Yesterday the World Health Organization declared that an influenza pandemic was "imminent." The U.S government reported that in the first quarter of this year the Gross Domestic Product fell 6.1 percent. The number of unemployed continues to rise, and foreclosures continue to increase. Six of the country's 19 largest banks failed the government's stress test and will need more … [Read more...] about Market Nuttiness Gets Nuttier
New Hampshire’s Matriarchal Government Best Defines “Change”
I've written before about New Hampshire's state legislature: the House and Senate are both led by women and the Senate is majority female. When I've written about these details, I've also written that while it's something to cheer, we need to keep track of how exactly it might make a difference in governance and life in New Hampshire - and whether voters ultimately decide that … [Read more...] about New Hampshire’s Matriarchal Government Best Defines “Change”
Car Ploughs into Dutch Queen’s Day Parade – Four Killed, 13 Wounded
Both the BBC and the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad report that a car has ploughed into a crowd of people in the Dutch city of Apeldoorn today during an official visit there by the Dutch royal family. The newspaper reports that four people were killed and 13 wounded and that it apparently was a deliberate action. According to the Handelsblad: An unidentified … [Read more...] about Car Ploughs into Dutch Queen’s Day Parade – Four Killed, 13 Wounded
Matthew Shepard’s Murder Was Not a Hoax, but This Law Will Be
Patrick Edaburn already wrote a very insightful article on yesterday's passage of yet more "hate crime legislation" in the House of Representatives, this time invoking the name of Matthew Shepard. While the people who abducted and murdered Shepard were certainly monsters of the most hateful sort, their biggest crime may not be the assault on Shepard's person, but the damage … [Read more...] about Matthew Shepard’s Murder Was Not a Hoax, but This Law Will Be
Republicans’ NRSC Uses Bush’s Support As Negative Against New Democrat Arlen Specter
The NRSC has started trying to hook up with Democratic primary voters in Pennsylvania to go after Senator Arlen Specter for his switch to the Democratic party because....brace yourself...George Bush supported Specter. So should the subtext for ALL Democrats now from the NRSC be that if ANY Republican was endorsed or even tolerated by Bush, Democrats should automatically vote … [Read more...] about Republicans’ NRSC Uses Bush’s Support As Negative Against New Democrat Arlen Specter
Some Scary Views On Pakistan
Newsweek has an interesting article about the need to get the military out of politics in Pakistan. As the article details, the army has not done much good and has actually caused a great deal of instability in the government. Meanwhile there are growing concerns about a possible Taliban takeover in the increasingly unstable country. President Obama is worried about a … [Read more...] about Some Scary Views On Pakistan
Congress Votes On Hate Crimes Law
The House has voted to approve a new hate crimes law named after Matthew Shepard. The vote was 249-175. The bill has been introduced in the Senate but a vote is not yet scheduled. President Obama has indicated he would sign the bill if it makes it to his desk. The law would broaden current laws to include attacks based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender identity or … [Read more...] about Congress Votes On Hate Crimes Law
Alex Lees: A Hero’s Final Great Escape
Alex Lees, 97, who was immortalised, not only in military, but cinematic history (in The Great Escape film - 1963) for his daredevil escape from the German prison camp in 1944, was buried yesterday at Paisley, the U.K. "But, while 50 of his fellow plotters were executed, after one of the most valiant but tragic escape attempts of the war, the young Royal Army Service Corps … [Read more...] about Alex Lees: A Hero’s Final Great Escape
Is Obama Accidental?
On the evidence of his press conference, our president of 100 days seems so right for this critical time that it tempts a secular humanist to suspect Barack Obama came to power, not just by the natural selection of a brutal political campaign, but some more mysterious process of intelligent design. How else to explain the qualities of mind and heart, and the eloquence to … [Read more...] about Is Obama Accidental?
America Uses Swine Flu to Cover its Sins: Echourouq al-Yawm, Algeria
One of the many conspiracy theories prevalent in the Arab world - and elsewhere - is that the United States invented HIV/AIDs, infected people in the rest of the world and blamed it on Africans. In a new twist on this theory, Abed al-Nasser of Algeria's Echourouq al-Yawm writes that the U.S. infected Mexico with swine flu to make itself look good by saving its southern … [Read more...] about America Uses Swine Flu to Cover its Sins: Echourouq al-Yawm, Algeria
GOP Suicide Squad Continues
A mind blowing post from a conservative perspective on how the GOP should deal with Election 2010. Perhaps the most amazing quote comes from Senator DeMint who says: “I would rather have 30 Republicans in the Senate who really believe in principles of limited government, free markets, free people, than to have 60 that don’t have a set of beliefs.” The Republicans would … [Read more...] about GOP Suicide Squad Continues
Byron York: Blacks Are Skewing Obama’s Poll Numbers
Black Americans are not a legitimate demographic in Byron York's view: … [Read more...] about Byron York: Blacks Are Skewing Obama’s Poll Numbers
Guest Author: Open Letter to My Fellow Republicans…
Note: The Following Letter was developed by Travis Johnson, the founder of Progressive Republicans. We, the Undersigned, as long-time, loyal Republicans, supporters of the Party's candidates and its core values of smaller, more efficient government, individual liberty and personal freedom condemn in the strongest possible fashion the circumstances and actions of so-called … [Read more...] about Guest Author: Open Letter to My Fellow Republicans…
World Must Not Fall for Obama PR Onslaught: Al-Arab al-Yawm, Jordan
Is the American press, radio and TV acting as the media arm of the Obama Administration? This criticism, made very often on the American right - and for many years in regard to Reagan and Bush on the American left - appears in this article from Jordan's Al-Arab al-Yawm, as a warning to the world not to fall for it. For Al-Arab al-Yawm, Amal al-Sharqi writes in part: It is … [Read more...] about World Must Not Fall for Obama PR Onslaught: Al-Arab al-Yawm, Jordan
Mexico’s Closing Down
msnbc.com: BREAKING NEWS: Mexico to shut down nonessential government offices, businesses, reports say … [Read more...] about Mexico’s Closing Down
Me Media
Big media putting you to sleep? There’s good reason. The secret ingredient to your undivided attention is in this week’s cartoon. (Click cartoon for a full-size image) For more cartoon commentary, visit Small World Cartoons. … [Read more...] about Me Media
Specter Leaves the GOP
Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Specter Leaves the GOP
Why are People Dying in Mexico, But Not the U.S.?: Excelsior of Mexico
It's the question on everyone's lips - but one that so far, few have answered: Why have so many died in Mexico of the new H1N1 flu virus, but only one - so far - in the United States? Looking for an answer, Leo Zuckermann, for Mexico's Excelsior, writes in part: "When I get a fever in Mexico, I telephone my doctor. He's a friend who knows me perfectly. He asks me about my … [Read more...] about Why are People Dying in Mexico, But Not the U.S.?: Excelsior of Mexico
House and Senate Approve Obama’s Budget Outline
On his 99th day in office, President Obama received the very welcome news that Senator Specter was switching to the Democratic Party, virtually assuring the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate---something Republicans were very quick to condemn (both the defection and the filibuster-proof majority) since they, of course, would never dream of hoping for and … [Read more...] about House and Senate Approve Obama’s Budget Outline
Republican House Member Calls Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill “A Hoax”
It's distressing that someone as ignorant as this could even be in Congress. If you want to oppose a hate crimes bill, do it on the merits of the bill, not by denying plain facts. … [Read more...] about Republican House Member Calls Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill “A Hoax”