A comfortably well-off Christian conservative relative recently described over dinner an intention to "legally" move all of his assets into his childrens' names. He and hs wife would then collect Medicaid through their last months on earth. In this way they would not be a "burden to the children." I was mystified as to how he justified this on moral grounds, considering his … [Read more...] about On Elder Care & Filial Repsonsibility
“Worst Crash Since The Great Depression”
Well it's official. Going by the S&P (which is a far better barometer of the stock market than the Dow) we are in the worst bear market since the Great Depression. (h/t Calculated Risk) The number by itself is rather trivial, to me what is far more alarming is how quickly it has plunged and how anemic any rebound attempts have been. The crashes of '87 and even '29 … [Read more...] about “Worst Crash Since The Great Depression”
Missouri: Promoting Diversity Key to Reclaiming Bellwether Crown
As political junkies know, Missourians are very good at picking presidents. From 1904 to 2004, they sided with the winner in every race except 1956. That record explains why presidential candidates often visit Missouri, and why their campaigns spend heavily in the state. Of course, all of that is now at risk. The 2008 election ended November 4, but it was not until … [Read more...] about Missouri: Promoting Diversity Key to Reclaiming Bellwether Crown
Gallup Poll: Republican Party’s Image Is Worsening
A new Gallup Poll finds the Republican Party's image has worsened since its big election day defeat which saw Democratic candidate Barack Obama elected to the White House and the Democrats increasing their Congressional majorities. The number marks a new low for the GOP in Gallup polling: The Republican Party's image has gone from bad to worse over the past month, as only … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Republican Party’s Image Is Worsening
Sullivan at His Best: ‘Coexist with Mutual Respect’
Andrew Sullivan lost me for awhile during what I consider his "Palin Fixation Period," or PFP for those who may be taking notes. Thankfully, Andrew now seems to be on the road to recovery, and in a post today -- regarding marriage equality and related subjects -- he reminded me why I consider him one of the leading thinkers and authors of our time; not to mention, one hell of … [Read more...] about Sullivan at His Best: ‘Coexist with Mutual Respect’
Gallup Poll: Clinton As Secretary Of State OK For Most Americans
About a week ago the big question was "Will he or won't he?" Will President Elect Barack Obama offer former Democratic nomination party rival Sen. Hillary Clinton the Secretary of State job or not? Then reports surfaced that he did. Now the question is: "Will she or won't she?" Will Hillary Clinton ACCEPT any firm offer that's made? Some think the Clintons are injecting … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Clinton As Secretary Of State OK For Most Americans
Chicago’s Public-School Chief Favored to Head Dept. of Ed
A couple days ago I posted on rumors that Margaret Spellings would be stepping down early. Today The Chronicle reports on speculation around Obama's pick to replace her: Since Monday of last week, the [Thomas B. Fordham] institute’s vice president for national programs and policy, Michael J. Petrilli, has been compiling a daily “tracking poll” in which he and nine other … [Read more...] about Chicago’s Public-School Chief Favored to Head Dept. of Ed
What About Props 1, 2, and 102?
I'm seeing a lot of petitions going around here on the East coast in reaction to Prop 8, which banned gay marriage in California, most with vague calls to "repeal Prop 8" and no specific indication of how or even to whom the petition will ultimately be sent. Young liberals are fired up and ready to fight for gay rights, but for the most part the movement seems directionless and … [Read more...] about What About Props 1, 2, and 102?
Rival, Retreads and Other Irrelevance
As he picks Rahm Emanuel, Eric Holder, Tom Daschle and flirts with the former First Lady, there is a predictable chorus of criticism that going back to the Clinton years is not the change Barack Obama promised in his campaign. Some of that was heard when he chose Joe Biden as his running mate, but Obama's goal all along was to persuade voters wary of his inexperience that … [Read more...] about Rival, Retreads and Other Irrelevance
Around The Sphere
Our famous linkfest taking you to websites of many different viewpoints, all over the world. There's Huge Interest In Obama In Europe and The Brussels Journal has some thoughts on why. How Far Have Newspapers Fallen In How Much Do They Really Value Reporters in a time of (limited) buyouts and (increasingly bigger) budget slashing? JUST READ THIS. President Elect Barack … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere
More on Pirates at Sea
Following up on Joe's post yesterday about the return of the pirates, Jonathan Stevenson says it's time for an anti-piracy coalition of the willing. Somali pirates have been responsible for 84 attacks in 2008 alone--a 75% increase on the 2007 pace: Given their range of targets, one might think that they are suicidally determined to antagonize as many major powers as possible, … [Read more...] about More on Pirates at Sea
Monty Python: Free to Make Money
Monty Python embraces the concept of giving away infinite goods to increase the value of scarce goods: [W]hile they could sue, instead, they decided to fight free videos with free videos by putting up their own versions -- in higher quality.... they're hoping people viewing the videos will go to the Pythonline site and buy DVDs (scarce goods) of their movies as well. What … [Read more...] about Monty Python: Free to Make Money
Card Check. What’s it all about, Alfie?
As the debate raged over Card Check during the 2008 election, I kept waiting for somebody to put it in perspective. Surely, I thought, I had been bedazzled by some sort of Right wing trickery. After all, I reasoned, Unions battle on behalf of the worker, keeping the hob nailed boot of management off the collective throat of the middle class. (I should note that this is not … [Read more...] about Card Check. What’s it all about, Alfie?
Video: Bush Politically “Dead Man Walking” At G20 Summit
CNN's Rick Sanchez has a truly amazing video catch: video of President George Bush at the G20 weekend summit being treated in a greeting line as if he is the politically "Dead Man Walking" or Mr. Cellophane. In this You Tube segment now featured on several websites (Greatscat, Tennessee Guerilla Women, Daily Kos and Poligazette) Sanchez shows a piece of captured-on-video … [Read more...] about Video: Bush Politically “Dead Man Walking” At G20 Summit
Somalis Snub Big Three
Trick Corrigan, The Toronto Star … [Read more...] about Somalis Snub Big Three
Prostitution In UK: Libido, Exploitation & Law
Britain's first woman Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced plans to get tough on prostitution. This has led to a lively debate in the media. The new changes in the laws aim to crack down on those who buy sex or control its sale, rather than those who offer it. Ms Smith says that paying for sex with someone who is "controlled for another person's gain" should be a … [Read more...] about Prostitution In UK: Libido, Exploitation & Law
Proposition 8 To Be Reviewed By California Supreme Court
Avoiding months of pointless appeals the California Supreme Court has agreed to hear the challenge to Proposition 8, the initiative to ban gay marriage which passed with 52% of the vote earlier this month. The vote to accept the case was 6-1 so it seems justices on both sides of the earlier ruling felt it proper to hear the case now. However they did not vote to stay the law, … [Read more...] about Proposition 8 To Be Reviewed By California Supreme Court
McCain Wins Missouri, Nation Goes Berserk
Well, the first part of that is true if not the second. At long last, the presidential election is over. The last remaining state to be decided, Missouri, has been declared a win for McCain. It's still unofficial, but CNN has called it: "According to the unofficial results, McCain won the state by 3,632 votes. The unofficial count shows McCain with 1,445,812 votes, or … [Read more...] about McCain Wins Missouri, Nation Goes Berserk
Joe Lieberman On CBS Tries To Mend Torn Fences With Democrats
Connecticut Independent Senator Joe Lieberman, who escaped being stripped by Democrats of a major committee chairmanship due to President-Elect Barack Obama's behind the scenes reconciliatory intervention, used an exclusive interview with CBS' Katie Couric to make it clear he's trying to mend fences with Democrats. His basic argument is -- what was he said in the past about … [Read more...] about Joe Lieberman On CBS Tries To Mend Torn Fences With Democrats
Lost Thunder: BLM Preparing To Execute 30,000 Wild Horses (Guest Voice)
Walter Brasch, who has written many well-received Guest Voice posts for TMV has sent this Guest column, which we run in full here. His note: Deanne Stillman is one of the nation's best journalists, and an advocate of the nation's wild horses and burros. The Bureau of Land Management, under the Bush-Cheney Administration, has been yielding to the pressure of the cattlemen's … [Read more...] about Lost Thunder: BLM Preparing To Execute 30,000 Wild Horses (Guest Voice)