After consuming American and foreign media, you might be forgiven for walking away with the impression that there's only one contest for one office that matters in November. Now, a joint project between Politico and Real Clear Politics obliges the whims of political junkies and casual observers alike, who are hungry for something more than which presidential candidate has … [Read more...] about The ‘Other’ Races
Police Taser a Blind Diabetic Women with Cancer ‘to Facilitate Cuffing’
Nationally recognized legal scholar Jonathan Turley calls it 'a very problematic rationale.' I'll say. The police came to her apartment looking for her son.(WDTN.com) Her family said she was yelling at officers because she was scared. "She was terrified. She was extremely terrified," said Harris's niece, Dionna. "She was scared … [Read more...] about Police Taser a Blind Diabetic Women with Cancer ‘to Facilitate Cuffing’
On the Radio Today
Ever want to reach through your computer screen and either throttle or shake the hand of any of the writers here at TMV? Well, we can't quite deliver that, but you can listen to and even have a word with some of us. Today, on Mid Stream Radio, at 1 pm Eastern, 10 am pacific, you can tune in and catch up with myself and my co-host Cindy as we talk during the first half with … [Read more...] about On the Radio Today
The Red Cross: A Disaster Area
The latest chapter in the catastrophic recent history of the organization Americans depend on for disaster relief is the revelation that the Red Cross, which collects and distributes almost half of the blood given to patients in this country, is so sloppy it may be endangering their lives. The FDA has found "shortcomings in the way the Red Cross screens donors for possible … [Read more...] about The Red Cross: A Disaster Area
Forever in Ink
Richard Cohen waxes philosophical today, declaring that Americans with ink in their skin are - if I'm following him correctly - delusional losers. The tattoo is the battle flag of today in its war with tomorrow. It is carried by sure losers. I asked a college professor what she thought of tattoos, and she said that for young people, they represent permanence in an … [Read more...] about Forever in Ink
“We’re F***ed” — or, What Maliki’s Endorsement of Obama’s Iraq Plan Means for McCain
As you must know by now, Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki has publicly endorsed Obama's plan for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. How is that playing in Republican circles? Er, not well... Allahpundit at Hot Air: "So discombobulated is Team Maverick that they seem to be spinning in two different directions (while partially redeeming themselves by the pointed use of the term … [Read more...] about “We’re F***ed” — or, What Maliki’s Endorsement of Obama’s Iraq Plan Means for McCain
(Update II) McCain Screws The Pooch On Iraq
After months of peddling a position on the Iraq war that has included an American troop presence anywhere from 100 years down to five years as he has had to repeatedly backpedal, John McCain now finds himself marginalized with Nouri Al-Maliki and Barack Obama, of all people, stealing his thunder on his war. The presumptive Republican nominee already was on shaky ground by … [Read more...] about (Update II) McCain Screws The Pooch On Iraq
Joe Lieberman’s Jewish Problem
Jews are among the smartest and most engaged voters when it comes to public affairs and knowing when they are being played, so it seemed like only a matter of time before they began parting ways with Joe Lieberman, John McCain's very own Uriah Heep and a senator whose political dishonesty runs at a flood-tide pace these days. Among high-profile Jews in Congress, Lieberman is … [Read more...] about Joe Lieberman’s Jewish Problem
Hillary: Bush Administration to Redefine Contraception as Abortion (‘A Dire Threat to Women’s Health’)
Annnnd....attempts by state and federal governments to interfere with a woman's freedom to control what goes on inside her own personal womb continue apace. Joe Windish has an earlier piece about an 8th Circuit decision that unleashes the State of South Dakota on women who seek abortion in that state by letting the state insert a word or two on behalf of its legislature into … [Read more...] about Hillary: Bush Administration to Redefine Contraception as Abortion (‘A Dire Threat to Women’s Health’)
Civil Rights Roundup: 07/22/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news The ACLU is seeking to overturn Alabama's voter disenfranchisement law. The Boston Globe calls on the state to restrict unequal retirement plans that pay women less than men. Online adoption business discriminates against gay couples. John McCain: Anti-contraception. 16 years after "the year of the women", women … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 07/22/08
Women Achieve A Kind of Work Place Equality (Dep’t of Good News/Bad News)
The New York Times came up with what I'd call a strange title for this article: Women Are Now Equal as Victims of Poor Economy. And the key points are oddly framed: [F]or the first time since the women’s movement came to life, an economic recovery has come and gone, and the percentage of women at work has fallen, not risen, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Each of … [Read more...] about Women Achieve A Kind of Work Place Equality (Dep’t of Good News/Bad News)
Sunstein’s influence on Obama: the right kind of Nudge
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Chris Satullo had a column Sunday looking at Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein's Nudge: Been nudged lately? You have, whether you know it or not. If you've ever obeyed your computer's invitation to install some software in the "standard (recommended)" mode, you've been nudged, in a helpful way. If you're still paying for that magazine … [Read more...] about Sunstein’s influence on Obama: the right kind of Nudge
About those oil spills
In a previous column which touched on energy policy in general and domestic oil drilling in particular, a point was brought up in comments. Since the oil companies have failed to develop the oil and gas leases they already hold, and because many of those are easier than offshore drilling, and because oil companies lost dozens of oil platforms in the last few hurricanes, and … [Read more...] about About those oil spills
Mukasey & Congress: The AG Changes His Tune But The Song Remains The Same
In keeping with the myriad outrages that it has perpetrated in fighting the so-called Global War on Terror, the Bush administration has not lacked for cojones. Congress was a mere handmaiden or not consulted at all when the White House decided to establish a parallel court system to try terror suspects, when it tossed the Geneva Conventions into the Potomac and embraced the … [Read more...] about Mukasey & Congress: The AG Changes His Tune But The Song Remains The Same
Some Thoughts On Media Biases
Although I sometimes see a story that makes me wonder, I have not generally been one to obsess over media biases against Republicans or the political right. I recognize that the news media today is a business and that the basic rule is to go after any juicy scandal. My basic view has been that perhaps personal biases sometimes cause the reporter to lean to a Republican … [Read more...] about Some Thoughts On Media Biases
Obama Will Do Just Fine at the Siegessäule
After demurely having to admit that the German people prefer Obama over McCain by an overwhelming margin (67 percent to 6 percent), Kristol uses the rest of his much-awaited Monday morning NYT column to express his hope that Obama will be “for victory” when he addresses the expected huge crowds at the Siegessäule — the Victory Column — in Berlin. Mr. Kristol ought not to … [Read more...] about Obama Will Do Just Fine at the Siegessäule
Nepal’s First President: Dr. Ram Baran Yadav
Nepal, world's youngest Republic, on Monday elected its first president, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, of the Nepali Congress (NC). Yadav defeated his nearest rival from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). The Constituent Assembly on May 20 abolished the 240-year-old Shah monarchy and decided Nepal would be a federal democratic republic. A medical doctor by profession, Yadav spent … [Read more...] about Nepal’s First President: Dr. Ram Baran Yadav
On South Dakota’s unbelievable new abortion law
In this morning's civil rights roundup David brought us the headline -- doctors in South Dakota are now required to tell a woman seeking an abortion that the procedure "will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique living human being." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit last week lifted a preliminary injunction handing a victory to antiabortion forces: The … [Read more...] about On South Dakota’s unbelievable new abortion law
Vote Inflation
While the media continues to swarm over the Obama trip to "points beyond," John McCain is hitting some key swing states to talk about more pressing domestic issues, including energy policy. As the New York Times points out, these are key battlegrounds and it's a message which may resonate with the hurting pocketbooks of voters more than the opinions of foreign … [Read more...] about Vote Inflation
Question for the Candidates: “Is Pursuing Justice, Partisan Bickering?”
In a recent post, “Bush’s Aspirational Words on Timetables, and Torture,” I briefly touched on the Bush administration’s sorry record when it comes to the issue of torture. It would be my hope that, one day, those guilty of trampling our Constitution, our laws, and international Conventions and treaties on any issue, but especially on the issue of human rights, would be made to … [Read more...] about Question for the Candidates: “Is Pursuing Justice, Partisan Bickering?”