Cartoon by Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Wall St Bailout Pitch
And Now for Something Completely Different: Big Ten Football Coaches Recruiting
This promo currently appearing on the Big Ten Network purports to show the conference's head football coaches on home visits to high school recruiting prospects. I love Penn State coach Joe Paterno's bit of intense thespianism at the end. Also love Jim Tressel's, "You do know about our Buckeye leaves..." [Crossposted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about And Now for Something Completely Different: Big Ten Football Coaches Recruiting
‘Must China Prepare for End of U.S. Financial Hegemony?’: China Daily, People’s Republic of China
Our planetary coverage of the U.S. financial crisis continues with this somewhat jarring article from China. What could be more unnerving than having your largest creditor begin pondering your financial demise? That might be the question Americans ask themselves while perusing this op-ed article from China's state-controlled China Daily. Ding Yifan, a Chinese government … [Read more...] about ‘Must China Prepare for End of U.S. Financial Hegemony?’: China Daily, People’s Republic of China
The Liberal Palin Pity Party, Lies & Self-Esteem
Andrew Sullivan finds it odd that Palin lies. As I'll explain below, I don't. What may be a little odd is the liberal Palin pity party going on. Ta-Nehisi Coates (also via Andrew): There are lot of us lefties who are guffawing right now and are happy to see Palin seemingly stumbling drunkenly [a cloaked reference to last night?] from occasional interview to occasional … [Read more...] about The Liberal Palin Pity Party, Lies & Self-Esteem
‘Spaniards React to Obama’s Defense of President Zapatero’: El Mundo of Spain
As we covered last week at WORLDMEETS.US in an article headlined, 'Spain's Conservatives Back McCain's 'Snub' of President Zapatero', the Republican candidate's recent comments about Spain's Socialist leader have sparked a tremendous controversy in that country. It all began with an interview John McCain gave last week to a Spanish-language radio station in Miami, in which … [Read more...] about ‘Spaniards React to Obama’s Defense of President Zapatero’: El Mundo of Spain
Palin’s Preacher Problem
Michelle Goldberg in The Guardian (with video): In 2005, the Kenyan preacher Thomas Muthee stood on the stage of Alaska's Wasilla Assembly of God and called on Christians to take over the world's economic system. "The Bible says that the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous. It's high time that we have top Christian businessmen, businesswomen, bankers, you know, … [Read more...] about Palin’s Preacher Problem
McCain on Veterans—Fact Check
In addition to foreign policy, last night’s debate focused on the very recent and very real economic crisis in our country. Several TMV contributors have already done an excellent job of analyzing how the two presidential candidates fared on those issues. Another topic, and one that has been ever-present and gnawing at the American conscience for the past five-and-a-half … [Read more...] about McCain on Veterans—Fact Check
Paul Newman
He was as American as you can get. The actor who died today was an icon, but the man was even more--someone who loved his country, not in an abstract or flag-waving way, but as a patriot who opposed bad wars and gave millions to people in pain. In 1968, our paths crossed as we both stepped out of our working lives to try to stop the war in Vietnam. When I invited him to … [Read more...] about Paul Newman
[video] “The Job” (where greed and need swap places)
H/t to Plunderbund and a tweet from Jeff Coryell. … [Read more...] about [video] “The Job” (where greed and need swap places)
McCain, Obama and America’s ‘Exception’: Liberation, France
American 'Exceptionalism' is the idea that the United States is the greatest country in the world, and that given this, it should be allowed to do things that others cannot. It might not come as a surprise that this grates on many people abroad. According to Francois Sergent of Liberation: "John McCain embodies this exceptionalism, which so appeals to Republicans, but if … [Read more...] about McCain, Obama and America’s ‘Exception’: Liberation, France
Obama Won
Sullivan points to Silver: TPM has the internals of the CNN poll of debate-watchers, which had Obama winning overall by a margin of 51-38. The poll suggests that Obama is opening up a gap on connectedness, while closing a gap on readiness. Specifically, by a 62-32 margin, voters thought that Obama was “more in touch with the needs and problems of people like you”. This is a … [Read more...] about Obama Won
Debate Transcript via CNN
Here is the Debate Transcript via CNN, I'll offer my own opinion later. CNN: Transcript of presidential debate … [Read more...] about Debate Transcript via CNN
Thank You
And now for something completely different... … [Read more...] about Thank You
The Real Sarah Palin: Worrying To Concerned Americans, Crushing To Proud Alaskans
"This really is pathetic. . . . Anyone who has been to high school immediately recognizes the terror of facing a pop quiz or an oral exam when you just have no idea what you're talking about." -- JAMES FALLOWS The estimable Mr. Fallows does not choose his words lightly and he may have spent more time in Alaska than I have. But being of proximate ages, we both surely have met … [Read more...] about The Real Sarah Palin: Worrying To Concerned Americans, Crushing To Proud Alaskans
McCain is Right: Grass *is* Green
John McCain has an ad out already, using moments from the debate when Barack Obama segued into his rebuttals via agreement. (You can view the ad here.) But Obama wasn’t just acknowledging common ground, and he definitely wasn't tacitly deferring to McCain's mastery. Rather, he assured the rest of us that we’re all seeing the same thing. That we’re not crazy or stupid. I … [Read more...] about McCain is Right: Grass *is* Green
Paul Newman Dies At 83
It's probably not a huge shock given the recent reports about his illness but it was announced this morning that actor, businessman and philanthropist Paul Newman has died at the age of 83. In addition to a very long acting career, he also enjoyed a 50-year marriage to actress Joanne Woodward. Please feel free to offer your thoughts on his career. I seldom agreed with his … [Read more...] about Paul Newman Dies At 83
57 Reasons to Vote for Obama/Biden
Background: I'm someone who has needed to be persuaded as to why Barack Obama deserves my vote because I didn't support him during the primaries (none of the GOP candidates came even remotely close to holding positions I support - they were off the table from the start; I state this as a matter of full disclosure). Once it came time to determine why I should (and could) vote … [Read more...] about 57 Reasons to Vote for Obama/Biden
Thank You Hillary
I mostly agree with the other TMV posters about the debate. On substance it was mostly a draw, with each candidate showing strengths in different areas. If the debate had to go to somebody, it would be Obama because McCain's tone suggested condescension, and that turns off a lot of Independents. Saying "you don't understand" doesn't mean Obama does not actually understand what … [Read more...] about Thank You Hillary
Duel In The Delta: Win, Lose, Draw & Spin
I had forgotten about how much I dislike campaign debates. Not because they aren't important. Last night's certainly was because it was a "crucial face off" minus only a drum-roll intro between an experienced political icon about whom we know so much and a relative newcomer about whom we know so little. (The same certainly will be true of the Oct. 2 vice presidential … [Read more...] about Duel In The Delta: Win, Lose, Draw & Spin
The Demeanor Debate
John McCain spent 90 minutes tonight telling voters Barack Obama "doesn't understand" what America is facing, as Obama demonstrated a broad grasp of the 21st century issues besetting the economy and national security. Body language was revealing in McCain's tight grin that occasionally morphed into a smirk under criticism, while Obama featured a relaxed smile and at least … [Read more...] about The Demeanor Debate