It shuts down the Sarah Palin press pool. There could be some short term tactical gains for the McCain campaign (send a message to the press about more favorable coverage, be cheered by some in the GOP's base) but it's a huge mistake in the long run. It will confirm the growing belief that the McCain campaign is afraid to expose Palin to uncontrolled questioning and that she … [Read more...] about McCain Campaign’s Latest Salvo In News Media War: Closes Palin Press Pool
New Poll Finds Americans Blame the Republicans for Financial Crisis, Think Obama Would Do a Better Job Than McCain on the Economy
I'm generally suspicious of most public opinion polling, but, taking it for what it is, I think Americans, or at least a significant plurality of them, are right about this: A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll suggests that by a 2-to-1 margin, Americans blame Republicans over Democrats for the financial crisis that has swept across the country the past few weeks — … [Read more...] about New Poll Finds Americans Blame the Republicans for Financial Crisis, Think Obama Would Do a Better Job Than McCain on the Economy
Meltdown Mania on the Radio
Coming up in a little while, at 1 pm Eastern, (10 am Pacific) we'll be doing a special edition of Mid Stream Radio where a panel will wrestle with the proposed bailout currently being discussed on the Hill. Cindy and I will be joined by Rick Moran of Right Wing Nuthouse, and some other guests who have been studying the situation. You can listen to the show at the link above. If … [Read more...] about Meltdown Mania on the Radio
Quote Of The Day: McCain Attempt To Change Subject Or Not?
Today's political Quote of the Day comes from MSNBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann, writing on First Read about two key political stories yesterday involving the campaign of Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain: Those pigs didn’t oink: Notice how the McCain campaign tried to change the subject yesterday? It cut its first Tony … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: McCain Attempt To Change Subject Or Not?
Obama’s Three-Pronged Reform Plan
Obama gave one of the clearest, most substantive explanations of the election (by either candidate) about what "changing Washington" means in Green Bay yesterday. Unfortunately, it wasn't laced heavily with attacks on McCain or soundbites and therefore got very little coverage (even on political blogs). But if you're interested in actual issues and plans, give it a watch. He … [Read more...] about Obama’s Three-Pronged Reform Plan
At Least John Will Always Have Rush
George has left the reservation and for good measure has slammed the door on the way out. But at least John will always have Rush. … [Read more...] about At Least John Will Always Have Rush
The Bailout & Congressional Convenience
The near-term economic future of the United States and everyone in the country is being decided now by Congress as it works on the Administration's proposed $700 billion Wall Street bailout package. But the job has to be done, the whole convoluted and complicated package has to be written and passed by week's end. Why? Not because world markets require it be done in such … [Read more...] about The Bailout & Congressional Convenience
The 2008 Economic Crisis: The Cause (Guest Voice Part I)
This is the first of three special Guest Voice posts on the present Wall Street economic meltdown by Mikkel Fishman, a TMV reader and frequent writer in our comments section who is also an author and computer scientist. The 2008 Economic Crisis: The Cause (Part I of III) by Mikkel Fishman Now that we have moved from the Little Dutch Boy part of the crisis to … [Read more...] about The 2008 Economic Crisis: The Cause (Guest Voice Part I)
Cellphones and Citizen News
Cory Bergman at Lost Remote: I’ve been playing with “CBS EyeMobile,” a new iPhone application (iTunes link) from the folks at CBS News, built by Seattle’s Treemo Labs. You can submit photos straight from your iPhone, and browse photos and video clips uploaded by other citizen reporters. As you may know, you can’t shoot video from your iPhone unless you’ve hacked it. (Like many … [Read more...] about Cellphones and Citizen News
Is It Time to Ban Polling?
All of the major networks (for example CNN) have a policy which forbids releasing their projections as to who will win any given state in an election until the polls are closed. The exit polling is supposed to be kept sacrosanct until everyone has had a chance to get out there and vote. Why? The explanation is both simple and valid. If the media announces that a race is … [Read more...] about Is It Time to Ban Polling?
New York Hurricane ?
Over the past couple of weeks we have seen discussions of financial hurricanes striking New York but it now looks like there is an outside chance the city could see a real one, or at least a pretty substantial tropical storm. Currently the threat is only a tropical wave which has brought some pretty substantial rain to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic but at least two … [Read more...] about New York Hurricane ?
John Coltrane: An Appreciation
As a very grown-up 18 year old (or so I thought), I traveled to New York City alone for the first time during my senior year in high school. Some 40 years later, I vaguely recall getting off a Trailways bus at the Port Authority and walking out into the teeming throngs on 42nd Street. I lunched on a freshly-sliced roast beef sandwich at an Irish pub near Madison Square Garden … [Read more...] about John Coltrane: An Appreciation
Mr. Obama and the “Ghost of Charisma Past”
The death of a young person is a tragedy that freezes their image in time and subjects it to romantic embellishments. The deceased becomes a template. On the morning of November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy had served as President of the United States for two years and ten months. He was poised to be renominated by his party in 1964 and would have likely defeated the … [Read more...] about Mr. Obama and the “Ghost of Charisma Past”
Obama and McCain: The Incredible Shrinking Candidates’ – O Globo of Brazil
The financial crisis and the huge bailout being pursued by the federal government beg the question: When the deal is done, will it tie the hands of the next president so much that he won't be able to fulfill his campaign promises, ie.: cut taxes, revamp health care, rebuild the American military, etc.? Continuing with our Brazilian escapade of recent days, O Globo's chief … [Read more...] about Obama and McCain: The Incredible Shrinking Candidates’ – O Globo of Brazil
Disturbing Developments In Britain and France
While we have been focused on things here in the US, there have been a couple of somewhat-disturbing developments in Europe with regard to their laws and Islam. In England it was decided that Islamic Court Rulings are enforceable by the force of the government. In France a divorce was granted to a Muslim man because his wife lied about being a virgin. I considered … [Read more...] about Disturbing Developments In Britain and France
McCain Campaign At War With Old Media New York Times And New Media The Politico
Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain clearly is a wartime presidential candidate, giving out signs that he'll be a tough wartime President. At war with the old -- and now the new -- news media, that is.... In the past 24 hours, McCain's side has accused the New York Times of seeking to undermine their campaign and shill for Democrat Barack Obama. And when a … [Read more...] about McCain Campaign At War With Old Media New York Times And New Media The Politico
Cubs WIN !
I hope you will forgive this diversion from politics but as a die-hard Cubs fan (is there any other kind ?) I had to post to celebrate the fact that, with a victory over the Mets tonight, the Cubs have secured the best record in the National League and thus will have home field advantage through the entire playoff series. I'm not counting any chickens yet, but this will help … [Read more...] about Cubs WIN !
Troy Anthony Davis Stay Of Execution Denied
With hours to go a devastating blow: Davis' only hope for a reprieve lies with the U.S. Supreme Court after the state high court by a 6-1 vote rejected his stay request Monday. Supporters say the doubts merit a new trial. The courts have consistently disagreed. A divided Georgia Supreme Court has already rejected his request for a new trial by a 4-3 vote. The Georgia … [Read more...] about Troy Anthony Davis Stay Of Execution Denied
McCain Leads in Rural America (But Not By Enough)
I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how John McCain essentially drove a wedge between rural and urban America with the Sarah Palin pick and the overall tone of the RNC. And although I still think that is one of the biggest strategic benefits she brings to the ticket, a new poll from the Center for Rural Strategies suggests he still has some work to do to win rural voters by the … [Read more...] about McCain Leads in Rural America (But Not By Enough)
Is America Turning Socialist? It Always Was …: The Times of India
MAN'S SHIRT SAYS: 'CITIZEN' CAPTION READS: 'RESCUE BRIGADE' [Het Parool, The Netherlands] What does it mean to be 'socialist?' Now that the Bush Administration - regarded by many as the most right-wing, free-market, deregulation-oriented administration in living memory has opted for the largest tax-payer bailout of private business in world history - it's a question of … [Read more...] about Is America Turning Socialist? It Always Was …: The Times of India