To Democrats now giddy about what appears to be a huge campaign funding advantage enjoyed by presumptive Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, you might control your giddiness: the RNC has out-raised the DNC five times over and is expected to use its money to level the campaign funding playing field for Republican presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain. The Los Angeles … [Read more...] about Republican National Committee Outraises Democratic National Committee Five Times
End of World Postponed. You may return to work.
Following the release of a safety report on the Large Hadron Collider, it appears that the world's largest particle accelerator is on track to begin operations next summer. This comes in spite of fears on the part of some observers that it could create miniature black holes which could destroy the planet. Europe's CERN particle-physics lab has issued its long-awaited report … [Read more...] about End of World Postponed. You may return to work.
Illegal Surveillance Roll Over
Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News … [Read more...] about Illegal Surveillance Roll Over
Tim Russert’s E. M. Forster Connection
In the week since he died, after all the millions of words about his life, there is the question of, beyond the self-love of media people celebrating themselves, why do so many people everywhere care so much about Tim Russert's death? Peggy Noonan has the start of an answer: "The world admires, and wants to hold on to, and not lose, goodness. It admires virtue. At the end it … [Read more...] about Tim Russert’s E. M. Forster Connection
Ten Things We’ve Learned So Far In Presidential Campaign 2008
What have we learned so far in Presidential campaign 2008? A lot of things -- and here are just 10 of them: 1. He who blindly believes the conventional wisdom might just as well plan his or her life from predictions given by a part-time telephone psychic. Many scenarios spun by talking heads, partisans, weblogs, analysts based on supposition or personal opinions were … [Read more...] about Ten Things We’ve Learned So Far In Presidential Campaign 2008
Douglas A. Blackmon on Bill Moyers Journal
Slavery by Another Name – The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II, was interviewed on Bill Moyers Journal tonight. He explained how vagrancy laws in the South effectively criminalized Black life so that if, for example, you were unable to prove you were employed -- in a time before pay stubs -- you would be subject to arrest. Broadly applied, … [Read more...] about Douglas A. Blackmon on Bill Moyers Journal
Interview with Rebecca Dick
Once again, thanks to Team TMV for letting me post my periodic interviews re: "the war on terror," and American detention policy. This interview is with Rebecca Dick of the Washington, D.C. office of Dechert, LLP, representing a number of Afghans. Nowithstanding the apparently very favorable Supreme Court decision recently upholding detainees' constitutional rights to pursue … [Read more...] about Interview with Rebecca Dick
McCain Target Of Latest “Google Bomb”
Note to presumptive Republican presidential nominee: get ready for incoming fire .....Internet fire, that is. The latest assault in the Internet political war comes in the form of a "Google bomb" launched your way.... … [Read more...] about McCain Target Of Latest “Google Bomb”
Obama’s Bounce: 15 Points Ahead Of McCain In Newsweek Poll
Pundits and cartoonists can finally stop expressing amazement: it took a while, but a Newsweek poll shows Democratic presumptive Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama has finally gotten his long anticipated "bounce" in the polls following the rival candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton's suspension of her campaign. A new Newsweek polls shows Obama has now opened up a "substantial … [Read more...] about Obama’s Bounce: 15 Points Ahead Of McCain In Newsweek Poll
The Demise of Economic Globalization?
More interest in alternative fuels, the demise of the SUV industry, higher food prices -- these are some of the outcomes that are likely to result from the rising cost of oil. Newsweek puts forth an additional scenario, and it's well worth chewing on: ...there's concern that as higher oil prices force many Asian economies to reduce or even cut their generous fuel subsidies, … [Read more...] about The Demise of Economic Globalization?
The ‘Miracle’ of U.S. Democrats
Are America's Democrats poised to do what they have done so many times before: blow the presidential race when they are widely expected to win? Introducing his U.S. election forecast, Ilya Fortún, writing for Bolivia's left-leaning daily, La Razon, writes in part: "The North American Democratic Party is poised to become a political miracle-maker. You'll be tempted to … [Read more...] about The ‘Miracle’ of U.S. Democrats
Obama Issues Statement in Support of FISA ‘compromise’
While I pretty much expected it, I still felt a frisson of disappointment. I admit it. It's not a piece of legislation I could ever support. Greenwald has it right, I think. At TPM, Greg Sargent says tersely, 'Obama's statement on the FISA "compromise" is in, and suffice it to say that it won't make opponents of the Dem cave-in very happy. He's supporting it.' He's set … [Read more...] about Obama Issues Statement in Support of FISA ‘compromise’
A Necessary Symbiosis between MSM and Bloggers
A critical key for the future viability of blogging and the future viability of the msm, that most bloggers and quite a few in the msm already understand, is the strong symbiotic relationship developed, and which continues to develop rapidly and creatively, between certain of the msm and the blogosphere... A symbiosis is wherein two or more hosts are nourished by and from … [Read more...] about A Necessary Symbiosis between MSM and Bloggers
Obama: Less Progressive Than Advertised
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”