The news is just filtering out that after three votes, former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele has been chosen as the new chairman of the RNC. If you happen to be a very liberal reader, I'm not saying that you're going to fall in love with the guy, but I think that the RNC has done a fine job in this selection. Steele has stood against the wheel for election in … [Read more...] about Michael Steele Elected to RNC Chairmanship
Michael Steele Selected RNC Chair
Members of the Republican National Committee elected their first-ever African-American party chief on Friday, choosing former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele to chair the organization after six rounds of tumultuous balloting. More from CNN. … [Read more...] about Michael Steele Selected RNC Chair
Obama Undoes Some Bush Labor Policies And Vows Help To Middle Class
President Obama's systematic distancing himself from both the policies of and perceptions about the Bush administration continued full force today as he moved to undo some key Bush administration labor policies: At a White House ceremony, the president signed three executive orders that he said would “reverse many of the policies towards organized labor that we’ve seen … [Read more...] about Obama Undoes Some Bush Labor Policies And Vows Help To Middle Class
John Yoo, Torture Cheerleader
I think it's hilarious that one of the Bush Administration's leading proponents of torture -- in fact, the very guy, a DoJ official, who wrote the infamous memos that authorized the use of torture -- has come out against Obama's decision to close Gitmo and end the use of torture. That's right, John Yoo, in an op-ed yesterday in the WSJ, argues that "these actions... will also … [Read more...] about John Yoo, Torture Cheerleader
It’s the Jobs, Stupid
I may have witnessed a glimmer of hope for a productive, bipartisan solution to the stimulus bill quandary when Sen. Ben Nelson (D - Neb) came forward to speak about the upcoming Senate debate on the legislation. "What I'm hoping to do is bring together a bipartisan group of Republicans and Democrats and offer changes that will attract others and improve the bill," he told … [Read more...] about It’s the Jobs, Stupid
Is Bipartisanship D.O.A?
In America's hyperactive new and old media, what isn't there AT THIS VERY INSTANT!! may never exist. And it is still early in Obama's term. Plus: whoever said you could change decades (particularly the last two decades) of political behavior in one whole week? Still, if it was a drug on the market, the FDA would insist it be withdrawn for false advertising (so far). But … [Read more...] about Is Bipartisanship D.O.A?
Economists Who Live In A Bubble
I recently saw a debate on Public Television between two economists. One strongly recommended a payroll tax holiday as a very good way to immediately get money into the hands of both businesses and consumers—with Social Security funded by the payroll tax funded instead during this holiday by TARP money. This is an idea that I and a fair number of other people have advocated for … [Read more...] about Economists Who Live In A Bubble
No Majority In Republican Chairman Vote
And the winner in the closely watched race for the Republican National Committee chairman is....nobody so far. And, most notably, not the person President George Bush preferred: Neither former President George W. Bush's hand-picked national party chairman nor his four challengers got the required 85 votes needed to become party chief on the first or second tally, pushing … [Read more...] about No Majority In Republican Chairman Vote
PTSD and The Purple Heart: The Final Word
Yes, it's me again, plugging for the rights, benefits and care of our active duty and retired military and veterans, just as hard during the first eight days of the Obama administration as I did during the last eight years of the Bush administration---when I tried, in my own little way, to have them put teeth into their slogan "Support our Troops." Fortunately, this plaint … [Read more...] about PTSD and The Purple Heart: The Final Word
Time To Cowboy Up, President Obama
There is much analysis on the House passing the $819 billion stimulus package. Fellow TMV colleagues Michael Stickings and Jazz Shaw have posted their interesting thoughts here and here. But what I'm also seeing is how "crappy" attitudes won out over President Obama's words of bipartisanship. I'm not portraying President Obama as an innocent victim here. He's the POTUS … [Read more...] about Time To Cowboy Up, President Obama
Health Care: Too Big to Fail
In the frenzy over jump-starting the economy, the House stimulus bill includes, among other straws being grasped, $117 billion of spending for health care, most of it to maintain coverage for the disabled and newly poor. Otherwise, the political consensus is that we can't "afford" to reform the system. If anything, there is a stronger case to be made that we can't afford not … [Read more...] about Health Care: Too Big to Fail
Exxon Shatters U.S. Annual Profits Record But Profits Now Way Down
It's nice to see that some company posted record breaking profits for 2008. But that was then...and now is now. Looking at THEN: Exxon Mobil Corp. on Friday reported a profit of $45.2 billion for 2008, breaking its own record for a U.S. company, even as its fourth-quarter earnings fell 33 percent from a year ago. The previous record for annual profit was $40.6 … [Read more...] about Exxon Shatters U.S. Annual Profits Record But Profits Now Way Down
GOP Stimulus Opposition
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about GOP Stimulus Opposition
Debating the Stimulus Package
Today, on Mid Stream Radio, (at our new time of 10:00 am Eastern) we will be inviting some special guests from each end of the spectrum to discuss this week's House vote on the stimulus package. The topic has certainly drawn a lot of attention and debate, so we'll see if we can't sort out the details for you. I'll be joined, as always, by my lovely co-host, Cindy the Lady … [Read more...] about Debating the Stimulus Package
Is the CERN Miniature Black Hole Debate Dead?
Yet another group of scientists don't think so. Still worried that the Large Hadron Collider will create a black hole that will destroy the Earth when it's finally switched on this summer? Um, well, you may have a point. Three physicists have reexamined the math surrounding the creation of microscopic black holes in the Switzerland-based LHC, the world's largest … [Read more...] about Is the CERN Miniature Black Hole Debate Dead?
Did We See a Clinical Demonstration in the Illinois State Senate Yesterday?
From Psychology Today: ...narcissism isn't just a combination of monumental self-esteem and rudeness. As a personality type, it ranges from a tendency to a serious clinical disorder, encompassing unexpected, even counterintuitive behavior. The Greek myth of Narcissus ends with the beautiful young man lost to the world, content to forever gaze at his own reflection in a pool of … [Read more...] about Did We See a Clinical Demonstration in the Illinois State Senate Yesterday?
President Ahmadinejad Says U.S. Apology Would Be Real ‘Change’: Iran Broadcasting, Islamic Republic of Iran
For those interested in seeing Iran's coverage of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's demand for an apology from the Obama Administration for past American policy toward his nation, we have packaged the text from the state-controlled Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting along with the video and translation of his comments, provided by the Middle East Media Research … [Read more...] about President Ahmadinejad Says U.S. Apology Would Be Real ‘Change’: Iran Broadcasting, Islamic Republic of Iran
The Rise of the “Conservative Keynesians?”
The Stimulus Bill passed the House, but without a single Republican vote. Liberals are screaming bloody murder and talking about how the GOP doesn't care about the American people. Myself, I'm of two minds of the package. On the one hand, the federal government does have to act in some way. The old policy of trying to deal with monetary policy hasn't worked and neither … [Read more...] about The Rise of the “Conservative Keynesians?”
Obama: Diplomatic Virtuosity Incarnate – Financial Times Deutschland
Our young president is making a name for himself - and among those who are some of the hardest people to impress: the Germans. Beyond his generally speedy start getting down to business, in this op-ed by Thomas Klau of Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, Obama's 'outstretched hand' to the Islamic world, particularly his interview with Al-Arabiya, is labeled 'diplomatically … [Read more...] about Obama: Diplomatic Virtuosity Incarnate – Financial Times Deutschland
Around The Sphere
Our linkfest taking you to sites of varying viewpoints. Links do not necessarily reflect the views of TMV or its writers. A Must Read On Bernard Madoff is HERE. (Don't expect a dry financial story...but in a way it is clinical!) So What Was REALLY Up With The GOP Voting Solidly Against Obama's Stimulus Plan In The House? Dick Polman has a theory that makes sense: the GOP … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere