By Peter Henne, Truman National Security Project Peter Henne is currently a doctoral candidate in International Relations at Georgetown University. His research focuses on transnational terrorism and the role of religion in political violence. He was previously a Senior Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked on issues involving counterterrorism, Middle Eastern … [Read more...] about Hamas is Not the Answer
LMAO
Hat tip: Matt Yglesias … [Read more...] about LMAO
Consolation for Jindal
In light of the kind words I had for Bobby Jindal earlier in the week, I thought I should weigh in on his response to the President's address. It hurts to say it, but the speech was awful. It was a lost opportunity of epic proportions, unequaled since... Bill Clinton's awful nomination speech at the 1988 Democratic Convention. The speech was so long and so boring that the … [Read more...] about Consolation for Jindal
The Bush Years’ Debt Legacy
On Public Radio this morning an economist gave forth with some frightening numbers about this country private debt—credit card and home and business debt, not the public government variety. This private debt load was equal to about 50 percent of GDP in 2000 but had grown to 100 percent of GDP by 2007. And when was the last time private debt was 100 percent of GDP? "1929," said … [Read more...] about The Bush Years’ Debt Legacy
Limbaugh v. Reason: A Four-Line Play
RALPH WALDO EMERSON Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. RUSH LIMBAUGH Be a man all you want, but if you're non-conforming to my opinion, I don’t want to hear from you ever again. KEVIN MCCARTHY, chairman of the '08 Republican Platform Committee, citing the platform's preamble As the party of ideas, rather than a mere coalition of interests, we consider … [Read more...] about Limbaugh v. Reason: A Four-Line Play
Conservatism’s Path Out of the Wilderness
With CPAC in full swing, much of the focus has been on examining the root causes of the electoral trip to the woodshed which the Republicans took in the 2006 and 2008 elections. In the usual fashion, it's expected that if you can determine what you did wrong last time you will hopefully avoid those mistakes in the future and improve your prospects. Yesterday, at Pajamas Media, … [Read more...] about Conservatism’s Path Out of the Wilderness
The Great Republican Fear Machine Backfires
By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE Fear has been the Republican Party's greatest weapon, and notably so during the Age of Bush: Fear of people with funny names and skin colors. Fear of people who do not worship a Christian God. Fear of people who are not red-blooded Americans. Fear of people who don't spout patriotic slogans or wear American flag lapel pins. But now the screw has … [Read more...] about The Great Republican Fear Machine Backfires
Class Warfare
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Class Warfare
Some Thoughts For Rachel Maddow
Although I do not always agree with her I do enjoy watching Rachel Maddow on MSNBC from time to time. I find her clever and often entertaining but sometimes I think she goes a bit over edge in her criticism of those she disagrees with and since she likes to call people when they step over the line I see no reason to not do the same with her. On some of her recent shows she … [Read more...] about Some Thoughts For Rachel Maddow
Celebrating Femme Fatales Of Yesteryears
Ever wondered why the de riguer femme fatales of yesteryears' movies have almost vanished from the screen. Some believe the dearth of old-style glamour could be one reason. Others think women were avid cinema-goers in the Forties, and maybe later, and these remarkable roles of vamps were created to spark their fantasies. Next month sees a monster celebration of the femme … [Read more...] about Celebrating Femme Fatales Of Yesteryears
Jumping on Jindal
Among other Changes that Barack Obama advocates is a return to civility in American politics, but this week the media and the politicians who feed it failed to get the memo in piling on Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal for his rebuttal to the President's Congressional speech. Ineffectual and lame (my word) as it was, the outpouring of invective over Jindal's effort has prompted … [Read more...] about Jumping on Jindal
Obama Speaks
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama Speaks
A Great Ship, The Rocky Mountain News Signaled SOS: Scripps-Owners Said No Help. Tomorrow is Last Edition
After tomorrow, Denver becomes a one-newspaper town for the first time in 150 years. It has been a two newspaper town all my life. The closing of the Rocky Mountain News with one day's notice to employees, is a historical moment in more ways than one... one for crassness, one for sorrow. We all hoped it would not happen. We saw her, a big and venerable ship called The Rocky … [Read more...] about A Great Ship, The Rocky Mountain News Signaled SOS: Scripps-Owners Said No Help. Tomorrow is Last Edition
Afghanistan: McCain vs. Kissinger
Within the space of 24 hours, both men have elaborated their thoughts on how to turn around the war in Afghanistan. In short, they disagree. As a former McCain staffer, I'm no impartial judge, but I think I can make a pretty compelling case for why McCain's approach is better. The foundation of McCain's approach is the core principle of counterinsurgency doctrine: secure … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: McCain vs. Kissinger
Blagojevich Got Ronald Burris’ Son A Job
There's that icky phrase: "It doesn't pass the smell test." Icky phrase alert: the latest story involving beset Illinois Sen. Ronald Burris' political saga doesn't seem to pass the smell test. In fact, gas masks may well be in order. In case you've been on Mars, Burris has been literally clinging to power despite eyebrow raising stories about him and impeached former … [Read more...] about Blagojevich Got Ronald Burris’ Son A Job
Pressing Forward With The People’s Voice
Former PLO cabinet minister Sari Nusseibeh, and former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon, have forwarded a peace plan that they call The People's Voice. It is very good. Are there things I would quibble with? Yes, of course. But they are not sufficient such that I would have any hesitation in voting for it, were it up to me. Indeed, I would say they are not sufficient so as to justify … [Read more...] about Pressing Forward With The People’s Voice
Employee ‘Free Choice’ Act
I have previously posted about my concerns regarding the Employee Free Choice Act. One of my major concerns is the fact that, if the proposal is adopted, there would no longer be secret ballots to determine if a union would be organized in the workplace or not. The sponsors of the union would simply have to get a majority of workers to sign a card saying they want a union. … [Read more...] about Employee ‘Free Choice’ Act
WERC: They Have To Be Kidding !
Earlier today I was listening to one of the better local talk shows, the Armstrong and Getty show when they discussed an e-mail they had received from a listener in Portland, Oregon. The subject of the e-mail was the fact that the union to which the listener belonged had announced to its members that they 'would be supporting' the WERC campaign. There was no debate or … [Read more...] about WERC: They Have To Be Kidding !
On Trip to Asia, Clinton Hits All the Right Notes: The Hankyoreh, South Korea
Reports on Hillary Clinton's Asia trip are almost universally positive - including this editorial from The Hankyoreh of South Korea. But what The Hankyoreh counts as a virtue, many people in this country, particularly human human rights activists, see as a monumental disappointment. The editorial says in part: "Clinton brought up nothing to make the nations she visited … [Read more...] about On Trip to Asia, Clinton Hits All the Right Notes: The Hankyoreh, South Korea
U.S. and E.U. Pressure Spells End of Swiss Bank Secrecy: Nachrichten of Switzerland
The Swiss are up in arms today because of the fear that the IRS - along with the European Union - is about to put an end to legendary Swiss bank secrecy. Who among us hasn’t seen films or TV programs that featured this most prized commodity - a secret Swiss bank account? Well that may all be over soon. The issue causing the controversy is that UBS, Switzerland's largest bank, … [Read more...] about U.S. and E.U. Pressure Spells End of Swiss Bank Secrecy: Nachrichten of Switzerland