MSNBC-TV Breaking News: WHO Moves to Swine Flu Pandemic Alert Level 5 BBC … [Read more...] about WHO Moves to Swine Flu Pandemic Alert Level 5
Barack Obama’s First 100 Days
A few viewpoints can be found HERE. … [Read more...] about Barack Obama’s First 100 Days
Steaming Ahead in Slo-Mo
The news today will be about Barack Obama's whirlwind energy steering the Ship of State for the first 100 days, but below the water line, the crew is still seriously undermanned. The Cabinet was finally filled yesterday as the President swore in Kathleen Sebelius amid a swine flu scare and an impending Congressional battle over health care reform but, in true Washington … [Read more...] about Steaming Ahead in Slo-Mo
Obama’s First 100 Days Graded B+
I'll cut to the chase. My grade for President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office is B+. Now, I'm writing this off the top of my head without referring to notes because this type of grading is always subjective. The kind of images embedded in our minds. The charisma factor: A+ This is a no brainer. Obama gets a break here. All one does is compare Obama with the … [Read more...] about Obama’s First 100 Days Graded B+
Senate Confirms Sebelius to Head HHS
The vote was 65-31. Only six of those 65 senators are Republicans -- actually, five, since Arlen Specter is no longer a Republican. Matthew Yglesias doesn't see much hope for a "broad bipartisan coalition" for comprehensive health care reform in those numbers: It seems to me that if you can only get 65 votes for what should be an uncontroversial HHS appointment, then the odds … [Read more...] about Senate Confirms Sebelius to Head HHS
Obama and Biden Officially Warmly Welcome Arlen Specter To Democratic Party
While conservative talkers and RNC Chairman Michael Steele are essentially saying "good riddance" to Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter -- and it could be argued continuing to send out a message that moderates, independents and non-talk show political culture Republicans are not welcome in the modern, incredibly shrinking Republican party -- President Barack Obama and Vice … [Read more...] about Obama and Biden Officially Warmly Welcome Arlen Specter To Democratic Party
Larry Kramer on History & Gender
Larry Kramer went back to his alma mater, Yale ('57), last week to pick up the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the university's Gay and Lesbian Association. Kramer, you will remember, burst on the scene with the 1978 novel, Faggots, which portrayed the gay community of the time as shallow and promiscuous. He went on to a lifetime of ardent AIDS activism, co-founding … [Read more...] about Larry Kramer on History & Gender
Olympia Snowe at the Alamo
Maine Senator Olympia Snowe is among the last moderate Republican officeholders remaining. In the New York Times she laments the departure of her friend and fellow moderate Arlen Specter for the Democratic Party, claiming that her party has failed to appreciate the need for moderates as well as conservatives in order to win. Then she pulls out the big guns, quoting Ronald … [Read more...] about Olympia Snowe at the Alamo
Irked By The Spectre Of Specter
I know how politics works. I know that, from the perspective of Democrats in Washington, the just-announced defection of Senator Arlen Specter to their party is a coup. In practical terms I can see why Democratic officials in Pennsylvania are also queuing up to welcome the man to their fold and promising to back him in next year's primary and senatorial election. … [Read more...] about Irked By The Spectre Of Specter
Arlen “DINO” Specter – Not the Cute One from The Flintstones
I tried to stay away from the Arlen Specter party-switching story but since I have written posts on him in the past (and his dissaffection with the conservative wing of the Republican Party), I have to put my two cents into the void and see if it turns up anything interesting. Most pundits, and bloggers, are shocked that Specter made the move. I am shocked that he did not … [Read more...] about Arlen “DINO” Specter – Not the Cute One from The Flintstones
(Updated) Swine Flu Up Close & Semi-Personal
Specter Switches Parties
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Specter Switches Parties
World’s Most Liveable City: And The Winner Is…?
Vienna, a city that has managed to remain clean, green and safe, and known for its music, theatre, art, history, coffee-bars and trams, is "world's most liveable city". According to a recent survey, Vienna is followed by Zurich and Geneva, while Auckland and Vancouver come joint fourth. All of these cities have a reputation – perhaps undeserved – for crashing dullness, … [Read more...] about World’s Most Liveable City: And The Winner Is…?
After-Midnight Blogger: You Know How Men Are…
I met a man today a young man with muscles lots of them a weightlifter/ bodybuilder... they're so taken with themselves you know, all about themselves. He was clerking in a power-vitamin store where I was buying the 4# jug of protein powder. Upon leaving, my daughter pointed out I was driving around with my new license plates on the seat instead of on the … [Read more...] about After-Midnight Blogger: You Know How Men Are…
The GOP Purity Experiment
Over the last few decades, an experiment has been taking place within the Republican Party. It has been conducted not by party leaders as much as by the rank and file or so-called base. It has been an experiment as to whether a politically-pure party can be a viable party. To my knowledge this has never been done before. Over the years, groups such as Club for Growth have … [Read more...] about The GOP Purity Experiment
Well Done, Dummies
Note: The following was written by Travis Johnson, the head of Progressive Republicans. President Obama was inaugurated in January, but the Obama Era officially began today. Don’t believe me? wait til you see what he does with the filibuster-proof majority we gave him by driving Senator Specter from the Party. I’m appalled. Not at Senator Specter. At the Republican … [Read more...] about Well Done, Dummies
Knee-Capping: Why the Club for Growth Does It (And Why It Will Never Work)
My colleagues here at The Moderate Voice - many of them moderate Republicans of the Arlen Specter ilk - have eloquently explained the larger significance of Specter's defection from the Republican Party. I want to focus on the Pat Toomey angle. More to the point: why does the Club for Growth consistently "knee-cap" its own moderates in the GOP, knowing full well that the … [Read more...] about Knee-Capping: Why the Club for Growth Does It (And Why It Will Never Work)
A Little Specter Of History
In reporting the decision of Senator Specter to the Democratic party most of the articles touch on the fact that he has been a member of the Senate for 29 years. In reflecting on his remarks about the increasingly narrow base of the Republican party it might be worth our time to take a look back at the origins of his career. He was first elected to the US Senate in 1980, the … [Read more...] about A Little Specter Of History
The Pundits On Specter Shift
Being a political junkie I had to watch all of the talking heads commenting on the shift of Arlen Specter to the Democratic party. As is often the case, they each tended to get some of it right and some of it wrong On the left, while I do not always agree with Rachel Maddow on the issues she is often quite entertaining in her analysis of the issues of the day. However this … [Read more...] about The Pundits On Specter Shift
Specter Splits
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Specter Splits