There's much consternation among progressives and the Republicans over recent developments in Obama's unmasking as the tough, take-no-prisoners politician --- and centrist Democrat --- he is and has always been. Jazz Shaw comments here at TMV on Obama's 'Rovian' roleplaying here. In a piece which seems to me to be simultaneously mean-spirited and [very] grudgingly … [Read more...] about Obama: Less Progressive Than Advertised
There’s Been An Interesting Turn to AP and Drudge Retort Case: They’ve Settled. For Now.
Since the 24/7 news cycle is no longer, and it's now a minute to minute news cycle, matters of end-game negotiation or denouement that used to take months, sometimes seem to occur within moments too. This is an update to an earlier story at TMV yesterday which ran Robert Cox's understanding of the legal facts behind the contretemps between Associated Press and Drudge Retort. … [Read more...] about There’s Been An Interesting Turn to AP and Drudge Retort Case: They’ve Settled. For Now.
McClellan Details Bush Administration Credibility Gap
In testimony on Capitol Hill, former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan basically painted a portrait of an administration that created its own credibility gap -- and a White House response to his testimony further underscored why the gap continues to exist. Former presidential spokesman Scott McClellan on Friday said President Bush has lost the public's trust by … [Read more...] about McClellan Details Bush Administration Credibility Gap
Our Boss on the Radio
Tune in quickly (at 1:00 pm Eastern, 10:00 am Pacific) to Mid Stream Radio and you can catch our Editor-in-Chief, Joe Gandelman, giving his views on the news of the day! … [Read more...] about Our Boss on the Radio
Cancer drugs? No, but we have a special on Assisted Suicide today!
Whenver I hear either of our presidential candidates shouting about health care reform I get a prickling senstion in my palms and a pronounced tic in my left eye. It's not that we don't have a need for health care and insurance improvements in our country - clearly there is work to be done. But I've been watching and participating in elections since Nixon's day and all too … [Read more...] about Cancer drugs? No, but we have a special on Assisted Suicide today!
New York Mayor Bloomberg Blasts “Whisper Campaign” About Obama
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been the subject of considerable speculation this year. First, the question was "Will he or won't he launch an independent bid for President?" The answer: No. Next, some wondered whether he'd run as Veep on a ticket headed by Democratic presumptive nominee Sen. Barack Obama. The answer: Highly unlikely. But Bloomberg has now bitten the … [Read more...] about New York Mayor Bloomberg Blasts “Whisper Campaign” About Obama
Douglas A. Blackmon on “the age of neo-slavery”
Douglas A. Blackmon, author of Slavery by Another Name – The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II, was interviewed last month by Michael Slate on KPFK, Los Angeles. From the transcript of that interview: Michael Slate: At the end of your book you say you feel that that period of time between the betrayal of reconstruction, the destruction of … [Read more...] about Douglas A. Blackmon on “the age of neo-slavery”
Obama’s Rovian Roleplaying?
You know, no matter how jaded some of us have become with the current two party system and American politics as usual, we may still find ourselves getting sucked in when the media continually paints a narrative. One of the current classics seems to be the idea that John McCain is following the usual GOP path, with shadowy 527s conducting smear campaigns on the Illinois Senator … [Read more...] about Obama’s Rovian Roleplaying?
Georgia on their mind!
Insider Advantage has people talking Georgia this morning: A New InsiderAdvantage / PollPosition survey conducted June 18 of registered likely voters in the November presidential contest shows Sen. John McCain leading Sen. Barack Obama by a single point in Georgia, making the race in Georgia a statistical tie. Libertarian Bob Barr, a former Republican Congressman from Georgia, … [Read more...] about Georgia on their mind!
It’s not its, is it? Oh, it is.
Everyone likes to look smart. Particularly in the high tension world of political debate, you never want to look like a dim bulb, even if you must privately admit that you wouldn't know a Shiite from a Sunni if you tripped over them both in your kitchen. But when it comes to the written word, many traps and pitfalls await the would be analyst. That's why I would like to take a … [Read more...] about It’s not its, is it? Oh, it is.
Our Hometown: Old Guys Still Meet at the Corner To Decide How the World Would Go If Only They Were In Charge
Maybe like me, you grew up in a small hometown that now looks like Brigadoon, coming back to life every hundred years or so, but otherwise somehow remains the same, the same, the same: different faces, different names, but the familiar 'types' still exist back home. My hometown was a village of 600 souls. It is still at 600 from lack of opportunity, lack of land, but also … [Read more...] about Our Hometown: Old Guys Still Meet at the Corner To Decide How the World Would Go If Only They Were In Charge
The Lost Story Behind The Associated Press and The Drudge ReTort Situation
This is a must read, in depth article about the not well publicized facts behind AP's go-round with the Drudge ReTort, by the venerable Robert Cox of The Media Bloggers Association... which is, according to their website, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting, protecting and educating its members; supporting the development of "blogging" or "citizen journalism" as a … [Read more...] about The Lost Story Behind The Associated Press and The Drudge ReTort Situation
Big Bucks Obama
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about Big Bucks Obama
What I did on my summer vacation: BRAG 2008
The Bicycle Ride Across Georgia: The Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) is an annual road-cycling tour across the US state of Georgia. It began in 1980 as an offshoot of RAGBRAI. The route covers approximately 400 miles over 7 days with options for longer distances. Mid-week, the tour stays two nights in one town allowing riders to either rest or ride a century with lesser … [Read more...] about What I did on my summer vacation: BRAG 2008
The Truth as Private Property
Hostilities between the Associated Press and bloggers are escalating to the point that some are now vowing to stop linking to the wire service. Regardless of the merits, such conflict is unhealthy for the free flow of information in a society that depends on it. As a part of traditional media, AP regards its output as property without distinguishing between form and … [Read more...] about The Truth as Private Property
McCain Repeats Opposition To Drilling In ANWR
Republican presumptive Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain has made it clear: although he has called for renewed offshore drilling as a way to help get America out of the energy crunch and has shifted his position on that -- he is not dropping his opposition to drilling in ANWR: Senator John McCain reiterated his opposition to drilling for oil in the Arctic National … [Read more...] about McCain Repeats Opposition To Drilling In ANWR
What Does Obama’s Public Campaign Financing Opt Out Mean?
For a great Q&A on the subject that isn't dripping with partisan invective from either side, CLICK HERE. … [Read more...] about What Does Obama’s Public Campaign Financing Opt Out Mean?
Recount II
RJ Matson, The New York Observer … [Read more...] about Recount II
It’s the gas pumps, stupid
Back in the 1992 election cycle, some bright bulb in the Bill Clinton camp taped up the now famous "It's the Economy, Stupid" sign, and it became history - then legend. Less than a year ago, many Democratic supporters - salivating over a repeat of the 2006 GOP blowout - were saying, "It's Iraq, Stupid." Earlier this year we saw a return to 1992 as a sluggish, torpid economy … [Read more...] about It’s the gas pumps, stupid
Tim Russert’s Last Hug And The Funny Feeling
The story sounds like the story of my grandfather Nathan Gandelman, who wanted to go back to hug his son, my father Richard, one more time after visting his son who was in the Army during World War II. My grandfather was the only one to die in a car crash right after that. But in the case of the late NBC journalist Tim Russert read HERE about the funny feeling Tim Russert's … [Read more...] about Tim Russert’s Last Hug And The Funny Feeling