The New York Times buried a lede big-time in its story about the Clinton-Obama Pennsylvania debate. That debate was widely criticized for the way the hosting network and its moderators, Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos, devoted the first half of the 90-minute debate to questions of little substance, such as the importance of wearing American flag lapel pins. … [Read more...] about TV politics: Audience first, issues second
President Correa: Prove Your Charges of CIA Infiltration!
Has the CIA infiltrated the Ecuadorian intelligence services - and is Ecuadorian intelligence feeding information to the Colombian government? These charges have been leveled by Ecuador's President Correa against his own intelligence services - and there are some in Ecuador who are demanding he provide evidence. Carlos Freile writes for Ecuador's La Hora, "We Ecuadorians … [Read more...] about President Correa: Prove Your Charges of CIA Infiltration!
New McCain Fund Gets Around Donation Limits
Perhaps these maneuvers are what Senator Obama had in mind when he said he wanted to negotiate with the Republican Nominee on a fair campaign finance agreement. I also imagine that the FEC might have something to say about these tactics if they had a quorum. The new structure allows up to $70,000 in individual contributions by channeling the money into different … [Read more...] about New McCain Fund Gets Around Donation Limits
Gallup Tracking: Clinton Rising And Obama Dropping
Within days of the crucial Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential primary, the Gallup Daily Tracking poll and and one other shows Senator Hillary Clinton is showing signs of "Big Mo" (momentum) -- and that rival Senator Barack Obama's campaign may be sagging. Trending is what you really need to look for...and some of the new polls aren't good news for Obama. … [Read more...] about Gallup Tracking: Clinton Rising And Obama Dropping
Guest Voice: The Most Powerful People in America
Here is another Guest Voice by Joel S. Hirschhorn who is highly critical of both parties.. Guest Voice columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. The Most Powerful People in America by Joel S. Hirschhorn They are not the rich and superrich, nor the politically powerful running the two-party plutocracy, nor the greedy heads of banking and … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: The Most Powerful People in America
No Slap for Bush; Pope’s Unspoken Endorsement of John McCain
Those who were waiting for Pope Benedict to issue President Bush a 'slap in the face' over the Iraq War have been sorely disappointed. In fact, according to Patrik Etschmayer of Switzerland's Nachrichten newspaper: "No one should believe that the Iraq War is really that high on the Pope's agenda. When it came time for the Holy See to endorse a candidate for the last … [Read more...] about No Slap for Bush; Pope’s Unspoken Endorsement of John McCain
The economy’s fine. You, however, may be psychotic
Via Think Progress, we find a rather unusual tidbit from a recent John McCain interview. When the topic turns to the economy in general and gas prices in specific, Senator McCain is proposing a summer vacation from gas taxes to help out Americans. Strangely, though, he doesn't seem to think it's really going to change much. I’m very concerned about it, Neil. And obviously … [Read more...] about The economy’s fine. You, however, may be psychotic
Can This New Poll Be Right? Well, Maybe . . .
Newsweek magazine's latest national poll has Barack Obama ahead of Hillary Clinton by a whopping 19 points among Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters. Mind blowing, no? Well, maybe not according to this analysis by Charles Franklin at pollster.com. HAT TIP TO BACK ALLEY MEDIA … [Read more...] about Can This New Poll Be Right? Well, Maybe . . .
Clinton Supporter Spreads Info Alleging Obama Link To 70s Radicals
It's increasingly clear that the Clinton campaign's negativity is so intense that it will eventually be compared to the infamous negative number Republicans George Bush and Karl Rove played on Senator John McCain in the 2000 South Carolina primary -- but the Clinton campaign's negativity is unrelenting....and now offers a new twist: In the latest melody in the medley of … [Read more...] about Clinton Supporter Spreads Info Alleging Obama Link To 70s Radicals
Political Parties: How Many are Too Many?
The hue and cry for independent and third-party candidates has seemingly died down during the current campaign season -- though I doubt those who favor something beyond the R-and-D paradigm will remain quiet for long. Before they renew their efforts, they may want to read and consider the implications of “A systemic problem” -- one of the articles featured in The Economist’s … [Read more...] about Political Parties: How Many are Too Many?
Danny Federici (1950-2008)
MORE HERE. … [Read more...] about Danny Federici (1950-2008)
Fair and Balanced?
At Politico, John Harris and Jim Vandehei take their turn scolding the media for scolding ABC. Though I don't agree with everything they write, I do -- even as an Obama supporter -- agree with their essential thesis: It is not reporters’ job to promote the opposition’s story lines — especially dubious ones like the suggestion that because Obama does not favor flag pins on … [Read more...] about Fair and Balanced?
News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: April 19th
A biweekly feature of news and opinion pieces from the Israeli and Palestinian press. 1.) Last Friday, Israel's Housing and Construction Ministry announced its decision to build 48 new houses in the West Bank settlement of Ariel and 52 houses in the settlement of Elkana. Israel has defended the decision by noting that they will merely be a part of the existing settlement … [Read more...] about News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: April 19th
John Zogby Polls Pennsylvania’s Primary — Interview (Guest Voice)
In this Guest Voice post, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Bill Steigerwald interviews pollster John Zogby, who discusses trends in Pennsylvania days before the crucial Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary: John Zogby Polls Pennsylvania's Primary by Bill Steigerwald The name Zogby -- like Gallup -- has become synonymous with polling and public opinion … [Read more...] about John Zogby Polls Pennsylvania’s Primary — Interview (Guest Voice)
Blogs & Media Love To “Hate” Hillary Clinton?
One can understand when a staunch Republican declares that he/she "hates" a presidential candidate from another party. But it stumps me when even the so-called Democrat-supporters are quoted in the media saying they "hate" Hillary Clinton. I can understand Democrats "opposing", "disagreeing", "dis-approving", "disliking", etc., etc., their own party candidate, but why "hate"... … [Read more...] about Blogs & Media Love To “Hate” Hillary Clinton?
Neil From Buffalo Makes a Confession
Our friend Neil is a member of Hillary Clinton's core constituency: A 66-year-old blue-collar worker and Roman Catholic with a high school education from Buffalo, New York, a gritty Rust Belt city, who was a Navy medical corpsman. Neil voted for Clinton on Super Tuesday because he believed that she had the requisite experience and the "balls," as bluntly put, to lead the … [Read more...] about Neil From Buffalo Makes a Confession
Of Pope Benedict, US Priests, Iraq & Bushism…
While Pope Benedict's visit to the US, and the UN, was highlighted in the media with special emphasis on the US priests' misdemeanours in the US, and the veiled criticism of the military adventures in Iraq and concern about human rights (see here), what I really enjoyed reading was 50 religious insights from George Bush...please click here... … [Read more...] about Of Pope Benedict, US Priests, Iraq & Bushism…
Book Reviews: The Creator of the Sherlock Holmes Detective Series In Fact & Fiction
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (TOP) AND GEORGE EDALGI Like many a lad, I drank in the Sherlock Holmes detective stories like so many bottles of soda pop without knowing anything about their creator, Arthur Conan Doyle. It didn’t really matter because Holmes and the world of 221B Baker Street seemed so lifelike that many readers believed that he really existed. In the years since, I … [Read more...] about Book Reviews: The Creator of the Sherlock Holmes Detective Series In Fact & Fiction
Hillary Clinton’s Bad Friday: Blasts Democratic Activists And Gets Bad Poll Numbers
For Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton it is definitely not "Thank God it's Friday" - today was the day when a tape of her surfaced blasting part of the Democratic party's leftist base -- and she got some stunningly bad poll numbers. The tape creates yet another credibility problem for Clinton since MoveOn.org, the group in question with its millions of activists, was … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton’s Bad Friday: Blasts Democratic Activists And Gets Bad Poll Numbers
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: DOUBLE FEATURE!
Larry J. Sabato on HOW COULD JOHN McCAIN WIN IN NOVEMBER? History versus circumstance in the general election PLUS Alan I. Abramowitz on WILL DISAPPOINTED DEMS VOTE FOR MCCAIN? Crossover voting and defection in past elections Sabato: It's obvious to just about everyone that, at least theoretically, the Democrats have a near-perfect climate for presidential victory in … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: DOUBLE FEATURE!