It was the weekend before the 1960 election and my mother and I were patiently waiting in front of the tiny passenger terminal at the airport outside of Wilmington, Delaware. It didn't matter that the candidate was over an hour late when the Caroline, his powder-puff blue and white campaign plane, finally dropped out of the sky and taxied toward the chain-link fence that stood … [Read more...] about The Democrats: 48 Years and a Lifetime Later, In the Presence of Greatness. Again
The Republicans: 8 Years and One Tar Baby Later, a Comic Soap Opera Prevails
If the Democratic race heading into Super Tuesday is high drama, the Republican race is comic soap opera. The number of emergency room admissions following right-wing harpie Ann Coulter's announcement that she will back Hillary Clinton if John McCain is the nominee seem to have tapered off, but a goodly number of inmates in the conservative asylum are still locked in the … [Read more...] about The Republicans: 8 Years and One Tar Baby Later, a Comic Soap Opera Prevails
Guest Voice: Understand Us U.S.
Editor's Note: This Guest Voice column was written for TMV for the Pakistan-based website The Pakistani Spectator. Understand us US By The Pakistani Spectator by The Pakistani Spectator There is a vast chasm between the West and the Pakistan. The West simply doesn't understand what Pakistan is all about, and why despite so much aid and donations Pakistanis don't become … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Understand Us U.S.
Bush Economy
Paul Zanetti, Australia … [Read more...] about Bush Economy
Germany Leaves USA Stranded in Afghanistan
According to the German publication Berliner Morgenpost, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, recently sent a letter to several NATO nations including Germany, demanding they send an additional 3200 reinforcements to southern Afghanistan. The EU loudly criticized the tone of Gates’ demand. The German response was conclusive. Despite massive pressure from the United … [Read more...] about Germany Leaves USA Stranded in Afghanistan
Iraqis Look to the Flag … the American and Iranian, but Certainly Not the Iraqi!
Like everything else in Iraq these days, changing the nation's flag to remove any traces of Saddam Hussein has created tremendous controversy. Instead with the way it has handled the matter, a government with an already tattered reputation seems to have discredited itself even further among its own people. In his latest op-ed article from Iraq's Azzaman newspaper, columnist … [Read more...] about Iraqis Look to the Flag … the American and Iranian, but Certainly Not the Iraqi!
Poll: Public Increasingly Uneasy About Bill Clinton Back In White House
A new poll suggests the public is increasingly uneasy about the idea of former President Bill Clinton back in the White House -- and that independent voters are more-and-more turned-off by the idea. If you look at the large increase in Republicans who now don't want Bill Clinton back in the White House it's clear that, if Hillary Clinton gets the Democratic nomination, the … [Read more...] about Poll: Public Increasingly Uneasy About Bill Clinton Back In White House
John McCain: Will U.S. Republicans Let Him Save Them? …
Will Republicans allow John McCain to save them from 'an election that was said to be lost in advance?' Le Figaro's deputy editorial editor Pierre Rousselin wonders whether Republicans will grasp perhaps their last and best opportunity to retain control of the all-important White House. "He has managed to exasperate the most traditional Republicans with his positions … but … [Read more...] about John McCain: Will U.S. Republicans Let Him Save Them? …
USA & Iraq: Then & Now…
In the din and cacaphony of the presidential campaign/election in the US of A, two recent news stories are likely to be overshadowed, if not drowned. First, "Baghdad is drowning in sewage, thirsty for water and largely powerless, an Iraqi official said on Sunday in a grim assessment of services in the capital five years after the US-led invasion," reports AFP. (More … [Read more...] about USA & Iraq: Then & Now…
Who Deserves What?
I watched a lot of today's Super Bowl matchup between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Like anyone who saw this game, I was impressed by the 80-yard-plus winning drive led by Giant quarterback Eli Manning in its final minutes. But as I watched the post-game presentation of the Lombardi Trophy to the Giants, I was more than a bit put-off. Fox analyst and … [Read more...] about Who Deserves What?
Super Bowl: The Kids Pull It Off!
The NY Giants and the entire Manning family are very happy! Somebody who's eating crow. … [Read more...] about Super Bowl: The Kids Pull It Off!
The Obama “Join” Ad
I know some people are just going to want to rip into me for saying this, but after reading this piece in The Caucus about the Barack Obama ad being shown during the Super Bowl this evening (the link has the video there), I know why the Obama phenomena just isn't appealing to me (sadly for Hillary Clinton, there isn't much she's doing that's appealing to me either). It … [Read more...] about The Obama “Join” Ad
Pre-Super Tuesday Pre-Jitters
It is ON. The race between Obama and Clinton is tightening (Gallup currently describes it as a "statistical dead heat," 46-44%) and McCain may---or may not--- be on the verge of solidifying his hold. Or not. As Gandelman says, "Polls have been hideously wrong this year." Shut up, polls. Meanwhile, I'm gearing myself up to … [Read more...] about Pre-Super Tuesday Pre-Jitters
BULLETIN: California’s First Lady Maria Shriver Endorses Barack Obama (UPDATED)
California's first lady Maria Shriver has just appeared as a special surprise guest at the rally for Barack Obama in Los Angeles to endorse him for President. It was aired live on CSPAN. "I wasn't on the schedule," she said. "I thought to myself when i woke up this morning there's no place I should be but right here today." She said this morning she told her daughter: "I … [Read more...] about BULLETIN: California’s First Lady Maria Shriver Endorses Barack Obama (UPDATED)
John McCain and the Military ‘Espirit’ of the United States …
Does American culture's profusion of military jargon help a candidate like John McCain? According to O Globo's William Waack, one of Brazil's best observers of foreign affairs and the United States, 'In a country where one of the worst offenses is to be called a 'loser,' it's useful to pay attention to that espirit (there is no better expression) that emphasizes combat, … [Read more...] about John McCain and the Military ‘Espirit’ of the United States …
Ernie Pyle, The WWII Grunts’ Storyteller
AP says today, a new/old photo has surfaced that shows Scripps-Howard war correspondent Ernie Pyle dead at the side of the road in Japan in 1945. There is much to-do in the big newspapers today about this memorial photo of a dead war writer. But no image of the photo yet. It is being held somewhere by someone until... what? enough money, enough positioning. Whatever. To me … [Read more...] about Ernie Pyle, The WWII Grunts’ Storyteller
Pro Clinton Push Poll Reported In California (UPDATED)
First, came the controversies about the innuendos about Senator Barack Obama, the apologies and the occasional resignation (after the info was thrust into the news cycle). Next came The Bill Clinton offensive and display of the race card. And now comes this L.A. Times' blog report about push polling -- again coming from supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton: [UPDATE: Talking … [Read more...] about Pro Clinton Push Poll Reported In California (UPDATED)
Seeing Politics in Perspective
I've been interested in politics since I was a little boy, at least since I was four years old. My love for politics, which is an extension of my love for people, continues unabated, as the pieces I write here and on my personal blog will attest. I think that it's important who serves us in the White House and in the local court house. Yet, on days like the one I had on … [Read more...] about Seeing Politics in Perspective
Super Tuesday Polls: Democratic Clinton Obama Horserace And McCain Leads
In what is shaping up as one of the most dramatic moments in American political history, pre-Super Tuesday primary polls show the race between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination is tightening, while Republican Senator John McCain is apparently poised to solidify his hold as the front-runner for the Republican … [Read more...] about Super Tuesday Polls: Democratic Clinton Obama Horserace And McCain Leads
Barack Obama’s Yes We Can Music Video
Now making its way on the Internet: … [Read more...] about Barack Obama’s Yes We Can Music Video