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
Democracy, Iraqi Style
I don't know if this is a hoax, but this photo can be found at Alan Colmes Liberaland along with the story of the depicted shoe statue erected in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit and dedicated to the famous shoe thrower. … [Read more...] about Democracy, Iraqi Style
PTSD and Our Troops: Data, Trends—and Articles
Having just written in support of some meaningful recognition for our troops coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with serious cases of PTSD (the Purple Heart or some similar, fitting award), I was eager to read Lawrence Wein's "Counting the Walking Wounded," in the New York Times. (Wein is a professor of management science at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.) Wein … [Read more...] about PTSD and Our Troops: Data, Trends—and Articles
GOP In The Desert
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about GOP In The Desert
Blagone
Chicago Tribune's Clout Street Blog: Senate removes Blagojevich from office 5:02 p.m. Quinn takes charge Gov. Patrick Quinn has signed the oath of office. He did so in his lieutenant governor's office as Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias watched. A member of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's security detail entered Quinn's office and is standing guard, as are other … [Read more...] about Blagone
Defining Personal Philosophy and the Substance of Faith
For your quote of the day, I would encourage you to explore this adventure in soul searching from a conservative who is also an atheist... Rick Moran. The money quote. If, at times, it seems to some of my regular readers that my conservatism appears “inconsistent,” it is only because the principles upon which my political philosophy is based might be unchanging but the ideas … [Read more...] about Defining Personal Philosophy and the Substance of Faith
Ex Governor Blagojevich Convicted (Impeachment Is Bleeping Golden)
Former Governor Rod Blagojevich (how nice does that sound) has been convicted and removed from office by the Illinois legislature. In an political environment marked by partisan divisions, Blago managed to bring all parties together as the Senate voted 59-0 to convict, following up on a House vote of 114-1-1 to impeach. The one member who voted no on impeachment said he … [Read more...] about Ex Governor Blagojevich Convicted (Impeachment Is Bleeping Golden)
An Amazing Split View
The economic experts are almost unanimous. We have to pump up bank balance sheets with bailout money to save the economy. The general public is nearly as unanimous in thinking the best way to help a badly ailing economy is boosting the spending power of businesses and consumers. So who is right? The general public, of course. Banks make loans (with interest) to businesses … [Read more...] about An Amazing Split View
Retired Military Health Benefits Not “On the Chopping Block,” Yet
As I pointed out, here, and here, the blogosphere has been rife with rumors and innuendoes about how President Obama is trying to cut off funds for TRICARE For Life ("Cutting it out of the budget as a means to provide funding for those things he promised during the campaign.") TRICARE For Life is an excellent and essential secondary health insurance program supplementing … [Read more...] about Retired Military Health Benefits Not “On the Chopping Block,” Yet