Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, considered by some to be to be a GOP visionary and by others as a politician who overreached and greatly helped the Democrats, is warning his fellow Republicans that pure conservatives could split off and form a third party in 2012 if the party follows the path set by President George Bush or doesn't take a strong stance against President … [Read more...] about Gingrich: Pure Conservatives Could Split Off To Form Third Party In 2012
Kucinich Votes ‘No’ on Obama Budget
Almost lost in the shuffle of today's news about the polarized votes approving President Obama's budget is the fact that former presidential candidate and UFO spotter Rep. Dennis Kucinich was among the 20 House Dems who voted against the budget. Asked to explain, Kucinich replied: This budget is a statement of principles for the upcoming year, and I cannot accept it in … [Read more...] about Kucinich Votes ‘No’ on Obama Budget
After the Fold
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about After the Fold
Tedisco Takes the Lead?
As the re-canvass of votes continues in New York's 20th congressional district, Politicker NY reports that errors are being found and corrected and they are all heading in one direction. Jim Tedisco now seems to hold a 12 vote lead over Democrat Scott Murphy, though Murphy was declared to hold a roughly sixty vote lead on election night. Now it's Tedisco by 12! As voting … [Read more...] about Tedisco Takes the Lead?
Freedom to Surf: Workers More Productive if Allowed ‘Leisure browsing’
CNet: A study conducted in Australia found that people who engage in "Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing" (WILB) are more productive than those who don't. Workers who "surf the Internet for fun at work--within a reasonable limit of less than 20 percent of their total time in the office--are more productive by about 9 percent," according to the study's author, Professor Brent … [Read more...] about Freedom to Surf: Workers More Productive if Allowed ‘Leisure browsing’
Sarah Palin Flunks Government 101 Again
For entry number 114 in my ongoing 2,000 part series of baseless and despicable attacks on Sarah Palin and her family, I draw your attention to the fallout from disgraced Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) receiving his get out of jail free card. The Anchorage Daily News fills in the blanks for us. Gov. Sarah Palin and the head of the Alaska Republican Party said Thursday that … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Flunks Government 101 Again
Blago & Company Indicted
Chicago Breaking News: Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, his brother, and a former top fundraiser were among six men indicted today on political corruption charges, the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago announced. In addition to Rob Blagojevich, 53, and fundraiser Christopher Kelly, 50, charged were Lon Monk, 50, a lobbyist and former Blagojevich chief of staff; John Harris, 47, … [Read more...] about Blago & Company Indicted
Michelle and the Queen
After his first foreign trip as President, JFK said, "I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris--and I have enjoyed it!" Barack Obama may be feeling that way in London this week as the Gallup Poll shows the First Lady's favorable ratings eclipsing his own. The British press, as always on the lookout to criticize crude Americans, half-heartedly tried to stir a … [Read more...] about Michelle and the Queen
Spring Wildflower Beauty in the Smokies
April is a stressful time in the academic calender - midterms and essays come due, senior theses, academic advising, preparation for final papers and projects. It all piles up in the weeks after Spring Break. So I like to get away from campus whenever possible this time of year and head down the road to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Townsend entrance is only about … [Read more...] about Spring Wildflower Beauty in the Smokies
Vermont Same Sex Marriage Bill In Trouble, Iowa Ruling Due (UPDATED
The Vermont House today held a preliminary vote to approve the same sex marriage bill but it did not pass by a two thirds majority. The vote was 92-52 or 3 votes short of a 2/3 majority (It would have needed 95 votes of those cast or 100 of the total House membership of 150). If the bill does not pick up those extra votes then a veto threat by Governor Jim Douglas could kill … [Read more...] about Vermont Same Sex Marriage Bill In Trouble, Iowa Ruling Due (UPDATED
Eric Cantor: Let’s Not “Overreact” to the Economic Crisis
You would think that after Barack Obama's resounding victory in November, and with his job approval and favorable ratings at 60% and 69%, respectively, Republican leaders would recognize that the "tired old policies of the past" are the ones the public just rejected -- not the ones we've been suffering under for the eight years prior to the election. … [Read more...] about Eric Cantor: Let’s Not “Overreact” to the Economic Crisis
Poem of the Day Night: Sometimes Errors Turn Into Treasure
There's an old saying that if you look, there will come a sparkling diamond from the block of blank coal. In this poem by Lewis Hyde, he shows us how lovers struck speechless when insulting each other, actually are removed forcibly-- via their sudden muteness -- from saying any further cruel thing to one another. That being struck dumb can sometimes be a good thing. He talks … [Read more...] about Poem of the Day Night: Sometimes Errors Turn Into Treasure
Market Recovering. Economy Not. A Problem?.
The stock market is on a tear. It has had one of the biggest four-week advances ever. Like episodes of Seinfeld, however, this surge is pretty much about nothing. Street watchers, of course, are obliged to assign a reason for the inherently silly or foolish gyrations that often seize hold of the professional traders who handle so much of other people's money. And they have … [Read more...] about Market Recovering. Economy Not. A Problem?.
Queen Elizabeth Wasn’t Upset At All By Michelle Obama’s “Breaking Protocol”
Darn! Just when you think there's a great new topic to use to score points with a negative, it's yanked away from you! It turns out that -- despite what some pundits have been proclaming -- there was a bit more to First Lady Barack Obama breaking protocol with the Queen of England. Like...the Queen broke it, too: Michelle Obama's meeting with Queen Elizabeth II began with … [Read more...] about Queen Elizabeth Wasn’t Upset At All By Michelle Obama’s “Breaking Protocol”
Are You an “Optimist” or an “Optimalist” About the Economy?
I passionately want the President of the United States to succeed and our economy to recover. As I have mentioned before, in this respect I am an optimist, and I celebrate every gain by our markets, "regardless of how small or fleeting," and I look for every sign, no matter how miniscule, that our economy is in fact improving. That is the reason I am exuberant today. … [Read more...] about Are You an “Optimist” or an “Optimalist” About the Economy?
Double Takes
Double Take #1: Despite trying, Andrew Sullivan can't seem to quite get out of the "makers and takers" hole he dug. And it probably doesn't help matters when his readers keep knocking him down a notch or two. That's the funny thing about readers: They insist on keeping writers honest. Double Take #2: Columnist Froma Harrop was motivated enough by my ignorance of her … [Read more...] about Double Takes
Obama’s Paradox: Love Him; Hate American Capitalism: Liberation of France
PHOTOGRAPHER: 'EH … I DON’T SEE THE REST OF THE 20? OBAMA: 'WHAT 20? Continental Europe today is torn: How can it reconcile its ecstatic Obama-mania with the president's resistance to creating a global institution to oversee financial markets and his favor for bigger deficit-funded stimulus packages to boost consumption? Francois Sergent of France's Liberation writes in … [Read more...] about Obama’s Paradox: Love Him; Hate American Capitalism: Liberation of France
The U.S. Mexico Border: End Of A Shattered Dream?
During the late 20th century, Americans and Mexicans on both sides of the border dreamed of a region where people of both countries could go back and forth legally and easily....where tourism on both sides would flourish as each others' citizens flocked to the other country....and where the countries' two economies would increasingly flourish as they became greater intertwined … [Read more...] about The U.S. Mexico Border: End Of A Shattered Dream?
Court Moves Closer To Naming Minnesota Senator
It may be hard to believe, but Minnesota still has only one U.S. Senator, Amy Klobuchar. That said, Democratic challenger Al Franken has moved a step closer to unseating Republican Norm Coleman. Tuesday, after a seven-week trial, the Minnesota elections court unanimously decided to re-examine another 400 rejected absentee ballots in open court on Tuesday April 7. However, … [Read more...] about Court Moves Closer To Naming Minnesota Senator
Moral Clarity in Foreign Policy
With Obama's recent Af-Pak announcement, I thought it might be a good time to pull my musings around moral clarity and foreign policy back out of the closet and dust them off to have another look. When last I ruminated on this topic, it was over at my home digs at the League of Ordinary Gentlemen where co-blogger E.D. Kain had expressed perfectly reasonable concern over basing … [Read more...] about Moral Clarity in Foreign Policy