Is it curtains for the bluff and bluster game played by President ex-General Pervez Musharraf and his mentor in the White House, President George W. Bush, for the past eight years? The first important decision the new Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani took after being elected as prime minister was to order the release of the Chief Justice of the highest court, Iftikhar Mohammed … [Read more...] about Change In Pakistan: New Prime Minister Frees Chief Justice
Iraq War to Last Through Two More American Presidential Terms …
As the grim milestones in Iraq pile up, Americans aren't the only ones wondering how long the war will go on. Jean-Claude Kiefer writes for France's Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace, 'the United States has been discredited; Islamist terrorism is expanding; there is extreme tension throughout the Middle East; the Israeli-Palestinian crisis with Hamas has radicalized Gaza; Iran has … [Read more...] about Iraq War to Last Through Two More American Presidential Terms …
What’s John Edwards Waiting For?
Bill Richardson's endorsement of Barack Obama last week raises the question of why the leader of the also-rans is being coy about making a choice "John Edwards," Politico reports, "is unlikely to endorse either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton before the nomination is decided, according to interviews with several members of the former candidate's inner circle." Why not? At … [Read more...] about What’s John Edwards Waiting For?
Double Standard Squared
Andrew Sullivan reminds us that some individuals on the Right are quick to defend the late Jerry Falwell, arguing that the balance of his record outweighs a handful of inflammatory, hateful comments he made. These same individuals are equally quick to condemn Jeremiah Wright on a handful of inflammatory, hateful comments he made, regardless of the balance of his … [Read more...] about Double Standard Squared
Waiting For 5,000
3,232. 3,547. 3,689. Anybody remember these numbers? I don't, and for that I'm a bit ashamed. But 4,000, well, that one seems to give us pause. For some reason the sight of three zeros makes us turn our necks long enough to pay attention, ask more questions and continue to find few real answers. So here's my question on the anniversary of this 4th set of … [Read more...] about Waiting For 5,000
On the South Side of Chicago
“Against logic there is no armor like ignorance.” - Laurence J. Peter ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some of us gained our first knowledge of the south side of Chicago from the opening lyrics of Jim Croce's 1973 hit song, "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown." And while the tale of Mr. Brown was fictional, we … [Read more...] about On the South Side of Chicago
Obama Iowa Adviser Invokes “Monica’s Blue Dress”
One of Senator Barack Obama's Iowa advisers invoked "Monica's Blue Dress" when angrily responding to comments by former President Bill Clinton that some have interpreted as questioning Obama's patriotism. He wrote it on his blog and then removed it. DETAILS HERE. The Obama campaign quickly said these kinds of comments don't belong in the campaign and that Obama "rejects" … [Read more...] about Obama Iowa Adviser Invokes “Monica’s Blue Dress”
“I look forward to a day where Israeli and Palestinian children live in peace.”
Did a Jewish gathering really boo that statement? What does that say about us? … [Read more...] about “I look forward to a day where Israeli and Palestinian children live in peace.”
The Parties’ Losses are Moderates’ Gain?
At the Center for Competitive Politics, which is a leading champion for the equating of speech and money in politics, is an interesting commentary that the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act has resulted in the weakening of the influence of the two major Parties. Money is diverted to third-party groups that may have different agendas than Party … [Read more...] about The Parties’ Losses are Moderates’ Gain?
Making Cigarettes Invisible…
Out of sight...out of mind. Working on this old adage Britain intends to push the cigarettes under the counter. The Times reports: "Cigarettes are to be forced beneath shop counters with supermarkets and cornershops banned from displaying tobacco products. "The latest assault on smokers will also see the disappearance of vending machines from pubs and restaurants in an … [Read more...] about Making Cigarettes Invisible…
A Grim Milestone In Iraq…
While every sneeze of Obama/Clinton/McCain attracts reams and reams of media/blog coverage, Iraq seems to have become a violent theatre of death and destruction in some other planet in the universe. The recent AP story underscores this irony in the grim milestone reached on Sunday when four US soldiers were killed in Baghdad. "The overall U.S. death toll in Iraq rose to … [Read more...] about A Grim Milestone In Iraq…
Bhutan Trades Its Popular King For Politicians…
While India's neigbouring region Tibet undergoes violent convulsions, another Buddhist neighbour (the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan -- also sandwitched between India and China), ends more than a century of royal rule today with its first parliamentary elections. Interestingly, "no one, except the King who is giving up his power, seems happy about it." "Unlike so many other … [Read more...] about Bhutan Trades Its Popular King For Politicians…
Why Hillary Must Come Clean About Bill
Few things are certain in this season of political upheaval on such a seismic scale, but here is one that is: Should Hillary Clinton win the nomination and the election, Bill Clinton will not morph from an alpha male into a passive male on Inauguration Day and will have an out-sized, historically-unprecedented and unwelcome impact on her presidency. The former president has … [Read more...] about Why Hillary Must Come Clean About Bill
4,000
MORE HERE. Image by Werner Horvath … [Read more...] about 4,000
Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere March 24, 2008
The campaign is boiling and here's our famous linkfest to give you a taste of the soup. NOTE: Links and quotes do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of TMV or its co-writers. IS THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN STARTING TO FRACTURE? There are reports now about dissension in its ranks. PROGRESSIVES COMPLAIN ABOUT GUILT BY ASSOCIATION IN THE CASE OF OBAMA AND HIS PASTOR WRIGHT … [Read more...] about Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere March 24, 2008
March Madness Recap, Day Four
The middle games today were fantastic. My friend from Georgetown is mysteriously missing -- yesterday, she was very eager to mock me for the Duke game.... - How about Stephen Curry? Shut down entirely in the first half, he came alive in the second to lead Davidson in a thrilling comeback over Georgetown. - You know what that game reminded me of? The one between Louisville … [Read more...] about March Madness Recap, Day Four
Richardson Defends Clinton But Blasts Her Aides
Can this be beneficial to the Clinton campaign? New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has answered comments from some aides to Senator Hillary Clinton who have belittled his endorsement of Senator Barack Obama or taken swipes at him by defending the Clintons and lambasting their aides. Usually if someone prominent endorses a candidate, someone on the side that doesn't get the … [Read more...] about Richardson Defends Clinton But Blasts Her Aides
Hillary’s Tall Tales at Tuzla – Is this the end?
I respect Hillary Clinton as one of the most capable First Ladies in US history. She failed in some of her signature efforts, including especially health care reform, but she persisted in offering substantive advice on policy matters. She was no Laura Bush. But throughout this campaign Hillary Clinton has gone very close to the sin of resume-padding: making her White House … [Read more...] about Hillary’s Tall Tales at Tuzla – Is this the end?
Obama’s Success: Voters Finally, Truly, Mad As Hell…
How can one account for Barack Obama's truly astonishing success in reaching for the American presidency? It isn't his speechifying. He's an excellent speaker, but Jesse Jackson in his time was better. It's not his personal story, which though in many ways inspiring, can't match the heroic realism of John McCain's. It's not his stands on issues that are not noticeably … [Read more...] about Obama’s Success: Voters Finally, Truly, Mad As Hell…
Spitzer’s Fall and America’s Archaic Laws About Sex …
One thing conspicuously lacking in the recent public discussion about Eliot Spitzer's political demise, is the draconian nature of many of America's sex laws. Hélio Schwartsman writes for Brazil's Folha newspaper, "In various nations including Brazil, the location a politician installs his annex is normally a topic that only concerns himself and those directly involved … The … [Read more...] about Spitzer’s Fall and America’s Archaic Laws About Sex …