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)
Assets and Liabilities
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post … [Read more...] about Assets and Liabilities
Why Al Qaeda is Afraid of Obama
In case you missed it, Al Qaeda's #2, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has issued a video statement directed at President-elect Obama: You have reached the position of president, and a heavy legacy of failure and crimes awaits you. A failure in Iraq to which you have admitted, and a failure in Afghanistan to which the commanders of your army have admitted. The statement, as you might … [Read more...] about Why Al Qaeda is Afraid of Obama
Where I Take On a Nobel Prize Winner
I want to talk about the proposed auto bailout again in a macro context. As I concluded in my previous post, I am very hesitant to support the bailout because of the huge decrease in demand for cars, something that was started before the last few months and that initial evidence suggests will continue regardless of credit conditions. I believe that the credit crunch is merely … [Read more...] about Where I Take On a Nobel Prize Winner
‘Beyond Allah, Only America Can Save Iraq’: Kitabat of Iraq
With the Status of Forces Agreement with the United States in the hands of the Iraqi Parliament, we present the latest article by one of Iraq's most pro-American columnists, Khadir Taahar. The author of past articles such as The American CIA: 'Defender of Humanity'; Iraq Would Be a Fool to Refuse America's 'Outstretched Hand'; and Security Deal With America is Iraq's … [Read more...] about ‘Beyond Allah, Only America Can Save Iraq’: Kitabat of Iraq
The Big Three Automaker CEOs Need A P.R. Firm
It turns out they flew private jets to travel to Washington to plead to Congress for (bailout) funds. Not smart. No matter what their arguments, this is the kind of symbolism that will hurt their case. Cartoon by John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about The Big Three Automaker CEOs Need A P.R. Firm
Wow
I never read the famous Carter "malaise speech" but now that our role in the world is under debate again it has a renewed currency. Here is the link to the full speech and I must say it is amazing how little progress we've made in the past 30 years. Regardless of what you think about Carter's effectiveness as President, it is becoming increasingly clear that he -- along with … [Read more...] about Wow
The Case Against Hillary Clinton For Obama’s Secretary Of State
We've run various posts applauding reports that President Elect Barack Obama wants Sen. Hillary Clinton to be his Secretary of State. For the case against her getting that post read David Corn HERE. … [Read more...] about The Case Against Hillary Clinton For Obama’s Secretary Of State
Daschle To Head HHS
President Elect Obama has chosen former Senator Tom Daschle to head up the Department of Health and Human Services according to news reports. The same reports indicate Daschle is likely to accept. While it is hardly surprising that Obama would give a post to Daschle I might have expected him to go with Agriculture, given that the senator is from South Dakota. Daschle did … [Read more...] about Daschle To Head HHS
Star Power In Chambliss’ Georgia — The Democrat Kind
Within the hour, former President Bill Clinton will apply his star power to the Senatorial runoff battle between Democrat Jim Martin and incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss. As most remember, six years ago, Saxby Chambliss won his Senate seat race against triple amputee, Vietnam War hero, Democratic Senator Max Cleland, with a hateful campaign that included an ad morphing … [Read more...] about Star Power In Chambliss’ Georgia — The Democrat Kind
The Return Of The Pirates
Attention Johnny Depp: there's lots of material for sequels -- and updates -- of your popular pirate-themed movies. Because now more than ever the word "pirates" is surfacing as it's applied to those clamoring for government bailouts and the real thing being pitchforked into international headlines. The Ottawa Citizen's Cam Cardow brings the two together in the editorial … [Read more...] about The Return Of The Pirates
Smoke ’em Out
Joe's post about al-Qaeda's recent foray into racial commentary raises an easily-overlooked opportunity. For years, the United States was plagued in its Cold War battles with the USSR because our domestic racism was so easily wielded against our protestations of righteousness and morality. Why not learn from our own mistakes? Racial progress tends to smoke out the … [Read more...] about Smoke ’em Out