As many of you will have read below, Patrick Edaburn notes that it appears as thought the political showdown in Canada has finally come to an end and that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservatives have staved off defeat. Newly appointed Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has agreed to provisionally support the Conservative budget so long as an amendment calling for … [Read more...] about Canadians To Receive Democratic Government Once Again
The Stimulus Bill is a Good Bill
The recently passed House stimulus bill, which received zero Republican votes, is a good bill. It is not a great bill, to be sure. Alice Rivlin, Budget Director under Bill Clinton, offered the objection that the bill has too many long-term elements that should be separated out and debated on at length before being included in a separate package. I think she's right on this … [Read more...] about The Stimulus Bill is a Good Bill
A Number To Ponder
I am sure over the coming days we will be having plenty of discussions about the stimulus package and whether or not it will help solve our problems. We can debate the need for the package or whether it is effective but the fact remains that we are spending a HUGE amount of money here. But I thought one number worth posting tonight. If you combine this stimulus package with … [Read more...] about A Number To Ponder
House Passes $819 Billion Stimulus Bill With No Republican Votes
The House passed the $819 billion stimulus plan President Barack Obama sought, signaling the formal beginning of the new administration's attempts to start to patch up the economy -- and also how bipartisanship may be much easier in concept than to put into practice. The double whammy reasons: (1) The bill will go to the Senate where few expect it will be stalled or not … [Read more...] about House Passes $819 Billion Stimulus Bill With No Republican Votes
Insults and Coca Growing Will Not Appeal to Obama: La Razon, Bolivia
There is a tumult in Bolivia - and the United States and its consumption of cocaine are right at the heart of it, along with charges that the Bush Administration was attempting to topple the government of the first indigenous Bolivian ever to lead that country, Evo Morales. Written by former Bolivian diplomat Manfredo Kempff Suárez on the eve of Bolivia's passage of a new … [Read more...] about Insults and Coca Growing Will Not Appeal to Obama: La Razon, Bolivia
In the Middle East, Obama ‘Confronts Disaster’: Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alscace of France
How challenging is the Middle East environment now being confronted by Barack Obama's newly-minted envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell? Today we offer two perspectives from the French, who know a thing or two about the intrigue and intractability of diplomacy in the region. The first, an editorial from Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace of northwestern France, highlights … [Read more...] about In the Middle East, Obama ‘Confronts Disaster’: Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alscace of France
Oh Canada….. Will Harper Survive (Bumped and Updated)
UPDATE: Liberal leader Ignatieff has said that his party will 'provisionally' support the budget if it is amended to provide regular updates on how the plan is working. This week may be a big week for US politics but it could well be a bigger one in Canada. As readers may recall, last fall Canadian PM Harper and his Conservatives succeeded in staving off the collapse of his … [Read more...] about Oh Canada….. Will Harper Survive (Bumped and Updated)
Scenes From a Spending Spree
The House stimulus bill recalls those old TV game shows with contestants racing the clock to fill shopping carts, items spilling into the aisles in a mad dash to the checkout counter. In the House, $200 million to re-sod the National Mall and $200 million to extend Medicare to cover family planning services fell out yesterday as Democrats keep ransacking the shelves from … [Read more...] about Scenes From a Spending Spree
Buy Partisanship
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Buy Partisanship
Infrastructure For The Future, Stimulus For Now
Commenter CStanley pointed out this article and said: Actually, I'd make the case that there should be three separate bills- one would be the short term relief package (increasing disbursements to states for unemployment benefits, for instance), one should be the stimulus for short term job creation/preservation (like those shovel ready infrastructure projects everyone's … [Read more...] about Infrastructure For The Future, Stimulus For Now
Nuff Said
The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10cGuantanamo Baywatch - The Final SeasonDaily Show Full EpisodesDaily Show TicketsMore Funny VideosComedians on Tour Update: And this too. … [Read more...] about Nuff Said
A 40 Year Wish List?
Earlier this week I found myself feeling a bit peeved with Congressional Republicans when they began urging their members to vote against the upcoming stimulus bill. While I remained uncomfortable with huge amounts of tax dollars rushing out the door and a deficit which will shatter all records, I recognize that the economy is in dire straits and the people we elected to office … [Read more...] about A 40 Year Wish List?
The Military Regime in Myanmar…
continues its murderous ways. Apparently, the government there feels that the people don't suffer enough. I pray for Myanmar regularly. … [Read more...] about The Military Regime in Myanmar…
So How Did Obama Do In His Visit To Congress?
Was President Barack Obama's visit to Congress yesterday an exercise in futility in an effort to promote bipartisanship -- sowing seeds that will never grow? Or did he sow seeds that could grow, but not immediately? If you look at a wide variety of media, how did he fare? If there are changes to his economic stimulus proposal to accommodate Republican concerns, when would they … [Read more...] about So How Did Obama Do In His Visit To Congress?
Geithner Beholden?
While I understand the praise he has received for his qualifications, the more I hear about Tim Geithner, the more I wonder about the wisdom of this selection. Even leaving aside his failure to master the complexities of a computer based home tax preparation program, this report from Politico looks to raise eyebrows further. Newly minted Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s … [Read more...] about Geithner Beholden?
Liberals in Love — Interview With Bernie Goldberg (Guest Interview)
Is the news media in love with President Barack Obama and giving him a free pass? Did they give him a pass during the campaign? Former CBSer Bernie Goldberg thinks so and in this Guest Interview with columnist Bill Steigerwald explains why. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Liberals in Love -- Interview With Bernie … [Read more...] about Liberals in Love — Interview With Bernie Goldberg (Guest Interview)
Spend Our Way Out
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and is licensed to appear on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Spend Our Way Out
Some Thoughts On Hybrids And Fuel Economy
Since I got some well thought responses to my last post regarding efforts to reach better fuel mileage goals I thought I would respond back in a post that would be easier for everyone to read. As I said in my original comments, I am strongly in favor of reaching the goal of better fuel efficiency both for environmental and national security reasons. But I am also conscious … [Read more...] about Some Thoughts On Hybrids And Fuel Economy
I Don’t Understand This Thinking
I really don't get the thought process in Michael's recent post. There seems to be an almost glee that the Republicans aren't backing the stimulus bill because then that opens up the opportunity to make it more "progressive." This goes back to the problem I have with DC "compromise," "bipartisanship," etc. Elsewhere in life, compromise usually refers to a synthesis of a new … [Read more...] about I Don’t Understand This Thinking
Obama-Backed Freedom of Choice Act Draws a Clever Pro-Life Response: “What the FOCA?!”
As President Obama's liberal base gets impatient with his moderate moves, he may be tempted to drop a nuclear policy bomb sure to draw gratitude from activists: actively push Congress to send him the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), as he promised to sign in a widely-shared Planned Parenthood speech. The bill is basically an abortion time-warp, returning the country back to the … [Read more...] about Obama-Backed Freedom of Choice Act Draws a Clever Pro-Life Response: “What the FOCA?!”