For those interested in a fuller accounting of the May Day remarks of President Hugo Chavez in regard to the Obama Administration than those available on the wire services, this news item from Venezuela's Tal Cual offers extensive quotes - and coverage of the harsh manner in which his government dealt with pro-democracy counter-demonstrations on the same day. The Tal Cual … [Read more...] about President Chavez ‘Puts Early End’ to Honeymoon with Obama: Tal Cual, Venezuela
Biden Swine Flu Panic
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. THIS JUST IN! Today Biden will do something he said is highly risky. … [Read more...] about Biden Swine Flu Panic
Doing Evil in the Name of the Good: Le Temps, Switzerland
In Europe and elsewhere, the revulsion over U.S. treatment of terrorist detainees shows little sign of abating, and, as this op-ed from Switzerland shows, neither does the self-loathing over the fact that European governments actively participated or turned a blind eye - or as Swiss columnist Francois Gross puts it, "allies of these Crusaders, worthy of their ancestors remained … [Read more...] about Doing Evil in the Name of the Good: Le Temps, Switzerland
GOP Seeks Advice from Bush Aides on How to Recover From Bush Disaster
Who better to get the Republican Party out of the basement than the folks who put them there? Republicans looking to recover from Bush-era defeats are turning to an unlikely source for advice: top aides to former President George W. Bush. Former White House press secretary Dana Perino, former Bush counselor Ed Gillespie and former White House deputy press secretary … [Read more...] about GOP Seeks Advice from Bush Aides on How to Recover From Bush Disaster
Pete Seeger & World Press Freedom Day
On the World Press Freedom Day (May 3), Sri Lankan journalist Nalaka Gunawardene chose to pay a warm tribute to Pete Seeger, the American folk singer and a pioneer of protest music, who turned 90. Gunawardene wrote: "Since media freedom is inseparable from the democratic rights to dissent and protest, I will devote this blog post to salute Pete and his many decades of music … [Read more...] about Pete Seeger & World Press Freedom Day
Is the GOP Like GM?
In the days following the defection of Senator Arlen Specter to the Democrats, I've been thinking about what to write about in the wake of all of this. As a moderate Republican, I can say that it has been a hard week and, more than once, I've thought of just ending my relationship with this party. As I thought about and read through all the articles by moderate … [Read more...] about Is the GOP Like GM?
How Dire Is The Plight Of The Republican Party?
Without any comment from us, just read this must read analysis by Dick Polman. UPDATE: Be sure to read this related must-read post by Ron Beasley. … [Read more...] about How Dire Is The Plight Of The Republican Party?
Arlen Specter Stresses That He Is (GASP!!) Independent Minded
Hold onto your hats...If you have a weak heart get ready....If you're a journalist prepare to screech "STOP THE PRESSES!!!" if your newspaper hasn't already folded...If you're a blogger of the right or left get ready to write a breathless post expressing degrees of outrage or it-suits-them-right (depending on which party you belong to). Here is a bit of news that is going to … [Read more...] about Arlen Specter Stresses That He Is (GASP!!) Independent Minded
Club For Growth
RJ Matson, Roll Call This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Club For Growth
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Multiple Columns
For various reasons, I have neglected to post several columns from Sabato's Crystal Ball. Here they are.... Alan Abramowitz on The Obama Generation 04/30/2009 Joseph Figueroa on New Jersey Governor Showdown 04/30/2009 Diana Owen on High Interest Election, Media Boon 04/23/2009 Isaac Wood on HOUSE RACE SPECIAL: EXTRA INNINGS! 04/23/2009 Alan Abramowitz on … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Multiple Columns
Washington Moves To Reform Wall Street
There's a lot of talk these days about "reforming" the way business is done on Wall Street with more regulation and greater transparency. And sure, some real changes are coming. But when the smoke clears and the mirrors are put away, how different will things really be? Washington's Moves To Reform Wall Street When Wall Street gamesters over-reach, Their … [Read more...] about Washington Moves To Reform Wall Street
Jack Kemp Dies: Friends And Foes Remember “Big Tent” Republican Conservative
The death of former pro quarterback and former Republican vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp at 73 of cancer yesterday almost seems a bitter irony of history -- timed at a particularly pointed time. During a week when some pundits were warning that "big tent" Republicanism was figuratively dying off, Kemp -- who successfully pushed Reagan-era conservatism and the idea of … [Read more...] about Jack Kemp Dies: Friends And Foes Remember “Big Tent” Republican Conservative
Steele Needing A Big Tent
Michael Steele is no Jack Kemp. The latter passed away yesterday, the former is already a political afterthought, who is not conservative enough for the right-wing of the Republican Party and who has driven away Arlen Specter and other moderates. Jack Kemp and his former boss, President George H.W. Bush, were pragmatic conservatives under the Reagan mantra of creating a big … [Read more...] about Steele Needing A Big Tent
Souter’s Tears
In his 2007 book about the Supreme Court, "The Nine," Jeffery Toobin wrote about David Souter's reaction to the decision that gave George W. Bush the presidency: "His whole life was being a judge. He came from a tradition where the independence of the judiciary was the foundation of the rule of law. And Souter believed Bush v. Gore mocked that tradition. His colleagues’ … [Read more...] about Souter’s Tears
Steele to Moderates: Sit Down and Shut up
This is hysterical. La Crosse - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele appealed to the political middle Friday to join his party but added that the party itself wouldn't moderate. "All you moderates out there, y'all come. I mean, that's the message," Steele said at a news conference. "The message of this party is this is a big table for everyone to have a … [Read more...] about Steele to Moderates: Sit Down and Shut up
Some Mistakes Obama Can Avoid on SCOTUS
I've spent more than enough virtual ink wistfully laying out my dreams of ideal Supreme Court nominees, and I've reached the acceptance stage in the grief progression. There are no signs that our presidents are going to start ignoring partisan considerations and litmus tests. There was never any chance that George W. Bush was going to nominate a liberal - or even a moderate - … [Read more...] about Some Mistakes Obama Can Avoid on SCOTUS
On Nukes, Obama ‘Feigns Retreat in Order to Attack’: The Global Geographic Times, China
There has been a lot of criticism from Europe about President Obama's plan for achieving a nuclear weapons free world, essentially because most columnists there think it wildly naive. This commentary from the Global Geographic Times of the People's Republic of China, however, sees the idea as a way for America to extend its global dominance by denying the rest of the world any … [Read more...] about On Nukes, Obama ‘Feigns Retreat in Order to Attack’: The Global Geographic Times, China
More Than Just Endangered: The Destruction of the Heroic Best
The Great Performers: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Of Company B
Last summer when I was performing at fairs in Montana and Wyoming, I got to talk to a lot of high school students on the fairgrounds. In one city, some high schoolers told me saying how much they loved show biz and wanted to get into it and that during the year a few of them had worked on a classic number the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Of Company B for a talent show. Later … [Read more...] about The Great Performers: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Of Company B
Jack Kemp has Died
AP, minutes ago. Later -- The NYTimes: Jack Kemp, the ex-quarterback, congressman, one-time vice-presidential nominee and self-described ''bleeding-heart conservative,'' died Saturday. He was 73. Kemp died after a lengthy illness, according to spokeswoman Bona Park and Edwin J. Feulner, a longtime friend and former campaign adviser. Park said Kemp died at his home in … [Read more...] about Jack Kemp has Died