The first question: What will Barack Obama do as President? The second question: what would YOU do as President. In this Guest Voice post, conservative talk show host Michael Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan, gives you his answer. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. If I Were President by Michael Reagan Who needs … [Read more...] about If I Were President (Guest Voice)
Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied
Our post title, widely attributable to William Gladstone (though some say to William Penn) takes on a special resonance today. After some men have been in what has been determined to be unlawful American detention for nearly seven years, the very, very first Guantanamo Bay detainees were released pursuant to court order (a pathetic total of three men) and reached their home … [Read more...] about Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied
Shoe Storm
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Shoe Storm
Middle Easterners Must Reject ‘Barefoot Journalism!’: Kurdish Media, Iraqi Kurdistan
It seems that a majority of Iraqis support the actions of journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi, who threw his shoes at President Bush during a press conference on Monday while exclaiming, 'This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.' But the Kurds are another story. According to this op-ed by Kay … [Read more...] about Middle Easterners Must Reject ‘Barefoot Journalism!’: Kurdish Media, Iraqi Kurdistan
Our Love For Star Power
What is this American fascination of celebrities perpetuated by our media giants? A bunch of bunk I say. In the world of politics, these know-it-all columnists are slobbering over the possibility Caroline Kennedy might be appointed to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. "I have to confess, my heart remains with a Senator Caroline," gushes Ruth Marcus of the … [Read more...] about Our Love For Star Power
My Two Straight Bits On Gay Marriage
There have been many legislative, judicial, popular ballot and other movements, developments, articles, and opinions recently on the gay "issue" in general and on the issue of gay marriage in particular. As mentioned by our Dennis Sanders in "Putting Aside the Bible for a While," both "sides" on the gay issue and both proponents and opponents of gay marriage have used the … [Read more...] about My Two Straight Bits On Gay Marriage
The Beauty And Functionality Of Art Glass
Once again this Christmas/Chanuka season I'm turning towards gifts and special mailings. I give cash gifts to my niece, nephews and my foster son and his family. I order a great one-sheet New Year's calender and thank-you cards from Harrison Publishing. And I then pick out someone special who will get art glass. They won't know it until they get it -- and when they open it, … [Read more...] about The Beauty And Functionality Of Art Glass
I Was Actually Pulling for My Buddy, Glen VanderKloot
Rick Warren will give the Invocation at Barack Obama's presidential inauguration. VanderKloot, the inspiring, humble, intelligent pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois, whose daily emailed inspirations I often share with readers of my blog, gave the invocation at the big rally with Obama and his then-newly announced running mate, Joe Biden, held at the old … [Read more...] about I Was Actually Pulling for My Buddy, Glen VanderKloot
Beyond Awareness
It seems that Mick Jagger and Ben Affleck have joined hands to bring the latest in celebrity humanitarian efforts. I applaud both Jagger and Affleck for producing a film designed to raise awareness about the problems facing the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and yet my inner skeptic wonders how much impact the effort might really have? Criticisms are rife of … [Read more...] about Beyond Awareness
Obama as Person of the Year: Predictable and Correct…
as noted here and here on November 26. … [Read more...] about Obama as Person of the Year: Predictable and Correct…
Thoughts on Time‘s People of the Year
As you've probably heard by now, Time's Person of the Year for 2008 is, as was fully expected and as is richly deserved, Barack Obama. Seriously, did anyone even come close this year? The runners-up are an interesting bunch: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chinese film director Zhang Yimou, and someone named Sarah Palin. It's far too … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Time‘s People of the Year
Rethinking Poverty In Harlem
After my last few dour posts I feel like a stream of positive ones. I listened to an amazing This American Life episode last night that told the story of a radical anti-poverty program underway in Harlem. They mention that recent cognitive research points to a few guidelines that will give both liberals and conservatives pause when it comes to thinking about poverty: If … [Read more...] about Rethinking Poverty In Harlem
Immigration and Pride in America
Andrew Sullivan is inspired by this animated clip ... as I think every resident of the USA should be. (Note: The first time I pressed "play," the video zipped through to the end. Once it was over, I hit "play" again, and it proceeded more slowly. That slower pace the second time around was, IMHO, the better effect.) Immigration to the US, 1820-2007 v2 from Ian … [Read more...] about Immigration and Pride in America
California Pension Fund Loses 25%
Not to pile on, but CalPERS is also down about 25% on the year due to 103% losses from real estate deals. At first I couldn't believe what type of deals these pension funds and endowments were getting into (a Canadian pension fund was going to become majority owner in a telecom company...fortunately for them the deal fell through due to the credit crunch) but then I read that … [Read more...] about California Pension Fund Loses 25%
Is the Black Middle Class in Rawls’ Original Position?
A brief exploration stemming from some 3 AM musings. … [Read more...] about Is the Black Middle Class in Rawls’ Original Position?
Yale’s Endowment Down an Estimated 25%
The financial tsunami hits the Ivy League. Two weeks ago I noted Harvard University’s endowment is down 22% and falling. Today The Chronicle reports: Yale University’s endowment has dropped an estimated 25 percent — a loss of about $6-billion — since June 30, creating a shortfall of $100-million in next year’s budget, President Richard C. Levin announced in a letter to the … [Read more...] about Yale’s Endowment Down an Estimated 25%
Will Rudy Giuliani Take Over Bill O’Reilly’s Radio Slot?
Will we soon be hearing former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on the radio going on and on about the war against Christmas, how biased the Los Angeles Times is, and that maniac Al Franken? The unsuccessful 2008 Republican presidential primary candidate and 911 hero will likely come up with his own schtick, but the New York Post's Page 6 reports that Giuliani is seriously in … [Read more...] about Will Rudy Giuliani Take Over Bill O’Reilly’s Radio Slot?
The “Imminent Collapse” Of Global Trade?
This post does a great job of explaining how the most important aspect of the financial crisis is global trade, and on that front things are going terribly. Domestic and international politics are far more important for solving our economic crisis than what the Fed/banks do, but politicians haven't realized this yet. … [Read more...] about The “Imminent Collapse” Of Global Trade?
Patrick Fitzgerald’s Problem
He is right out of a Frank Capra movie--a clean-cut crime fighter who lives to bring down the bad guys--but in the current Illinois Senate seat mess, Patrick Fitzgerald had to make a hard choice that could eventually let Rod Blagojevich off the hook: Should he try to stop the crime before it happens or nail the wrongdoer but only after the damage has been done? The results … [Read more...] about Patrick Fitzgerald’s Problem
Girl Talk: ‘Feed the Animals’ Top of Pop
Yesterday on Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker did his Top of Pop 2008. He had this to say about Girl Talk's Feed the Animals: One of my favorite albums of the year was one I didn't review on Fresh Air at all because it was so gleefully profane and so resistant to brief synopsis. The DJ, Greg Gillis, who uses the stage name Girl Talk, put out the album "Feed the Animals." It … [Read more...] about Girl Talk: ‘Feed the Animals’ Top of Pop