Judging from this op-ed by Franco Venturini of Italy's Corriere della Sera, despite the adulation felt for Barack Obama during the 2008 campaign, it could be rough sledding for the President when he visits Europe for the first time since taking office next week. Franco Venturini writes in part: "Celebrated with enthusiasm on both sides of the Atlantic, Barack Obama's … [Read more...] about ‘Lost Smiles’ as Obama Prepares for Europe: Corriere della Sera, Italy
The Republicans Present Their Own Budget Plan With One Tiny Hitch
The hitch: After blasting President Barack Obama on the budget, it turns out that Rep. Mike Spence can't answer a question on what the deficit would be under the new Republican plan -- and he continues to blast Obama's projected deficit even after he can't answer the question about the GOP's: It's clear what the GOP's strategy is heading into 2010. This is its real … [Read more...] about The Republicans Present Their Own Budget Plan With One Tiny Hitch
Calderon’s Bush-Style Militarization of Mexican Politics: La Jornada, Mexico
CARTOON TITLE: 'DIPLOMACY IN ACTION' SECRETARY CLINTON'S SIGN SAYS: 'THERE'S NO PROBLEM GOVERNING MEXICO' MEXICAN FOREIGN SECRETARY ESPINOSA SAYS: 'YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT ALL!' With Hillary Clinton in Mexico praising that country's president for his handling of the drug war, is President Calderon, who took office after a contested election, using that national emergency to … [Read more...] about Calderon’s Bush-Style Militarization of Mexican Politics: La Jornada, Mexico
The Dirtiest Word In America
The dirtiest word in American society is not a four, but a five-letter word spelled t-a-x-e-s. The mere mention of raising taxes by any politician is an automatic death sentence. Give Republicans since the Reagan administration credit for transforming the meaning of taxes from a necessary devil to the horrors of Satan. Not to be outdone, most Democrats in Congress … [Read more...] about The Dirtiest Word In America
And the Health Insurance Debate Rages On
Please, dear reader, consider this a follow up to Pat Edaburn's excellent piece on Health Care reform. Wow! What A Deal! Insurance companies agree to cover everyone, and not even charge ludicrous extra amounts for people who have been ill, but only if everyone is required to buy insurance. That's right, the same highly profitable insurance companies that have caused the … [Read more...] about And the Health Insurance Debate Rages On
Obama’s Online Town Hall Meeting Goes To Pot
It was an experiment that the White House reportedly liked and could well try again. President Barack Obama held his highly-anticipated online Town Hall and the response was big and positive -- and also heavily weighted with people who had lots of questions about pot. It didn't flop with a gong, but proved to be an intriguing idea...with a bong. No one can say the questions … [Read more...] about Obama’s Online Town Hall Meeting Goes To Pot
The Toxic Assets Avenger
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about The Toxic Assets Avenger
The Mighty, Indispensable Major Dailies
At Pres. Obama's news conference two days ago, Kevin Chappelle from the Newark Examiner asked what might be called an outlier (but not a "softball") question: ... A recent report found that, as a result of the economic downturn, 1 in 50 children are now homeless in America. With shelters at full capacity, tent cities are sprouting up across the country. In passing your … [Read more...] about The Mighty, Indispensable Major Dailies
Rewriting the Map, Climate Change Style
Whatever your opinion about how we humans are best suited to deal with the impacts of climate change and our role in generating that phenomenon, when countries have to start redrawing their borders as a result of those impacts it's hard to argue that there isn't any phenomenon to argue over. … [Read more...] about Rewriting the Map, Climate Change Style
Monica, the Movie
As Hillary Clinton arrives in Mexico to admit that America's "insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade,” the cocaine-consuming capital of Hollywood announces a new HBO movie about Monica Lewinsky and you-know-who. The film, we're told, is "actually about the frustrated efforts of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to form a working relationship with … [Read more...] about Monica, the Movie
A (Dutch) Bus Tour Through AIG Land
A couple of days ago, I "reported" some of the Dutch reaction to the Netherlands' version of our AIG scandal in "The Netherlands 'AIG.'" The Dutch "version" being the ING Group, that is reported to have paid out 300 million euros (about $405 million) in bonuses to thousands of its employees despite the company’s steep losses. As part of the Dutch reaction, I mentioned, … [Read more...] about A (Dutch) Bus Tour Through AIG Land
Hugo Chavez Moves To Consolidate Power
He takes over transportation hubs... … [Read more...] about Hugo Chavez Moves To Consolidate Power
Clinton: U.S. Partly To Blame For Mexico’s Drug War Problem Which Poses Potential U.S.Threat
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has the worsening government-drug cartel nearly-full-scale war in Mexico under her microscope -- noting that the United States shares the blame due to its providing market demand here and warning that there is a risk of terrorists working with Mexican drug cartels to pose a potential risk to this side of the border: The United States is … [Read more...] about Clinton: U.S. Partly To Blame For Mexico’s Drug War Problem Which Poses Potential U.S.Threat
Obama’s Online Town Hall Q&A Begins This Morning
This morning President Barack Obama gets to do what many Presidents have dreamed of doing: having a Q&A that (if it's done correctly) excludes working, salaried journalists (a definition which in its usual sense excludes typical bloggers) and entails taking questions from more than people in a specific area -- a Q&A that will literally be conducted by the White House with … [Read more...] about Obama’s Online Town Hall Q&A Begins This Morning
Given “Expert” Financial Advice, Our Brains Shut Down
I expect one of the shifts in economic theory to come from our current financial mess will be a better understanding of humankind as irrational herd beast. The markets-know-best mentality of the past few decades sent the beast off a cliff. Wired Science: A brain-scanning study of people making financial choices suggests that when given expert advice, the decision-making … [Read more...] about Given “Expert” Financial Advice, Our Brains Shut Down
Mr. President: The Medal of Honor, Why a Measly Five?
Yesterday, March 25, was National Medal of Honor Day. President Barack Obama marked the day at Arlington National Cemetery by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, accompanied by four living recipients of the nation’s highest military award. He also expressed his gratitude to all servicemen and women, especially those who have been awarded the Congressional … [Read more...] about Mr. President: The Medal of Honor, Why a Measly Five?
Tornado Season is Back
Tis the season, and we're not talking about Christmas. As Spring approaches and the air begins to warm, unstable air masses are marching across the nation and spawning tornadoes. There is currently a line of storms moving eastward across the southern portion of the nation, beginning in Mississippi and Alabama last night. This front will be moving into Florida and Georgia … [Read more...] about Tornado Season is Back
Forensic Science in the Service of the State
Forensic scientists who testify for criminal defendants are under fire. Radley Balko says they ought to be praised: Ideally, government medical examiners would not only be independent of the state's law enforcement agencies, they would be free to testify against any state claims unsupported by scientific evidence. But that isn't the case in most of the country... Last week, … [Read more...] about Forensic Science in the Service of the State
Beware Of Flawed Polling (Guest Voice)
Beware of Flawed Polling by Dheeraj Chand The contrast in quality between the news and opinion divisions of The Wall St. Journal never ceases to amaze me. While the news reporting has won award after award, and has become the definitive source of news for the American business and financial communities, the opinion pages are characterized by what some would … [Read more...] about Beware Of Flawed Polling (Guest Voice)
Defending Bush (Guest Voice)
Defending Bush by Dalitso Njolinjo How do you defend the indefensible? How do you defend the modern day villain? How do you defend someone that is seen in the mind of the public (UK) as a caricature of evil itself? Is he a diabolical evil mastermind? Well no, he is just a man who was thrown into an impossibly difficult position. America seems to mythologize the … [Read more...] about Defending Bush (Guest Voice)