If Gov. David Paterson wants to resolve his dilemma over replacing Hillary Clinton by naming a caretaker and letting the public decide in 2010, the perfect choice is at hand--a wise, experienced, respected politician who knows New York State better than any other: Mario Cuomo. At 76, the former governor would be junior to a platoon of octogenarians in the Senate, not to … [Read more...] about Caretaker For Clinton’s Seat
The Purr is Gone
Samuel the Cat has gone to Critter Heaven after 17 years of purring in my lap. He was the last of the Fur Family, the 3 critters who moved to Cincinnati with me 8 years ago. Here is a photo of Samuel in March 2008: … [Read more...] about The Purr is Gone
Happy New Year! Let the Post-Bush ‘Purification’ Begin!: La Jornada, Mexico
What do the end of the Bush era, the war on drugs and the arrest of a Mexican beauty queen have in common? They are all part of Jorge Camil's goodbye to 2008 published on Friday in the pages of Mexico's La Jornada. In regard to President Bush, Camil writes in part: "We're in a hurry to distance ourselves from Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, the shattering of Wall Street, … [Read more...] about Happy New Year! Let the Post-Bush ‘Purification’ Begin!: La Jornada, Mexico
The Events In Israel
GO HERE for some great live blogging. … [Read more...] about The Events In Israel
“Magic Negro” Satire
Limbaugh, Shanklin and now Saltsman would like to convince you that the parody calling our next President a "Magic Negro" is merely good-humored, lighthearted, innocent satire. I have used satire myself in several of my writings, but none of them makes fun of or ridicules someone's race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. I also looked up the definition of satire … [Read more...] about “Magic Negro” Satire
Senate Races 2010: Jeb Bush And Sarah Palin As Republican Senate Candidates?
The election is over and already the speculation -- and some positioning -- has begun for the Senate races in 2010. Right now considerable speculation centers on possible Senate candidacies of two big GOP names: former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the brother of you-know-who, and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the former running mate of Joe the Plumber's former publicist. What … [Read more...] about Senate Races 2010: Jeb Bush And Sarah Palin As Republican Senate Candidates?
What Did Barack Obama Know and When Did He Know It? (Guest Voice)
President Elect Barack Obama released his team's report indicating there was nothing inappropriate in its actions in the Senate Seat For Sale scandal involving Illinois' Governor Blagojevich, a politician now as famous for his tape-revealed four-letter word vocabulary as for his hair. To some, it settled the issue. To others, it raised questions. In this Guest Voice post, … [Read more...] about What Did Barack Obama Know and When Did He Know It? (Guest Voice)
Sex-Offender Residency Restrictions Cause Homelessness
The WaPo today: Strict new laws aimed at keeping track of sex offenders after they leave prison appear to be having the opposite effect, encouraging homelessness in a population believed more likely to re-offend if cast into the streets without structure or family support, say prosecutors, police, parole officials and experts on managing sex offenders. The issue is starkest … [Read more...] about Sex-Offender Residency Restrictions Cause Homelessness
“Magic Negro”—Follow-Up
According to Politico.com, Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan has issued a statement Saturday distancing the party’s leadership from Chip Saltsman, who distributed a CD containing “Barack the Magic Negro” as part of his campaign to be elected chairman of the Republican National Committee next month. Duncan's statement, in full: The 2008 election was a … [Read more...] about “Magic Negro”—Follow-Up
The Best And Worst Of 2008
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