Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff of the Department of State during the term of Secretary of State Colin Powell, has a guest post titled "The Truth About Richard Bruce Cheney" on The Washington Note that goes beyond his blunt criticism on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show, which generated a You Tube now popping up on many blogs. His criticism is searing: Wilkerson … [Read more...] about Former Powell Aide Lawrence B. Wilkerson: “The Truth About Dick Cheney”
Recession: The Fix for Illegal Immigration
For all the talk about closing the Mexican border and ramping up enforcement efforts - or even deporting illegals en masse - a greater force has reversed the tide of illegal immigration: recession. This is hardly surprising, but the Mexican government confirms that the number of emigrants from Mexico to the US has plummeted since the beginning of the recession in the US. … [Read more...] about Recession: The Fix for Illegal Immigration
Pelosi Pants on Fire
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examine This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Pelosi Pants on Fire
India’s Election Results Hold Jeopardy
The current month-long Indian elections, whose results emerge on Friday and Saturday, hold more jeopardy than almost any in the past for both domestic policies and likely impacts on India’s attitudes towards the West. First, let’s note that India and its democracy are inspirational for the world. This country of nearly 1.2 billion has over 714 million voters of whom about … [Read more...] about India’s Election Results Hold Jeopardy
Nancy Pelosi Goes on the Offensive
Good for her. It's about damn time. Here is her prepared statement (via Marcy Wheeler), which she gave before taking questions at a press conference today (emphasis is mine): … [Read more...] about Nancy Pelosi Goes on the Offensive
The Counterinsurgency Reading List
Andrew Exum (aka Abu Muqawama) has just updated his counterinsurgency reading list. It's a great resource. The list begins with three items that Andrew identifies as absolute essentials for anyone studying counterinsurgency. Two of them are relatively short (but excellent) articles. The third is David Galula's classic treatise from the 1960s, Counterinsurgency Warfare: … [Read more...] about The Counterinsurgency Reading List
Healthcare Crisis: Step 3 Insurance Brokers
This week the country is beginning to create a new health care policy. A broad sweeping change is something that may be desired, but is nearly impossible to either accomplish or do well. I am proposing a multi-baby-step process to resolve the healthcare crisis. You can find steps 1 and 2 on this site or at my blog at http://lipspeak.blogspot.com/. Even if you do not like my … [Read more...] about Healthcare Crisis: Step 3 Insurance Brokers
Cheney Inclusive Party
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Cheney Inclusive Party
Why Obama Had to Nix Release of Detainee Photos
"God save me from my enemies...and from my friends." The prayer is attributed to Martin Luther, but it might well fit President Barack Obama's mood as he ponders recent statements made by some of his fellow liberals. They're hot over Obama's decision not to release photographs of alleged terrorist detainees taken during the Bush Administration. The assumption is that the … [Read more...] about Why Obama Had to Nix Release of Detainee Photos
Hacking Education
Two months ago, Union Square Ventures convened a group of educators, entrepreneurs, and researchers to talk about "hacking education." The event went on for six hours and last week Brad Burnham posted what his partner, Fred Wilson, says is the definitive take on the event. I sent this excerpt to a brilliant student I mentor; a student who is bored by much most of what we in … [Read more...] about Hacking Education
Celebrating the ‘Social Collective’
My conservative tripwires and my ability to find common cause with George Will nothwithstanding, I think there's also much to consider -- and agree with -- in this column. … [Read more...] about Celebrating the ‘Social Collective’
Dick Cheney Quiz
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. UPDATE: The Washington Post reports that some Republicans are not happy about Dick Cheney's blasts a day (going after the Obama administration, saying the country is less safe, saying Rush Limbaugh is more of a Republican … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney Quiz
Peru Bars Gays From Police
While the issue of gay marriage continues to rage in the United States, and as fallout continues in the Miss California broo-ha-ha, a news story out of Peru could spark international outcries: Peru is barring gays from being in the police: Peru has announced that it will ban homosexuals from the police force for damaging the image of the institution. The law is one of … [Read more...] about Peru Bars Gays From Police
Atlantis Astronauts Begin Risky Hubble Space Telescope Repair Spacewalk
While Americans squabble about politics here on earth, way above them the space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts are engaging in a risky space walk to repair the Hubble Space Telescope -- a high-tech repair with high stakes risks: John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel are on a six-and-a-half hour spacewalk to replace Hubble's interplanetary camera with a new one that will allow it … [Read more...] about Atlantis Astronauts Begin Risky Hubble Space Telescope Repair Spacewalk
Communicating With Economist World
Planet Earth to Economist World. Planet Earth to Economist World. Come in Please. Planet Earth to Economist World. Can you hear me? We've been getting regular communications from you for a long time, but you seem to have lost all contact with us. For years we were picking up signals from you telling us how good our economy was going, when it really was just puffing up a … [Read more...] about Communicating With Economist World
The Daily Cheney Show
RJ Matson, The New York Observer This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about The Daily Cheney Show
Triggering My Conservative Tripwires
In the last two-plus years, I've veered hard to the left -- or at least what's defined as "left" in contemporary political jargon. Among other things: I'm an avid supporter of embryonic stem-cell research and a middle-of-the-roader on abortion: Full rights to the mother in the first trimester; primary rights to the baby in the second and third trimesters, with the notable … [Read more...] about Triggering My Conservative Tripwires
Staying Clean in a Dirty War
The heart sinks at the ongoing struggle of a President who exalts American decency trying to maintain it in fighting enemies imbued with the holiness of a cause that sanctions any and all abuses of human beings. The inner conflict is crystallized in his decision yesterday to resist court-ordered release of photographs showing alleged torture of Mideast detainees following a … [Read more...] about Staying Clean in a Dirty War
The Blago Effect
Yes, the shamed former Governor of Illinois is still rippling the political fabric, including in his state's neighbor to the West: Missouri. ... a bill sponsored by [Missouri State] Rep. Jason Smith, a Republican from Salem, would require special elections to fill mid-term openings in statewide offices, including U.S. Senator. The bill was approved earlier by the House, … [Read more...] about The Blago Effect
Myanmar: Brute Force Vs A Brave Burmese Lady
An ailing 63-year-old Nobel laureate, who happens to be the most popular leader of Myanmar (Burma), is being further traumatized by the brute military junta that has locked her up in her house for most of the past two decades. The Burmese democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, faces as long as five years in the country’s most notorious jail after new charges were brought … [Read more...] about Myanmar: Brute Force Vs A Brave Burmese Lady