Dust off your old copies of "Back To The Future" because according to The Politico, that's what Republican party strategists have in mind in how they're going to approach President Barack Obama and his emerging agenda. The bottom line: They will do a re-run of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's highly partisan resist, characterize and block strategy that re-energized … [Read more...] about Republicans Plan Back To The Future Gingrich Opposition Technique For Obama Agenda
Senator Leahy’s “Middle-of-the-Road” Approach to Justice
Now that "Change" has come to the White House, the question that is on every American's mind is what the Obama administration, the new Justice Department, will do about the abuses of the Bush years. Senator Patrick Leahy, a six-term Democratic Senator, a former prosecutor and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and someone who would be intimately involved in any … [Read more...] about Senator Leahy’s “Middle-of-the-Road” Approach to Justice
Let’s Grow Up And Raise Taxes (Guest Voice)
LET’S GROW UP AND RAISE TAXES by Marc Pascal The first of several stimulus packages has just passed but it is just the beginning of our efforts to address our immediate and long-term economic problems. After 2010, the federal operating budget will face trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see. They have to be addressed for the long-term prosperity of our … [Read more...] about Let’s Grow Up And Raise Taxes (Guest Voice)
Eastern Europe is Broke
You think it's bad here in the US of A? Take a look at our friends across the pond - and across France and Germany - where you get to those great "emerging markets" that captured the world's imagination after the fall of Communism. From about 1995 to the early 2000s, the story of growth in places like Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and the Baltic nations was nothing short … [Read more...] about Eastern Europe is Broke
The California GOP: A Democrat’s Best Friend
In yet another move towards making themselves a narrowly based party in perpetual minority status, the California Republican party today voted to reprimand the six state legislators who voted in favor of the recent budget deal. This move denies the officials financial support from the party in the 2010 campaign. As I stated previously, I am no fan of tax increases and am … [Read more...] about The California GOP: A Democrat’s Best Friend
On Capitol Hill, Money is the Root of All Hypocrisy (Guest Voice)
On Capitol Hill, Money is the Root of All Hypocrisy by Michael Winship The great movie comic and professional curmudgeon W.C. Fields once said, "You can fool some of the people some of the time - and that's enough to make a decent living." Watching the news from Washington unfold this week, the truth of the late comedian's words never seemed more right. The antics of … [Read more...] about On Capitol Hill, Money is the Root of All Hypocrisy (Guest Voice)
Nationalize Banks? Of Course!
Some prominent Democrats and Republicans in Congress along with some leading economists say it's time to nationalize American banks. Some other leading Democrats and Republicans in Congress along with some prominent economists say no. But the argument here is silly. Bank nationalization is already well underway. Twenty-five banks were taken over by the government last year … [Read more...] about Nationalize Banks? Of Course!
A Note Personally Penned, Then Signed “Barack.” Priceless
TIME Magazine this week reported on the somber decisions facing the new President when it comes to Afghanistan. President Obama has already ordered two more U.S. Combat brigades into Afghanistan, and may have to send more of our troops. As he announced the troop movements, Obama said: "There is no more solemn duty as President than the decision to deploy our armed … [Read more...] about A Note Personally Penned, Then Signed “Barack.” Priceless
Egos in Hillaryland
Yes, I know, it's almost as shocking as gambling at Rick's. Here a plum from the article at TNR: The hard-charging [special envoy Richard] Holbrooke remains the biggest question mark. Asked how Holbrooke managed to bargain the bullying Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic into a Balkan peace deal, Bill Clinton once replied: "Because he has the same character as Milosevic." … [Read more...] about Egos in Hillaryland
High-Tech Killed Finance – and Media May Be Next: Financial Times Deutschland
In analyzing the economic turmoil roiling the world, have we missed something essential about the causes? According to Thomas Klau of the Financial Times Deutschland, we not only missed the dangers of how IT was transforming the financial sector, we are now standing by as IT has an equally unpredictable and potentially devastating impact on the media - and on how information is … [Read more...] about High-Tech Killed Finance – and Media May Be Next: Financial Times Deutschland
Leithart on China: He Probably Speaks for Many
Peter J. Leithart is a Biblical scholar widely respected and read by people from all camps of the Church, conservative, liberal, and moderate. Few of his blog posts deal with political issues, like this one, where he shows no restraint. There's an argument to be made that his negative reaction Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's statements in China isn't really a … [Read more...] about Leithart on China: He Probably Speaks for Many
Congressional Republicans Say Democrats Are Treating Them Poorly
And they're shocked because they'd never treat Democrats that way... … [Read more...] about Congressional Republicans Say Democrats Are Treating Them Poorly
Poll: Obama Rating High But Quickly Losing Republican Support
President George W. Bush wound up being a President of the Republican party base and -- some felt -- of the base and for the base. According to a new CNN poll, President Barack Obama is evolving into a President of more than just the Democratic party's base, but with increasingly little GOP support -- bolstered by a majority coalition which includes a relatively unified … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama Rating High But Quickly Losing Republican Support
Cyberterrorism: The Largely Ignored Looming Terrorist Threat?
Is a new offensive weapon slipping under the new and old media -- and politicians' -- radar? The potential weapon: cyber-attacks. Top centrist writer John Avlon, writing on his blog in The Daily Beast: Kyrgyzstan. The name of the landlocked central Asian republic doesn't roll off the tongue. But it might have just provided the first evidence of cyberattacks' success in … [Read more...] about Cyberterrorism: The Largely Ignored Looming Terrorist Threat?
Can You Make Him Go Away, Mommy?
Oh, please, Mommy make him go away, please, Mommy....Or is this a Saturday Night Live sketch? … [Read more...] about Can You Make Him Go Away, Mommy?
Twitter Pulitzer
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Twitter Pulitzer
Oscar Memories: Ernest Borgnine
With tonight being the annual gala of the Oscars, we're unlikely to see many surprises. Rather than focusing on the current list of offerings, I thought we might take a moment and look back at one of the classic winners, Ernest Borgnine. He won the Best Actor award in 1956 for his title role in Marty. That year, he was up against some incredible competition, including Frank … [Read more...] about Oscar Memories: Ernest Borgnine
Channeling Abraham Lincoln, George Bush & Their Civil Liberty Power Grabs
By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE No action taken during the Age of Bush may have provoked more outrage than the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in holding alleged terrorists indefinitely and prosecuting them before military tribunals. But there is an historic precedent dating back to Abraham Lincoln, of all presidents, and the infringements of the Great Emancipator on … [Read more...] about Channeling Abraham Lincoln, George Bush & Their Civil Liberty Power Grabs
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Not Your Father’s Democratic Congress
Rhodes Cook: NOT YOUR FATHER'S DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS The last two Democratic presidents have a lot in common. Like Bill Clinton before him, Barack Obama is a gifted 40-something politician, a strong orator with a high likeability quotient, and a successful candidate who captured the White House by running on a platform offering big change. And like Clinton, Obama begins his … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Not Your Father’s Democratic Congress
A Man Tonight and His Gran Torino
A Man Tonight and His Gran Torino A man parked under the five-story high cottonwoods today; these old guardian trees line the road here... underground water, that's why. The man's blue Gran Torino, rear-ended, obviously beloved, just sat there and ticked while the man ran down the road to a party somewhere; I know because the road was lined with cars today as … [Read more...] about A Man Tonight and His Gran Torino