I was up late on Wednesday night and channel-surfed through about two minutes of David Letterman's attempt at interviewing Joaquin Phoenix. I found it tiresome, as I'm sure Letterman did. On Thursday, I see here and there that people are wondering, "What's wrong with Joaquin?" Maybe not much. He may be involved in a bit of anti-marketing, Joaquin doing his best Andy … [Read more...] about What’s Up with Joaquin?
Cheever and Updike on Late Night Talk: The Opposite of Entertainment is Not Education
One-time late night talk host Dick Cavett writes about welcoming John Cheever and John Updike as guests on his show in 1981. I remembered this incident recently in comments at Ann Althouse's blog. I couldn't find it on Youtube at the time of Updike's recent death. Cavett and the Times have posted it. While Cavett's show seemed to drive Johnny Carson's Tonight Show to … [Read more...] about Cheever and Updike on Late Night Talk: The Opposite of Entertainment is Not Education
Bitter Stimulus Pill
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Bitter Stimulus Pill
Thank you Joe Lieberman
I never thought I'd say it. I've never liked or trusted Joe Lieberman. But I have been proven wrong tonight. Joe Lieberman was integral to the passage of the stimulus bill. As discussions between Senators Collins, Snowe, Nelson, Specter and Reid dragged on Joe Lieberman pushed the centrist group to get back to the negotiating table and get a deal done. What made him so … [Read more...] about Thank you Joe Lieberman
Feathers
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Feathers
Senate Approves Stimulus Bill
It's done: 60-38. (The Democrats, the two independents, and three Republicans -- Specter, Collins, and Snowe -- voted for it, as expected.) Once again, as in the House, Republicans put themselves squarely in opposition to the American economy and the American people. And as flawed as the bill is, at least something was done at this time of historic crisis. … [Read more...] about Senate Approves Stimulus Bill
Next Stop: Obama’s Desk
The gavel has pounded, the financial stimulus bill has passed through the Senate. Next Stop: Obama's Desk. MSNBC: Senate approves stimulus bill … [Read more...] about Next Stop: Obama’s Desk
The Grand Zero Party
That the Republican Party would so overwhelmingly oppose the stimulus package has never been a surprise. This is the moment when America officially drives the nail in the coffin of Reaganism. A political movement that came into power in 1980 and pledged to lower taxes, lift regulations, and shrink the domestic spending agenda of the Federal government has now effectively run … [Read more...] about The Grand Zero Party
One Conservative’s Hopes For The The Stimulus Package
After going on record that he hopes President Obama will fail---yes,"his policies"---Rush Limbaugh, the Conservative icon, got a little more specific today. Scanning my radio for more news about the stimulus bill that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, without a single Republican vote, I happened to hear Mr. Limbaugh talk about it. I thought I heard him say … [Read more...] about One Conservative’s Hopes For The The Stimulus Package
A World Without Nuclear Weapons? It’s Worth a Try: Die Presse, Austria
It's an old debate that has resurfaced since President Obama suggested it as a priority: Should the nations of the world, particularly the major nuclear weapons states, make a serious attempt to cut or eliminate nuclear weapons? Within the past 24 hours, the people of WORLDMEETS.US have translated two articles on the subject - one from Austria's Die Presse and the other from … [Read more...] about A World Without Nuclear Weapons? It’s Worth a Try: Die Presse, Austria
Requiem for a Republic (Guest Voice)
Is President Barack Obama's stimulus plan which now seems destined to pass with little GOP support a solution or likely to be part of a future problem? Is it a symbol of democracy in action, or symptomatic of the demise of the concept of the Republic as it has long been understood? In this Guest Voice conservative talk show host Michael Reagan argues that it's cause for … [Read more...] about Requiem for a Republic (Guest Voice)
Stimulated GOP
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Stimulated GOP
A Stimulus For Our Military
The compromise stimulus bill just passed by the U.S. House of Representatives without a single Republican vote contains several provisions that will help our active duty military, retired miitary and veterans. The Washington Post today reports in "Stimulus Bill Would Aid Military Homeowners, Wounded": To help military personnel forced to sell their homes amid the … [Read more...] about A Stimulus For Our Military
Sex Torture: Mumbai Suspect Claims Abuse
This headline from Wednesday's Telegraph piqued my curiosity: Female FBI officer 'tortured Mumbai terror attacks suspect with sex'. According to Fahim Ansari, one of the planners of the attacks, "three foreigners, including [a 'white woman], sexually abused him, causing him 'severe itching and wounds' on his body, including his genitals. A Muslim, he claims that "this … [Read more...] about Sex Torture: Mumbai Suspect Claims Abuse
In Memoriam: Sassy Fat Cat (1992 – 2009)
The year is starting off on a rough note, particularly for this Friday the thirteenth. Today we had to say goodbye to one of our oldest remaining cats, Sassy... better known to all friends and family as simply "Fat Cat." (Pictured here in happier times doing her Yoda impersonation.) I first met Sassy and her sister Spider while volunteering at a Humane Society animal shelter … [Read more...] about In Memoriam: Sassy Fat Cat (1992 – 2009)
Cabinet Stupidity
Anonymous Liberal makes a good point: "The Notion of a 'Bipartisan Cabinet' Has Always Been a Stupid One." Very stupid. If you elect a Democrat, you get a Democratic Cabinet. It's as simple as that. Or should be. There are plenty of ways in which a president can demonstrate that he's open minded and willing to work constructively with the opposition. But putting … [Read more...] about Cabinet Stupidity
Unlike Portugal, America Knows How to Punish the Guilty: Jornal de Negocios, Portugal
Is the U.S. legal system one to emulate - particularly in regard to white collar crime? Given the accusations against some of America's leading bankers and financiers and cries from the public that the majority are getting away with grand theft, one might be surprised to find that some across the Atlantic think things are even worse over there. For Portugal's Jornal de … [Read more...] about Unlike Portugal, America Knows How to Punish the Guilty: Jornal de Negocios, Portugal
A Gloomy Scenario That Could Come True
David Brooks, the conservative columnist writing for the New York Times, forecasts a gloomy future based on the Obama Administration's model for economic recovery. I don't subscribe to all his precepts but his column (http://NYTimes.com/2009/02/13/opinion/13Brooks/ is poignant in one crucial aspect. That is the economic models for recovery do not take into consideration the … [Read more...] about A Gloomy Scenario That Could Come True
Is It A Duck? Men Announce for Senate Seats, Hope Women Won’t Run
A pattern seems to be emerging. From The Fix’s line on U.S. Senate races: 1. New Hampshire (R): After much sturm und drang over the past week, we are left with one indisputable fact: the New Hampshire Senate seat is open in 2010. Rep. Paul Hodes is already in the race for Democrats and he as well as national Democrats are hoping that Rep. Carol Shea Porter, who retains a … [Read more...] about Is It A Duck? Men Announce for Senate Seats, Hope Women Won’t Run
One Data Point To Rule Them All
I found this column arguing that the current recession isn't as bad as the ones in the 70s-80s to be hilarious. People that are making this argument based on current data don't understand the difference between a recession caused by an external shock (such as the oil crisis) or government attempts to curb inflation (the sharp 81/82 recessions) and one caused by over leveraged … [Read more...] about One Data Point To Rule Them All