News today that two of the legends of Hollywood have passed on. The first loss came this morning with word that Patrick McGoohan had died at the age of 80. McGoohan gained his fame during the James Bond mania of the 1960's when he starred in two spy series, first the show Secret Agent and then leapt to superstardom in The Prisoner. Once described in The Times as an … [Read more...] about Hollywood Loses Two Of The Greats
Bush Countdown
Patrick Corrigan, The Toronto Star … [Read more...] about Bush Countdown
Smart Power or Just Dumb Policy? (Guest Voice)
In her Secretary of State confirmation hearing, Senator Hillary Clinton said the new administration would use "smart power." In this Guest Voice, conservative talk show host Michael Reagan asks whether she's talking about "smart power or just dumb policy." Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of TMV or its writers. Smart Power or Just Dumb Policy? … [Read more...] about Smart Power or Just Dumb Policy? (Guest Voice)
Cheney: We Did It Our Way And We Aren’t To Blame For Anything
Remember how in the year 2000 and other years Republicans talked about entering the age of "personal responsibility"? Apparently that message didn't filter up (or down) to Vice President Dick Cheney who, in an interview with PBS' Jim Lehrer seems to be doing a Bart Simpson imitation, saying he didn't do it you can't prove anything. Here's Editor & Publisher's report with … [Read more...] about Cheney: We Did It Our Way And We Aren’t To Blame For Anything
The Real Worst Case
What happens if Israel "wins" in Gaza and manages to actually crush Hamas? Flowers? Fairies? Fatah? Or an even more radical, Salafist-inspired organization that makes Hamas look timid? Jews should know -- it can always get worse. … [Read more...] about The Real Worst Case
“We Do Not Torture.”
So said President Bush in 2005 (when asked about reports of secret CIA prisons). And yet, in truth, the U.S. does torture. So says Susan Crawford, the convening authority of the Guantanamo military commissions, a Gates appointee and Bush administration official: The top Bush administration official in charge of deciding whether to bring Guantanamo Bay detainees to … [Read more...] about “We Do Not Torture.”
Geithner Taxes
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune … [Read more...] about Geithner Taxes
Sarah Palin Hates Us
Bored, anonymous, pathetic bloggers who lie annoy me, she told Esquire, in yet another of her post-election blame-everyone-else-but-me sessions. It is Andrew Sullivan who has been all over the is-she-really-Trig's-mom story -- like the rest of us, he just wants the truth, and Palin has been nothing if not sketchy about the whole affair (hence the lingering suspicions) -- … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Hates Us
Final Bush Gallup Poll: Bush More Popular Than Nixon
President George Bush got some (marginally) good news from the Gallup Poll today: it turns out that he will leave office more popular than Richard Nixon: A new USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted Jan. 9-11, finds 34% of Americans approving of the overall job George W. Bush is doing as president and 61% disapproving. Those ratings are a shade better than what Bush has received … [Read more...] about Final Bush Gallup Poll: Bush More Popular Than Nixon
Money, It’s a Crime: Ben Bernanke and the Bottomless Bailout
Well, you knew this was coming. As the Times puts it, "the banks need more taxpayer money," "a lot more money." Isn't this partly why so many of us were against the bailout, at least in principle, from the start? It wasn't just that it's a bailout of Wall Street instead of Main Street, which is to say, a bailout of the stinking rich, of those who are at the very core of the … [Read more...] about Money, It’s a Crime: Ben Bernanke and the Bottomless Bailout
Obama You Tube: You, Too, Can Get Involved In The Inauguration
Yet another sign that the new President Barack Obama intends to be in close touch with the public via radio, TV....and the Internet (hey, Barack, do you wanna exchange links?). But a key theme of this, towards the end, is that he's calling on indivduals to provide service to others and to the country in general: h/t Mark Halperin … [Read more...] about Obama You Tube: You, Too, Can Get Involved In The Inauguration
Bush Library
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star … [Read more...] about Bush Library
Obama and OJ?
This just in... … [Read more...] about Obama and OJ?
Bush’s Legacy, In 157 Words
As a prolific Letters to the Editor writer (not all that prolific in getting them published), I appreciate a good Letter when I see one. That was the case this morning. In the New York Times Letters, "Bush’s Final News Conference, and His Legacy," I read this letter that truly says it all---in 157 priceless words: To the Editor: President Bush’s defense of his … [Read more...] about Bush’s Legacy, In 157 Words
Is Smart Enough?
At her confirmation yesterday, Hillary Clinton invoked the concept of "smart power" as a guide to American diplomacy. In his hearings, Education Secretary Arne Duncan cited Barack Obama as a role model for America's school children. “Never before," he said "has being smart been so cool.” And in another hearing room, Senators were mooning over Nobel Prize-winning physicist … [Read more...] about Is Smart Enough?
New York’s Perfect Storm of Appointments
The local press here in the Empire State is reporting that Republicans are pushing to remove Governor David Paterson's power to appoint a new senator for Hillary Clinton's seat and force a special election for the position. Such a move would be perfectly legal under the U.S. Constitution but it will face some stiff opposition. Republicans in New York's Legislature are … [Read more...] about New York’s Perfect Storm of Appointments
Farewell President Gore
TA Frank in The Guardian contemplates what a delightfully boring eight years it might have been: No one thought Al Gore would be a loveable president, but, after eight years in the White House, he has gotten truly tiresome. The droning voice, the purchase of an eco-friendly robot dog, the campaign for carbon-free diamonds - all these things were hard to take, and he has … [Read more...] about Farewell President Gore
Bin Laden Calls For Holy War Against Israel And Attacking U.S. On “New Fronts”
Al Qaeda terrorist chief Osama bin Laden has surfaced again in an audiotape posted on an Al Qeada-friendly website. His latest: calling for a holy war against Israel due to the bloodshed in Gaza and for attacks against the United States on "new fronts." As often happens with bin Laden tapes, initial reports have journalistic hedges on whether the message really comes from … [Read more...] about Bin Laden Calls For Holy War Against Israel And Attacking U.S. On “New Fronts”
Gaza and Israel: Thomas Friedman is naive
Hopeful, and with all due respect, but naive. Read his op-ed in Wednesday's New York Times here. Key portion: Israel de facto recognizes Hamas’s right to rule Gaza and to provide for the well-being and security of the people of Gaza — which was actually Hamas’s original campaign message, not rocketing Israel. And, in return, Hamas has to signal a willingness to assume … [Read more...] about Gaza and Israel: Thomas Friedman is naive
Hillary Clinton: So What’s Next In USA, India & Pakistan?
The selection of Hillary Clinton as US Secretary of State was a masterstroke by president-elect Barack Obama to win over the disgruntled Democrats, and to provide a feminine touch to the American foreign policy that had fallen in the hands of macho men who have created havoc in different parts of the world during the past few years. In fact the leaders in Europe, Asia and … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton: So What’s Next In USA, India & Pakistan?