Squeeze them out of Iraq, and they squirt into Afghanistan and Pakistan tribal areas. What's clear is that the Bush-McCain mantra of "fight them there [Iraq] so we don't have to fight them here" has turned out to be an oversimplification of the war on terror the US will be fighting through the next Administration and beyond. This week, A US Marines commander reported his … [Read more...] about Toothpaste-Tube Terrorism
Contradictory Polls: Obama Falling, Obama Rising
Several polls within 24 hours paint a dramatic if contradictory portrait of the state of the race for the Presidency between the presumptive party nominees -- indicating that the novelty has worn off for Democratic Senator Barack Obama who at worst is falling faster than the stock market (well, perhaps not THAT fast) and at best making lukewarm headway in increasing his … [Read more...] about Contradictory Polls: Obama Falling, Obama Rising
10 Years
As Joe G. shared this morning, and as most of you probably know by now, Tony Snow has died. He was 53. I'm 43. When Tony was my age, if he'd known he had 10 years left, would he have done anything differently? If I could look in to the future and know the date of my death, would I do anything differently? Would I work less, spend more time with my family? Would I stop … [Read more...] about 10 Years
Former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow Dies (UPDATED)
Tony Snow, the slick, telegenic conservative writer and broadcaster who left Fox News to become White House press secretary and who was generally well-liked by the press, has lost his long -- and highly public -- battle with colon cancer: After a long, candid and public battle with colon cancer, former White House press secretary and radio talk-show host Tony Snow died early … [Read more...] about Former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow Dies (UPDATED)
The Big Obstacle To Obama Picking Hillary Clinton For Vice President
Even though some pundits insist that the chance of Senator Hillary Clinton being presumptive Democratic party nominee Senator Barack Obama's Vice Presidential nominee is about as great as oil selling for $100 a barrel next week, there are informed reports that she is still on the list and a possibility. But there is a big, main obstacle. Can you guess who HE is? … [Read more...] about The Big Obstacle To Obama Picking Hillary Clinton For Vice President
Bye Bye Jesse (Guest Voice)
This Guest Voice post is by talk show host Michael Reagan, who is also the son of the late President Ronald Reagan. In it, he writes about Jesse Jackson's political suicide by mouth. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily represent the opinions of TMV or its writers. Bye-Bye, Jesse by Michael Reagan It’s no wonder Rev. Jesse Jackson wants to neuter Barack Obama -- after … [Read more...] about Bye Bye Jesse (Guest Voice)
You May Already Be A Whiner
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune … [Read more...] about You May Already Be A Whiner
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: PRIMARY CONCERNS
I missed several Sabato’s Crystal Ball emails due to accidental unsubscribing. Here is one of several make-up posts. 06/12/2008 Rhodes Cook's PRIMARY CONCERNS: McCain, Obama have some base building to do For the first time in 40 years, the Democrats and Republicans are each on the verge of nominating a candidate who failed to attract even half of their party's … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: PRIMARY CONCERNS
The G-8’s ‘Impotence’
It's fair to say that at the just-concluded G-8 Summit in Japan, the world's leading industrialized nations haven't covered themselves in glory. Pierre Rousselin writes for France's Le Figaro newspaper: "Confronted with skyrocketing oil prices, the rising cost of food, the financial crisis, chaos in the money markets and finally, global warming, the powerful have no … [Read more...] about The G-8’s ‘Impotence’
Time To Balance The Budget Process
Like many states around the country we in California are currently engaged in our annual budget battle. This process is always something of a mess and passage is invariably late by days, weeks or month. This year the process is being made more difficult by the fact that we have a $ 15 billion dollar deficit. While my discussion focuses on California the fact is that this … [Read more...] about Time To Balance The Budget Process
RIP: Byron R. Fouty & Alex R. Jimenez
BYRON R. FOUTY (TOP) AND ALEX R. JIMENEZ On May 12, 2007, the early morning calm at a small U.S. Army outpost in the village of Quarghouli hard by the Euphrates River southwest of Baghdad was shattered by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. A dozen or so insurgents, led by Al Qaeda regulars, overwhelmed the seven soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry … [Read more...] about RIP: Byron R. Fouty & Alex R. Jimenez
Obamarama? Vroom!
Have we come to THIS? Sports Illustrated: Presidential candidate Obama to sponsor Cup car at Pocono race SI.com has learned that for the first time in history, a major presidential candidate may sponsor a race car in NASCAR's premier series. According to sources, Barack Obama's campaign is in talks to become the primary sponsor of BAM Racing's No. 49 Sprint Cup car for … [Read more...] about Obamarama? Vroom!
No Mezuzot Means No Observant Jews
The 7th Circuit has held that a condo association rule which prevents Jews from putting up Mezuzot does not violate the Fair Housing Act. The opinion and dissent are here, my thoughts on the case are here. The rule, of course, was defended on the grounds that it was "neutral" (it banned all objects on doors, not just Mezuzot). I just call that a data point for the … [Read more...] about No Mezuzot Means No Observant Jews
More on How Bush Found the Way to Continue Inaction on Emissions (with bonus Jon Stewart Video)
First, see Dorian de Wind's piece ; it has a bearing on this. Did you know that George W. Bush is still president? It's true. And he's still got plenty of ways to worsen things before his term is over, leaving us a country discredited in the eyes of our own allies, a more toxic and unstable environment, a military stretched to the breaking point, and an enormous … [Read more...] about More on How Bush Found the Way to Continue Inaction on Emissions (with bonus Jon Stewart Video)
Bodies of two kidnapped American soldiers found
Some very sad news from the war today. The remains of two U.S. soldiers kidnapped more than a year ago in Iraq were found and are back in the United States, according to the father of one of the soldiers. The military has not yet issued a public confirmation, but Ramon "Andy" Jimenez said in a broadcast interview that officers visited his Lawrence, Massachusetts, home to … [Read more...] about Bodies of two kidnapped American soldiers found
Jackson’s Obama Comments: Kissing The Ring (Guest Voice)
This is another Guest Voice by Tony Campbell, who writes www.examiner.com. He takes a look at Jesse Jackson's comments about Democratic presumptive nominee Barack Obama and what it was really about: Kissing The Ring by Tony Campbell In my June 20th [Examiner] column, entitled “Turning the Page”, I wrote the following insight into the power struggle between Barack Obama and … [Read more...] about Jackson’s Obama Comments: Kissing The Ring (Guest Voice)
Predictably conventional: Dan Ariely refuted
You may recall that I am an unabashed Dan Ariely fan (see, for example, here, here, here, and here). It's only fair that I give equal time to his critics. A major piece by Alan Wolfe in TNR takes a quite skeptical look at the new economics and the pursuit of happiness: Dan Ariely's Predictably Irrational [link] is the latest book by a behavioral economist to hit the … [Read more...] about Predictably conventional: Dan Ariely refuted
Rush to Jesse YOU THE MAN
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Rush to Jesse YOU THE MAN
Judgment of the Bush Administration…No Need to Wait for History
A couple of days ago, in “Cheney's office tried to alter greenhouse gas testimony, former official says,” the LA Times reported that, Vice President Dick Cheney's office worked to alter sworn congressional testimony provided by a federal official in order to play down the threat of global warming and head off regulation of greenhouse gas emissions…according to a former … [Read more...] about Judgment of the Bush Administration…No Need to Wait for History
Civil Rights Roundup: 07/11/08
Your morning dose of civil rights and related news An Ohio jury has ruled that a Black community in the Appalachian region was denied water service for decades on account of race. The pitch is out for a designer for the new African American History museum, scheduled to open in 2015. The Washington Post calls for the repeal of DADT. The Post also issues a call for … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 07/11/08