What is the "best" form of government? Is there anything good about communism or faulty about democracies or republics? How is it that so few governments last over the long haul? Stop by Mid Stream Radio today at 1 pm eastern, 10 am pacific, and we'll clear it all up for you. Oh, and we might have a surprise guest for you to chat with. Call us at (646) 595-3963 to have your … [Read more...] about The Future of History
Note To Readers
Some emails have come in asking where I am and noting that I'm posting a lot less (but also noting that I am not really missed since other TMV writers are doing such a superb job). WHERE I AM: Since July 1 I have been on a van trip doing events in Wyoming, Montana and Iowa, often driving between the three states. My longest drive was 670 miles in a day. I will be back to … [Read more...] about Note To Readers
John Edwards: Please Phone Denver
Two TMV posts in one day about the fix John Edwards finds himself in? Hmm. You might think that there's something to the allegation that he fathered a love child with Rielle Hunter. If the onetime presidential wannabe thinks that the story is going to melt in the summer heat, he's in for a rude shock in the form of risking being dis-invited to speak at the Democratic … [Read more...] about John Edwards: Please Phone Denver
Civil Rights Roundup: 08/07/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news In several DC area counties, the surge in Hispanic immigration is making minority children the under-five majority. The Washington Post calls it a "drug bust gone awry", but, from my reading,s it's unfortunately hardly out of the ordinary. Liberal bishops in the Episcopalian Church will continue to ordain gay clergy, and … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 08/07/08
Edwards’ political currency declines with each day the story goes unresolved
I thought the story the photos would have broken into the big media by now. McClatchy says it's "clearly getting ready to bust out." And that there have been consequences even without big media attention: With two weeks to go before their national convention, a number of Democrats are saying that Edwards needs to publicly address National Enquirer stories that have alleged he … [Read more...] about Edwards’ political currency declines with each day the story goes unresolved
‘Get ‘er Done’
Though I have certain qualms about trusting the instincts of a guy who ran a campaign that resulted in a spectacular loss, I thoroughly enjoyed this column by Bob Beckel, and nodded frequently while reading it. Beckel's is yet another voice in the "pragmatism + nuance = good" camp. … [Read more...] about ‘Get ‘er Done’
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: NINETY DAYS AND COUNTING
Sabato's Crystal Ball's Alan Abramowitz says, NINETY DAYS AND COUNTING: The Outlook for the 2008 Presidential Election in Early August In less than three months millions of Americans will go to the polls to choose the next president of the United States. For the first time since 1952, neither the incumbent president nor the incumbent vice-president will be on the ballot. … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: NINETY DAYS AND COUNTING
Despite Stacking The Deck, It Took The U.S. Seven Years To Convict Bin Laden’s Driver
The overriding question in the wake of the conviction of a driver for terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden is whether he received a fair trial. There are two answers and they depend entirely on your perspective: * If you believe, as I do not, that the 9/11 attacks in particular and the Global War on Terror in general demanded that the bedrock judicial principles in the … [Read more...] about Despite Stacking The Deck, It Took The U.S. Seven Years To Convict Bin Laden’s Driver
Bad Procedure: The Hamdan Conviction (A Round-Up)
"The White House said the trial was fair and looked forward to more tribunals." (BBC News) I'm sure. Salim Hamdan, who has been in custody since 2001, was acquitted of conspiracy, but convicted of providing material aid to terrorism. (New York Times) He was convicted by six senior military officers, who deliberated for over eight hours.(New York Times) Shaun Mullen … [Read more...] about Bad Procedure: The Hamdan Conviction (A Round-Up)
Busybodies Reporting The Obvious
This past week we've had a couple of 'news stories' emerge from the 'public interest group' The Center For Science In The Public Interest. For those who might not be familiar with this group, the CSPI has been around since the early 1980's and is basically against anything that tastes good. If you eat grass and drink water then you might be ok with them but otherwise your diet … [Read more...] about Busybodies Reporting The Obvious
Bush Like a ‘Loan Shark’ Here to ‘Collect’
For months on end, hundreds of thousands of people across South Korea have mounted daily demonstrations, candlelight vigils, boycotts, and almost every form of protest up to and including setting themselves on fire - against American beef, the new conservative government, and George W.Bush. So why is it, exactly, that South Koreans are so angry? For The Hankyoreh, Kim … [Read more...] about Bush Like a ‘Loan Shark’ Here to ‘Collect’
Are gays the marrying kind?
Many wonder. Jonathan Rauch points to his 1996 article in The New Republic, Making the case for gay (and straight) marriage, and says ever since then he's "been concerned that G&L people might demand marriage but then neglect it." He finds in a study (pdf) from the Williams Institute at UCLA "welcome evidence" that we won't: We analyze data from states that have … [Read more...] about Are gays the marrying kind?
Bob Barr Conference Call, August 6, 2008
A group of bloggers sat down for another conference call with Libertarian candidate for president, Bob Barr, his campaign manager Russ Verney, and staff members today. I'll begin with some initial impressions. Bob Barr is one of the most refreshing faces in politics today in terms of interviews. Reporters who continue to be frustrated and annoyed by the major party candidates … [Read more...] about Bob Barr Conference Call, August 6, 2008
Correction to the McCain Bundler Story
Earlier, I wrote about a Washington Post story detailing some suspicious looking contributions to the McCain campaign bundled by Harry Sargeant III. Shortly after posting, a correction appeared in the original report, as follows: An earlier version of this story about campaign donations that Florida businessman Harry Sargeant III raised for Sen. John McCain, former New York … [Read more...] about Correction to the McCain Bundler Story
From UFAs to UFOs
I do not know about anyone else, but I would like to take a little rest from reading, pondering, discussing, and writing about the numerous allegations and accusations that have been flying back and forth between the presidential candidates recently. For lack of a better term, let me call these “Unidentified Flying Accusations,” or “UFAs,” which (how conveniently!) takes me … [Read more...] about From UFAs to UFOs
The Day the World Changed
Sixty-three years ago, America won a war and lost its innocence. On August 6, 1945, the world's first nuclear weapon was detonated over Hiroshima, and six days later, World War II ended. I was in uniform then in Germany, one of thousands waiting to be sent as foot soldiers to invade Japan. All we knew then was that a mushroom cloud had ended our dread of going to the Pacific … [Read more...] about The Day the World Changed
Can You Out-Mean the Professional Meanies?
In a riff on the analogy about a million monkeys at a million keyboards replicating Shakespeare's greatest works, Andrew Sullivan challenges readers to try their hand at producing political attack ads with at least some basis in reality/fact. His goal -- to take first-mover advantage away from the professional attack class -- is laudable, although I have my doubts (as … [Read more...] about Can You Out-Mean the Professional Meanies?
Civil Rights Roundup: 08/06/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news Almost forget today, kids ... I took the day off from work to catch up on some law school-related paperwork, and my mind assumed it was a weekend. It's tough being a woman of color in the military. Chicago is starting to detain Hispanics during traffic stops on suspicion of being illegal immigrants, apparently in … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 08/06/08
A Qualified Victory For The Torture Regime
Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a Yemenite who was a bodyguard and driver for Osama bin Laden, wasn't going anywhere even if he was acquitted in the first military commission trial conducted by the U.S. since the end of World War II. That is not how justice works under the Bush administration. But that won't matter following his conviction today of the lesser of two sets of charges against … [Read more...] about A Qualified Victory For The Torture Regime
The Conventional Wisdom Takes A Beating
ARE WE TOO LATE FOR THE BALLOON DROP? One of the crosses that I had to bear over a long newspaper career was coordinating national political convention coverage and occasionally attending one of the damned things. This included the brilliantly-choreographed extravaganza in Philadelphia in 2000 that culminated with the coronation of George Walker Bush, the man with the vision … [Read more...] about The Conventional Wisdom Takes A Beating