That's the picture one gets from Glenn Reynolds' profile of today's tea party tax protesters. But can they be as constructive as they are critical? See here. Also see here. … [Read more...] about Are the Tea Party Organizers the New ‘Committees of Correspondence’?
What Are the Tea Partiers For?
We know what they're against, argues Andrew Sullivan, but what do they favor? Although he engages in a bit of what seems to me an ad hominem attack on Glenn Reynolds, the question is a good one: All protests against spending that do not tell us how to reduce it are fatuous pieces of theater, not constructive acts of politics. And until the right is able to make a constructive … [Read more...] about What Are the Tea Partiers For?
File Those Taxes !
Others have already opened discussions on the debate over the necessity of paying taxes, the price of civilization, etc. So I will take another tack (which does not preclude subjecting you a tome on my views of taxes later) For those who read us, and for the few among those who respect my views, let me offer a bit of advice. File your taxes and file them now ! I don't … [Read more...] about File Those Taxes !
Cables Fishing For Added Gigabyte Revenue
If I wore a pacemaker it would have beeped in alarm mode upon reading David Lazarus's column in The Los Angeles Times that my cable company may charge me as much as $150 a month for online access. By coincidence, an hour earlier I ripped an $82.66 check to Time Warner for Internet and basic cable television access. This monthly ransom note amounts to about 7% of my gross … [Read more...] about Cables Fishing For Added Gigabyte Revenue
Attending A Tea Party For A Little Tea
My brother and I will be headed to the University Of Georgia Tea Party (starts at 4:30pm EST) within the hour to see the lay of the land, so to speak. I'm going to try and live blog the event but if I'm not successful, I'm going to write a summary of the experience later today or early tomorrow. My brother's manning the camera since he's skilled in that department. So I … [Read more...] about Attending A Tea Party For A Little Tea
Why Somali Pirates Are Scary
Some thoughts HERE. … [Read more...] about Why Somali Pirates Are Scary
Blagojevich: The Next Reality Show TV Star Via NBC?
Some producers and networks will do anything to attract viewers. Anything. And "anything" would certainly be the category for this news story which says so much about how notoriety in 21st Century America can earn you bucks, or at least fame: Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich may be appearing --- with a judge's (iffy) approval -- to be on a new NBC reality show titled … [Read more...] about Blagojevich: The Next Reality Show TV Star Via NBC?
Wag-the-Dog Tea Parties
As Fox News, the Wall Street Journal et al are heavy-breathing about Tea Party protests on Tax Day, Gallup discloses that Americans' "Views of Income Taxes Among Most Positive Since 1956." But reality is no more a deterrent for Rupert Murdoch than it was for William Randolph Hearst when he was stirring up the Spanish-American War in 1898 with a drumbeat of scare headlines. … [Read more...] about Wag-the-Dog Tea Parties
A ‘Tax Day’ Poem
Ollie Wendell Holmes once said ‘Bout taxes in this nation, They are the price we gotta pay To have civilization. But recently I’m thinking That this rule we should relax, ’Cause I’d rather not be civilized Than pay my income tax. The money sinks of public ed, The vet and welfare rolls, The subsidies for geezer health, Who needs these wasteful doles Our streets … [Read more...] about A ‘Tax Day’ Poem
The obligatory “Look, there’s a tea party” column
Jeff Emanuel has high praise today for the "Tea Parties" taking place at various locations around the country, a topic which thus far I've pretty much passed on. First, it's being covered from hell to breakfast all across the blogosphere, and second... it's getting blown out of proportion for all the wrong reasons. To be clear, I'm not "protesting" these protests, nor do I … [Read more...] about The obligatory “Look, there’s a tea party” column
Taxes
"Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.'' (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., U.S. Supreme Court Justice) … [Read more...] about Taxes
Protesting Taxes After a Massive Tax Cut
Here's why I can't take these "tea party" protests seriously: In an op-ed in the WSJ, Glenn Reynolds' first sentence declares that thousands of taxpayers are taking to the streets "to protest higher taxes and out-of-control government spending." If government spending is your pet peeve, then fine, protest the Obama administration's spending projects, but please try to offer an … [Read more...] about Protesting Taxes After a Massive Tax Cut
Growing Old Won’t Be What It Used To Be
Gizmodo's Odelia Lee takes Honda's new cyborg legs for a spin: I'm definitely not the target demographic for [Honda's fresh-from-the-labs Stride Management Assist and Bodyweight Support Assist rigs], which Honda's Fundamental Research Institute hopes will help mobilize and rehabilitate Japan's rapidly aging population or lessen the leg fatigue of factory workers who stand and … [Read more...] about Growing Old Won’t Be What It Used To Be
After-Midnight Blogger: Back By Popular Demand…
Pirates In American Culture: Peter Pan’s Captain Hook
The increasingly grim news about the extent of pirates' threat to the ocean off Somalia must be viewed within a historical context in the United States: for years pirates have been portrayed as kind of romantic -- as murderously amusing. Many Americans today think of Johnny Depp, but for decades the Gold Standard for the colorful, amusing, homicidal pirate was none other … [Read more...] about Pirates In American Culture: Peter Pan’s Captain Hook
Is the Religious Right Dead?
It seems that whenever the Democrats are back in power there is talk about the demise of the Religious Right. Kathleen Parker, decides to bring up the end of the Christian right in her April 5 column. Blogger John Armstrong also wonders if this is the end of the road for the symbiotic relationship between the GOP and the Right. He, along with Parker, thinks there is a … [Read more...] about Is the Religious Right Dead?
Around The Sphere
Our linkfest taking you to sites of varying viewpoints. Links do not necessarily reflect the views of TMV or its writers. So Who's Really Behind The Tea Party Movement? (You'd think it would be Lipton, since they're getting a lot of verbal product placement time.) Marc Ambinder cuts away all of the rhetoric on both sides and offers these answers. Can We Really Get Rid Of … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere
The DHS Outrage. If the Shoe Fits…
It's been a busy couple of weeks on the Fauxrage Watch, but there's no rest for either the wicked or the easily amused. Today's edition comes from the continuing outburst of indignation over a Department of Homeland Security report (download the .pdf) which warned law enforcement groups about potential "right wing extremists" who may be planning mayhem on the home front. At the … [Read more...] about The DHS Outrage. If the Shoe Fits…
Threaded Comments Disabled
Due to the sizable amount of negative e-mail received on the threaded comments experiment, they have been disabled. I recommend that if you want to respond directly to a person in the comments section, do one or more of the following: 1. Quote the person. 2. Start your comment with "@commenter's name:". So if the original comment is from myself, T-Steel, and you wanted … [Read more...] about Threaded Comments Disabled
Pakistan’s “Trust Deficit”
Pervez Musharraf and George W. Bush are gone, but the game goes on as, in the wake of $7.5 billion in new aid by the Obama Administration, the Pakistani prime minister complains of a "trust deficit" by US benefactors. The shell game over Islamist extremists that began after 9/11 is looking even worse. In proposing increased aid, President Obama said he expected Pakistan … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s “Trust Deficit”