Have Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats done Colombia wrong on trade? That seems to be the general consensus in that country, Washington's strongest ally in Latin America. For Colombia's leading newspaper El Tiempo, Alfredo Rangel writes in part: "Mrs. Pelosi has gotten her way. With her repeated rejection of the Free Trade Agreement, congressional Democrats are … [Read more...] about Colombians Lose as Pelosi, Democrats Play Politics With Trade …
The Blogger Independence Fallacy
Will left-of-center bloggers go easy on Barack Obama after he is sworn in as the next president? If human nature and all of the right-of-center bloggers who have been struck deaf, dumb and blind when it comes to writing about the extralegal excesses of George Bush's tenure are any indication, the answer is a resounding "yes." Exhibit A in this regard is Bush's embrace of … [Read more...] about The Blogger Independence Fallacy
Democratic Gaffes
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Democratic Gaffes
Harpo Marx: The Today Show Booking Plugging Guest Who Wouldn’t Talk
The Today show has for years had guests on who plug their books. But there was one guest on who did it without saying a word: Harpo Marx, the hugely popular silent brother of the classic vaudeville-film Marx Brothers team. In 1961, in his early 70s, he appeared on the show and promoted his new book. Minus talking: Harpo was famous for his parts in the Marx Brothers movies … [Read more...] about Harpo Marx: The Today Show Booking Plugging Guest Who Wouldn’t Talk
The Pope is Coming, The Pope is Coming
First, a disclosure: I am a Catholic who comes from a long line of deeply ethnic old believers. I've had my bewilderments with the Church hierarchy, and my critiques and condemnations of some of the actions of some within the hierarchy as well.... but also hold to the deep social teachings from the heart of the Church which share their core with other philosophies and other … [Read more...] about The Pope is Coming, The Pope is Coming
Republican Congressman Rep. Davis Refers To Obama As “That Boy”
From the report given in the New York Times' lively The Caucus blog, Kentucky Republicans were having a blast, ridiculing the Democrats as political non-realists and, overall, as an almost madcap lot. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had some fun going after the Demmies...and then it was the turn of Congressman Geoff Davis to continue the celebration of how Republicans … [Read more...] about Republican Congressman Rep. Davis Refers To Obama As “That Boy”
Room for a leap of faith
I have decided to support Sen. Barack Obama for president for this reason: Of the three candidates, Obama is the only one who gives the citizens of this country room to take a leap of faith. Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John McCain are running campaigns for the single purpose of getting elected. I believe that, once elected, whatever I might have liked about the campaign … [Read more...] about Room for a leap of faith
Wanted: A Better Caption For This Photo
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton joins some blue-collar workers for a beer and a shot while campaigning in Indiana. … [Read more...] about Wanted: A Better Caption For This Photo
American House Speaker Pelosi ‘Defies Law and Discipline’ …
Has U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 'defied law and discipline,' and 'challenged U.S. government' protection' of the Olympic torch relay? These are just some of the latest charges being leveled against Pelosi by the Beijing regime. In this article, published in the strictly-controlled state run People's Daily, her recent efforts to have legislation passed denying U.S. officials … [Read more...] about American House Speaker Pelosi ‘Defies Law and Discipline’ …
News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: April 14th
A biweekly feature of news and opinion pieces from the Israeli and Palestinian press. 1.) In a recent interview, Jimmy Carter outlined what will be discussed in his upcoming meeting with the exiled Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal. He said that of primary importance would be the issue of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Additionally, the former president said that he … [Read more...] about News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: April 14th
Gallup Daily: Obama Support Holding Despite Small-Town “Bitter” Flap
A new national Gallup Daily tracking poll shows no signs that the controversy swirling around Senator Barack Obama's comments about people who live in small towns is sparking political fallout: Barack Obama, who has come under attack by his presidential rivals for describing small-town voters as "bitter," seems to be weathering the storm to this point as far as voters are … [Read more...] about Gallup Daily: Obama Support Holding Despite Small-Town “Bitter” Flap
On Obama’s Reference To Clinton And Annie Oakley
Some younger Americans may not quite get Barack Obama's swipe at Hillary Clinton, suggesting she is posing as Annie Oakley in his reference to her comments on guns -- part of the increasingly aggressive tone between the two camps in light of the controversy over Obama's comments about people in small towns being bitter. READ THIS for a quick summary of Oakley, who was one of … [Read more...] about On Obama’s Reference To Clinton And Annie Oakley
Stephen Colbert: A Media Maestro Plays Philly (Guest Voice)
Today Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert kicks off his Pennsylvania coverage with a guest: MSNBC's Chris Matthews. But is this symbolic for Campaign 2008 and journalism's future? What's the most effective way to deliver news to people on the Internet and to appeal to younger American voters? Video and web producer Joe Windish. offers this compelling original interview on the … [Read more...] about Stephen Colbert: A Media Maestro Plays Philly (Guest Voice)
Did we really need a Compassion Forum?
The press is already dutifully lining up to report on last night's "Compassion Forum" in Pennsylvania, where Senators Clinton and Obama allowed themselves to be thrust into a "Dog and Pony Show for Jesus" contest to see who could "out-God" each other. At the end of this column I'll get to some more specific observations from the event, as promised in my short summary last … [Read more...] about Did we really need a Compassion Forum?
A Postcard From Small-Town Pennsylvania
Geez! I don't blog for a day or so and all hell breaks loose out on the old campaign tail. Many commentators have weighed in on Barack Obama's "bitter" remarks, and as someone who has worked in, traveled through and is blogging this week from one of the most depressed areas of small town Pennsylvania with among the nation's highest foreclosure, bankruptcy and unemployment … [Read more...] about A Postcard From Small-Town Pennsylvania
The Enduring Mystery of the Anasazi
The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde (top) and The Castle at Hovenweep Except for the distant cry of a raven, there were only the sounds of my children, a friend and I peeling and munching on orange slices. It was noontime and we were squatting under the cottonwoods in a ravine beneath The Castle, an exquisitely constructed silo-like structure of sandstone at Hovenweep, a cluster … [Read more...] about The Enduring Mystery of the Anasazi
India: Children’s Education Challenge & “Pratham”
In this TMV blog I keep writing occasionally on subjects that have an important role to play in increasing positivity in discussion and debate on matters related to politics. After all what is politics?...Surely, not just the circus where politicians are the key players. Politics percolates down to, and influences, health, education, art and culture...In fact all spheres of … [Read more...] about India: Children’s Education Challenge & “Pratham”
Bitter: Perception vs. Reality
I have always had a scene from the 1992 movie Sneakers in my brain. In the scene, Robert Redford has been captured by his former friend and fellow computer hacker, played by Ben Kingsley. Kingsley has a plan that will wreak havoc on the financial system. At some point Ben Kingsley's character notes that while the reality might be different, the general public would see the … [Read more...] about Bitter: Perception vs. Reality
Barack Obama Responds To Hillary Clinton’s “Small-Town” Offensive
Amid wire service headlines reading "Obama Turns Tables on Clinton," Senator Barack Obama has responded to Senator Hillary Clinton's three-day-old offensive against his comments about small town voters being bitter -- in a response combining pointed language, humor and lots of energy: Democrat Barack Obama lashed out Sunday at rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, mocking her … [Read more...] about Barack Obama Responds To Hillary Clinton’s “Small-Town” Offensive
‘War-Mongering Leaders are Isolated from Iraqis’
Are Iraqis beginning to feel better about the the U.S.-led occupation and the state of their nation? In our continuing effort to help answer that question, WORLDMEETS.US has translated this article from Iraq's Azzaman newspaper. Fateh Abdusalam writes in part, "In the sixth year of the new dispensation and still looking for excuses to justify its policies, Iraq's war-mongering … [Read more...] about ‘War-Mongering Leaders are Isolated from Iraqis’