The NYTimes picks up where we left off Friday: ...the news association convened a meeting of its executives at which it decided to suspend its efforts to challenge blogs until it creates a more thoughtful standard. “We don’t want to cast a pall over the blogosphere by being heavy-handed, so we have to figure out a better and more positive way to do this,” Mr. Kennedy … [Read more...] about AP, Blogs, set to get to work on Fair Use
More Newspaper Corporate Illness: McClatchy Will Cut Workforce 10 Percent
A slow but inexorable financial cancer continues to impact America's newspapers and this is just the latest: McClatchy Co. said Monday it will cut 10 percent of its workforce in a move to save $70 million a year as the newspaper publisher continues to struggle to attract advertising dollars. McClatchy, which publishes The Kansas City Star and The Miami Herald, will trim … [Read more...] about More Newspaper Corporate Illness: McClatchy Will Cut Workforce 10 Percent
Thank You, Bill Kristol
It has almost become a sure bet to find some partisan claim in William Kristol's much awaited, once-a-week column in the New York Times. Today, however, Mr. Kristol pleasantly surprised me. In his "Big Tim" column in this morning's New York Times, Kristol writes a heartfelt, personal and touching tribute to his friend--America's friend--Tim Russert. In his column, … [Read more...] about Thank You, Bill Kristol
Black Conservative Castrati? The “picks” are the problem.
I ran across a new term for my political lexicon today when I read about black conservative castrati in the 2008 election cycle. The author was reflecting on a recent AP report on American black conservatives feeling conflicted over Barack Obama's candidacy. This resulted in the following screed. (All emphasis is from the author.) With 90+ percent of black Americans voting … [Read more...] about Black Conservative Castrati? The “picks” are the problem.
Tim Russert Was No Walter Cronkite
Tim Russert at a basketball game with James Carville I am not a contrarian by nature and feel bad when I hurt people's feelings, and I have held off writing about NBC News’s Tim Russert, who passed away on Friday of a heart attack at age 58, because of the strange double standard we have about speaking ill of the famous dead. But a hopefully respectful amount of time has … [Read more...] about Tim Russert Was No Walter Cronkite
Quote of the Day: On Tim Russert
The loss is still being measured -- and with each day it's clear it is even greater than originally imagined. From USA Today: Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, says, "Russert was a political analyst more than a reporter. His commentary wasn't based off opinions. He was assessing impact, direction and implications based off deep knowledge and … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On Tim Russert
Zimbabwe Crisis: Mugabe Opponent Says Runoff Must Happen
While passions have risen in America over the course of the Presidential primary season, another huge political story is unfolding -- in Africa, in Zimbabwe. And Time has a compelling interview with an opposition leader there. Here's the intro and a small part of it: Zimbabwe lurches deeper into crisis as President Robert Mugabe's government menaces the opposition and its … [Read more...] about Zimbabwe Crisis: Mugabe Opponent Says Runoff Must Happen
Tim Russert’s Wake
"Meet the Press" is, by its nature, an hour of posturing, lies and evasions, but today it was filled with genuine feeling--tears, laughter and even a few home movies. (Who could resist Doris Kearns Goodwin in a blonde wig with a feather boa popping out of a cake to a do a Marilyn Monroe-JFK bit for Tim's 50th birthday?) Tom Brokaw, presiding over the mourning, was in tears … [Read more...] about Tim Russert’s Wake
Sarkozy and Bush: The Best Friends’ Show
Does anyone in Europe - let alone in the United States - care about George W. Bush's farewell visit to Europe? Beyond the fact that no one mentioned the painful rupture over Iraq, this seems to be the key matter at hand in this whimsical French look at President Bush's final visit to France as America's commander-in-chief. Capturing the mood for France's Rue 89 newspaper … [Read more...] about Sarkozy and Bush: The Best Friends’ Show
Gallup Daily: Obama-McCain Race Returns To Statistical Tie With Obama Only 2 Points Ahead
First we got the "see" (Obama pulling ahead). And now we get the "saw" (a statistical tie). The latest Gallup Daily tracking poll suggests voters are perhaps catching their breaths after months of highly dramatic Presidential primary news with Barack Obama now only 2 percentage points ahead of GOPer John McCain. What's going on? The poll is perhaps indicative of a larger … [Read more...] about Gallup Daily: Obama-McCain Race Returns To Statistical Tie With Obama Only 2 Points Ahead
Novak: McCain Wants Joe Lieberman As His Vice President
Columnist Robert Novak reports that presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Senator John McCain already has a favorite who he'd love to pick for Vice President: Connecticut Independent-Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman: Sources close to Sen. John McCain say the Republican presidential candidate likes the idea of Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman, re-elected from … [Read more...] about Novak: McCain Wants Joe Lieberman As His Vice President
Life’s a beach!
I'm on St. Simons Island, GA; a far more conservative beach community than the gay haunts (Fire Island, Provincetown) of my younger years. I am interested to read that the Cape Cod National Seashore is teaming up with local officials this summer for a "public education" approach to the soaring number of citations for debauchery in Cape Cod's dunes. Middle age finds me in … [Read more...] about Life’s a beach!
That ‘Was’ Bush …
Europe this week bade President Bush farewell - and if it was a fond farewell, it is because they know he's leaving not only Europe, but the corridors of American power. In a scathing column, Uwe Vorkotter writes for Germany's Frankfurter Rundschau: "This was never going to work. George W. Bush and the Germans. … [Read more...] about That ‘Was’ Bush …
John Edwards Mind Change: Yes, He Would “Seriously Consider” Vice Presidential Nod From Obama
Former Senator John Edwards has signaled a change of mind: after initially throwing cold water on the idea, he now says he wouldn't rule out saying yes to an offer of the Veepship on Democratic presumptive Presidential nominee Barack Obama's ticket, if it were offered to him: Former Democratic vice-presidential nominee John Edwards said on Sunday he would have to … [Read more...] about John Edwards Mind Change: Yes, He Would “Seriously Consider” Vice Presidential Nod From Obama
Update For TMV Readers
A quick update on a few things: TMV's Center Voices blogroll has been totally restored. Due to a technical glitch all of the Center Voices links were dumped into Other Voices and the center category vanished. In going through Other Voices I eliminated some "dead' blogs, blogs not updated within 30 days, and blogs that asked for reciprocal links with TMV but didn't put our … [Read more...] about Update For TMV Readers
Oil Excreting Bugs to Save the World?
Speaking as an amateur home brewer, I'm a big fan of yeast. They are marvelous little critters who have the incredible ability to eat sugar and excrete alcohol. What's not to love? Other sorts of yeast make it possible for us to have bread to eat and medical products to improve and extend our lives. Well, now there may be one more, earth shaking reason to cheer for miniscule … [Read more...] about Oil Excreting Bugs to Save the World?
When Sports Gets Ugly: German Soccer Fans, Poland And Anti-Semitic Slogans
Once again soccer seems to have brought out the worst in people. If they keep this up, they'll start looking like California drivers. John Rosenthal writing in Pajamas Media: The motto of the 2006 Soccer World Cup in Germany was “The world is our guest, you’re staying with friends” [Die Welt zu Gast bei Freunden] — or, in the simplified official translation, “A time to … [Read more...] about When Sports Gets Ugly: German Soccer Fans, Poland And Anti-Semitic Slogans
Fathers Day is a Gas
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Fathers Day is a Gas
For Fathers Day: The Fathers of John McCain
As we gather together to celebrate Fathers Day across the land, it seems an appropriate time to offer readers another glimpse into the personality and background of John McCain - particularly his relationship and remembrances of his father and grandfather as demonstrated in his 1999 book, Faith of my Fathers. This portion comes from Chapter One of the book, "In War and Victory" … [Read more...] about For Fathers Day: The Fathers of John McCain
Town Hall Debates: Dancing in the Dark, Indeed
At the Politico, Jonathan Martin notes an excellent example of the type of audience participation coming out of John McCain's "unscripted" town hall meetings. The questioner noted that he had been educated at Princeton and Harvard and made more than $300,000 a year. "How can I be proud of my country?" he asked. Get it — he was mocking Michelle Obama and her statement … [Read more...] about Town Hall Debates: Dancing in the Dark, Indeed