A biweekly feature of news and opinion pieces from the Israeli and Palestinian press. 1.) Political analyst Daniel Levy notes that Israel continues to drag its feet on dismantling illegal outposts. Unlike settlements, which are authorized by the Israeli authorities, outposts are illegal under Israeli law. Nonetheless, in an effort to increase the number of settlers in the … [Read more...] about News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: March 30th
The Case for NOT Boycotting the Olympics
...as argued by political analyst Matt Dupuis. … [Read more...] about The Case for NOT Boycotting the Olympics
I Attended a Texas County Delegate Convention
I participated in one of the largest Texas County delegate conventions and I am mystified by media reports that the gatherings were contentious No doubt there are examples of conflict and rude behavior but in no way did these exceptions define the overall tone and conduct of the gatherings. Our Travis County gathering of 8,000 was important enough to attract dozens of … [Read more...] about I Attended a Texas County Delegate Convention
Why Do Iraq War Movies Tank at the Box Office?
Another season of Hollywood big budget releases is grinding onward and, as Deadline Hollywood Daily tells us, the latest in a long line of films about the Iraq War (and/or the Global War on Terror) seems set to take a dive at the box office. I'm told #7 Stop-Loss opened to only $1.6 million Friday from just 1,291 plays and should eke out $4+M. Although the drama from MTV … [Read more...] about Why Do Iraq War Movies Tank at the Box Office?
Clinton Team Breaking the Bank
It's not easy to win a presidential primary, nor is it cheap. This is a lesson that Hillary Clinton's campaign seems to be learning as they go. During a time when you are trying to bolster the troops and keep confidence among your supporters high, leaving a string of unpaid campaign bills and frustrated, angry vendors probably isn't the best message to send. Hillary Rodham … [Read more...] about Clinton Team Breaking the Bank
Book Review: Oliver Sacks’ ‘Musicophilia’
"I WAS BORN WITH MUSIC INSIDE ME" -- RAY CHARLES It is a testament to the complexity of the brain that despite decades of research we still have relatively little understanding of why so many of us enjoy music so deeply and revel in its ability to alter our moods, trigger memories and even change our lives. That is just fine with me as someone who has never heard a kind … [Read more...] about Book Review: Oliver Sacks’ ‘Musicophilia’
Dith Pran (1942-2008)
MORE HERE. … [Read more...] about Dith Pran (1942-2008)
Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere March 30, 2008
Is Hillary on the ropes? Is Obama facing a lull before another storm? Is he too wounded to win the election? Is that guy smiling John McCain (yes)? Here's another edition of our linkfest offering you an Internet roadmap to various sites. NOTE: Links and quotes do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of TMV or its co-writers. BARACK OBAMA HAS A NEW POLITICAL AD and Dean … [Read more...] about Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere March 30, 2008
Novak: 2008 Is Hillary Clinton’s Last Chance For Democratic Presidential Nomination
Conservative columnist Robert Novak has an item that suggests Senator Hillary Clinton could have problems if the emerging conventional wisdom is correct and she goes for the Democratic nomination in 2012 should Senator Barack Obama be the nominee and lose: Al Gore, despite the lowest political pro file, is talked about among prominent Democrats as their leading candidate … [Read more...] about Novak: 2008 Is Hillary Clinton’s Last Chance For Democratic Presidential Nomination
The Carville Flap: Another Illustration of ‘the Clinton Rules’ in Action
You know, an Obama campaign co-chair recently compared Bill Clinton to Joe McCarthy----a truly dire insult from the point of view of anyone old enough to remember what McCarthy was and did. And the insult was generated not because of anything Clinton said or did but because of something McPeak assumed he meant or might have meant or could be construed to have meant, … [Read more...] about The Carville Flap: Another Illustration of ‘the Clinton Rules’ in Action
Tacky War on Terror
Munitions merchants are not what they used to be. A century ago, in "Major Barbara," George Bernard Shaw gave us Andrew Undershaft, an intellectual who philosophized about war and poverty. Today we have 22-year-old Efraim Diveroli, who peddles useless used weaponry and keeps getting arrested for domestic violence. After "repeated inquiries" by the New York Times, the Army … [Read more...] about Tacky War on Terror
Obama’s Granny
Gary McCoy, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Obama’s Granny
(Updated) Al-Maliki Casts His Vote & The Real ‘Byproduct of the Success of the Surge’
ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATORS IN BAGHDAD Although it at first may seem like a strange way to look at the latest round of bloodshed in Iraq, it's all about Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki casting the first vote in that country's much anticipated provincial elections. The result is a troubling new chapter in the Forever War: Basra city and parts of Baghdad are under siege, the … [Read more...] about (Updated) Al-Maliki Casts His Vote & The Real ‘Byproduct of the Success of the Surge’
Obama and the Return to the Founding Fathers
Global reaction to Barack Obama's speech continues to pour in. In this op-ed article from France's Le Monde, Daniel Vernet writes, 'The senator from Illinois put himself in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers of the United States. … Obama's leitmotif is marked with a seal of hope and optimism in a union that can be 'perfected.' It is not perfect. It never has been. … The … [Read more...] about Obama and the Return to the Founding Fathers
Dog bites man news on Hillary
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com … [Read more...] about Dog bites man news on Hillary
Some Democrats Want New York Governorship As Hillary Clinton “Consolation Prize”
Newsweek's Jonathan Alter reports that some Democrats seek to dangle the New York state governorship in front of Senator Hillary Clinton as a consolation prize in the hopes that she won't battle front-runner Barack Obama all the way to the convention: Some Democrats terrified that their bloody primary campaign will doom them in November are floating a consolation prize for … [Read more...] about Some Democrats Want New York Governorship As Hillary Clinton “Consolation Prize”
Nader Gives Hillary Clinton Moral Support To Continue Fighting To Convention
The news-cycle over the past few days has been filled with some Democratic bigwigs, unnamed sources and others hinting or flatly clamoring for Hillary Clinton to get out of the 2008 Democratic race since they contend she doesn't have a realistic chance. But now she's getting moral support to stay in from a former Presidential candidate -- but it's unlikely to impress Democratic … [Read more...] about Nader Gives Hillary Clinton Moral Support To Continue Fighting To Convention
Lost and Found at the DEA
A new report from the Department of Justice has good news and bad news. The good news is that the DEA had "a 50 percent reduction in the frequency with which laptops are lost and stolen" since 2002. Of course they can't actually figure out what was on all those stolen computers, unlike the 160 laptops the FBI has lost or had stolen during the last 4 years -- they think at … [Read more...] about Lost and Found at the DEA
New McCain Campaign Ad: 624787
Via memeorandum comes the first general election ad of the season. America, meet John McCain -- war hero, former POW, and patriot extraordinaire: No doubt we will all know his Navy serial # (624787) by heart before this is all done... and why not? He was a hero indeed; I, for one, admire his service and courage enormously. And he's gonna need all those laurels to support … [Read more...] about New McCain Campaign Ad: 624787
Dean To Democratic Superdelegates: Enough Is Enough (By July 1st)
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has put a proposed deadline on the day when Superdelegates should make their decisions and get behind one of the party's two bitterly warring Presidential candidate wannabes: make your decision by July 1st: A potential game-changer from CBS News and "The Early Show." Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says … [Read more...] about Dean To Democratic Superdelegates: Enough Is Enough (By July 1st)