Keeping in tradition of media's annual best and worst selections -- because this is the slowest news cycle of every year -- we offer the following: Best: The Kaiser Permanente TV ad which sings "I want to grow up to be an old woman." Tackiest: Serving McNuggets at a wedding reception. Worst: Any commercial where a guy named Mays yells at you. Best: Barack Obama … [Read more...] about The Best And Worst Of 2008
Gaza Coverage
Yaakov Kirschen, The Jerusalem Post, Dry Bones … [Read more...] about Gaza Coverage
British Atheist Boosts African Christianity
Adding to the "reality-stranger-than-fiction" genre, Matthew Parris -- who spent some of this childhood in Africa and part of his adult years as a conservative member of the British parliament -- argues today in The Times (London) that the value of the work of Christian missionaries in Africa transcends their charitable/civic contributions, that their faith plays an equally … [Read more...] about British Atheist Boosts African Christianity
A New Strategy To Straighten Afghanistan Out?
Will this stiffen Afghanistan resolve? The Afghan chieftain looked older than his 60-odd years, and his bearded face bore the creases of a man burdened with duties as tribal patriarch and husband to four younger women. His visitor, a CIA officer, saw an opportunity, and reached into his bag for a small gift. Four blue pills. Viagra. "Take one of these. You'll love … [Read more...] about A New Strategy To Straighten Afghanistan Out?
Photo Shows Bush With Father Of Pardoned Unpardoned Real Estate Scammer
The New York Daily News has an amazing ostensible political "GOTCHA!" moment: it has obtained a photo of a grinning President George W. Bush standing next to the the dad of a real estate scammer who Bush pardoned, and then -- in a highly unusual move -- un-pardoned after an outcry and revelations that raised eyebrows about the possible motive. It's a seemingly damning photo … [Read more...] about Photo Shows Bush With Father Of Pardoned Unpardoned Real Estate Scammer
Fight of the Century: Summers vs. Schiff on the Economy
In one corner -- weighing in as the named leader of Obama’s National Economic Council -- is Lawrence Summers, boasting a “have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too” treasure chest of hope. In the other corner -- weighing in as one of those lonely voices in the wilderness who predicted the current mess -- is Peter Schiff, offering nothing more impressive than a “pain-before-gain” bucket … [Read more...] about Fight of the Century: Summers vs. Schiff on the Economy
Chip Saltsman’s Curious Idea of Christmas Joy
Over at The Skepticians, James Richardson examines a Christmas gift from Chip Saltsman - an aspirant to the RNC chairmanship - to the various members of the committee. It's a tasteful gift, providing we remember that "taste" runs a wide range, including "poor." In an exercise of political suicide, Republican National Committee Chair hopeful Chip Saltsman distributed a … [Read more...] about Chip Saltsman’s Curious Idea of Christmas Joy
Our Next President, “A Magic Negro?”
Back in May 2007, TMV's Editor-In-Chief, Joe Gandelman wrote a post on Obama's reaction to right-wing talk radio show host Rush Limbaugh’s airing of a song parody titled “Barack The Magic Negro.” The song goes: "A guy from the LA paper said it made guilty whites feel good, they'll vote for him and not for me cuz he's not from the hood. Oh, Barack the magic negro lives … [Read more...] about Our Next President, “A Magic Negro?”
Good-Bye Hamas Terrorists!
Jerusalem Post: 'Hamas: Over 170 killed as Israel strikes police compounds' The Palestinians would be far better off if all members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad dropped dead. … [Read more...] about Good-Bye Hamas Terrorists!
America: Love it or Like it
Are you in love with America or is it just a summer fling? This weekend, The Lady Logician takes a long, hard look at this question as she examines a recent column by Joel Stein. The L.A. Times piece seeks to continue the culture wars in America by addressing the question of whether or not conservatives love our country more than liberals do. I don't much care for blatant … [Read more...] about America: Love it or Like it
The Progressive Year in Review, 2008
You can read my thoughts about it at BlogHer but for a teaser, here's what I actually left out (until I added an addendum), so you can just imagine what I included: The environment and energy: For progressives, probably a bad year, capped off with the TVA disaster that Kim Pearson wrote about here. And it's getting worse. On the other hand, with energy, maybe not so bad a … [Read more...] about The Progressive Year in Review, 2008
Four Horsemen Alert
For those of you keeping tabs on Signs of the End Times, I have another entry for your journal. This morning I was awoken at 4:00 a.m. on Dec. 27 in Upstate New York by a thunderstorm with lightning flashing across the sky. This, my friends, is just not right. During the spring, summer and fall, we put up with nonsense like this because: A. It's warmer B. The streets … [Read more...] about Four Horsemen Alert
Afghanistan: CIA & Viagra
News reports indicate that CIA has discovered a lethal weapon to subdue ageing Afghan tribals --- Viagra. However, just a little warning to the over-enthusiastic CIA guys distributing blue pills in the remote areas. The Afghan tribal lords have a known weakness for the fair young men too, apart from performing the ritual with their spouses. So after distributing the … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: CIA & Viagra
Pakistan: Remembering Bhutto & Jinnah
Pakistan media is paying tributes to two of its leaders this month --- Benazir Bhutto who was killed this day last year, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah - described as 'Father of Pakistan' - who was born on December 25, 1876. Both these secular leaders gradually turned champions of peaceful co-existence with India. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's most internationally … [Read more...] about Pakistan: Remembering Bhutto & Jinnah
The Middle Shifted Away From The GOP In 2008: An Outcome Of Neglect
The year-end reviews have started, and several days ago NBC Political Director Chuck Todd took a look at 2008 and concluded: 1. The middle shifted away from the GOP. 2. It occurred in hard-nosed political terms when the Republican Party steadily, inexorably lost moderate and independent voters in election 2008. A good part of Obama's win will be credited to Obama's … [Read more...] about The Middle Shifted Away From The GOP In 2008: An Outcome Of Neglect
CNN Poll: 75% Can’t Wait To See Bush Go
As the (second) Bush era draws to a close, what do Americans feel as GWB packs up his things and gets ready to head back to Texas? According to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll, 75 percent of Americans can't wait to see him go. Some 23 percent (which most assuredly includes Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity) are going to miss him. It's worth taking an extended look at this … [Read more...] about CNN Poll: 75% Can’t Wait To See Bush Go
Bush Poster Is Target At Iranian Shoe Throwing Competition
President George W. Bush's poster has reportedly become popular in Iran, where it's being used as the target in a shoe-throwing competition: Organizers of a shoe-throwing competition at Iran's Tehran University said the Friday event used a picture of U.S. President George W. Bush as a target. The organizers said the event was an "expression of solidarity for the … [Read more...] about Bush Poster Is Target At Iranian Shoe Throwing Competition
The Truth Shall Set You Free
At least we hope so. Taking the religious to the secular, FactCheck.org's Brooks Jackson -- whom I had the pleasure of interviewing a year-and-a-half ago -- publishes, at Newsweek.com, a summary of claims he and his colleagues have "debunked just since Election Day." It's good for Brooks-and-crew, I suppose, that there's so much bunk around to keep them busy -- and good … [Read more...] about The Truth Shall Set You Free
What Do Bankers Really Want?
What Do Bankers Really Want? Much of the $350 billion in public money that the Paulson Gang has so far doled out to banks has not gone to banks that were on the verge of insolvency but to generally healthy institutions. The hope being that maybe, just maybe, some of these extra dollars would incline these banks to lend more to individual consumers and businesses, thereby … [Read more...] about What Do Bankers Really Want?
The Controversy Over Iran’s Christmas Address Continues
A controversy continues to grow over an address about Christmas delivered by one of the world's greatest authorities on Christmas, peace on earth and good will to men -- Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (NOT!). Details in the roundup HERE. … [Read more...] about The Controversy Over Iran’s Christmas Address Continues