It is now, technically, a year later and the Coleman-Franken race is still on, albeit perhaps finally sputtering to an end---the ballots counting phase, that is. According to TPM Election Central: Al Franken could be declared the winner of the Minnesota recount as soon as Monday, but due to the peculiarities of Minnesota election law, Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) could … [Read more...] about It’s 2009 And Still Counting in Minnesota
Dear Bill – Just Say No
Rumors are now swirling that New York Governor may choose a "caretaker" Senator for Hillary Clinton's seat, as was also diligently reported below by our Editor-in-Chief. In general, this strikes me as a sound plan (and far better than looking at Carolyn Kennedy) but a more alarming prospect would be the idea of Bill Clinton as the caretaker in question. The former president … [Read more...] about Dear Bill – Just Say No
World Cartoonists Look At Young Year 2009
World cartoonists are taking a look at 2009, what could be ahead, and what kind of a year 2008 was. Here's a collection of some of the views of some of the world's top cartoonists: Cute baby: Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen 2008-2009: Frederick Deligne, Nice-Matin, France … [Read more...] about World Cartoonists Look At Young Year 2009
Is Obama Bad for Bloggers?
Over two years and 2000 posts ago, George W. Bush made a blogger out of me. I was coasting along in octogenarian ease, writing an occasionally lofty OpEd piece or irate letter to the editor, when my reactions to what Bush was doing--rage, ridicule and disbelief--demanded a more immediate and unbuttoned outlet. Now, with Barack Obama on the horizon, a different set of … [Read more...] about Is Obama Bad for Bloggers?
New York Senate Seat: Kennedy Backlash Means “Place Holder” Clinton Or Cuomo?
Has Caroline Kennedy's push to fill Senator Hillary Clinton's remaining Senate seat time sparked a backlash so that what's likely to happen is that a big name "placeholder" will be asked to warm the seat for only two years instead? The AP is reporting that this could be case. And, indeed, it would seem the logical outcome if you've followed the stories about how New York … [Read more...] about New York Senate Seat: Kennedy Backlash Means “Place Holder” Clinton Or Cuomo?
Rumi: An Afghan-Born Poet Whom Americans Love
Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, whose 801st birth anniversary was celebrated last month, has for many years now remained the most popular poet in America. The translations of this 13th-century mystical Muslim scholar's - better known as Rumi - verse are hugely popular and have been used by Western pop stars such as Madonna. More here... A 13th-century Persian poet, … [Read more...] about Rumi: An Afghan-Born Poet Whom Americans Love
An Ode to Joe
Geoff Nunberg's pick for 2008's Word of the Year -- JOE. Give a listen. (The linguist can convey much more through the spoken word than in print): In 1942, FDR's vice president Henry Wallace made a famous speech where he described the 20th century as the Century of the Common Man, and for most of that period, the common man went by the name of Joe. The generic Joe Blow made … [Read more...] about An Ode to Joe
Yeah, Blagojevich is a Playground Pretender…But Burris Should Go to the Senate Anyway
Let me be clear about something at the outset: Based on the transcripts of some wiretapped conversations released by federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, I have a decidedly negative impression of Illinois' Democratic governor, Rod Blagojevich. His profanity-laced declarations that he intended to sell his state's US Senate seat reminded me of a pathetic playground pretender … [Read more...] about Yeah, Blagojevich is a Playground Pretender…But Burris Should Go to the Senate Anyway
Australia: To Bare Or Not To Bare
Sydney's Bondy Beach is among a few designated beaches in Australia where top-less bathers are permitted to enjoy the sun, sand and the sea. In fact such beaches are a major draw for tourists too!!! But as Australians begin their long summer holidays this year, a campaign is on to tighten nudity laws. A Christian fundamentalist politician, the Rev Fred Nile, is calling for … [Read more...] about Australia: To Bare Or Not To Bare
Time for a New Constitutional Amendment?
Long time TMV author and friend Shaun Mullen makes an interesting proposal in the wake of the Blagojevich appointment of Roland Burris to the Senate. Is it time, as Shaun suggests, to "strip the power of filling Senate vacancies from governors and give that job to the voters, where it belongs?" It's not the first time, and I'm sure it won't be the last, but I'm going to … [Read more...] about Time for a New Constitutional Amendment?
New Arrivals for the New Year
Allow me to send out a hearty congratulations to the excellent political author James Joyner and his wife Kimberly on the birth of Katharine Webb Joyner on Dec. 31, 2008. Pictures are available at the link of the new arrival who checked into the world at seven pounds, six ounces and 18.5 inches in length. Notice how, as with all Good Republicans, James managed to get the kid … [Read more...] about New Arrivals for the New Year
Happy New Year OBAMA!
Patrick Chappatte, The International Herald Tribune … [Read more...] about Happy New Year OBAMA!
May You Be Blessed In The New Year
May you be blessed in the New Year, May you always find your way back to warmth, May you be given blessings you can see and remember aloud, May you find some meaningful part of the mystery that you cherish, ... that cherishes you in return, May you have entertainments that delight you, May others be good to you, forgive you, ask your forgiveness, May you touch someone … [Read more...] about May You Be Blessed In The New Year
Happy New Year!
So 2008 was a difficult, tragic and scary year for many, and experts are warning that 2009 may not be a joy, either. But the good thing about a New Year is we can all start fresh. So let's focus on the minute, hour, and week and....in the end....we may find that 2009 is not as bad as some feared and that the hopes raised by a new year weren't unrealistic ones. The BEST to … [Read more...] about Happy New Year!
Two Nights in an American Park
Whatever else 2008 was, it was not a slow news year: the longest election campaign ever, a worldwide economic meltdown, natural disasters, scandals large and small filled media to the brim. But one image belongs to a history that will be passed down through generations forever and lifts the heart for whatever the years ahead may bring--Grant Park, Chicago, the night of … [Read more...] about Two Nights in an American Park
Capitol Steps’ New Year’s Eve 2008 Edition: Politics Takes A Holiday!
Listen to the Show! New Year's Eve 2008 Edition: Politics Takes A Holiday! Recorded live at the Ronald Reagan Building in DC. (One hour: 9 MB) … [Read more...] about Capitol Steps’ New Year’s Eve 2008 Edition: Politics Takes A Holiday!
Global Warming a GOP Conspiracy and Other Secrets Revealed
With the onset of a new year upon us, the time has once again come for clean slates and fresh starts. With that in mind, I think it is high time that I revealed some of the deep, dark secrets which should be brought to light in our new era of hope, change and open government. The largest of these, of course, is Global Warming. You often hear many Democrats talking about … [Read more...] about Global Warming a GOP Conspiracy and Other Secrets Revealed
Zeitgeist 2008
This has been out for a while but I was unexpectedly out of commission for a while and it's worth catching up. Google Zeitgeist 2008: Studying the aggregation of the billions of search queries that people type into the Google search box gives us a glimpse into the zeitgeist — the spirit of the times. We've compiled some of the highlights from Google searches around the globe … [Read more...] about Zeitgeist 2008
Happy New Year Resolutions (Guest Voice)
It's that time of year again to take out your pen, pencil or laptop and write a bunch of New Year's resolutions that you probably won't keep. But in this Guest Voice post, author Martha Randolph Carr suggests some that she thinks we need to keep. Happy New Year Resolutions By Martha Randolph Carr New Year’s resolutions are all about throwing ourselves into the future, … [Read more...] about Happy New Year Resolutions (Guest Voice)
Can The “Barack The Magic Negro” Debacle Destroy The Republican Party?
Centrist writer John Avlon, who also was an adviser to former President Bill Clinton, an adviser to Rudy Giuliani when 911 hit, a columnist and an adviser to Giuliani when the former New York mayor ran for President, warns that the controversy over the "Magic Negro" sign is more than just a tempest in a political teapot. Writing in The Daily Beast, Avlon says … [Read more...] about Can The “Barack The Magic Negro” Debacle Destroy The Republican Party?