While many celebrate the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, it's easy to forget that another historical figure shares the same anniversary. It's also the birthday of Charles Darwin. (Pictured here in one of his lesser known research projects, "The Development of Insect Colonies in Really Bushy, Unkempt Beards.") The celebration at the Darwin home might be a bit more muted … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday Charles Darwin! (Sort of)
Toothless: The Watchdog Press as the Government’s Lapdog
by Walter Brasch PART 1 The president of the Associated Press (AP) was spewing venom at the Bush–Cheney administration for having turned the Department of Defense into a propaganda machine. Americans “expect honest answers about what’s happening to their sons and daughters,” Tom Curley told journalism students and faculty at the University of … [Read more...] about Toothless: The Watchdog Press as the Government’s Lapdog
Rebuilding America
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 Rebuilding America
Little Girl and Tree Man: Miracle Story from Australian Wildfires
I love the Aussie spirit. And sorrow for their travail. That's not near enough to say about either... but then there's this out of nowhere.... In the Australian fires where 180 people are reported dead, there is an ordinary man, 44 year old firefighter named Mr. Dave Tree. Tree was walking amongst the dead black tree trunks... all that are left of the once lush forest … [Read more...] about Little Girl and Tree Man: Miracle Story from Australian Wildfires
Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln
Today's the actual birthday of Abraham Lincoln. We're used to seeing photos of him black and white, but a new book makes the photos look more lifelike. The above photo is now all over the Internet, but the photos are part of a book of colorized Lincoln photos that you can get HERE. Here are some more samples. … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln
Introducing Progressive Republicans
Shortly after the November elections, I received a message on Facebook to join a group called Progressive Republicans. I was interested and started to get to know Travis Johnson, the 30-something behind this endeavor. This enterprise is still in its early stages, but Travis has done a lot to get things off the ground. Travis put together list of common principles that sets … [Read more...] about Introducing Progressive Republicans
Gallup Poll: Obama’s Campaign For Stimulus Increased Its Support
A Gallup Poll finds that President Barack Obama's use of the "bully pulpit" of the Presidency in the 21st century -- speeches carried on news shows, photo ops and a major prime time press conference -- notably increased support for his economic stimulus plan. Most interestingly, his efforts shored up Democratic party support, had little impact on divided independents -- but … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Obama’s Campaign For Stimulus Increased Its Support
Rush Limbaugh Republicans
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 Rush Limbaugh Republicans
Salmonella in Georgia Plant As Far Back As ’06
The outbreak that started here in Georgia has cost eight lives, sickened an estimated 19,000 people in 43 states and triggered recalls ranging from TV dinners and snack bars labeled organic to ready-made meals for disaster relief. And the peanut company owner won't eat his own products: See the jar, the congressman challenged Stewart Parnell, holding up a container of the … [Read more...] about Salmonella in Georgia Plant As Far Back As ’06
Jon Huntsman, Crazy Republican
From TNR's Jason Zengerle: Utah Governor Jon Huntsman (who, needless to say, is a Republican, not to mention a potential 2012 presidential candidate) has come out in favor of gay civil unions. It's not gay marriage, but it is Utah. It is indeed, a deeply conservative state, and yet what Huntsman is taking a pretty progressive position on one of the right's key wedge … [Read more...] about Jon Huntsman, Crazy Republican
Solis Appointment Moves Ahead in Senate
Finally, good news, as reported in The Nation: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where the [nomination of California Congresswoman Hilda] Solis had been stalled, voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday evening to recommend confirmation of the congresswoman. Solis, a labor ally who whose confirmation process was delayed by conservative Republicans who … [Read more...] about Solis Appointment Moves Ahead in Senate
As We Prepare for the Lincoln Bicentennial: A Look at His Second Inaugural Address
The two-hundredth anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth comes tomorrow. A few years back, I wrote a seven-part series on Lincoln's second Inaugural Address, the links to which are listed below. A lifelong religious skeptic who was nonetheless an ardent student of the Bible, Lincoln was led by the crucible of civil war felt compelled to return, again and again, to that … [Read more...] about As We Prepare for the Lincoln Bicentennial: A Look at His Second Inaugural Address
The Trillion Dollar Dog And Pony Show: Act II
Contrite executives of eight major banking institutions pledged thanks to a series of Congressional hearing panels Wednesday in what amounted to little more than a dog and pony show. The bankers said they used $118 billion of the $350 billion Troubled Asset Relief Funds to increase consumer loans and said they are eager to help ease growing public rage over how they are … [Read more...] about The Trillion Dollar Dog And Pony Show: Act II
The Crash: Time for a New Superlative? – Financial Times Deutschland
Is the current financial crisis worse, as bad, or not as bad, as the Great Depression of the 1930s? That seems to be the meme-question of our economic times. According to Wolfgang Munchau of Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, the situation may not only be worse than the Great Depression, we might have to come up with a new word to describe its severity. In this sobering … [Read more...] about The Crash: Time for a New Superlative? – Financial Times Deutschland
Agreement Announced on Economic Stimulus…What Now?
As numerous news media are doing at this hour, the Seattle Times just announced that an agreement has been reached between the Senate and the House on a $789 billion economic stimulus package: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has announced agreement on stimulus bill. Moving with remarkable speed, key lawmakers and the White House were working on a $789 billion economic … [Read more...] about Agreement Announced on Economic Stimulus…What Now?
How Tax Cuts Could Backfire
For a little light on the hot topic of the day, the final shape of the stimulus bill, here is an expert view under the title of "Can Tax Cuts Deepen the Recession?" A new paper by Gauti Eggertsson of the New York Fed argues that tax cuts will lead to increases in both supply and demand, failing to close the gap between the two. "Under normal circumstances," notes the … [Read more...] about How Tax Cuts Could Backfire
Schooling the Lunatic Fringe
In a post billed as a defense of Obama's Treasury Secretary and his "revised financial bailout plan," Nate Silver freestyles an argument on the merits of restraining ideology and moderating our respective tendencies to believe that (i) we each know what we're talking about, regardless of the subject, and (ii) we each have a corner on absolute rightness. Money quote: I'm … [Read more...] about Schooling the Lunatic Fringe
Alaska Attorney General Exits Stage Right – The Wages of Cronyism
Talis Colberg, the Attorney General of Alaska appointed by Governor Sarah Palin, has resigned his position. He was already in deep water over advising a number of his "clients" (including Todd "The First Dude" Palin) not to bother showing up when they were issued subpoenas to appear before the legislature to testify over Troopergate. Said clients have since been found in … [Read more...] about Alaska Attorney General Exits Stage Right – The Wages of Cronyism
‘Dems’ Ethical Troubles’
The first three weeks of the Obama administration have not gone very smoothly, especially when it comes to the all-too-many failures to adequately vet several of the Obama nominees for high level positions in his administration. Just as Mr. Bush promised in 2000 to "restore honor and dignity to the White House," President Obama pledged to bring ethics back to … [Read more...] about ‘Dems’ Ethical Troubles’
Live-blog: Biden’s Chief Economist, Jared Bernstein, on Recovery & Reinvestment Act (aka stimulus bill)
I've got permission to do a live-blog of a call this afternoon described as follows: On Wednesday, February 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET Jared Bernstein, Chief Economist for the Vice President, will discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan on a press conference call with progressive media and bloggers. Bernstein will discuss the impacts of the American Recovery and … [Read more...] about Live-blog: Biden’s Chief Economist, Jared Bernstein, on Recovery & Reinvestment Act (aka stimulus bill)