Baker, CALIFORNIA -- I was driving along the I-15 from Las Vegas at the end of an 8 week trip away from home-base San Diego that took me in my Chevrolet Venture extended mini-van to Wyoming, Montana and Iowa doing shows in my other incarnation. I did some of these "gigs" by driving back and forth between the states. One day I drove 650 miles. And suddenly, this afternoon, … [Read more...] about A Starbucks’ Last Burst Of Glory In The California Desert
A Solution to Russia’s Belligerence?
While we are waiting for Barack Obama to announce his vice-presidential pick, and while we are waiting for Russia to pull all its troops out of Georgia---what was it that Adlai Stevenson said to Russia's Zorin at a Security Council meeting during the Cuban missile crisis? Something like "...until hell freezes over"?---I want to say just a few words on a good opinion piece by … [Read more...] about A Solution to Russia’s Belligerence?
McMansions
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about McMansions
A Pre-Nomination Thought
As the two major political parties stand ready to nominate their candidates for President, a thought suddenly occurs to me. Why would any sane, non-masochistic individual want this job? Burrowing out the foreign policy Augean stable that Bush and Cheney leave behind will take years, perhaps decades of remedial effort. Just cutting through its baked hard top crust would … [Read more...] about A Pre-Nomination Thought
Barack Obama is ‘In Trouble’: Le Figaro Editorial
Europeans have taken note of Barack Obama's ever-more apparent vulnerability. Given the tightening of the polls, how dire is his situation - in the eyes of people across the Atlantic? According to Pierre Rousselin of France's Le Figaro: "The international crisis in Georgia has reminded Americans that they should perhaps choose a president with experience, who is able to … [Read more...] about Barack Obama is ‘In Trouble’: Le Figaro Editorial
Pervis Jackson (1938-2008)
THE BASS VOICE OF MY YOUTH (FAR RIGHT) HAS PASSED … [Read more...] about Pervis Jackson (1938-2008)
Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere
The campaign is boiling. Yesterday's screaming story: McCain and his houses. Today's percolating screaming story: a report Obama didn't vet Hillary Clinton for Veep. Here's a roadmap to some great links to political posts from sites of varying viewpoints. Karl Rove Loses A Republican: Susan Eisenhower is leaving the GOP for good due to Rove-style politics. It's reported … [Read more...] about Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere
Key Iraq Strategy in Peril?
Just as it seems that the Bush administration is on the point of signing off on that draft security agreement with the Iraqi government (WSJ), there are disturbing allegations that a cornerstone of the surge---the success of the "awakening groups"---may be on the point of collapse (McClatchy). … [Read more...] about Key Iraq Strategy in Peril?
Why Tim Kaine Should be the Dem VP Pick
Not because of his experience, his influence in Virginia, or his poll numbers. No, it's because of his thirteen year old daughter. (From The Onion) "Oh, sure, yeah, [Kaine] is definitely ready to fill out the ticket by appealing to white blue-collar workers and Latinos," said Tim Kaine expert and daughter Annella Kaine, 13. "Not! He'll probably be like, 'Vote for me and I'll … [Read more...] about Why Tim Kaine Should be the Dem VP Pick
Civil Rights Roundup: 08/22/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news Ward Connerly's petition to ban affirmative action in Arizona has been thrown out, after election officials found that he fell far short in obtaining the number of valid signatures required to put the measure to a vote. A federal judge stayed the execution of a Texas inmate, ruling that the state grossly erred in refusing … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 08/22/08
The Accent Game
Where I live, the southern drawl can be so thick that I can't make out what is being said. It's part of what I like about the place. In 28 years in NYC I never picked up an accent. There is no Manhattan accent. (Try telling that to a southerner!) Recently Megan McArdle wondered: It's odd that an entire American accent disappeared virtually overnight: the upper class … [Read more...] about The Accent Game
Mahmoud Darwish (1941 – 2008)
The Economist pays tribute to Mahmoud Darwish, "the voice of Palestine", who died on August 9th, aged 67, three days after heart surgery at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas. "In his last poem, Mr Darwish described Palestinians and Israelis as two men trapped in a hole: He said: Will you bargain with me now? I said: For what would you bargain In this … [Read more...] about Mahmoud Darwish (1941 – 2008)
It’s All About the Arugula
When McCain's people called Obama an "elitist," the Obama campaign pointed out that the GOP man of the people isn't exactly living the life of your average middle-class American (let alone your average blue collar one). After all: eight houses? But some days the stupid is almost too thick to see through. "This is a guy who lived in one house for five and a half years -- … [Read more...] about It’s All About the Arugula
Australia’s “Greatest” Prime Minister….
Who has been the greatest prime minister of Australia? An academic who undertook this ambitious exercise says the verdict is: Robert Menzies (20 December 1894 – 15 May 1978). "Australia has had four great prime ministers and four failures. The other 18 have been successful (to a lesser or greater extent) without being great. That adds up to 26, the number of prime ministers … [Read more...] about Australia’s “Greatest” Prime Minister….
Could it REALLY be Romney?
McCain doesn't need to unveil his running mate until after Obama does (and he would be foolish to jump the gun indeed) but two sources are now saying that it's going to be Mitt Romney. Could this really be true? I can hardly imagine a better choice ... for Obama. (Well, in truth, Obama would likely have cheered even louder if it had been Rudy G.) I understand that Romney was … [Read more...] about Could it REALLY be Romney?
How many houses does John McCain have?
Via Amanda Marcotte, "That Feist song still makes me want to scrape my brain out with an icepick." Slate's John Dickerson on Hitting Him Where He Lives. … [Read more...] about How many houses does John McCain have?
Oh, What A Lovely Party!
Forget about Barack Obama's travails -- real or imagined -- for a moment. What does it say about the state of the Republican Party that the speakers on the opening night of its national convention are a president widely considered to be one of the worst in history, a vice president who may be culpable for war crimes, a serial adulterer who used public funds on his mistress, … [Read more...] about Oh, What A Lovely Party!
Let’s Stop Playing The “Who’s Really American” Game (Guest Voice)
Campaign 2008 is yet another campaign in which the issue of who is a "real" American and who isn't (or isn't as much of an American) has surfaced. In this Guest Voice, post frequent TMV commenter and blogger Hunter Hatfield puts the issue under the microscope. Let's Stop Playing The "Who's Really American" Game by Hunter Hatfield We Americans appear to have a favorite … [Read more...] about Let’s Stop Playing The “Who’s Really American” Game (Guest Voice)
Olympic City: Now Beyond Politics…
With the hormone levels peaking at the Beijing Olympics, what would the young participants from the world be up to when they mingle freely for the last time before heading home? Here is the peep show... … [Read more...] about Olympic City: Now Beyond Politics…
US & War: Whose Call?
Who in the USA decides whether the country should go to war or not? "In the United States, the decision to go to war rests with the elected representatives of those who will do the fighting and dying. It's one of the defining – and critical – elements of the republic," says the Christian Science Monitor. "That constitutional assignment of power to Congress has not always … [Read more...] about US & War: Whose Call?