Our family and others have long believed that mental, neurological, and related ailments should be treated on par with physical/biological disorders. The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 started the process by prohibiting health plans from offering lower annual/lifetime benefits for mental health than physical health. Unfortunately, as a result, many health plans complied … [Read more...] about Mental Health: An Interview with Rep. Patrick Kennedy
Change: Good Luck with That
Every campaign season brings promises of change. What are the chances, in an election cycle more based on these promises than any in recent memory, that the next President will actually change anything? I speak to well-informed friends and they harp on the nuances of the Parties’ positions. The news media frets over the absence of specifics. It is ludicrous to think that the … [Read more...] about Change: Good Luck with That
Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere
Seven days to Election Day. Here's our linkfest guide that whisks you to weblogs on the right, left and center, big and small which will be presented daily until after election day. TMV encourages you to bookmark these sites and return to them as part of your daily reading if you want a good sampling of Internet opinion. Making Ayers, Reverend Wright And Rezko A Major … [Read more...] about Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere
Fall of the Know-It-Alls
The humiliation of Alan Greenspan last week in publicly admitting his fallible perception of the housing bubble prompts David Brooks to see a larger meaning: "This meltdown is not just a financial event, but also a cultural one. It’s a big, whopping reminder that the human mind is continually trying to perceive things that aren’t true, and not perceiving them takes enormous … [Read more...] about Fall of the Know-It-Alls
Not Moderate, but Very Funny
My wife discovered this blog -- Margaret and Helen -- and shared the link. These women don't hold back, so don't go there if you're expecting anything even approaching moderation. On the other hand, if you share my slightly twisted sense of humor, you'll probably have a good laugh or two. I especially enjoyed these posts: What was I thinking when I called Sarah Palin a … [Read more...] about Not Moderate, but Very Funny
Red Sex + Blue Sex = A New Sexual Morality
The highest divorce and teen pregnancy rates are in Red States, the lowest in Blue States. Margaret Talbot digs beneath the numbers to wonder, Why do so many evangelical teen-agers become pregnant? [T]he red-state [abstinence] model is clearly failing on its own terms—producing high rates of teen pregnancy, divorce, sexually transmitted disease, and other dysfunctional … [Read more...] about Red Sex + Blue Sex = A New Sexual Morality
All Aboard For The Republican Right-Wing’s Flagellation Station Express
Lordy be! In only six days the angry mantra of the John McCain-Sarah Palin campaign will be silenced. You know the one I'm talking about: That some of us are not true Americans because of where we live, what we do for a living, where we went to school and, horror or horrors, because we support a Muslim terrorist for president. But you can bet your dangling chad that while we … [Read more...] about All Aboard For The Republican Right-Wing’s Flagellation Station Express
Some Thoughts On Fears Of Obama And The Democrats
As we sit a week or so out from Election Day I have been having some interesting discussions with some of my conservative friends. They are paranoid about the prospect of a big Democratic victory next week and that it will result in all kinds of horrible things happening to them. They act like it is only a matter of time before they are all sent to internment camps for … [Read more...] about Some Thoughts On Fears Of Obama And The Democrats
Palin 2012
Aislin, The Montreal Gazette … [Read more...] about Palin 2012
French Official: ‘Obama Adventure Makes America Magical’ – Le Parisien, France
The comments of France's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights about Barack Obama - considering the fact that the election isn't over yet, might be thought premature. But on the other hand, her boss Nicolas Sarkozy has already fawned over him before the global media. In this interview with The Parisien, French Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and … [Read more...] about French Official: ‘Obama Adventure Makes America Magical’ – Le Parisien, France
Democrats: Don’t Order The White House Drapes Just Yet
Take a cyber-tour of Democratic Party-oriented newsblogs and websites and despite warnings that partisans have to be on the lookout for overconfidence and continue to work hard until the last vote is cast, there is a perceptible feeling of....overconfidence. But perhaps it's time to take a reality check, as Dick Polman notes here. The bottom line: an Obama administration … [Read more...] about Democrats: Don’t Order The White House Drapes Just Yet
Worst Campaign Ever (Guest Voice)
The 2008 Presidential campaign has been called one of the most historic...ever. To humorist Will Durst sees it historic in different way: due to quality (or lack of it) of Republican Senator John McCain's campaign. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Worst Campaign Ever by Will Durst I don’t know which is scarier: The … [Read more...] about Worst Campaign Ever (Guest Voice)
Palin & Joe 2012
Christo Komarnitski, Bulgaria … [Read more...] about Palin & Joe 2012
Expert And Psychic Predictions On The Obama McCain Presidential Election Vote (UPDATED Night Before Election)
It has begun in earnest now: the experts, non-experts and even the psychics (you don't see as many of them going out on a limb as they used to in the good, 'ol days of Jeane Dixon) are making predictions now on Presidential election 2008. So here is a guide for those of you who want to see what others -- using their expert, non-expert and "little voice" expertise -- are … [Read more...] about Expert And Psychic Predictions On The Obama McCain Presidential Election Vote (UPDATED Night Before Election)
Seven Reasons Why McCain-Palin Will Win The Election
Red State's Dan Perrin predicts an election day upset -- and he gives seven reasons why McCain-Palin will win HERE. … [Read more...] about Seven Reasons Why McCain-Palin Will Win The Election
Iceland Raises Key Interest Rate to 18%
So what? It's seen as an indication that the nation, the economy of which is in something of a free-fall, has negotiated a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), often accused of making steep demands on client nations. If the move and IMF loan can arrest Iceland's decline, that's good. My apprehension has been that Iceland would go through with loans for which … [Read more...] about Iceland Raises Key Interest Rate to 18%
The Left’s Intolerance and Why I Back McCain: From Expresso of Portugal
McCain supporters might well exclaim, 'May wonders never cease' upon reading this article from Portugal in favor of the Republican. From Portugal's leading business Daily, Expresso, Joao Pereira Coutinho writes in part: "A friend of mine ordered a shirt through Amazon supporting John McCain. The shirt came, he put it on and he went to work. Nothing could have prepared … [Read more...] about The Left’s Intolerance and Why I Back McCain: From Expresso of Portugal
Pew Poll: Obama Favored By Early Voters As Lead Widens Over McCain
A new Pew Research Center poll shows Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's lead shrinking -- and underlines the impact early voting could have on this and future elections. The convenience of voting early is taking the nation by storm. And it could have a hard-nosed impact on this and even more so in future elections: the old conventional wisdom that an … [Read more...] about Pew Poll: Obama Favored By Early Voters As Lead Widens Over McCain
Obama Pulls Ahead In Florida And Ohio Battleground States
Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is now leading Republican Sen. John McCain in the key battleground states of Florida and Ohio, according to the latest Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll . For Democrats there is a particular passion for winning Florida, given its role in the past two Presidential elections. And the poll suggest these numbers are outside of … [Read more...] about Obama Pulls Ahead In Florida And Ohio Battleground States
Obama Campaign Passes on ABC for Wednesday Night
Video via TPM: ABC Tells Viewers Not To Watch Obama Variety: Insiders confirm that ABC offered to sell the campaign the 8 p.m. slot, where it has already purchased time from NBC, CBS, Fox and Univision. But the Obama camp passed. That means ABC will run an original episode of "Pushing Daisies," as planned. (The CW also wasn't part of the buy, and will run its normally … [Read more...] about Obama Campaign Passes on ABC for Wednesday Night