In the near future I'll have a longer analysis of exactly what went wrong on the Russo-Georgian border, but for the time being I'm going to leave it to Dave Schuler at Outside the Beltway. And I think this may be our Quote of the Day when it comes to figuring out why Russia sometimes does what it does. Is Russia, as Michael Mandelbaum, quoted in the column puts it … [Read more...] about Figuring out the Bear
NATO, Pakistan, Russia and Washington’s mistakes
NATO’s decision to freeze relations with Moscow and Washington’s inept handling of Pakistan are strategic foreign policy mistakes. They are interlinked and give cause for celebration to al Qaeda and other rabid anti-Americans. The Western allies may regret them in coming years. The mistakes stem from a conceit among US leaders including Barack Obama and John McCain that … [Read more...] about NATO, Pakistan, Russia and Washington’s mistakes
Rubin on the Illegitimacy of Russia’s Georgia Invasion…and Some Spinoff Thoughts from Me
[These are just my thoughts. Please don't think that because I'm a pastor, I think that they're imbued with the truth of God. I'm just me and I could be wrong.] Columnist Trudy Rubin says that she's gotten a lot of flak for her support of the US government's condemnation of the Russian attack on neighboring Georgia. The objections have, she says, fallen into three main … [Read more...] about Rubin on the Illegitimacy of Russia’s Georgia Invasion…and Some Spinoff Thoughts from Me
Another Woman to Speak for Obama
Lilly Ledbetter is the latest addition to the list of speakers at the Democratic convention next week, and her appearance may possibly do Barack Obama as much good as Hillary Clinton's. In today's Washington Post, Ruth Marcus explains: "Ledbetter was on the losing end of a Supreme Court case last year on equal pay. A manager at a Goodyear tire plant in Alabama, she … [Read more...] about Another Woman to Speak for Obama
A Cone of Silence Without Legs?
The allegations, accusations, innuendoes, counter-accusations, denials, spin, etc., on whether McCain was in fact in a "cone of silence" during Saddleback, and on whether he had the opportunity, the ability, and/or the lack of integrity to overhear some of the questions posed to Obama, continue, but with some abatement. For those who continue to have interest in this … [Read more...] about A Cone of Silence Without Legs?
Beating the “System”
David Brooks wrote a good piece yesterday about the changes that have gone on in the McCain camp. It shows how McCain, the man who wanted to run a "maverick" campaign, has been forced to run a conventional campaign after all. So many have expressed their disgust with McCain having taken the so-called "low road." And others, like myself and Brooks, feel a sense of sadness … [Read more...] about Beating the “System”
Lower the drinking age to 18?
With school starting up again, so comes a long list of college presidents calling for a new drinking age debate: The movement called the Amethyst Initiative began quietly recruiting presidents more than a year ago to provoke national debate about the drinking age. Bloggers are more than happy to oblige. Atrios says let them drink, then adds a proposal of his own: Perhaps … [Read more...] about Lower the drinking age to 18?
Clinton Supporters Launch New Email Campaign To Try And Derail Obama Nomination
Scripps Howard News Service reports that there's a new email campaign underway by some Hillary Clinton supporters to derail the nomination of Democratic Senator Barack Obama, who is now starting to seriously sag in various national polls: A massive e-mail and Internet campaign is under way aimed at derailing the nomination of Barack Obama and making Hillary Clinton the … [Read more...] about Clinton Supporters Launch New Email Campaign To Try And Derail Obama Nomination
My Brother’s Keeper
Assuming the identity is valid (and there seems to be little thus far to indicate that it isn't) then Vanity Fair in Italy has apparently located Barack Obama's long lost (or not so lost) half brother, George. The Italian edition of Vanity Fair said that it had found George Hussein Onyango Obama living in a hut in a ramshackle town of Huruma on the outskirts of … [Read more...] about My Brother’s Keeper
Civil Rights Roundup: 08/20/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news The cellmate of a immigrant who died in US custody described the incredible pain he was in -- and how detention center staffers laughed and said he was faking. A study finds that minority students are far more likely to be paddled in school. A noose was found at a Chicago police station, triggering an investigation. A … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 08/20/08
Gmail Hacking Tool: it’s time to be more careful
Gmail has some new security features. Hacking Truths tells us it's time to use them: A tool that automatically steals IDs of non-encrypted sessions and breaks into Google Mail accounts has been presented at the Defcon hackers’ conference in Las Vegas. Last week Google introduced a new feature in Gmail that allows users to permanently switch on SSL and use it for every … [Read more...] about Gmail Hacking Tool: it’s time to be more careful
Pervez Stepping Down
Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News … [Read more...] about Pervez Stepping Down
Poll: McCain Overtakes Obama With Five Point Lead Amid Other Polls Showing Obama Weakening
A new Reuters/Zogby poll indicates Republican Senator John McCain has now shaken up the Presidential race: he is no longer the underdog and has taken a 5 point lead over Democratic Senator Barack Obama -- who is seen as steadily weakening in a series of other recent polls. McCain's lead in the polls means the race's dynamics have now changed. The "given" that, with the … [Read more...] about Poll: McCain Overtakes Obama With Five Point Lead Amid Other Polls Showing Obama Weakening
Gorbachev Discusses the Georgian Crisis, Blames Saakashvili
In 1988, he was TIME's man of the year and in 1990---for his role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union-- the Man of the Decade. In 1990, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. He's weighing in on the current crisis. I was curious to see what he had to say. Before doing so, I thought it would be interesting to start with a ride on the Wayback Pony. It's instructive to recall how … [Read more...] about Gorbachev Discusses the Georgian Crisis, Blames Saakashvili
‘To Explain the Kremlin’s Behavior is Not to Support It’: From Brazil’s O Globo
There's an expression that goes something like, "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." Such is the view of O Globo of Brazil's chief foreign columnist, William Waack, in regard to Russia and its recent behavior. Waack writes in part: "To those who weren't in Moscow in the moments that followed the implosion of the Soviet Empire, it's … [Read more...] about ‘To Explain the Kremlin’s Behavior is Not to Support It’: From Brazil’s O Globo
LeRoi Moore (1962-2008)
MORE HERE. … [Read more...] about LeRoi Moore (1962-2008)
Bye Bye Barry (Guest Voice)
This is another Guest Voice by Joel S. Hirschhorn, who is highly critical of both major political parties and who advocates a constitutional convention. Should we save this post for use on election day? Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Bye Bye Barry by Joel S. Hirschhorn The final results are in on this historic November … [Read more...] about Bye Bye Barry (Guest Voice)
Will McCain’s “Game Changing” Vice Presidential Pick Be Lieberman?
Will Republican presumptive Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's Vice Presidential pick be independent Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman? Several reports have suggested over the past few weeks that it could be -- including this latest one. And each report is stronger than the last... Given the number of stories about Al Gore's 2000 running mate being in serious … [Read more...] about Will McCain’s “Game Changing” Vice Presidential Pick Be Lieberman?
The Final Decision of Barack Obama on the VP Slot
While I hate to disprove co-author Pete Abel or John F. Harris or the venerable Tribble Ad Agency, I now have the final results in hand as to who Obama's running mate will be in this race. As many have suggested, the final choice comes as a great surprise and is likely driven in large part by Obama's recently-slipping poll numbers. Be that as it may, on Thursday afternoon, … [Read more...] about The Final Decision of Barack Obama on the VP Slot
“Caroline: Pull a Cheney!” An Open Letter to Caroline Kennedy from Michael Moore
Amid all our talk about VP picks, look what just popped up in my inbox: Dear Caroline, We've never met, so I hope you don't find this letter too presumptuous or inappropriate. As its contents involve the public's business, I am sending this to you via the public on the Internet. I knew your brother John. He was a great guy, and I know he would've had a ball during this … [Read more...] about “Caroline: Pull a Cheney!” An Open Letter to Caroline Kennedy from Michael Moore