Sex Marriage Bill
Obama-Zardari-Karzai Summit: Fears Over Afghanistan, Pakistan, The Taliban And Nukes
On a day when President Barack Obama will be meeting with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan to discuss how best to stabilize an increasingly unstable region of the world, some of the issues that continue to press on Washington policy makers -- and cause them to have nightmares -- are the issues of the Taliban's advances in … [Read more...] about Obama-Zardari-Karzai Summit: Fears Over Afghanistan, Pakistan, The Taliban And Nukes
Supreme Court
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Supreme Court
Testing My Stress Levels
Two economists recently authored a piece in the Wall Street Journal titled "We Can't Subsidize Banks Forever." It contained numbers and estimates from world banking officials and independent sources suggesting that the extent of liabilities of major lending institutions was so great that it would be impractical, indeed, crazy, to keep filling the black hole these outfits have … [Read more...] about Testing My Stress Levels
Specter Backs Off Coleman Support As Democrats Deny Him Committee Seniority
The cover stories from top Democrats may flood the media, but in the end it's clear that Pennsylvania Arlen Specter's rhetorical hubris ended in him losing what he clearly felt he would get when he jumped from the Republican to Democratic party: keeping seniority on key Senate committees. Since jumping ship, Specter has angered the Demoocratic party's liberal wing (and by … [Read more...] about Specter Backs Off Coleman Support As Democrats Deny Him Committee Seniority
Environmental Outrage: Toxic Waste Site Proposed For Area Of Prehistoric Ruins
By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE In the mind's eye of the armchair tourist, historic Southwestern sites are far from man's long and sometimes destructive reach. That is sometimes the case, but not so with Hovenweep, a cluster of ancient Pueblo ruins in the Utah desert that is adjacent to ranches, farms and orchards. For the most part, those neighbors have been respectful of … [Read more...] about Environmental Outrage: Toxic Waste Site Proposed For Area Of Prehistoric Ruins
For 100 Days, the World Has Watched
Like the international panel of judges at a figure-skating competition, the global press has been delivering its evaluations of Obama's first 100 days. Here are just a handful of articles from around the world whose headings contain the words, "100 Days" Le Droit, Canada The Myth of 100 Days El Mercurio, Chile The 100-Day Exam Al Ahram, Egypt Obama's Next 100 … [Read more...] about For 100 Days, the World Has Watched
Star Trek Fans Angry That New Movie Is Good
As a lifelong Star Trek nerd I almost fell out of my Captain's Chair laughing at this one http://www.theonion.com/content/video/trekkies_bash_new_star_trek_film?utm_source=a-section … [Read more...] about Star Trek Fans Angry That New Movie Is Good
Dom DeLuise Dies: Hollywood’s Beloved And Somewhat Untapped Comedy Talent
When the news hit that comedian actor Dom DeLuise died today at age 75 of cancer, in one sense it wasn't a huge surprise: he had reportedly had cancer, and for months now the supermarket tabloids have talked about how sick he was and how if anything he was eating more than ever because the end was near. True or not, the fact is that when I was a reporter on the San Diego … [Read more...] about Dom DeLuise Dies: Hollywood’s Beloved And Somewhat Untapped Comedy Talent
Miss California and the Insanity of American Politics
A lot of you out there have finally and officially lost your minds. I can't help you any more. I know that now, and I'm just going to have to accept it. Strangely enough, I had to learn this lesson at the alter of Carrie Prejean, first runner up in this year's Ms. USA pageant. During her failed bid for the crown, the bejeweled baton and the flowers (or whatever it is they get … [Read more...] about Miss California and the Insanity of American Politics
Specter Says He Wants Coleman And Makes More Enemies
Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, recently reborn as a Democrat in the face of a GOP unfriendly to moderates and the likelihood that he wouldn't win a Republican primary, now seems to be setting a record for alienating people of both parties. Specter, who earlier this week set off a mini-firestorm among some Democrats by pointedly saying that he was most definitely not a … [Read more...] about Specter Says He Wants Coleman And Makes More Enemies
Torture Has No Place in ‘Shining City on a Hill’: NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands
From The Netherlands, where in 1620 the Pilgrims embarked on their voyage to the New World, comes a reminder of this nation's roots in a rather strong editorial indicting the use of torture in the United States. The editorial board of the NRC Handelsblad writes in part: "The core of the constitutional state - the shining city on a hill that the U.S. wants to protect, has … [Read more...] about Torture Has No Place in ‘Shining City on a Hill’: NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands
Change Seen By An Old GOP Pol
So much has been written and aired about what's wrong with the Republican Party that I figured, what the hell, maybe former Sen. Howard Baker of Tennessee, writing an op-ed piece in Tuesday's Washington Post, would put his finger on it. I was shocked, I tell you. Shocked. "Things change because things change, not because of any ideological primacy or purity on a … [Read more...] about Change Seen By An Old GOP Pol
Why Moderate Republicans Matter
What are Moderate,Centrist, Progressive, Rockefeller or whatever they are called Republicans good for? That's the question that is on my mind this morning and it has probably been the question many in the GOP are asking. In many cases, the answer is that we are good for nothing and that we should join Arlen Specter in leaving the GOP. By now, I am familiar with the … [Read more...] about Why Moderate Republicans Matter