Details here. For a solid look at the case's background, go here. Both pieces are the good work of Eli Lake. Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about US Government Drops Spy Case Targeting AIPACers
How The Republicans Can Learn From David Cameron’s British Conservative Party (Guest Voice)
How The Republicans Can Learn From David Cameron’s British Conservative Party by Dalitso Njolinjo The world of Anglo-American politics can be a funny place indeed. In the space of 14 years we have seen the British Conservative Party struggle for it’s political life and social relevance while conservatism in the United States was gaining a second wind through the … [Read more...] about How The Republicans Can Learn From David Cameron’s British Conservative Party (Guest Voice)
Biden Forgets to Restore Science to its Rightful Place
On Sunday morning, the White House sent out its swine flu truth squad to hit all the major Sunday talk shows, including Meet the Press, This Week and Fox News Sunday. The truth squad was clearly desperate to avoid any questions about Joe Biden and his apocalyptic warning this week that no one should travel in trains or planes, lest they catch the swine flu. On Meet the … [Read more...] about Biden Forgets to Restore Science to its Rightful Place
Ignoring Local Politics at Our Own Risk
Former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill once famously opined: "All politics is local." In my latest commentary for St. Louis' NPR affiliate, I voice a nagging concern that too many of us (including me) have forgotten the wisdom of Tip's counsel. … [Read more...] about Ignoring Local Politics at Our Own Risk
RNC Chairman Michael Steele: The Isis Crisis
Isis and Osiris are sister/brother gods from ancient Egypt. Every night, the evil god Set destroys Osiris, cutting him into pieces and scattering his parts over creation. Osiris's sister, Isis, searches for and puts all the parts back together again, so Osiris, the sun god, can rise anew the next morning. Something like that goes on with all of us too. Who hasn't needed a … [Read more...] about RNC Chairman Michael Steele: The Isis Crisis
Ashcroft and Gonzales Defend Torture Program
Dan Abrams of The Daily Beast interviewed first former AG John Ashcroft and second former AG Alberto Gonzales, and they told him that, although it may be torture now, it wasn't torture then, and besides, it worked: Judge Gonzales, I’m going to ask you a very direct question. And it relates to something you just said. Do you believe waterboarding is torture? AG: Here’s what … [Read more...] about Ashcroft and Gonzales Defend Torture Program
The Things That We Miss
No matter how old or young you may be, how many times have you remarked to a friend or just made a mental note to yourself, "Say... that looks interesting. I'll have to get back to that." I find this happens with things in a wide variety of categories, but mostly entertainment or casual study. There are television series, books, movies, plays and travel destinations which I … [Read more...] about The Things That We Miss
Obama’s Grandmother and End-of-Life Care
How much time on earth is enough? How good does it have to be? What price are we willing to pay for it? For decades, Americans have been debating when life begins, but now come the questions about the last days, as Barack Obama raises the hard fact that "those toward the end of their lives are accounting for potentially 80 percent of the total health care bill." As usual, … [Read more...] about Obama’s Grandmother and End-of-Life Care
Mortgaging the White House (Guest Voice)
Mortgaging the White House by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship Finally, [on Friday we were at the end of the] week of a hundred days. As everyone in the western world probably knows by now, this benchmark for assessing presidencies goes back to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who arrived at the White House in the depths of the Great Depression. In his first hundred days, FDR … [Read more...] about Mortgaging the White House (Guest Voice)
President Chavez ‘Puts Early End’ to Honeymoon with Obama: Tal Cual, Venezuela
For those interested in a fuller accounting of the May Day remarks of President Hugo Chavez in regard to the Obama Administration than those available on the wire services, this news item from Venezuela's Tal Cual offers extensive quotes - and coverage of the harsh manner in which his government dealt with pro-democracy counter-demonstrations on the same day. The Tal Cual … [Read more...] about President Chavez ‘Puts Early End’ to Honeymoon with Obama: Tal Cual, Venezuela
Biden Swine Flu Panic
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. THIS JUST IN! Today Biden will do something he said is highly risky. … [Read more...] about Biden Swine Flu Panic
Doing Evil in the Name of the Good: Le Temps, Switzerland
In Europe and elsewhere, the revulsion over U.S. treatment of terrorist detainees shows little sign of abating, and, as this op-ed from Switzerland shows, neither does the self-loathing over the fact that European governments actively participated or turned a blind eye - or as Swiss columnist Francois Gross puts it, "allies of these Crusaders, worthy of their ancestors remained … [Read more...] about Doing Evil in the Name of the Good: Le Temps, Switzerland
GOP Seeks Advice from Bush Aides on How to Recover From Bush Disaster
Who better to get the Republican Party out of the basement than the folks who put them there? Republicans looking to recover from Bush-era defeats are turning to an unlikely source for advice: top aides to former President George W. Bush. Former White House press secretary Dana Perino, former Bush counselor Ed Gillespie and former White House deputy press secretary … [Read more...] about GOP Seeks Advice from Bush Aides on How to Recover From Bush Disaster
Pete Seeger & World Press Freedom Day
On the World Press Freedom Day (May 3), Sri Lankan journalist Nalaka Gunawardene chose to pay a warm tribute to Pete Seeger, the American folk singer and a pioneer of protest music, who turned 90. Gunawardene wrote: "Since media freedom is inseparable from the democratic rights to dissent and protest, I will devote this blog post to salute Pete and his many decades of music … [Read more...] about Pete Seeger & World Press Freedom Day
Is the GOP Like GM?
In the days following the defection of Senator Arlen Specter to the Democrats, I've been thinking about what to write about in the wake of all of this. As a moderate Republican, I can say that it has been a hard week and, more than once, I've thought of just ending my relationship with this party. As I thought about and read through all the articles by moderate … [Read more...] about Is the GOP Like GM?
How Dire Is The Plight Of The Republican Party?
Without any comment from us, just read this must read analysis by Dick Polman. UPDATE: Be sure to read this related must-read post by Ron Beasley. … [Read more...] about How Dire Is The Plight Of The Republican Party?
Arlen Specter Stresses That He Is (GASP!!) Independent Minded
Hold onto your hats...If you have a weak heart get ready....If you're a journalist prepare to screech "STOP THE PRESSES!!!" if your newspaper hasn't already folded...If you're a blogger of the right or left get ready to write a breathless post expressing degrees of outrage or it-suits-them-right (depending on which party you belong to). Here is a bit of news that is going to … [Read more...] about Arlen Specter Stresses That He Is (GASP!!) Independent Minded
Club For Growth
RJ Matson, Roll Call This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Club For Growth
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Multiple Columns
For various reasons, I have neglected to post several columns from Sabato's Crystal Ball. Here they are.... Alan Abramowitz on The Obama Generation 04/30/2009 Joseph Figueroa on New Jersey Governor Showdown 04/30/2009 Diana Owen on High Interest Election, Media Boon 04/23/2009 Isaac Wood on HOUSE RACE SPECIAL: EXTRA INNINGS! 04/23/2009 Alan Abramowitz on … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Multiple Columns
Washington Moves To Reform Wall Street
There's a lot of talk these days about "reforming" the way business is done on Wall Street with more regulation and greater transparency. And sure, some real changes are coming. But when the smoke clears and the mirrors are put away, how different will things really be? Washington's Moves To Reform Wall Street When Wall Street gamesters over-reach, Their … [Read more...] about Washington Moves To Reform Wall Street