Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. -Martin Luther King Jr. In reading some of the blogs as of late, it might seem that moderate or progressive Republicans are finally getting some love. The recent speeches by Meghan McCain and former McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt, have given people the impression that maybe, … [Read more...] about What the Tea Parties Can Teach Moderate Republicans
‘Fussy’ Rights Groups ‘Wrong’ to Be Impatient with Obama: Le Monde of France
How is President Obama doing as he nears the 100-days-in-office milestone. According to this editorial from Le Monde, in the area of international justice he has done well and is getting a bad rap from well-meaning but wrong-headed human rights groups. The Le Monde editorial says in part: "On April 30, the Obama Administration will have been in place for 100 days. It's … [Read more...] about ‘Fussy’ Rights Groups ‘Wrong’ to Be Impatient with Obama: Le Monde of France
Source of Swine Flu May Be U.S. Hog Production Facility in Mexico
A publication called Grist is reporting that the swine flu outbreak may have been triggered by poor hygienic practices at the Perote, Vera Cruz, Mexico hog farming facilities of Smithfield Farms. Smithfield Farms is the "world's largest hog producer and pork packager": … [Read more...] about Source of Swine Flu May Be U.S. Hog Production Facility in Mexico
Everything You’ve Been Told Is a Lie
Greg Miller reports in today's Los Angeles Times that, for all the time and effort the CIA spent asking the OLC for legal cover to carry out new and/or escalated forms of torture, almost no effort was made to inquire into whether the techniques being used were actually effective (emphasis mine): … [Read more...] about Everything You’ve Been Told Is a Lie
Susan Boyle’s Famous Moment On Britain’s Got Talent (Reposted)
We tried to embed this earlier but the embeds were removed. We have now found a version that allows it but the earlier posting didn't go up correctly. FINALLY....HERE is the show-biz history-making moment when Susan Boyle wowed the judges, the audience and the world with her song on Britain's Got Talent. REAL drama: … [Read more...] about Susan Boyle’s Famous Moment On Britain’s Got Talent (Reposted)
Swine Flu: U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency
PANIC vs WISDOM No panic. Get facts. Here are some of the most salient: STAYING UP TO DATE ABOUT SWINE FLU and HEALTH ISSUES Rather than placing here materials about Swine Flu that are being updated by the moment, Google is your friend for most up-to-date info... go to the general news-sites you trust, and especially, go to the pages of the Center for Disease Control and … [Read more...] about Swine Flu: U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency
Wall Street Rubs Our Noses In It—Again
The stock market in the first quarter of this year has gone up a whopping 23 percent. In this same period, however, the actual economy hasn't improved at all. In fact it's getting worse by almost any meaningful, real life measure, though the worsening may have slowed a bit. An economy that's not improving. An economy just getting worse a bit slower. Yet we nonetheless have … [Read more...] about Wall Street Rubs Our Noses In It—Again
Washington Post-ABC News Poll: Obama Approval At 69 Percent But Partisan Divide Sharp Over Interrogation Memos
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that President Barack Obama's approval rating a healthy 69 percent as he maintains solid support from his winning coalition -- but the partisan divide is intensely sharp over the controversial release of Bush era interrogation memos that raise the issue of torture. Barack Obama's performance in the first 100 days of his … [Read more...] about Washington Post-ABC News Poll: Obama Approval At 69 Percent But Partisan Divide Sharp Over Interrogation Memos
The Swine Flu Discovery Shows How Amazing The Modern Health System Is
Now that it appears that the swine flu has officially reached "crisis" proportions that requires a White House response, I started looking for background information on the virus. This Washington Post article has a good timeline. In short, the first known victim died April 12th, Mexico identified something unusual was going on by April 16th and it was sent to Canada on … [Read more...] about The Swine Flu Discovery Shows How Amazing The Modern Health System Is
Book Review: True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society
This is definitely a new era. Whoever would have thought you would hear people diss "fact-based journalism" -- or that we'd even see that phrase? But the dissing, and existence of that phrase do exist: 21st century America is moving into a new age where many people will often only go to websites with which they totally agree, listen or watch left and right wing talk shows that … [Read more...] about Book Review: True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society
Quote of the Day: Freed Pirate Hostage Blasts Limbaugh On Pirates
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Shane Murphy, the second-in-command aboard the American merchant ship seized by Somalian pirates. When the ship's first in command was freed by Navy Seals most Americans of both parties cheered and put politics aside, but conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh had a different reaction. From The Huffington Post: "It feels … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Freed Pirate Hostage Blasts Limbaugh On Pirates
Swine Flu: We’ve been waiting
Joe Windish has already been covering this for you, but I wanted to share a few thoughts on the looming prospect of an influenza pandemic. Reports are already reaching us this morning that eleven people have died in Mexico, but people are recovering from the disease at a few locations in the United States, specifically in New York City. Why? Are we some sort of super-species? … [Read more...] about Swine Flu: We’ve been waiting
The Dichotomy of American Torture
As a person of faith who serves in the Army National Guard, and as a student and teacher of history and political science, I am profoundly aware of the need for a strong, effective national defense that has its foundation on solid moral principles. The phrase "For God and Country" sums up my internal view of the loyalties I hold dear. The torture memos that were made public … [Read more...] about The Dichotomy of American Torture
Two Special Bea Arthur Moments
Several young TMV readers requested a bit more of Bea Arthur. So, after a search on You Tube, here are two SPECIAL bits that illustrated how she was multi-talented -- whether in theater, television, doing some comedy or singing with her gravely voice. FIRST: Watch her re-create her Tony Award winning (1966) character "Vera" doing a key song from the musical "Mame." The … [Read more...] about Two Special Bea Arthur Moments
The Torture Trio
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about The Torture Trio
‘An Arrest Warrant for George W. Please!’: Der Tageszeitung, Germany
As we have already established - there is little patience in Europe for Bush Administration arguments about expediency when it comes to the issue of "harsh interrogation techniques." Adding his views to the debate on the subject is Robert Misik of Germany's Die Tageszeitung, who writes in part: "Those who are responsible for gross human rights violations should not so … [Read more...] about ‘An Arrest Warrant for George W. Please!’: Der Tageszeitung, Germany
“Walt Whitman Is a Dead Fag”
This is what one Westboro Baptist Church member told a reporter who was covering a "protest" rally outside Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. I'm not sure what they were protesting. They said they were protesting the poet's "lifestyle." Maybe they were protesting the existence of the high school. Maybe they were protesting the parents for sending their children to … [Read more...] about “Walt Whitman Is a Dead Fag”
Obama’s ‘Difficult and Courageous’ Action on Torture: Corriere della Sera, Italy
Continuing with our coverage of the global reaction to the issue of torture in the United States, this article from Italy's Corriere della Sera is perhaps the most sympathetic we have seen yet, to the position of those who say 'harsh interrogation techniques' were acceptable given the circumstances. For Corriere della Sera, Guido Olimpio writes in part: "The CIA memos … [Read more...] about Obama’s ‘Difficult and Courageous’ Action on Torture: Corriere della Sera, Italy
Porter Goss’s Dishonest Attack on Congress
It’s infuriating, but it’s entertaining, to watch the same people who spent the better part of the last eight years using lies, secrecy, deception, political maneuvering, and outright intimidation to run a global torture regime on foreign alleged terrorists, alongside a domestic illegal surveillance program on U.S. citizens, pen op-eds in major media outlets attacking Congress … [Read more...] about Porter Goss’s Dishonest Attack on Congress
Bea Arthur Dead at 86
ET: Arthur passed away at her home on Saturday. The spokesman said she was battling cancer, but did not elaborate on the cause of death. In the video above Rosie sings the theme from "Maude" after Bea Arthur tells her that they [used to!] sing it instead of happy birthday at The Universal Grill in the village. I love that Bea went there. My friend Sam and I used to … [Read more...] about Bea Arthur Dead at 86