I have been more than a little irked to hear pundits & pols proclaim their concern for the indebtedness of future generations when they're happy as clams to let students go deep into publicly subsidized student loan debt and sit by silently as nothing is done to shore up the broken public education system. Especially so given that those same pundits & pols were … [Read more...] about Credit Card Control
Washington & U.S. Enter Uncharted Territory As The Torture Dam Breaks
"WE DO NOT TORTURE TERROR SUSPECTS." -- President George Walker Bush (November 7, 2005) By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE With a mighty crack and roar, the torture dam finally has broken. After being little more than background noise for years, the grotesqueries of the Bush torture regime have gone prime time as the discussion suddenly has morphed from whether government … [Read more...] about Washington & U.S. Enter Uncharted Territory As The Torture Dam Breaks
Terror Memo
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Terror Memo
Fox News’ Passionate Shepard Smith Illustrates GOP Split Over Torture
We've noted before here that growing split in the GOP between those who will follow the party's line-of-the-moment and defend the Bush administration versus others making it clear that they want to move forward and re-embrace some once-sacred values sacrificed along the way in a bid to onto power and justify what was done with power when it was held. Nowhere can you see it … [Read more...] about Fox News’ Passionate Shepard Smith Illustrates GOP Split Over Torture
The Greenest Republicans?
On this earth day, it's important to remember that care for the Environment has to be a bipartisan effort. Sadly, the GOP has not always lived up to it's environmental heritage, but there are those who still do. Republicans for Environmental Protection has released it's scorecard of Congress touting "Green Republicans" while slamming the "Brown Republicans." Here is their … [Read more...] about The Greenest Republicans?
“Cheney Could Not Have Been Cheney If Bush Had Not Been Bush”
That is the simple but compelling explanation offered by one of Josh Marshall's readers for the transformation in Dick Cheney's personality that many political observers have noted: … [Read more...] about “Cheney Could Not Have Been Cheney If Bush Had Not Been Bush”
Michael Hayden: Critical Analysis is Dangerous, M’Kay?
On the estimable Fox News this past Sunday, former head of the CIA Michael Hayden has this interesting bit to say about the Obama administration's decision to release the memos outlining interrogation techniques used against enemy combatants and what may or may not constitute torture, which caught my ear: There's another point, too, that I have to make. And it's just not the … [Read more...] about Michael Hayden: Critical Analysis is Dangerous, M’Kay?
Hillary Clinton And Robert Gibbs Blast Back At Cheney’s Anti-Obama Comments
When former Vice President Dick Cheney used the show of his favorite interviewer (Fox News' Shaun Hannity) to blast President Barack Obama for releasing torture memos and say Obama was looking "weak," it was big news and the question became: would the new administration try not to give Cheney more publicity and let it just fade away, or would it answer back but not with both … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton And Robert Gibbs Blast Back At Cheney’s Anti-Obama Comments
Israel Obama: The Confrontation Con-Game (Guest Voice)
The Confrontation Con-Game by Barry Rubin There are many people eager to see President Barack Obama and his administration bash Israel, or predict that has already happened. But the administration has yet to make any significant direct anti-Israel actions or statements. I expect this widely predicted conflict isn’t going to take place. Let me repeat the word … [Read more...] about Israel Obama: The Confrontation Con-Game (Guest Voice)
That Bow…
... as seen by an American Jew, writing for Israelis under the headline "Why Does Obama Smile at Dictators?", and a Dutchman writing for his countrymen under the headline, "America Bows to Unusual Depths for Islamic Tyrants" … [Read more...] about That Bow…
Losing Our Lives in the Process of Saving Them
Of the endless cascade of reports, posts, and conversations this week on recent-past U.S. torture practices, there are three that perhaps bother me more than all the rest. The first can be found at the end of this CSM report: Interrogators, who spoke to the [New York] Times on condition of anonymity, said they believed Zubaydah told them everything he knew before … [Read more...] about Losing Our Lives in the Process of Saving Them
Obama is No ‘Black in Chavez’ Pocket’: El Universal of Venezuela
Those who suggest that Hugo Chavez got the best of President Obama at the Summit of the Americas might want to read this article from Venezuela's El Universal, which advises that the truth is just the opposite - that Obama played Chavez like a harp, forcing him into a situation in which he had to back down. Castigating the 'antics' of President Chavez and expressing his … [Read more...] about Obama is No ‘Black in Chavez’ Pocket’: El Universal of Venezuela
We Must Be the Voices of the Mothers for These Disappeared
Dafna Linzer, writing at ProPublica, reports that about 36 detainees whom the Bush administration had in custody inside secret CIA detention and interrogation centers in Eastern Europe and elsewhere around the globe are still unaccounted for, almost three years after Pres. Bush acknowledged the existence of the black site prisons: … [Read more...] about We Must Be the Voices of the Mothers for These Disappeared
Castro’s Response to Obama’s Overtures
How significant was Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's response to President Obama's overtures last week? The editorial board of Brazil's Estadao newspaper puts it this way, in part: "The reaction from President Raúl Castro was singular. Just a few hours later, from where he was in Cumaná, Venezuela, he sent word "publicly and privately" that "we are open to discussing … [Read more...] about Castro’s Response to Obama’s Overtures
Dick Cheney Calls Obama Administration’s Economic Policies “Devastating”
President Barack Obama and the new administration have just gotten a bit of feedback on their economic policies from a man who has experience stewarding the American economy -- someone who in his time in office developed a clear record, one that is out there...one that Americans can see and experience every day: former Vice President Dick Cheney. In a sign that either he … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney Calls Obama Administration’s Economic Policies “Devastating”
An Earth Day Musing
On Earth Day it's worthwhile considering the relationship of humanity to the natural environment. Personally, I see it as a kind of very troubled marriage in which one partner (us) has finally come to understood how bad its behavior has been and is finally resolved to do better. Though not completely better, and certainly not just yet. Carrying this relationship analogy … [Read more...] about An Earth Day Musing
Susan Boyle And Great Britain (Guest Voice)
Susan Boyle And Great Britain by Dalitso Njolinjo Part of me is happy for Susan Boyle’s world wide viral success and part of me is dreading what the video on YouTube will tell the world about Great Britain. Although Susan's moment might have been a life changing experience for her, it really did not capture 'Britain' (and myself) at its best. Like the audience, … [Read more...] about Susan Boyle And Great Britain (Guest Voice)
Were More Members Of Congress Than Harman Wiretapped By The Feds?
Were more members of Congress besides Rep. Jane Harman wiretapped by the feds? Via T Hill's Blog's Eric Zimmermann: Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) raised the possibility today that more members of Congress could have been wiretapped by the NSA or FBI. Defending herself against reports that she was caught on tape offering to intervene in the espionage-related case of two … [Read more...] about Were More Members Of Congress Than Harman Wiretapped By The Feds?
Freddie Mac CFO Dead In Possible Suicide
The acting Chief Financial Officer of troubled Freddie Mac has been found dead in his Virginia home. According to news reports he was the victim of a hanging and police suspect suicide. Whether this is simply the result of overall stress of the job or because of some new bad news is unclear. In any case our deepest sympathies to his family. These are tough jobs and since … [Read more...] about Freddie Mac CFO Dead In Possible Suicide
Gates Returns to Texas A&M to Honor Fallen Aggies
As a Texas A&M graduate, retired military, and one who deeply appreciates and honors the sacrifices made by our brave troops in all battles, I was struck by the noble gesture made by our Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, yesterday at my Alma Mater. Mr. Gates---himself a former president of Texas A&M University---returned to the school he once led to honor 22 former … [Read more...] about Gates Returns to Texas A&M to Honor Fallen Aggies