President Obama's busy schedule will take him to Trinidad later this month for a summit with Latin American leaders. The top item of discussion: Suspending travel and remittance requirements to Cuba as a first step in ending the 50-year-old trade embargo against the Communist-ruled island. I say the time has come. And so does a vast majority of Cuban Americans. It has … [Read more...] about Change In Cuba Policy Long Overdue
Big-Tent Conservatives and More
Andrew Sullivan clarifies his thoughts on the "new cultural divide" between "the producers of wealth and the recipients of redistribution." In the process, he augments David Frum's recent notes on an adaptive, big-tent conservatism. Frum writes that conservatism: ... will only be successful to the extent it is knowledgeable, to the extent it is public-spirited, to the … [Read more...] about Big-Tent Conservatives and More
Quote Of The Day: Are Democrats On The Brink Of Civil War?
The news is now dominated by stories, opinion pieces, and blog posts about turmoil in the Republican party -- a party that has seemingly morphed into the Rushublican party with its most visible mass media symbol repeatedly leading what now seems to be a virtual litmus test mantra of hoping President Barack Obama will fail (a mantra now cushioned with word-splitting qualifiers … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Are Democrats On The Brink Of Civil War?
Nobel Economists vs. Geithner
Another winner of the Nobel Prize in economics, and a former Clinton White House adviser, joins Paul Krugman today in turning thumbs down on the Treasury's public-private toxic asset plan and suggests that nationalizing banks would be "preferable." Joseph Stiglitz concludes: "Some Americans are afraid that the government might temporarily 'nationalize' the banks, but that … [Read more...] about Nobel Economists vs. Geithner
Time For Detroit To Meet Chapter 11
One of the hardest parts of my practice is sitting down with new clients who aren't quite ready to face the truth. They have, in many cases, worked hard and tried their best but sometimes things just are not going to work out the way they want. Understandably these clients do not want to have to give up and file bankruptcy. Often they will also have to give up a home and in … [Read more...] about Time For Detroit To Meet Chapter 11
April Fools’ Prank Hits Aerospace World
Norway is one of the "partner nations" for Lockheed Martin's multinational Joint Strike Fighter development and production program. Last November, Norway formally announced that it had selected the F-35 Lightning II to replace its aging F-16 fleet and to fulfill Norway's future air-combat capability requirements. Norway plans to acquire 48 F-35s, and the first F-35s … [Read more...] about April Fools’ Prank Hits Aerospace World
April Fools Day
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about April Fools Day
Mark to Made Up (Or is it Mark to Madoff?)
Some people think that current Obama administration policies are leading us to socialism, If only. Socialism, after all, is a recognized economic system that differs from capitalism in its views on ownership and wealth distribution. A rather benign system, whose only major defect is that it doesn't work very well in the real world. What's going on in Obamaland these days … [Read more...] about Mark to Made Up (Or is it Mark to Madoff?)
‘The Tragedy of Man’
According to David Frum, Niccolo Macchiavelli identified "the tragedy of man" as a failure to adapt to change. Thus Frum concludes an essay, posted Saturday, in which he rebuffs fellow conservatives. For those who lean right but believe the current Right is lost in the forest, there's much to like in Frum's self-defense. The Economist's Lexington spotlights one notable … [Read more...] about ‘The Tragedy of Man’
U.S. v Barack Obama
Four score minus four years ago, a Democratic President of the United States tried to change the relationship between the government and its' citizens. The press called Franklin Roosevelt's plan to get Americans working during The Great Depression "The New Deal", the Supreme Court decided these policies promoted by the President and passed by a Democratic Congress were … [Read more...] about U.S. v Barack Obama
Unpleasant April Fools Joke in NY20
As I previously predicted, the withdrawal of the Libertarian candidate in New York's 20th district special congressional election threw the race into a virtual dead heat. After all precincts finished reporting, Democrat Scott Murphy was listed as having a lead of 65 votes. Now we will await the opening and counting of the absentee ballots, which number far more than the current … [Read more...] about Unpleasant April Fools Joke in NY20
Happy April Fools Day in Tech
Michael Arrington has the definitive April Fools tech roundup. A sampling... Fun from Google: Google Brain Search, "Faster and more accurate memory retrieval... Eliminate 'tip of the tongue' syndrome." GMail Autopilot, "The easiest email could possibly be." Twitter switch for The Guardian, after 188 years of ink: • Newspaper to be available only on messaging service • … [Read more...] about Happy April Fools Day in Tech
Obama Cabinet Nominee Has Tax Issues (Also, The Sky Is Blue)
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, the current Obama nominee to be HHS secretary has admitted to some mistakes on her tax returns and paid about $ 8,000 in taxes and penalties for errors on their 2005-2007 returns. On the surface it does not look to be that big of a deal, but you have to start wondering if they can get anyone nominated for the Cabinet who does not have some … [Read more...] about Obama Cabinet Nominee Has Tax Issues (Also, The Sky Is Blue)
Britain and Europe Welcome President and First Lady
WORLDMEETS.US will be covering President Obama's voyage to Europe - from the European point of view - every step of the way. Tonight of course will be very Britain-centric. Here are just a few of the dozens of stories we've posted in recent hours: The Independent, U.K.: G20 Summit a Test and an Opportunity for President Obama The Independent, U.K.: Obama Aims to Lay the … [Read more...] about Britain and Europe Welcome President and First Lady
NY 20 House Special (UPDATED)
UPDATE: Final count (w/o absentees or military) has it at 65 vote lead for Murphy (D) out of 155,000 cast. Very close Thanks to Elrod for update UPDATE: As of now the race is very close with pretty much all the votes in it looks to be a dead even tie. Absentee ballots still pending, some reports say as many as 6,000 Looks like this one could take a while to … [Read more...] about NY 20 House Special (UPDATED)
The Bonecrusher: The Most Powerful Republican Bar None
It's not Michael Steele, it's not Newt Gingrich, it's not Rush LImbaugh, it's Norm Kong-Coleman, the Republican running for Senate in one of the most tangled Minnesota election counts ever. Mr. Coleman is running against the comedian and radio talk show host, Mr. Al Zilla-Franken... and well, here, you read.... from the Washington Post, keeping in mind, and kicking aside … [Read more...] about The Bonecrusher: The Most Powerful Republican Bar None
U.S. To Join U.N. Human Rights Council
The Washington Post just reported : The Obama administration decided Tuesday to join the U.N. Human Rights Council, reversing a decision by the Bush administration to shun the United Nations' premier rights body to protest the influence of repressive states, according to U.N. diplomats and rights activists. And: The United States will participate in … [Read more...] about U.S. To Join U.N. Human Rights Council
Jurassic Detroit
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Jurassic Detroit
Vote of Confidence
As Pres. Obama heads off to Europe for the G20 summit, he can bask in the glow of this new CNN poll, which indicates that huge majorities of Americans believe that the president will give a favorable impression of the U.S. to the rest of the world: As Barack Obama takes off for his first overseas trip as president, a new national poll indicates that more than eight in ten … [Read more...] about Vote of Confidence
Of Headlines, Iraq Contractors, and “Marching Toward Hell”
Those who read my posts know by now that I have consistently opposed the invasion and occupation of Iraq---I have received a lot of grief for that---and that I passionately support our troops in harm's way. I have been at the receiving end of a lot of skepticism for the latter. I have strongly supported better benefits, medical care, mental care, and better recognition for … [Read more...] about Of Headlines, Iraq Contractors, and “Marching Toward Hell”