Is the Democratic Party about to rip itself asunder just before the general election begins? Pierre Rousselin of the Le Figaro warns, 'For a party that thought it would prevail easily, in this division there is the germ of an identity crisis even more menacing, given that the Obama-Clinton duel risks deepening the fissures.' By Pierre Rousselin Translated By Kate … [Read more...] about Hillary-Obama Expose the ‘Germ of an Identity Crisis’
Robert Gates: Crazy or Cold-Hearted?
Hans von Sponeck, former UN Human Rights Coordinator and deputy UN Assistant General Secretary responsible for the Iraq Oil for Food Program, said last weekend at the Munich Peace Conference: “You have to be either crazy or cold-hearted to see Iraq as a success.” According to this article in Germany's Neues Deutschland, Robert Gates should be heeding these words, especially … [Read more...] about Robert Gates: Crazy or Cold-Hearted?
Virginia Primary: Obama Wins But Republican Race Too Close To Call
Several news organizations report that Democratic Senator Barack Obama is projected to win the Virginia primary handily in a victory that indicates growing widespread support -- and that Republican Senator John McCain is still getting a stern political spanking from hard-line conservative voters in a GOP primary race that remains too close to all. MSNBC reports: Sen. … [Read more...] about Virginia Primary: Obama Wins But Republican Race Too Close To Call
Virginia Loves Obama
I may not love Barack Obama but Virginia's Democrats apparently do. Polls in Virginia have closed but polls in Maryland and D.C will be open for awhile yet. Washington Post: Sen. Barack Obama scored a convincing victory over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in Virginia's Democratic presidential primary, an early indicator of a strong showing for the Illinois senator in … [Read more...] about Virginia Loves Obama
Who to Vote For
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Who to Vote For
SurveyUSA gives Clinton 17 pt. lead in Ohio 3 weeks out
From Ohio Daily Blog: SurveyUSA has released a new Ohio poll taken 2/10 and 2/11 and it shows Hillary Clinton with a big 17 point lead over Barack Obama among likely voters: 56% Clinton 39% Obama Clinton is buoyed by a strong showing among women (62% to 33%), voters over 65 (64% to 30%), Democrats (58% to 37%), whites (62% to 32%), Hispanics (87% to 8%), and … [Read more...] about SurveyUSA gives Clinton 17 pt. lead in Ohio 3 weeks out
Ignored, and Forgotten
Syria is engaged in a renewed crackdown on political dissent, culminating with the recent detention of Riad Seif (left), a prominent opposition leader. This won't be the first time that Seif's been in jail - in 2001, he and several other pro-democracy advocates were thrown into prison for five-year terms, effectively ending a period of political openness known as the "Damascus … [Read more...] about Ignored, and Forgotten
For The Love Of God, Where’s The Progress?
In Israel-Palestine, high-level peace efforts appear to be going nowhere. It has been two months since the international meeting took place in Annapolis to jumpstart negotiations but the general feeling "is that talks between Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia are taking place in an alternate universe." (Haaretz) The meetings are irregular and, … [Read more...] about For The Love Of God, Where’s The Progress?
Pulling Petraeus Out of Iraq
In an odd juxtaposition, questions about bringing our troops home and how long Gen. David Petraeus himself will stay have become entwined in the Washington debate over Iraq. Yesterday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that he supports a pause in troop reduction after the drawdown to pre-Surge levels in July, reflecting doubts Petraeus has expressed while others in … [Read more...] about Pulling Petraeus Out of Iraq
The ‘Real’ Magic Number
If one of my esteemed colleagues already posted on this subject, my apologies for the duplication. But I found this site and this particular post intriguing, especially if you enjoy the math of campaigns as much as I do. In short, the site -- Obama is Winning -- suggests its authors believe if they say it loud enough, it will not only be but remain true. And the post -- … [Read more...] about The ‘Real’ Magic Number
Tuesday Potomac Primaries: More Barack Obama “Omentum” And End Huckabee “Miracle” Dream?
When voters to go the polls today in Potomac Primaries to vote in Virginia, Maryland and DC, they will likely answer two key political questions: (1) Will the recent momentum gathered by Democratic Senator Barack Obama (which might as well be called Omentum) in his neck-and-neck battle with Senator Hillary Clinton for the 2008 Democratic party Presidential nomination … [Read more...] about Tuesday Potomac Primaries: More Barack Obama “Omentum” And End Huckabee “Miracle” Dream?
Pakistan Ambassador to Afghanistan Kidnapped?
Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Tariq Azizuddin, has been reportedly kidnapped. Reuters says that the Ambassador was on his way to Kabul from the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar when he went missing along with his driver and bodyguard in the Khyber tribal region. At around the same time, two Pakistani nuclear technicians were kidnapped in the northwest. Now … [Read more...] about Pakistan Ambassador to Afghanistan Kidnapped?
A Shortage of Credibility & Fairness
If credibility and fairness were not necessary ingredients of a criminal-justice system, then the bolt-out-of-the-blue announcement that six Guantánamo Bay detainees will be tried before a military tribunal – and if found guilty executed – for their roles in the 9/11 terror attacks might be viewed as belatedly taking care of business. But as it is, there is a decided … [Read more...] about A Shortage of Credibility & Fairness
Updating the GOP
Cal Thomas writes in Redefining Conservatism that the GOP needs to update their message. He writes that even Ronald Reagan wasn't a conservative by todays standards. He appointed moderate Judges, raised some taxes, and didn't go to Church. ...Contemporary conservatism has mostly been about saying "no" to the liberal agenda. Suppose conservatives instead begin to … [Read more...] about Updating the GOP
Dem Race: If It Ain’t Brokered, Don’t Fix It
The term brokered convention is being thrown around with reckless abandon these days. Hillary Clinton's campaign is doing a pretty fair imitation of being panicked over Barack Obama's thus far unstoppable advance while the Democratic Party establishment and much of the punditocracy are in a near meltdown over the implications of a knock-down, drag-out national convention battle … [Read more...] about Dem Race: If It Ain’t Brokered, Don’t Fix It
“CHANGE”: American & East Timorese Style…
There is a world of difference when people want CHANGE in the 'developed' countries (such as the United States), and in the world's poorest of poor countries, such as East Timor (earlier a part of Indonesia). The former watches the verbal duels of the presidential candidates, while the latter witnesses gory blood-letting. All for a change... East Timor has witnessed the … [Read more...] about “CHANGE”: American & East Timorese Style…
As Elsewhere, America Sucks Essential Talent Out of Kenya
It isn't lost on people in other countries that America is a magnet that attracts their best talent - and it s often resented. With Kenya in flames after a contested election, some in that country feel that it might be better if some of those talented people were persuaded to return or remain in Kenya. According to X.N. Iraki of Kenya's The Standard, "This 'skimming of the … [Read more...] about As Elsewhere, America Sucks Essential Talent Out of Kenya
Guest Poet: American Peon
Another poetic gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: The big problem with the U.S. economy isn't high interest rates, and won't be fixed by lowering them. The big problem isn't lack of a few dollars from Washington, and won't be fixed by a $600-$1,200 giveaway. The big problem is that consumer spending has become too much debt-based with … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: American Peon
DVD Review: An Inconvenient Truth
Here's another Guest film Review by Dan Schneider, who has this heavily-visited website and whose reviews for TMV have been highly popular. DVD Review Of An Inconvenient Truth Review Copyright 2008 © by Dan Schneider Let me state, up front, I have never been a fan of former Vice President Al Gore. He was a right of center Democrat who worked in an administration … [Read more...] about DVD Review: An Inconvenient Truth
Obituary: Death Of Mr Common Sense
My daughter in Australia has drawn my attention to a death that seems to have gone virtually unnoticed in this world. And I was moved to tears... Read the full obituary here... … [Read more...] about Obituary: Death Of Mr Common Sense