Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) has taken himself out of contention as a running mate for Barack Obama. This makes him the second major contender (the other being Ohio Governor Strickland) to rule out running on the 2008 national ticket. I find it kind of interesting that we have people ruling themselves out like this given that everyone seems to consider Obama a shoo-in for … [Read more...] about Webb Says No to VP Slot
Obama Girls
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Obama Girls
Gordon Brown Warns: “Don’t Waste Food!”
The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has emerged as the first leader in the world who seems to have understood the implications of the looming food crisis and taken a practical step. Brown has issued a clarion call to his countrymen to wake up and stop wasting food. Will the G8 leaders support him in making this a worldwide campaign? (More than 1,300,000 tonnes of food … [Read more...] about Gordon Brown Warns: “Don’t Waste Food!”
North Korean People ‘Feel Sorrow’ Over Protests Against U.S. Beef
Here's an interesting question: What do North Koreans, who risk Kim Jong-il's wrath by watching South Korean TV, think about the mass protests against American beef that have been taking place in the South for the past two months? According to this article from the Daily North Korea, a publication staffed in part by North Korean defectors, a letter recently received from … [Read more...] about North Korean People ‘Feel Sorrow’ Over Protests Against U.S. Beef
American or Belgian Bud
Gary McCoy, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about American or Belgian Bud
The Sherry Palmerization of Michelle Obama
In this Guest Voice post, National Examiner columnist Tony Campbell wonders whether art (TV) imitates life (politics) or life (politics) imitates art (TV) when it comes to Michelle Obama. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. The Sherry Palmerization of Michelle Obama by Tony Campbell Several weeks ago, I wrote a column comparing … [Read more...] about The Sherry Palmerization of Michelle Obama
Obama in Denver: So You Thought You Might Like to Go to the Show
It's so funny because it could be true. From The Plank's Jason Zengerle: As if expectations for Obama's convention speech weren't already ludicrously high, it now looks like he's going to give it in a 75,000-seat football stadium (as opposed to a 20,000-seat basketball arena). Meanwhile, in a bid to further lower expectations, McCain is expected to announce that he's moving … [Read more...] about Obama in Denver: So You Thought You Might Like to Go to the Show
This Is Why I’m Hot (Deployed Style)
And now...some music from the theater of war: … [Read more...] about This Is Why I’m Hot (Deployed Style)
Naming Names: Echoes of Valerie Plame
In a piece by its Public Editor, the New York Times acquits itself of endangering the interrogator of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, by naming him while describing how he successfully extracted information through psychological means rather than "rough stuff." The Times defense (the public's right to know, the impaired credibility of a story … [Read more...] about Naming Names: Echoes of Valerie Plame
An Interstate State Of Mind
MY HOME ON WHEELS AT WHITE SANDS, NEW MEXICO, MAY 1976 While most of my friends -- the sane ones, anyway -- were buying houses and raising families in the 1970s, I was seeing the U.S.A. in a Volkswagen bus that I had customized to be a comfy home away from home. I had globetrotted in previous years and realized after my return stateside that I knew more about the Far East … [Read more...] about An Interstate State Of Mind
Somebody Just Won Huge
Several liberal bloggers are chiding President Bush for omitting a portion of a Thomas Jefferson quote he used during a 4th of July speech in Charlottesville. In a massive upset victory for non-partisanship, I not only defend the President, but argue that the omission was actually the right thing for him to do given the context of the speech. … [Read more...] about Somebody Just Won Huge
Building a Better Conservatism
Columnist Steven Greenhut writes: Syndicated columnist Bob Novak, writing about the surprising number of conservatives who are backing Democrat Barack Obama rather than Republican John McCain for the presidency, captured their widespread sentiment when he quoted one "Obamacon" with impeccable GOP credentials: "The Republican Party is a dead rotting carcass with … [Read more...] about Building a Better Conservatism
William Kristol on McCain’s “Fixer-Upper”
In his much-awaited, Monday New York Times column, William Kristol for a change focuses his attention on something that badly needs attention, and lots of work: McCain‘s fixer-upper campaign. Just like all of us every week anticipate great things from Kristol’s Monday column, so does Kristol from “Murphy” in “Where is Murphy.” But, who is Murphy? Kristol tells … [Read more...] about William Kristol on McCain’s “Fixer-Upper”
Tale Of The Toggle
Are you still making your monthly credit card payment in cash? Silly you. The really big borrowers in financial markets in recent years managed to get a so-called "toggle" feature worked into their own payment agreements with banks. Instead of making regular payments in cash, they're allowed to make these payments in extra debt. Instead of coming up with, say, $1 million a … [Read more...] about Tale Of The Toggle
Is Barack Obama Patriotic? Is Any Politician? (Guest Voice)
This is a Guest Voice post by journalism professor and author Walter Brasch who is also a syndicated newspaper columnist and radio commentator, and president of the Pennsylvania Press Club. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Is Barack Obama Patriotic? Is Any Politician? by Walter Brasch Barack Obama spent the Fourth of … [Read more...] about Is Barack Obama Patriotic? Is Any Politician? (Guest Voice)
Civil Rights Roundup — 07/07/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news An inspiring story in the Boston Globe of a graduate of one of Boston's struggling public schools. The Globe also has the story of a teen mother from the same school who is heading off to college. Chicago is bracing for challenges to its gun ban in the wake of the Supreme Court's Heller decision. The Washington Post … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup — 07/07/08
Ripping off the Hillary band aid
The "conventional wisdom" - if there is such a thing these days - insists that Barack Obama should hold off on naming his running mate until shortly before the convention later this summer. The valid reasons for this are many and, having been covered extensively already, need not be repeated here. But the time may be approaching for the candidate to eschew that advice and move … [Read more...] about Ripping off the Hillary band aid
The McCain Camp’s New Team Readies To Steady The Ship
Advice to Democrats: get ready. The McCain camp is about to enter a new, more professional phase. It won't be the same campaign with these skillful operatives. Some learned from Karl Rove. Some were the most talented operatives from campaigns that fought McCain. The operative words are: experienced, skillful and seasoned. … [Read more...] about The McCain Camp’s New Team Readies To Steady The Ship
Zogby: Obama Leads McCain In Electoral College Vote 273-158
A new Zogby poll has Democratic Senator Barack Obama with a lead over Republican Senator John McCain to 44% to 38% and a substantial electoral vote lead -- 273 to 158. But a cautionary note. As has been the instance throughout the primary season, these see-saw polls vary. Still, Zogby's findings are an eyebrow-raiser. The findings also suggest something else: Libertarian … [Read more...] about Zogby: Obama Leads McCain In Electoral College Vote 273-158
Obama Still Faces Stiff Resistance From Top Clinton Supporters And Donors Who’ll Be Wooed By McCain
There have been press reports in recent weeks about how the Democratic Party is inexorably coming together in its battle against presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain -- but according to a Wall Street Journal report, the Democrats' likely candidate Sen. Barack Obama is still getting a no-dice thumbs down from top supporters and donors of Senator Hillary Clinton, who … [Read more...] about Obama Still Faces Stiff Resistance From Top Clinton Supporters And Donors Who’ll Be Wooed By McCain