In my civil rights roundup today, I referenced an AP analysis which argued that Sarah Palin's charge that Obama "pals" with terrorists had a "racial subtext", as well John Cole's claim that he really did not see it. I noted that while I essentially agree with Cole, I thought that the case raised some interesting hypotheticals worth exploring in a later post. Read the rest of … [Read more...] about One New Fact
A Brief Pause (in the Campaign) to Think of Our Returning Troops
I am a retired military officer and support the real war on terror, but opposed our invasion of Iraq and continue to oppose that disastrous war. But, you betcha, I support the troops. My support does not consist of just displaying a "Support the Troops" magnet---see below. I support them by praying that as few of them as possible will make the ultimate sacrifice or return … [Read more...] about A Brief Pause (in the Campaign) to Think of Our Returning Troops
Undecided No More: It’s Obama
Almost a month ago, I wrote that I had taken the Obama sticker off the back of my truck and gone back on the fence. In large part, I needed to take a step back. Having declared myself for a candidate, I was finding myself defensive of him, and thus not able to evaluate positions fairly. Likewise, the screeches and screaming that arose around Sarah Palin's elevation to the … [Read more...] about Undecided No More: It’s Obama
No Bailouts for Jobless or Homeless
In the porkathon to pass the bailout bill, Congress balked at two measures--to extend jobless benefits for the unemployed and allow bankruptcy judges to reduce penniless homeowners' mortgages. So much for Main Street, where signs of a 1930s Depression are cropping up everywhere: *New figures show 760,000 lost jobs this year. Of the 9.5 million Americans out of work, two … [Read more...] about No Bailouts for Jobless or Homeless
Civil Rights Roundup: 10/06/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news Obviously, this column by the treasurer of the Buchanan County (Va.) GOP (and county representative on McCain's Virginia leadership team) is not racist. After all, the author denied that it was, and we all know that's good enough when it's a White guy! It's worth noting again -- this election will be a pivotal one in terms … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 10/06/08
Is Election 2008 Over? Chickens and Eggs Edition
To read Howard Wolfson this morning, one would think that we should start packing things up here at TMV and preparing to launch our new online endeavor in recipe-sharing for Icelandic food enthusiasts. Given the continual sag in McCain-Palin poll numbers and the seemingly desperate nature of Big Mac's decision to send his running mate out calling Obama a terrorist buddy, it's … [Read more...] about Is Election 2008 Over? Chickens and Eggs Edition
Bill Kristol Advises Sarah Palin to Get Dirty
Leave it to Bill Kristol to drop names and to say the Wrong Stuff. In his New York Times, "The Wright Stuff" column, Kristol---who met Sarah Palin once in Alaska over a year ago---pretends that he now knows her intimately. Intimately enough to give her the wrong advice on the Wright Stuff. Kristol not only feels it is great for Palin to muck-rake, exaggerate and even lie … [Read more...] about Bill Kristol Advises Sarah Palin to Get Dirty
Evangelical Split On LGBT Rights?
Bishop Harry Jackson was a guest on The Michelangelo Signorile Show on Friday to respond to the fact that Mark Buse, John McCain's Senate Chief of Staff and a longtime McCain adviser (and a Freddie Mac lobbyist whose firm earned $460,000 in lobbying fees in late 2003 and 2004) is now widely known to be gay. Signorile yesterday: Jackson, pastor of the Hope Christian Church … [Read more...] about Evangelical Split On LGBT Rights?
Stock Market Tumbles Below 10,000
Despite the recently signed bailout, world markets are now reeling -- and the stock market has now fallen below 10,000: Stocks tumbled Monday, with the Dow Jones industrial average falling below 10,000 for the first time in nearly four years, as European governments' rush to prop up failing financial firms underscored the global reach of the credit crunch. Credit … [Read more...] about Stock Market Tumbles Below 10,000
McCain, Obama Campaigns Now Moving Into Full Attack Mode
"Of course, you know, this means WAR!" That's essentially the response of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's campaign to several news stories in which GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's campaign virtually telegraphed its intention to go intensely negative and try to turn Obama's past associations into an issue. Then, over the weekend, GOP Vice … [Read more...] about McCain, Obama Campaigns Now Moving Into Full Attack Mode
Off the Fence: Voting Obama
"The great thing about democracy is that it gives every voter a chance to do something stupid." - Art Spander ----------------------- Maybe this is my "chance to do something stupid." Or maybe it's the smartest decision I've ever made. I don't know. Time will tell. Regardless, the decision has been made. I first voted for a Democrat for U.S. Senator in November … [Read more...] about Off the Fence: Voting Obama
Colbert in Marvel Comics & at The New Yorker Festival
Wired interviews Joe Quesada, editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, and comic writer Mark Waid, on Stephen Colbert running for president in the Marvel Universe: Wired.com: Do you wish he'd run for president in our more boring universe? Waid: Dear God, yes, if only because it would rock to have Jon Stewart as the veep. Quesada: Stephen tried to run for president in our boring … [Read more...] about Colbert in Marvel Comics & at The New Yorker Festival
RIP Bonny Jean Jacobs, 1930 – 2008
Bonny Jean Jacobs, mother of Jill Jacobs Biden and mother-in-law of Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden passed away last night at the age of 78 after a long illness. She raised five daughters, including Jill, and was married to her husband, Donald Jacobs, for fifty years before his passing in 1999. Understandably, Joe Biden will be staying off the campaign trail … [Read more...] about RIP Bonny Jean Jacobs, 1930 – 2008
Opening A New Front In The War On Law & Other News On The Bush Torture Regime
The Bush administration's refusal to follow the rule of law on a wide range of issues is by now monumental, but it nevertheless is shocking that despite three Supreme Court rulings striking down key aspects of its extralegal system for detainees at Guantánamo Bay, it continues to argue that it's all a big misunderstanding. The push-back is part of a larger strategy for … [Read more...] about Opening A New Front In The War On Law & Other News On The Bush Torture Regime
Bailout
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com … [Read more...] about Bailout
The Race Card Game
Over the last few months, I've noticed how race has been rearing its head in the presidential campaign. The race card is being played, but it's not by Republicans. What has been fascinating is that the people who are playing the card are Obama supporters and the media. On more than one occasion people have asserted that something that has been said or shown by a Republican … [Read more...] about The Race Card Game
Race Cards: O.J., Obama and Ifill
O.J. Simpson is going to prison and Barack Obama seems to be headed for the White House after a brief to-do this week about Gwen Ifill's role as moderator for the VP debate because of her upcoming book about the arc of black politics from the civil rights struggles of the 1960s to the present. Unlike Sarah Palin, who has been invisible on the Sunday morning talk shows, Ifill … [Read more...] about Race Cards: O.J., Obama and Ifill
How Bad Could It Get? Who Knew?
This afternoon I looked through some of my old blogs relating to the Bush administration. I knew as soon as I did it that it was a big, fat, depressing mistake. Below is my blog from Nov. 8, 2006, the day after the midterm elections. What it foresaw was rosy, compared to where the nation stands on Oct. 5, 2008. We're not behind 150-14. We're behind a trillion to nothing. Here's … [Read more...] about How Bad Could It Get? Who Knew?
Elect The Old White Guy (Guest Cartoonist)
This is a Guest Cartoon by moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe who will be joining TMV soon as a coblogger. … [Read more...] about Elect The Old White Guy (Guest Cartoonist)
Google 2001
As part of their 10th birthday celebration, Google has brought back its index circa January 2001. Tech Crunch: The portal has all the trimmings from the old site, including the goofy logo (complete with exclamation point), a missing “I’m Feeling Lucky” button, and the not-so-modest claim of having indexed 1,326,920,000 web pages... Because so much of the web has changed … [Read more...] about Google 2001