Guest post by J.F. Murphy J.F. Murphy is a former Marine infantry officer and Iraq veteran who graduated from the US Navy’s SERE program. He is a fellow of the Truman National Security Project. Given the many stumbles we have experienced in our fight against global terrorism, it is crucial that we get the current debate on effective interrogation methods right. As a … [Read more...] about “Enhanced” Interrogation Undermines American Security and Violates Military Values
Texas Couple’s Shotgun Blast Kills 7-Year-Old Boy For Mistaken Trespassing
It's a truly heart wrenching story. First read the details and legal implications HERE from law prof/blogger Jonathan Turley. And then read this heart-wrenching Houston Chronicle story on the shootings that will haunt you all week. Here's the earlier AP story. … [Read more...] about Texas Couple’s Shotgun Blast Kills 7-Year-Old Boy For Mistaken Trespassing
Mahmoudiya: An Atrocity In Our Names
I suspect everyone has a specific event from the Iraq war that stands out in their minds. For some, perhaps it's Haditha; for others, maybe it's Abu Ghraib. There were plenty to choose from, but time and further information have placed many of those incidents into context. As terrible as those stories were (and are), they have always been a part of war, and they serve as … [Read more...] about Mahmoudiya: An Atrocity In Our Names
Iranian-American Journalist Roxana Saberi Released From Tehran Jail
Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, whose jailing on what most believed were trumped up espionage charges in Iran had become an international story and personal cause for President Barack Obama, has reportedly been released from her jail cell in Tehran -- one day after an Iranian appeals court reduced her eight-year jail sentence to a suspended two-year … [Read more...] about Iranian-American Journalist Roxana Saberi Released From Tehran Jail
Lincoln and Today’s GOP
Would today's GOP nominate Abraham Lincoln as the party's presidential candidate? I think not -- as argued in a two-part essay at Shaun Mullen's blog, Kiko's House. The first part was published yesterday (May 10); the second part will be published next Sunday (May 17). These contributions are installments in a much a larger series on Lincoln that Shaun has planned this … [Read more...] about Lincoln and Today’s GOP
Book Review: Restoring Booker T. Washington To His Rightful Place As A Civil-Rights Hero
By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE As a child of the 1960s, my view of Booker T. Washington was shaped by the contemporary belief that while the famous founder of Tuskegee Institute was a civil-rights trailblazer in some respects, he was an Uncle Tom for having acquiesced in the rampant racial discrimination that was now being challenged by the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. But … [Read more...] about Book Review: Restoring Booker T. Washington To His Rightful Place As A Civil-Rights Hero
Inside the Beltway: Questionable Humor Nothing New
A reader shared the following, citing this source: I don’t mean to minimize the tasteless, offensive nature of Wanda Sykes’ remarks about Rush Limbaugh and kidney failure, but what are we to make of Nixon and Agnew’s performance at the 1970 Gridiron Dinner? “Things got no better at the Gridiron that night. Absolutely determined that a good time would be had by all, and … [Read more...] about Inside the Beltway: Questionable Humor Nothing New
Elizabeth and John Edwards
Cartoon by Taylor Jones, Politicalcartoons.com. This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Elizabeth and John Edwards
A Song To Ponder In These Tough Times
A personal note. Everywhere I turn, I see people that are hurting or stressed out due to loss or uncertainty about the economy. No, I'm not excluded from that. But here in San Diego, some 192 people who passionately dedicated their lives to working on the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper were told within a day of the paper's ownership change on Monday that their jobs will end … [Read more...] about A Song To Ponder In These Tough Times
An Accidental Read
Last Friday, for the umpteenth time, our mailman stuffed a copy of The New Yorker in the wrong mailbox---ours. This time, instead of diligently and promptly taking it to the rightful subscriber, I actually took it home and read some of its content first. One of the articles, a short one, in "The Talk of the Town" section, really got my attention. Not because it … [Read more...] about An Accidental Read
Arnold’s Brave Call for a Pot Debate — Interview With Ethan Nadelmann (Guest Voice)
Arnold's Brave Call for a Pot Debate -- Interview With Ethan Nadelmann by Bill Steigerwald Arnold Schwarzenegger proved last week (May 5) he’s not a girly-man when it comes to the debate over whether marijuana should be legalized and taxed in California. Gov. Arnold called for a large-scale study of the consequences of legalizing pot for recreational use in California … [Read more...] about Arnold’s Brave Call for a Pot Debate — Interview With Ethan Nadelmann (Guest Voice)
The Party of No-Sense
Today, on Fox News Sunday, Newt Gingrich accused the Obama administration of being McCarthyites and terrorist sympathizers. Yes. Both. At the same time: … [Read more...] about The Party of No-Sense
I Hate Spring
I hate spring. I hate it because it means the end of an exciting basketball season and the start of a dreadfully long and intensely dull baseball season. I hate it because it means summer reruns, which now begin long before summer arrives. Most of all, I hate spring because its most distinctive and wide spread characteristic is the reawakening of plant lust. Don’t get me … [Read more...] about I Hate Spring
JibJab.com – Famous Mothers
Another video from those geniuses at Jib.Jab.com: … [Read more...] about JibJab.com – Famous Mothers
Happy Mothers Day (Guest Voice)
Happy Mother’s Day By Martha Randolph Carr Today is a celebration of the smaller moments that only the Moms still remember and carry in their hearts. This holiday is about the Moms who showed up so often our kids assumed we were sitting in the car waiting, which gave them the confidence to get back to the task at hand. If we’ve done our job right they have often taken … [Read more...] about Happy Mothers Day (Guest Voice)
Quote of the Day: Cheney Questions Whether Moderate Powell Is Even A Republican
Our political Quote of the Day comes from former Vice President Dick Cheney, who made one of the clearest statements yet indicating that moderates who don't agree with conservative Republicans should take a hike from his part -- this time questioning whether former Secretary of State Colin Powell even IS a Republican, and openly siding with mega-partisan conservative talk show … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Cheney Questions Whether Moderate Powell Is Even A Republican
U.S. Inflicts ‘Simply Massive’ Collateral Damage on Afghans: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
It's not a new phenomenon: Innocent people, intentionally or not harboring terrorists - are killed in a U.S.-led attack. Continuing with our multi-pronged coverage of the Af-Pak sitiation, this editorial from Algeria's Le Quotidien d'Oran makes it clear once again that such events remain detrimental to winning hearts and minds in the Muslim world. For Le Quotidien d'Oran, … [Read more...] about U.S. Inflicts ‘Simply Massive’ Collateral Damage on Afghans: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
Supreme Demographics
As Barack Obama, who changed the face of America's executive branch, prepares to name his first Supreme Court justice, speculation focuses as much on demography as it did during his presidential campaign last year. Does he "have to" name a woman? Will his choice be a Hispanic woman or perhaps a Lesbian? Is political correctness running amok? Not if you look back at … [Read more...] about Supreme Demographics
Around The Sphere
The Republican Party Could Be Hamstrung By Bush For Generations: That's the view...backed up by solid original research, numbers, and charts ...of Nate Silver. Silver notes what some of us have sensed: that the popularity of a President during many young people's formative years influences how they vote...for years. Here's a small part of what he writes: It's become … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere
Happy Mothers’ Day
This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Happy Mothers’ Day