Is Islamic fundamentalism Turkey's future, with secularism, what we in the West would call democratic pluralism, its past? Apparently secularists who plotted a coup against Turkey's democratically-elected Islamic fundamentalist government fear that seemingly topsy-turvy scenario. Many have been arrested for plotting against the government there. Many in the West have … [Read more...] about The Latest in Battle for Turkey’s Future
Kennedy, Burris and Identity Politics
The withdrawal of JFK's daughter as a replacement for Hillary Clinton leads to questions about gender and race in national politics in what we all celebrated as the Age of Obama this week. In Illinois, the future felon Rod Blagojevich appoints Roland Burris amid calls to retain the President's seat for an African-American and now, with Caroline Kennedy gone, New York's … [Read more...] about Kennedy, Burris and Identity Politics
Are You a First Amendment Guru?
If you think you are, try this quiz. I scored 25 out of 30 or 83%. Acceptable, I guess, although I thought I would have done better. At least I beat Marc Moore -- by an entire two questions. If you do try your hand at this 30-question test, feel free to share your results in the comments section of this post. Hopefully, you'll fare better than Marc and I did. … [Read more...] about Are You a First Amendment Guru?
Is Israel Losing the PR War in Gaza?
It appears so. By disallowing much in the way of journalist-imbedding with their fighting units, Israeli government officials clearly tried to avoid being played as the heavies as they were in Lebanon several years ago. Their efforts seem to not be working now in Gaza. … [Read more...] about Is Israel Losing the PR War in Gaza?
Closure of Gitmo Problematic
The Obama Administration yesterday began circulating a draft executive order that would close down the Guantanamo Bay detention center. But doing that could prove difficult as explained here by Columbia University law prof Matthew Waxman. [This has been crossposted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about Closure of Gitmo Problematic
More of Obama’s “Team of Rivals”
Barack Obama is a President of firsts, to be sure. Obama is the first African-American President, he is the first gen-xer to be elected President, and he's arguably the first President to enter office with such a large raft of problems to attempt to address. The first thing that caught my eye, though, is that in his ever expanding and impressive display of commitment towards … [Read more...] about More of Obama’s “Team of Rivals”
Microsoft Cuts 5,000 jobs; Intel 6,000
Ouch: Software maker Microsoft announced Thursday it will cut up to 5,000 jobs in the next year and a half, or 5.5% of its global workforce, citing further deterioration of global economic conditions. The company also posted lower fiscal second-quarter earnings that missed analysts' forecasts. Microsoft will slash 1,400 positions immediately, with the rest of the cuts … [Read more...] about Microsoft Cuts 5,000 jobs; Intel 6,000
Real Stories that Reinforce Stereotypes
Get ready for the insulting joke parade. This is apparently not a hoax. … [Read more...] about Real Stories that Reinforce Stereotypes
(Gasp) Bible Not Used In Obama Swear In
A big website (we will decline in promoting it further) now has a headline declaring that no bible was used at the Obama re-swearing in -- ushering that site into special honored status in TMV's world-famous Get A Life Club. Actually, we've awarded it memberships before, but the site's headlines and track record for journalistic accuracy on some of its inside reports really … [Read more...] about (Gasp) Bible Not Used In Obama Swear In
Today is 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade: What are you doing about it?
And I mean that in terms of whether you support or oppose the results of Roe. You can read the decision itself here or read a nice breakdown at About.com. For the record, I support the constitutional rights recognized in the U.S. Supreme Court decision which made a woman's medical decision regarding her reproductive rights legal and I am against the erosion of those … [Read more...] about Today is 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade: What are you doing about it?
Obama’s First Dance after the Inaugural Ball
Qaddafi, Isratine and the one state solution in NYT op-ed
Read it here. An excerpt: Assimilation is already a fact of life in Israel. There are more than one million Muslim Arabs in Israel; they possess Israeli nationality and take part in political life with the Jews, forming political parties. On the other side, there are Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israeli factories depend on Palestinian labor, and goods and services … [Read more...] about Qaddafi, Isratine and the one state solution in NYT op-ed
Elizabeth Alexander: The Inaugural Poem at Obama’s Swearing In
Elizabeth Alexander read her poem at Barack Obama's inaugural. I've tracked down a written version and put it at the end of this article for you... so you can see her line breaks... Remember, for those who are poetry-phobic from creepy experiences with non-understandable poetry forced onto them in highschool... though you can measure most poetic metre with an electronic … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Alexander: The Inaugural Poem at Obama’s Swearing In
Great Orator Poor Speech (Guest Voice)
President Barack Obama seeks unity but his first act created a bit of division: some felt he gave a great inaugural speech, others felt it was just good, still others felt you can't judge an inaugural speech until the President serves awhile. And some, like conservative talk show host Michael Reagan, felt it was a poor speech and not as good as Reagan's Dad's. Guest Voice … [Read more...] about Great Orator Poor Speech (Guest Voice)
Anti-Semitism Stories
My good friend Richard Jeffrey Newman is collecting stories of anti-Semitism in a post over at Alas, a Blog. He's looking for stories from Jews and non-Jews alike -- his only rule is that you can only give a story: no analysis, no critique of some politician's rhetoric. Just a story. It's a good project, and an interesting one, and Mr. Newman has specifically told me he's … [Read more...] about Anti-Semitism Stories
Change May Be Good
The word of the week is "change", folks. Whatever that means. (Click the cartoon for a full size image.) For more, visit Small World Cartoons. … [Read more...] about Change May Be Good
Because There Will Be Some Who Will Feel Absolutely COMPELLED to Make an Issue of It …
...President Obama restated, reaffirmed, and re-swore the Oath of Office today, showing far more regard for both the letter and the spirit of our Constitution than his predecessor did, you know, the one who appointed the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who flubbed the Oath in the first place, along with ignoring needs for search warrants before wiretapping or habeas corpus … [Read more...] about Because There Will Be Some Who Will Feel Absolutely COMPELLED to Make an Issue of It …
Barack Obama: ‘Boy President’ – La Stampa of Italy
Continuing with our coverage of the global reaction to President Obama's inauguration, this article from Italy's La Stampa fingers an issue that is sure to emerge again and again as America's new president attempts to grapple with the challenges that confront this nation. It's the geopolitical elephant in the room: Has American adherence to the idea of absolute national … [Read more...] about Barack Obama: ‘Boy President’ – La Stampa of Italy
Obama Day One
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted by Cagle Cartoons and licensed for use on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama Day One
Barack Obama Retakes Oath of Office
It was actually done by two presidents before, shocking that the reporter on Fox News doesn't know that. As of tonight, apparently Prez Obama re-did the recitation without the flub-up put forth by the Chief Justice, who put the oath's words in the wrong order at the inaugural oath proper yesterday. Frankly, though some want to take a thin thing and turn it into a big fat … [Read more...] about Barack Obama Retakes Oath of Office