I've been trying to read Reclaiming Conservatism, by former Congressman Mickey Edwards. It has been a difficult read. It's not because it is hard to read. What has bothered me so far is page after page of Edwards' rants against the Bush Administration and the feckless Republican Congress that let the President get away with so much. After a while it gets a bit tedious. … [Read more...] about A Choice, Not a Rant
Obama Fights For A Piece Of The Patriotism Franchise By Wrapping Himself In The Flag
That Barack Obama felt compelled to give a speech today on patriotism speaks volumes about the lousy state of political discourse in the U.S. That few minds will be changed although the speech was a noble effort is a fact of life for this African-American with a foreign-sounding middle name and an opposition with toxic intentions. That there are so many real issues crying out … [Read more...] about Obama Fights For A Piece Of The Patriotism Franchise By Wrapping Himself In The Flag
The Way We Live Now
Beyond the headlines, we occasionally get "soft" news about how the post-9/11 world really is, as we do today in disturbing narratives about the unseen wars in Iran and Pakistan--patterns of secrets and lies that Americans and their representatives in Washington either don't fully know or want to talk about publicly. In the New Yorker, Seymour Hersh details a new "major … [Read more...] about The Way We Live Now
That’s just SO gay… I mean “homosexual”
I honestly don't even know what category this story falls into, but by the time I finished laughing, I decided it was worth a few inches of virtual ink here at TMV. Apparently there are some web sites or "news" services on the web which use their spellchecker's Auto Replace function to tune up their news text to be friendly to their target demographics. In the case of some of … [Read more...] about That’s just SO gay… I mean “homosexual”
Tell Me It Ain’t So, Paul.
Why does Paul Krugman, New York Times columnist, call Sen. Obama a centrist because of his changing positions on various issues?Being a centrist is one thing, not taking / keeping a position on the issues is another. More News and Commentary for Moderates ”’Moderate’ is not a 4-letter word.” … [Read more...] about Tell Me It Ain’t So, Paul.
Economic Exit Strategy
Larry Wright, The Detroit News … [Read more...] about Economic Exit Strategy
Of “Worthies” and of “Fellow Citizens”
In his much-awaited, Monday morning, pre-July Fourth New York Times column, Bill Kristol writes a stirring and fitting tribute to the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In "The Choice They Made," he quotes a Thomas Jefferson letter in which Jefferson writes, referring to his fellow signers, “That host of worthies, who joined with us on that day, in the bold and … [Read more...] about Of “Worthies” and of “Fellow Citizens”
Civil Rights Roundup: 06/30/08
One of the things I do for my job at the LCCR is help "clip" articles from around the country relating to civil rights and related areas each morning. The articles are saved into del.icio.us and come up in a feed on our website. So I figure: so long as I've got all this stuff in front of me, why not share it with you? All this is to announce what I hope to be a daily feature … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 06/30/08
The Wild, Wild (North) West – A Supreme Mistake (Guest Voice)
This column is by Tony Campbell, who is a columnist for Examiner.com This cross post deals with the Supreme Court's gun decision. The Wild, Wild (North) West - A Supreme Mistake by Tony Campbell Earlier this week the Supreme Court outlawed the gun ban enacted by the District of Columbia. In a 5 to 4 decision, the Justices decided that the ban was unconstitutional as … [Read more...] about The Wild, Wild (North) West – A Supreme Mistake (Guest Voice)
Could Hillary Clinton Be In Running Again As Obama Vice President?
Was Senator Hillary Clinton's performance at the Unity rally with presumptive Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama so strong that she could be seriously in the running for Obama's Veep? New York Daily News columnist Michael Goodwin, who had been highly-critical of her, thinks so. And those who hold this belief could point to news that her husband former President Bill … [Read more...] about Could Hillary Clinton Be In Running Again As Obama Vice President?
Dodd Bitter-Enders, Represent! (UPDATED)
Why should angry Hillary supporters who have sworn never to forgive be the only intransigents refusing to hear what their own candidate is telling them? At Sadly, No!, Gavin writes: Maybe we can become Chris Dodd bitter-enders. [ahem] Personally, I shall never in all my life forget the howling persecution that we endured from the O-bot smear machine and the … [Read more...] about Dodd Bitter-Enders, Represent! (UPDATED)
The Many Reversals of John McCain
This is a crucial post from Crooks and Liars for disillusioned Dems (like me) and for anyone, anywhere who has considered voting for McCain (unlike me). It's extracted from a June 19 post by Steve Benen at The Carpetbagger Report, the The Carpetbagger Report. I've been disappointed by Obama's recent stance on several issues, aptly summarized here, and have … [Read more...] about The Many Reversals of John McCain
Untitled Gun Control Post
Why does this column have no title? Because, good readers, I began looking at this editorial from the L.A. Times last night and it's still too mind boggling to wrap my brain around. Jeffrey Fagan and Stephen D. Sugarman seem to be upset over the Supreme Court's finding that the people's right to keep and bear arms actually means they have a right to keep and bear arms. Further, … [Read more...] about Untitled Gun Control Post
The Economy: People Are Going To Die
Let's be really clear about a consequence of the enormous stress that Americans are under because of the ongoing economic meltdown: People are going to die. People are going to die because their cars run out of $5 per gallon gas on some godforsaken back road. People are going to die because "compassionate conservatism" was a Republican focus-group talking point and not a … [Read more...] about The Economy: People Are Going To Die
And So I Go On The Road
TMV's diverse group of writers have been posting up a storm these days, but I've gotten emails asking why I haven't posted as much. The reason: over the past few weeks I've been driving to do several events a day in my other incarnation -- and getting ready to go on the road. On Tuesday afternoon I'll get into my van and leave for a 7 week trip (gas prices and all) to do … [Read more...] about And So I Go On The Road
Washington & “Courtiers”: Who Is A “Real” Journalist?
As a young journalist I was once reminded that a journalist could either be a watchdog or a lapdog, can't be both. Journalism, like other professions, has undergone a visible "change" in the past three decades. There was a time when many considered it a vocation (a calling), but now it is being increasingly treated as a mere job in any other industry. Shaun Mullen's earlier … [Read more...] about Washington & “Courtiers”: Who Is A “Real” Journalist?
Massive Graffiti Attack On Cars In Orlando
I read the story and wondered: was Bill Clinton in Orlando? … [Read more...] about Massive Graffiti Attack On Cars In Orlando
Squabbling Over the Pigeon Bill: Pennsylvania Legislature Won’t Be Able to Soar Like Eagles Until It Shoots Down Animal Cruelty (Guest Voice)
U.S. Tax Probe of UBS Could Have ‘Explosive Effect’ on Swiss Banking
Under the radar screens of most Americans last week, a huge tax fraud case that implicates Switzerland's leading bank was exposed. The case, which implicates a former American manager at UBS named Bradley Birkenfeld, could involve up to $20 billion and result in undermining Switzerland's long-cherished reputation for bank secrecy. Pierre Ruetschi writes for the Tribune De … [Read more...] about U.S. Tax Probe of UBS Could Have ‘Explosive Effect’ on Swiss Banking
Election 2008: Arkansas
The home of the Clintons (well one of their homes) is next on our tour of the fifty states. While it has a pretty strong history of supporting Democrats for most offices it has been a Republican base in Presidential races. President: Had Clinton won the Democratic nomination (or if she is the VP nominee) then the state would have probably leaned towards the Democrats. Even … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Arkansas