While we often get into heated debates at TMV I think the weekend can be a time for us to relax a little bit with some lighter topics. While I am sure some of us could manage to make any topic overheated I think it is a nice idea to have something simple for the next couple days. So here are a couple subjects to debate/discuss/etc 1) What is the oldest TV show you can … [Read more...] about Weekend Potpourri
Obama Takes on Student-Loan Lenders
Music to my ears: President Obama went on the offensive today, telling student-loan companies that he was prepared to fight them over his plan to end bank-based lending. Lenders “have mobilized an army of lobbyists,” he said in a speech that was introduced by Stephanie Stevenson, a financially struggling college student. “They are gearing up for battle. … So am I.” “And … [Read more...] about Obama Takes on Student-Loan Lenders
Military Agency That Developed SERE Techniques Said Torture Is Not Effective
Peter Finn and Joby Warrick at the Washington Post report the findings of a document prepared by the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency and quoted in the just-released Senate Armed Services Committee report on the treatment of detainees by the U.S. military. … [Read more...] about Military Agency That Developed SERE Techniques Said Torture Is Not Effective
Another Dirty Trick From Our Banks
The nation's financial markets collapse has introduced to the public new games the institutions played in pursuit of the almighty buck. One under the radar is auction-rate securities. "Auction-rate preferred securities is the largest largest fraud ever perpetuated by Wall Street on investors," said Harry Newton, a private investor who operates the AuctionRatePreferreds.org … [Read more...] about Another Dirty Trick From Our Banks
More on Cheney’s Declassification Request
Greg Sargent requested, and got, the request form that Dick Cheney filled out and submitted to the National Archives asking for the release of "all" the memos that showed how effective the CIA's torture program was. … [Read more...] about More on Cheney’s Declassification Request
Good to Know
We each make assumptions about who we are, what we're about. And sometimes, those assumptions change over time. Between voting age and late 2006, my running assumption about my own politicalness was that I was more Republican than anything else. Since late '06, with a few fluctuations in between, I've consistently felt more Independent than Republican. The latter was … [Read more...] about Good to Know
Dick Cheney’s Torture Logic is ‘Deeply Offensive’: Hurriyet, Turkey
Dick Cheney's defense of what many call torture has Turkish journalists shocked. This editorial from Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper says in part: "The reason U.S. policy is so important to us, in particular this new policy, is that our own struggle to rein in such heinous practices in Turkey is directly related to the standards set in Washington. Like most newsrooms in Turkey, … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney’s Torture Logic is ‘Deeply Offensive’: Hurriyet, Turkey
A Couple Of Overlooked Points About The Torture Investigation Debate
I have this problem where I'm always so far head of the popular perception that very few people engage me when I am interested in something because it's not in the headlines, and by the time it happens then I'm already worn out over it. That would make me a terrible politician or newsperson I think. In any case I find it kind of surreal that all the talking points coming … [Read more...] about A Couple Of Overlooked Points About The Torture Investigation Debate
USA Today/Gallup Poll: Obama Meets Or Exceeds Expections In First 100 Days
A new USA Today/Gallup poll finds that the bulk of Americans have concluded that President Barack Obama has met or exceeded expectations in his first 100 days: President Obama begins the second 100 days of his presidency with 56% of Americans believing he has done an excellent or good job thus far, and only 20% saying he has done a poor or terrible job. According to the new … [Read more...] about USA Today/Gallup Poll: Obama Meets Or Exceeds Expections In First 100 Days
Investing With The Not So Best And Bright
Because some federal Wall Street bailout money comes with strings that limit executive pay, some formerly very big earners at recipient firms may have to settle for compensation packages that top out at $500,000 per annum, a mere 2 1/2 times the average annual income of brain surgeons, according to Labor Department numbers. In consequence, many of the Street's best and … [Read more...] about Investing With The Not So Best And Bright
Credit Card Sharks
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Credit Card Sharks
UPDATED Torture Data: All or Nothing?
Two reactions after reading several, torture-related WaPo articles this morning: First, I was compelled to publish updates to my post on this topic yesterday. Both the updates and original are offered below. Second, I couldn't help but wonder if, in rejecting a truth commission, Obama is experiencing some of what Gerald Ford experienced, when he decided to pardon Nixon. … [Read more...] about UPDATED Torture Data: All or Nothing?
Will We Have a NY-20 Winner Today?
Word is coming out of Albany that Jim Tedisco, facing a growing deficit in the results of the March 31 special election - may concede defeat to political neophyte Scott Murphy today. A finish line could be in sight in the race for the 20th Congressional District. With the numbers not looking good for Republican Jim Tedisco, sources tell Capital News 9 that Tedisco could … [Read more...] about Will We Have a NY-20 Winner Today?
Pakistan: Taliban 60 Miles From Islamabad
Pakistan Government's appeasement policy seems to be boomeranging. The Taliban has seized control of the strategically important district of Buner near Islamabad, provoking fears that militants are attempting to spread their insurgency and their extreme brand of Islam, reports The Independent. "The seizure by militants of the district in recent days underlines the strength … [Read more...] about Pakistan: Taliban 60 Miles From Islamabad
Sir John Maddox: Think Global, Act Local
In this age of super specialization, journalists also find themselves being labelled as 'science', 'environment', 'development', 'politics', 'film', 'health', 'defence' journalists, etc. In the 'science' category one person that became a legend was Sir John Maddox. Sir John, who is said to have reinvented science journalism, passed away on April 12. The Economist pays … [Read more...] about Sir John Maddox: Think Global, Act Local
Does The Republican Party Need Its Moderates?
Amid continuing signs that the Republican party is stuck and unable to chip away at President Barack Obama's election winning and potentially political-support sustaining coalition, once again the question has arisen: Doesn't the GOP need its moderates? To hear some conservatives say it, No way. Moderates are described as wishy washy, people who don't have the clarity of … [Read more...] about Does The Republican Party Need Its Moderates?
Torturing Ourselves
The continuing national debate is getting more and more self-righteous as Americans look for absolutes in a world of moral murk. Dick Cheney emerges from his psychic cave to insist that torture works, but he has no standing after eight years of secrecy and ruthlessness. Barack Obama tells us we are not the kind of people who torture on principle but refuses to punish those … [Read more...] about Torturing Ourselves
Torture in America: ‘Just Following Orders’ – Der Tageszeitung, Germany
According to Bettina Gaus of Germany's Die Tageszeitung, if President Obama obtains a candid and unsparing assessment of the policies of his predecessor by granting immunity to CIA operatives, then it's an exercise worth doing. But if granting immunity is simply for the purpose of not antagonizing government agencies and the military - then according to Gaus, the confidence … [Read more...] about Torture in America: ‘Just Following Orders’ – Der Tageszeitung, Germany
Liz Cheney: “We’re Very Proud” of Torture Program
Marcy Wheeler has Part 1 of Norah O'Donnell's take-no-prisoners interview with Liz Cheney: And here is Part 2: … [Read more...] about Liz Cheney: “We’re Very Proud” of Torture Program
The F-35 JSF Program—International Ramifications
As has been pointed out in previous posts, the existence of and, more important, the continuation or the cancellation of the huge F-22 fighter program, have been used as pros and cons to support or oppose another hugely important defense procurement program: The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter or JSF. Opponents and proponents of each of the two programs have used respective … [Read more...] about The F-35 JSF Program—International Ramifications