This is a picture of a mountain in West Virginia. It has been mined for coal, which has been exported out of state to supply other states in the union, year after year for nearly 150 years. This is only one of many mountain tops that have been 'taken down' for mining purposes in West Virginia. Thousands of miners have died mining for coal to export to the rest of the … [Read more...] about This Too Is West Virginia
This Is West Virginia
This is West Virginia's Beartown State Park . It is 107 acres purchased in 1970 with funds from the Nature Conservancy and a donation from Mrs. Edwin G. Polan, in memory of her son, Ronald Keith Neal, who fought and died in the Vietnam War. West Virginia is a place of odd and delightful place names. Beartown State Park is located on the eastern summit of Droop Mountain … [Read more...] about This Is West Virginia
MS-01 Redux
Last time I reported on election results in the 1st Mississippi Congressional District, it was competing with the Pennsylvania Primary. The race went into a run-off, and today it competes for attention with the West Virginia Primary -- which Clinton won handily to no effect whatsoever. Just to review: the Mississippi 1st is one of the reddest districts in the country -- even … [Read more...] about MS-01 Redux
Strip-mine strategy
It seems fitting that Hillary Clinton will win West Virginia's Democratic primary. West Virginia is a state whose major industry is extractive and destructive, to wit, coal mining and these days, often by strip mining. So, in its tradition, Hillary proceeded by simply discarding the Black and educated "overburden" of the Democratic party and going right for those valuable … [Read more...] about Strip-mine strategy
NBC: Hillary Clinton Wins West Virginia Primary By Big Margin (UPDATED)
The polls in West Virginia have just closed and NBC quickly projected that Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton will win today's West Virginia Democratic primary by a big margin. On MSNBC, Tim Russert said Clinton will win the state by a two-to-one margin and hope that her big victory there will give wavering pledged delegates and superdelegates pause so that she can compete … [Read more...] about NBC: Hillary Clinton Wins West Virginia Primary By Big Margin (UPDATED)
Maker Faire 2008: Steampunk, Robots, Devil-Ettes and more…
The NYTimes: The muffin cars, electric-powered vehicles built to resemble cupcakes, scoot around the open spaces of the San Mateo Event Center & Expo, a sprawling fairground about 20 miles south of San Francisco and, on this day, a million miles from normal. Just inside the gates of the third annual Maker Faire, a converted fire engine belches an occasional explosive … [Read more...] about Maker Faire 2008: Steampunk, Robots, Devil-Ettes and more…
Advice for Hezbollah: How to Win Over the Pro-West Opposition
Now that the pro-Western government in Lebanon has been "put in its place" by Hezbollah - and by extension Iran and Syria - what is Israel up against - and what narrative will the Islamists use to heal the wounds and consolidate their victory? Yasser Al Zaatera of Palestine's Samiddon newspaper outlines the likely approach. Explaining why Lebanon's Pro-West Sunni … [Read more...] about Advice for Hezbollah: How to Win Over the Pro-West Opposition
Obama Team Responds to ‘5 Myths’
Those "myths" include: - The Primary has left Democrats divided. - The Primary campaign has hurt Obama with swing voters and Republicans. - Obama cannot perform strongly enough among white voters. - The race against Clinton has compromised Obama's position among women. - Obama cannot win working class voters. Details at the RCP blog. Even though these … [Read more...] about Obama Team Responds to ‘5 Myths’
Do We Only Want Fast Snapshots of Our Elective Processes, Or An In-Depth Documentary? Having Both Would Be Better
Recap of BBC Show, as promised to TMV readers earlier. I was on a BBC radio show today as a blogger from The Moderate Voice. The issue of the day there was (still), “Should Hillary Clinton quit?” As a sign of intense international interest in the Obama-Clinton primary race, the BBC has been airing many opinion shows about the elections. This one segment of one … [Read more...] about Do We Only Want Fast Snapshots of Our Elective Processes, Or An In-Depth Documentary? Having Both Would Be Better
Should Hillary Clinton Quit?: “Questioning The Question”
Wait, wait, don't clobber me for asking this low in vitamins, high in refined sugar question. I'm not qoing to answer it. I question the question... the repeater-rifle question stuck on automatic: “Should Hillary quit?” Hear me out... There are several poignant "election times" topics for national discussion that have been mostly ignored. They oughtn't be. For instance: … [Read more...] about Should Hillary Clinton Quit?: “Questioning The Question”
Military Procurement
Hallelujah. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has provided a welcome injection of sanity into the perennial debate over the United States' bloated defense budget. … [Read more...] about Military Procurement
Empower the People of Myanmar to Help Themselves
My sister Daphne studied Burmese music in Yangon. She is in touch with teachers and students at the music school Gitameit. They are organizing relief aid. Daphne wrote this: Small and local aid agencies are best equipped to help the victims of cyclone Nargis because they are already operating on the ground. Donations to these agencies are more effective since big aid … [Read more...] about Empower the People of Myanmar to Help Themselves
Barr The Door
Jeff Parker, Florida Today … [Read more...] about Barr The Door
[update] BREAKING: Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann to resign today
Update (Deal or No Deal): From numerous local sources but also reported in TPM Muckraker, Ohio AG Marc Dann tried to negotiate his resignation in exchange for the Ohio House not launching another investigation. So far no deal. Here's the news from OPENERS at the Plain Dealer: Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann is expected to announce his resignation later today, The Plain … [Read more...] about [update] BREAKING: Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann to resign today
Defeat of an arch foe of clean government is in reach
I am delighted with the encouraging news that McConnell Leads, But Under 50 Even though he has one of the largest political war chests for his upcoming Senate campaign, Senator minority leader McConnell is polling with surprisingly low margins relative to his potential opponents. The Senator is perhaps the most prominent champion of special interest influence and his … [Read more...] about Defeat of an arch foe of clean government is in reach
Alaska to Vote on Publicly Funded Elections
Public Campaign Action Fund relays a report on the upcoming vote on Publicly Financed Elections promoted by Alaskans for Clean Elections. I made an online donation of $10 as my vote of encouragement. David James of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner says that if you're feeling blue about the state of Alaska politics and government don't despair. There are few things voters can … [Read more...] about Alaska to Vote on Publicly Funded Elections
A Flag Pin Flip Flop?
Much ado has been made over Sen. Barack Obama's failure to wear a flag pin on his lapel during this campaign. (We have to wonder, however, why Hillary Clinton doesn't get the same treatment over her lack of patriotic pantsuit pinnage.) Obama apparently drew a larger target on himself by saying that he wore is patriotism in a different manner. It was noted today by Scared … [Read more...] about A Flag Pin Flip Flop?
Report released on health of U.S. 911 services, focus on wireless 911
Consider this report as a guide to how not to have to say, "woulda coulda shoulda" (here's a summary; both are pdfs). My state of Ohio is considered to have a "critical lack of funding [that] is compromising the safety of Ohioans." I've written about what the Ohio legislature is doing here. How's your state doing? Do you know of any horror stories related to the … [Read more...] about Report released on health of U.S. 911 services, focus on wireless 911
The British Psyche:As Interested in the USA Elections 2008 as Americans
Got a call from the BBC this morning. I'll be on BBC radio here in just a little bit to speak about "Should Hillary Clinton Quit?" I'll post the article on what was said on the show, later tonight. I've been writing an article for TMV on just that topic. Generally, it's a critique about the MSM's perseveration re telling a candidate what they ought do next. Irritable back seat … [Read more...] about The British Psyche:As Interested in the USA Elections 2008 as Americans
On gender identity, amputee wannabes, & our contagious natures
At the close of the second of NPR's two part look at how parents are addressing their children's gender-identity issues which aired last week, Robert, the father of Violet, who is "absolutely certain" that she is "genuinely transgender," explains how he finds himself "almost offended" when people suggest that he and his family have been too quick to embrace a transgender … [Read more...] about On gender identity, amputee wannabes, & our contagious natures