The going rate paid by the Taliban for an attack on a police checkpoint in the western part of Afghanistan: $4 (repeat FOUR Dollars). While foreign consultants working for the Western aid agencies in Kabul can command salaries of $250,000 to $500,000 a year. Such are the profound ironies one comes across in the war-torn Afghanistan. "The high degree of wastage of aid money … [Read more...] about Kabul’s New Elite: The Foreign Consultants
That Which Dare Not Be Spoken Aloud: Swine Flu
---------- CODA: To TMV Readers. I appreciate your bearing with me on the size of my editorial cartoons that are sometimes apparently cut off left or right side on some monitors. I am just learning to wrassle with Image Manager and sizing of images on WordPress. Generally, I post images big-size so people with out-of-date reading glasses like me, can actually read the font … [Read more...] about That Which Dare Not Be Spoken Aloud: Swine Flu
Media & Barack Obama’s Public Health Message
President Barack Obama's 100 days in office were marked by diverse reactions in the media. A Sri Lankan journalist, Nalaka Gunawardene was impressed by Obama's unusual step of using a prime-time televised news conference to deliver a public health message regarding swine flu on April 29, 2009. He quoted "President of the New Media World" Obama: “Wash your hands when you … [Read more...] about Media & Barack Obama’s Public Health Message
Independents Flee Obama on Gun Control, Abortion in New Pew Poll
The Pew Research Center has a very interesting new survey on attitudes toward gun control and abortion after President Barack Obama took office. Within the space of a year, views that were once firmly in the majority for both gun control and broadly-legal abortion are now nearly neck-and-neck - and it's not just the choir getting preachier: The balance of opinion among … [Read more...] about Independents Flee Obama on Gun Control, Abortion in New Pew Poll
So Who Will Obama Pick To Replace Souter On The Supreme Court?
As this intriguing CBS report shows, speculation is rife on who President Barack Obama could choose to replace David Souter on the Supreme Court: Watch CBS Videos Online Who do YOU predict he'll pick? Will it be a lawyer, judge or someone who is now in politics or associated with the government? And WHY? … [Read more...] about So Who Will Obama Pick To Replace Souter On The Supreme Court?
One Reason So Many Churchgoers May Accept Torture
I'm a Christian and I'm an American. Therefore, I oppose the use of torture. Ever. No exceptions. Because ours is an imperfect world, I accept the fact that nations must sometimes go to war, just as I accept that when lives are threatened--be it one's own life or the lives of others--defensive action that may result in an attacker's death is justified. As a Christian, … [Read more...] about One Reason So Many Churchgoers May Accept Torture
Erick Erickson’s Jaw-Dropping Tweet
I know that movement conservatives have been behaving in incredibly bizarre ways since Obama took office, but this, I think, might set some kind of record. Erick Erickson, the founder of RedState, which is supposedly the most influential political blog on the right, posted this tweet tonight: John Amato at Crooks and Liars provides details, with some help from a … [Read more...] about Erick Erickson’s Jaw-Dropping Tweet
Is Swine Flu the Latest U.S. Bioweapon Attack?: La Cronica de Hoy, Mexico
'WE'VE ALREADY INFECTED HALF THE WORLD WITH OUR SWINE FLU ...TO ADD TO OUR PROBLEMS, SOON THEY'LL CLASSIFY US AS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES IN THE AXIS OF EVIL.' Is it plausible that United States biowarfare research is intentionally or accidentally behind the latest virus to plague the world? According to Carlos Ferreyra of Mexico's La Cronica de Hoy, one of the many rumors … [Read more...] about Is Swine Flu the Latest U.S. Bioweapon Attack?: La Cronica de Hoy, Mexico
Once a Democrat, Always a Democrat (Guest Voice)
NOTE: We've run a variety of views here on TMV on Pennyslvania Sen. Arlen Specter and his switch from the Republican to the Democratic party. Some were favorable, others not so favorable. Talk show host Michael Reagan offers this unabashed thumbs down. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Once a Democrat, Always a Democrat by … [Read more...] about Once a Democrat, Always a Democrat (Guest Voice)
Olbermann Double Standard
US News and World Report has a story worth reading. Seems that Keith Olbermann took a big pay hike while GE (owner of MSNBC) was getting a big bailout. Since Olbermann has attacked executives for taking raises during bailouts, should he not keep to the same standard? … [Read more...] about Olbermann Double Standard
Swine Flu Mask
Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. . All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Swine Flu Mask
Enough With The Swine Flu Panic!
Polimom's local school district sent out the dreaded email alert this afternoon. Swine flu is here, in a school very nearby, and they've closed that school. Not only that, but Adorable Child tells me they think there's a student from her school as well (though nothing's been said about that yet) -- so I'm fully expecting a forced vacation next week. I've been watching, jaw … [Read more...] about Enough With The Swine Flu Panic!
Don’t Make Assumptions On Supreme Court Picks
With word out that Justice Souter is about to hitch up the buckboard and head back to New Hampshire we have already heard speculation about his successor and how they will impact the direction of the court. However there is an old saying about what happens when you assume, and those of us who are watching from the outside as well as those working from the inside at the White … [Read more...] about Don’t Make Assumptions On Supreme Court Picks
A Loss of Innocence For The Netherlands?
As a person of Dutch ancestry, and one who lived in the Netherlands and its Antilles for many years, I was naturally shocked to read and hear about the tragic events in the Dutch town of Apeldoorn yesterday. As we all know now, a black Suzuki sped toward an open-topped bus carrying Queen Beatrix and several members of her family, narrowly missing the bus, and crashing into a … [Read more...] about A Loss of Innocence For The Netherlands?
Nothing Wrong with Hillary Obeying Rituals of Lebanon: L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon
For those curious about the Byzantine world of Lebanese politics and how the United Stats fits it to it, this article from Lebanon's L'Orient Le Jour will provide a glimpse. This article, written by L'Orient Le Jour's Issa Goraieb, discusses the controversy that erupted after Secretary of State Clinton, during her first trip to Beirut, visited the tomb of former Prime … [Read more...] about Nothing Wrong with Hillary Obeying Rituals of Lebanon: L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon
Facebook Manners; More Than A Centruy Old
The digitizers at ProQuest have discovered not all content is serious academic research. Some is just plain fun: Bryan Benilous, a historical newspaper specialist at the digital-archive company Proquest, said he and his colleagues came across a Boston Daily Globe article from August 24, 1902, titled, “Face Book The New Fad,” describing a party game where revelers sketch out … [Read more...] about Facebook Manners; More Than A Centruy Old
Deficits and Debt: Sen. McCaskill Responds
While I don't recall exactly when, it was within the last three to four weeks that I used the contact form on Senator Claire McCaskill's Web site to share my concerns with her about President Obama's proposed budget. I didn't save a copy of my message to her, but its central point was that -- while I had voted for both her and the President and was generally supportive of … [Read more...] about Deficits and Debt: Sen. McCaskill Responds
From the “Dog Bites Man” Files
In case any of you were still laboring under the belief that anyone from AIPAC could ever be convicted of anything in the United States of America, consider yourselves to have been fully disabused of this notion. … [Read more...] about From the “Dog Bites Man” Files
Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos
A couple of days ago, I relaunched a former blog -- and right away was confronted by "Is Polimom really a 'moderate'"? The question brought me up short, in part because I've never personally tried to define what I think a moderate is. While the question has been engaged here at TMV in the past, it's been awhile -- and I didn't agree necessarily with everyone. So I thought … [Read more...] about Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos
Media: Please Give Souter Some Space
Just saw MSNBC video of David Souter driving his car to work. He is known to be both private and quiet; please stop treating him like a criminal and give him some space. … [Read more...] about Media: Please Give Souter Some Space