Listening to some bank executives these days, you might get the idea that their institutions are good credit risks, borrowers who repay their loans promptly and willingly. We took government TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program) money unwillingly, they say. We did it as a kind of public service, they say. But darn it, they say, we're going to pay it back with interest now … [Read more...] about Banker Hypocrisy Rises To New Heights
Airing the White House Dirty Laundry
A disturbing story is stinking up the joint this week, and it centers on Barack Obama's decision to release Bush administration memos on torture. (Or enhanced interrogation techniques, if you prefer.) I noticed that Glenn Greenwald was wrestling with the questions surrounding it today. My problem isn't with the answers so much as the questions themselves which are being raised, … [Read more...] about Airing the White House Dirty Laundry
The Truth Will Set You Free (Guest Voice)
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE by Rick Moran I was a Johnny-come-lately to the idea that the severe interrogation techniques being employed against some prisoners held by the US crossed the line of legality and constituted illegal torture. Chalk it up to excessive partisanship. Or ignorance. Or perhaps fear of going against the grain of conservative opinion in the … [Read more...] about The Truth Will Set You Free (Guest Voice)
Get Ready For Another Republican Congressman To Apologize To Rush Limbaugh
This means it's as inevitable as the word "fascism" from Glenn Beck's lips. … [Read more...] about Get Ready For Another Republican Congressman To Apologize To Rush Limbaugh
Maria Shriver effort will define “A Woman’s Nation”
Big kudos to Chris Cillizza's Cheat Sheet for mentioning Maria Shriver's effort, A Woman's Nation: A Woman's Nation: Maria Shriver, California's first lady and scion to the Kennedy political legacy, is lending her name to a nationwide effort to document the state of women in society -- the first such major project since the Eleanor Roosevelt led a similar project for President … [Read more...] about Maria Shriver effort will define “A Woman’s Nation”
Barack Obama, The Bully Pulpit And The Republicans
Is Barack Obama a master at using the bully pulpit? Does he have a different bully pulpit than past Presidents? And how are the Republicans doing in competing with him and what are their prospects? Here are some thoughts: When the conservative Republican Tea Party Tax Day protest drew an estimated 250,000 people at cities throughout the country, the media narrative … [Read more...] about Barack Obama, The Bully Pulpit And The Republicans
Obama Fails to Stop Bush Era Targeting of Veterans
On top of our recent discussion about how the Fauxrage inspiring DHS report on right wing extremist groups was actually ordered during the Bush administration, there is now news the the FBI is "targeting" veterans for similar reasons. While this will doubtless be blamed on the current, veteran hating president as well, these investigations also began during the prior … [Read more...] about Obama Fails to Stop Bush Era Targeting of Veterans
Rasmussen Poll: 75% of Texas Voters Don’t Want To Pull State Out Of U.S.
Here's a shocking poll for you. Rasmussen Reports finds that 75 percent Texans aren't buying into the emerging talk radio political culture idea that the Obama administration is such a grave threat to the founding father's original vision that Texas could one day seriously consider pulling out of the United States. The suggestion has been dangled by Texas Gov. Rick Perry … [Read more...] about Rasmussen Poll: 75% of Texas Voters Don’t Want To Pull State Out Of U.S.
Gov. Jindal, Take Two
After his less-than-inspiring response to President Obama's address in February to a joint session of Congress, Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.) appears to be engaging the first stage of rehabilitation, leaning hard into the "question policies not motives" meme. Good for him. Love him or not, it's the right thing to do; the cornerstone of civilized debate. … [Read more...] about Gov. Jindal, Take Two
It’s Better In Somalia
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about It’s Better In Somalia
Jail Time for Pirate Bay Founders
Copyright criminals: A court in Sweden on Friday convicted four men linked to the notorious Internet file-sharing service The Pirate Bay of violating copyright law, handing the music and movie industries a high-profile victory in their campaign to curb online piracy. The court found that the men — the three founders, Frederik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg and Peter Sunde, … [Read more...] about Jail Time for Pirate Bay Founders
NY20: Tedisco Wins! Errrr…
Going all the way back to Bush v Gore 2000 right up through the 2008 runoff Senate election in Georgia and the endless ballet being danced by Norm Coleman and Al Franken, clearly Americans are tired of long, drawn out, contested electoral battles. Seizing on this groundswell of voter unrest, Jim Tedisco made a bold move last night and asked the county Supreme Court to put an … [Read more...] about NY20: Tedisco Wins! Errrr…
Eco-Driving and Consumer Participation
In my latest column at Pajamas Media, I have the next in our series of articles on fuel efficiency and economy in automobiles. In this edition I describe a course some of us took on "eco-driving" and how to save gas during the daily commute no matter what type of vehicle you own. We also look at consumer reactions to gas prices and the somewhat angry response toward Detroit by … [Read more...] about Eco-Driving and Consumer Participation
Time For The Commercial Meltdown To Begin ??
A while back I wrote about how I was concerned that the coming collapse in the commerical real estate market would make the residential meltdown look mild in comparison. While I would be quite happy to be wrong about this I think the first shoe has dropped with the bankruptcy of a major mall owner. When you combine a slow economy with lots of major anchor renters dropping … [Read more...] about Time For The Commercial Meltdown To Begin ??
Troy Anthony Davis Appeal Denied
From the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion: On October 22, 2008, Troy Anthony Davis (“Davis”), a Georgia death row inmate, has filed an application with this Court seeking authorization to file a second or successive 28 U.S.C. § 2254 federal habeas petition, raising for the first time a freestanding actual innocence claim. Davis had previously filed a federal habeas … [Read more...] about Troy Anthony Davis Appeal Denied
Islamists of the World Unite; You Have Nothing to Lose Except Any Pretext of Being Moderate (Guest Voice)
Islamists of the World Unite; You Have Nothing to Lose Except Any Pretext of Being Moderate By Barry Rubin It’s a development of tremendous importance and you probably won’t be hearing about it from anywhere but here. Mahdi Akef, supreme guide of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, has defied his own country’s government to ally himself with Hizballah. What makes this … [Read more...] about Islamists of the World Unite; You Have Nothing to Lose Except Any Pretext of Being Moderate (Guest Voice)
Glenn Beck Goes To War
With a conservative website... … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck Goes To War
Where is the Conservative Outrage at the Torture Memos?
Taking a brief glance over at Memeorandum I can't help but notice the radio silence from the Right on the release of the Bush OLC torture memos. Andrew Sullivan made the same point earlier today. The biggest voices on the right - Malkin, Instapundit, Drudge - have said absolutely nothing about the release of these stunning memos. Why is this worth mentioning? Because, … [Read more...] about Where is the Conservative Outrage at the Torture Memos?
A Brief Apology
In the past, I have used my modest platform here to chastise some Democrats for being "sore losers" and not doing a very good job of playing the part of the loyal opposition while they were in the minority. I was apparently way off base, not knowing the the depths to which sore loserhood can be taken. Georgia Senate threatens dismantling of USA It wasn't quite the firing … [Read more...] about A Brief Apology
The Department of Hopeless Saps
Tonight's edition of your tax dollars at work features a screaming, victorious headline from the fair and balanced folks at Fox News, proclaiming in virtual ink writ large, Napolitano Apologizes for Offending Veterans. You know, I watched the video of that apology, and somehow it seemed like a bit less of a "walkback" than one might think from a highly placed official who had … [Read more...] about The Department of Hopeless Saps