The video in this post was done by Molly Tillyer, who wrote me the following email: I grew up in a neighboring town (Oak Ridge). My younger brother and sister graduated from Harriman. My parents worked hard all their lives and built their dream home on the water about 3 years ago. [She later wrote me that her mother is a retired EEO investigator and Ethics Officer from … [Read more...] about [video] “Honesty” – TN Coal Ash Victims Can’t Get Straight Answers
Obama’s Silence on Gaza Has Already Tarnished His Halo: Rue 89 of France
This op-ed from France's Rue 89 belongs to a branch of the growing corpus of global reaction to Israel's offensive in Gaza, which could be entitled, 'Why Doesn't President-elect Obama Say Something.' Pascal Riché of the Rue 89 writes in part: To fight a war, one must perform many calculations. The enemy forces, the weather, the distance, the stockpiles of munitions. And … [Read more...] about Obama’s Silence on Gaza Has Already Tarnished His Halo: Rue 89 of France
The Crisis In Kashmir
Will there ever be peace? Here's an excellent backgrounder on the ongoing crisis. … [Read more...] about The Crisis In Kashmir
Around The Sphere
Our famous linkfest taking you to sites of varying viewpoints. Both Sides Of Blogosphere Note Obama/Gitmo/Centrism: President Elect Barack Obama's comment that he might not close Gitmo during his first 100 days in office is getting a lot of attention..and raising some eyebrows. Crooks and Liars' Nichole Bell finds his declarations indicating he'll do some stay the course (at … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere
Maureen Dowd On Bush And Cheney—To A Point
I love Maureen Dowd. I know Conservatives hate her (I hate Rush Limbaugh. I know Conservatives love him), but you have to admit she is good in what she does to Conservatives---as Limbaugh is good at infuriating Democrats. I thought Dowd's column in the New York Times this morning was particularly good. In "An Extremist Makeover?", she addresses what many have been … [Read more...] about Maureen Dowd On Bush And Cheney—To A Point
Should Israel Be Allowed To Destroy Hamas’ Rule In Gaza?
Columnist Charles Krauthammer argues that Israel is on the brink of destroying Hamas rule in Gaza and that this is a good development - -and that the world should stand back and let Israel do what it feels needs to be done. But not everyone agrees. GO HERE. … [Read more...] about Should Israel Be Allowed To Destroy Hamas’ Rule In Gaza?
Missing the Target on Israel
Vandals and hatemongers never seem to go out of style. Such was the case again this week out in Chicago. Vandals spray-painted the words “Death to Israel’’ on two synagogues and a Jewish school early Saturday in three separate incidents police say could be linked and are being investigated as hate crimes. Moshe Perlstein, rabbi at Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago, said … [Read more...] about Missing the Target on Israel
Connecticut’s Proposed Newspaper Bailout: Will The News Media Be Neutered? (Guest Voice)
Is a local newspaper bailout by the state about to happen in Connecticut? And, if it does, what will it mean to the news media? In this Guest Voice post, authors and speakers Floyd and Mary Beth Brown warn that it could be a slippery slope, indeed. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Will the News Media be Neutered? By Floyd and … [Read more...] about Connecticut’s Proposed Newspaper Bailout: Will The News Media Be Neutered? (Guest Voice)
Cheney Swears In New Senators
Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Cheney Swears In New Senators
Clinton-Lite: The Brew Without the Bill.
Change is coming! Change is coming! Change is the mantra that has been communicated to us over the last year or so during Barack Obama's improbable rise to become President-elect. The question to ask, of course, is a play on those words - "Is change really coming?" Over the past five weeks, Obama has put together a team that is very close to being termed as "Clinton-lite" … [Read more...] about Clinton-Lite: The Brew Without the Bill.
Sex Offender Wins Charity Lottery To Benefit Sex Abuse Victims
You can bet this will be all over the TV news next week. From KTUU-TV in Anchorage: The winner of the $500,000 lottery drawing came forward Saturday to collect his prize, and the man who will pocket a half-million dollars from a raffle designed to benefit a sex abuse victims charity is a three-time sex offender. Alec Ahsoak of Anchorage was convicted of sexual abuse of a … [Read more...] about Sex Offender Wins Charity Lottery To Benefit Sex Abuse Victims
Bush’s Legacy in “Bushctionary” Form
Americans are by now very familiar with the unique speaking style and vernacular of George W. Bush. His verbal gaffes, malapropisms and just plain mangling of the English language are so frequent and monumental that they collectively have earned the widely recognized names of “Bushisms” and “Bushspeak.” Several books have been dedicated to this speech phenomenon. Numerous web … [Read more...] about Bush’s Legacy in “Bushctionary” Form
Report: U.S. Rejected Israeli Plea For Raid On Iran But Endorsed Covert Action
A New York Times report now provides the answer to a question that many people have asked: with all the talk during the election campaign about how President George W. Bush was sure to either give a thumbs-up to a U.S. attack on Iran or look the other way if the Israelis did it, why didn't it happen? The answer: Bush nixed an attack but said covert action against Iran's … [Read more...] about Report: U.S. Rejected Israeli Plea For Raid On Iran But Endorsed Covert Action
On The Great Depression’s End: The New Deal or The War?
I keep hearing that FDR's New Deal didn't end (or even prolonged) the depression; World War II ended it. Impossible as it is to prove a negative, NPR's Planet Money looked at the question of if FDR had done nothing with historian Eric Rauchway. His comments are in line with where I come down on the issue: Between 1933 and 1937 Roosevelt's first term in office -- when you have … [Read more...] about On The Great Depression’s End: The New Deal or The War?
Split Verdict Syndrome
Declare a mistrial! My brain can't decide if I'm a libertarian or progressive or some bizarre, twisted blend of the two. I passionately agree that the most reliable, proven path to economically benefitting the most people is by constructing a society that consistently encourages "the entrepreneur, the risk taker and the cultivator of wealth through human intellect." … [Read more...] about Split Verdict Syndrome
The Best Job There Is
When I grow up I want to be a Wall Street analyst. It has great job security because it never requires that you succeed in what you're supposed to be doing. Suppose you're a doctor. You misdiagnose one patient after another and pretty soon you have no patients and maybe even lose your license to practice. Or suppose you're an attorney and you lose 50 consecutive cases. … [Read more...] about The Best Job There Is
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Asked & Answered
Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs, from "Open For Questions" posted today at change.gov: Thaddeus: Is the new administration going to get rid of the "don't ask don't tell" policy? Gibbs: Thaddeus, you don't hear a politician give a one-word answer much, but it's yes. More from Steve Benen and Kevin Drum. LATER: John Aravosis weighs in. … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Asked & Answered
Middle East Jokes Make The Internet Rounds
I'm on some joke lists and there has been a notable increase in Middle East jokes -- showing again how people can find (often stereotypical) humor in times of tragedy and calamity. Here's the latest...just received, never PC and always operating on the basic theory (as noted by comedy coach Greg Dean) that a joke is a "shattered assumption" -- an assumption shared by the … [Read more...] about Middle East Jokes Make The Internet Rounds
The Bumpy Year to Come
Barack Obama is reaching for the controls of an economy in a fog bank, flying blind to who-knows-where with huge numbers of job losses, business failures, home foreclosures and, above all, fear of worse to come. Unlike the late 1970s during the Gerald Ford interregnum, when a helpless government was reduced to sloganeering with WIN (Whip Inflation Now) buttons, the … [Read more...] about The Bumpy Year to Come
Larry Lessig on The Colbert Report: Remix It With A Dance Beat
It was sooo good to have the Stewart and Colbert shows back for the new year this week. On Thursday copyfighter, and close ally and former board member of EFF, Larry Lessig was a guest on Colbert: Colbert: You say our copyright laws are turning our kids into criminals, because they're keeping kids from doing all the remixing they want of pre-existing art and copywritten … [Read more...] about Larry Lessig on The Colbert Report: Remix It With A Dance Beat