One of the many problems facing veterans seeking just disability ratings, or seeking to redress wrongs in this area, has been that they are being bounced back and forth between the Pentagon and VA. The new VA Secretary, General Eric Shinseki, promised the House Veterans Affairs Committee to correct this: The secretary acknowledged ongoing challenges in creating a … [Read more...] about Gen. Shinseki: From “Soldier’s Soldier” to “Veteran’s Veteran”
Trade Barriers Will Damage All Nations: Le Monde of France
Suggestions that the United States is planning a 'buy American' provision in the stimulus package now under debate in the U.S. Congress has created a ripple of fear around the world, and comes on top of calls from workers and businesses in other countries to do the same. Here are headlines and excerpts on the subject that that WORLDMEETS.US has posted within the past 24 … [Read more...] about Trade Barriers Will Damage All Nations: Le Monde of France
Obama Expectations
Deng Coy Miel, Singapore This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama Expectations
Will Afghanistan Be “Obama’s Vietnam”?
Ever since the Vietnam War, whenever our country gets militarily involved in a conflict that appears to be unwinnable, or (for) a lost cause, the Vietnam "quagmire" analogy seems to be freely invoked. Newsweek's editor, Jon Meacham, however, puts it in perspective: "To evoke the Vietnam analogy is not to be dovish or defeatish; it is, rather, to recognize that we are … [Read more...] about Will Afghanistan Be “Obama’s Vietnam”?
I Can’t Support The Stimulus Bill
And the Democrats are ruining things for themselves and the country by pushing an awful bill that will fail to improve things and make people even more anti-government at the worst possible time. I think we're going to have tough times ahead and we need people to be united and strong, so the impact of this failure will go far beyond the specifics of the bill itself. I made … [Read more...] about I Can’t Support The Stimulus Bill
Iran and America: Friends or Foes?: Kitabat of Iraq
For years there have been rumors in Iraq and the wider Arab world that Iran and the United States have been working together all along, merely pretending to be in conflict for nefarious purposes known only to them. As WORLDMEETS.US has documented on many occasions, these claims run the gamut, from wild conspiracy theories to well thought-out narratives. In this article from … [Read more...] about Iran and America: Friends or Foes?: Kitabat of Iraq
Regular Folks: The Real Majority
Whenever I attend a PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) meeting, the economy always becomes a point of discussion. This is conservative country here in Gwinnett County, Georgia. If you're a liberal here, you're going to get a healthy and hard spanking (rhetorically) with a dollop of Southern hospitality. Being more center-left, I just get more of a gentle slap on the wrist. … [Read more...] about Regular Folks: The Real Majority
Bad Economy Piggies
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Bad Economy Piggies
CNN’s Campbell Brown: Spade, You’re a Spade
Along with David Gergen, Campbell Brown is indisputably one of CNN's smartest, most even-handed political commentators. She demonstrated why last night. … [Read more...] about CNN’s Campbell Brown: Spade, You’re a Spade
Quote of the Day: GOP Models Taliban Insurgency
"Insurgency, we understand perhaps a little bit more because of the Taliban. And that is that they went about systematically understanding how to disrupt and change a person's entire processes. And these Taliban -- I'm not trying to say the Republican Party is the Taliban. No, that's not what we're saying. I'm saying an example of how you go about [sic] is to change a person … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: GOP Models Taliban Insurgency
Stimulus: Rushing Over the Cliff
While we didn't see a Senate vote Thursday night on the stimulus package, it seems that it will only be a temporary reprieve. On such an important issue it is unfortunate that both the political generals and the talking heads have succeeded in turning it into a political football. One of the most annoying pieces of "analysis" for the week comes to us from Paul Krugman. It’s … [Read more...] about Stimulus: Rushing Over the Cliff
Obama Spanks
Obama's speech last night. It was a spanking. Not a beating. But a strong hand, admonishing to 'better un-usualize the usual DC song and dance' and pass this stimulus package. I laughed when he said some are complaining the stimulus package is going to cost money. His wry comment, along with vaudeville blink and roll of the eyes at end: "That's what a stimulus package … [Read more...] about Obama Spanks
Some More Thoughts On Executive Compensation And The Obama Non Plan
In an earlier post I discussed that while I favored the Obama plan to limit compensation of executives at firms receiving money from the bailout I thought it might be neccessary to adjust the limits somewhat. The reactions I got seemed to focus entirely on this segment of the posting without commenting on any of the others, so I thought I'd expand on the subject. To make it … [Read more...] about Some More Thoughts On Executive Compensation And The Obama Non Plan
…Either Stay Loudly or Leave Loudly
Let me start out by saying that probably no one will read this blog post. Why do I say that? Because it's about telling my fellow moderate Republicans to stop whining about the state of the party, acting like little kids holding their breath until the party bosses listen to them is something that people don't want to hear. People would much rather me complain about how … [Read more...] about …Either Stay Loudly or Leave Loudly
Obama Fires It Up in Williamsburg
At last, the fiery candidate Barack Obama has returned to inspire the troops in support of the stimulus bill. Obama's speech in Williamsburg to House Democrats undoubtedly carries some risk, as David Gergen pointed out tonight. But I think the moment called for it. Frankly, I've found it a bit demoralizing to watch ideological conservatives claim that the stimulus … [Read more...] about Obama Fires It Up in Williamsburg
The Caroline Kennedy Smear
In the aftermath of the Hillary Clinton replacement soap opera, there is a footnote to the misadventure of JFK's daughter in seeking the seat--the price of getting involved with political pygmies in the desire to continue a family tradition of public service. The New York Times, which played a part in discrediting Caroline Kennedy as not ready for prime time, has gone back … [Read more...] about The Caroline Kennedy Smear
AP Claims Copyright of the Iconic Obama Poster Image
AP has riled the copyfighters again and the blogs are all over it. This time AP is claiming the copyright and asking for credit and compensation for use of the image artist Shepard Fairey used to build his iconic Obama HOPE poster: "The Associated Press has determined that the photograph used in the poster is an AP photo and that its use required permission," the AP's director … [Read more...] about AP Claims Copyright of the Iconic Obama Poster Image
Mr Card, Clothes Do Not a President Make
I did not see Mr. Andrew Card's interview where he apparently criticized the Obama White House for their relaxed dress code. I understand that he said something to the effect that “there should be a dress code of respect” in the White House and that he wished Mr. Obama “would wear a suit coat and tie.” Apparently he also said: The Oval Office symbolizes…the … [Read more...] about Mr Card, Clothes Do Not a President Make
Boxer to Head New Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Global Women’s Issues
From a blog post by Nicholas Kristof at the New York Times: The U.S. Senate is taking a welcome step: empowering a subcommittee specifically charged with global women’s issues. It’s the first time a subcommittee has had that mandate, and it will be led by Barbara Boxer of California, who will surely use her voice and spotlight to do some good on these issues. ... Issues … [Read more...] about Boxer to Head New Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Global Women’s Issues
Independent Commission To Investigate Dutch Government’s Support For U.S. Iraq Invasion
Just as Americans have had a thousand questions about the Iraq war, there have been many and persistent questions and concerns in the Netherlands as to how the Dutch government came to its decision to support the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Today, the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reports: Dutch parliament has voted to support the institution of an independent … [Read more...] about Independent Commission To Investigate Dutch Government’s Support For U.S. Iraq Invasion