What is Bill Clinton doing? Or to put it another way, What does the man want? It isn't only Americans that are asking these questions. In this op-ed from Austria's Die Presse, columnist Eve Male writes, 'He supports his wife, but with his rude demeanor he pees on her leg. What does Bill want? Is he simply trying too hard to compensate Hillary for staying with him during the … [Read more...] about ‘What Does Bill Clinton Want?’ …
Loosen That Tie, Mr Olmert: Political Disaster Narrowly Avoided
The Israeli press is alive with discussion of the Winograd Report, a study that assessed the conduct of Olmert's government during the Israeli-Hezbollah war. Most analysts agree that the findings are much less harsh than had previously been expected. Via Reuters:The Winograd Commission's final findings issued on Wednesday described "serious failings" by political and army … [Read more...] about Loosen That Tie, Mr Olmert: Political Disaster Narrowly Avoided
Bill Clinton Reportedly Will Soon Apologize At Black Churches (Super Tuesday Is Coming Up)
Once again, former President Bill Clinton seems poised to be pitchforked into the headlines right on the eve of a crucial primary vote amid a report that he's going to "repent" by going to some black churches. Almost on the EVE of the Super Tuesday primaries, Clinton will garner attention that could be focused on his wife Hillary Clinton: Once again, Bill Clinton is ready … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton Reportedly Will Soon Apologize At Black Churches (Super Tuesday Is Coming Up)
New Cast Members On Lost
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about New Cast Members On Lost
Dueling debates, Batman! MSNBC in Houston conflicts with CNN in Ohio
As Jerid at the Buckeye State Blog might write, Rut-roh. From the Houston Chronicle: The Partnership and the Sierra Club Foundation have long planned to hold a presidential debate at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Feb. 28, just five days before the March 4 Texas primary. MSNBC has promised to air the event, with NBC News Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert as … [Read more...] about Dueling debates, Batman! MSNBC in Houston conflicts with CNN in Ohio
The Landmark Battle over Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’
I have on the desk before me a copy of this rare first edition of Ulysses by James Joyce. It is perhaps the most influential novel of the 20th century and probably the book more people have claimed to have read but never finished. Although parts of Ulysses had been serialized in The Little Review, a literary journal, the post-modernist masterpiece was first published in its … [Read more...] about The Landmark Battle over Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’
A Centrist’s POV: The new Party of Pork
In the LA Times Editorial "The new Party of Pork" the duplicity of both the Democrats and the GOP is laid bare. There is a collusion to protect earmarks to gain favor with constituents. So I wonder if the geometry of the situation can be altered so that it is less about eliminating earmarks and more about the reasonable and fair management of earmarks. Instead of arguing … [Read more...] about A Centrist’s POV: The new Party of Pork
Which Of These Men Are Heroes?
Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the publication of this Eddie Adams photograph, one of two images that arguably did more than any others to turn the American public against the Vietnam War. (The other photo is here.) Taken by the late great Adams during the 1968 Tet offensive, it shows Nguyen Ngoc Loan, South Vietnam's national police chief, shooting a prisoner who was … [Read more...] about Which Of These Men Are Heroes?
AT&T to Serve Democratic Convention Goers
From the Rocky Mountain News: The Democratic National Convention Committee named AT&T this morning as the official wireless service provider for the party's convention in August. AT&T's agreement with the DNCC will require it to provide smart devices, hardware, software and air cards that allow direct connection to the Internet. ... The deal comes a couple of weeks … [Read more...] about AT&T to Serve Democratic Convention Goers
Blog Amnesty Day And The IMPORTANCE Of Linking To Smaller Blogs
We studiously try to avoid doing posts about blogging itself on TMV, because we consider it a news commentary and news information weblog, but here is a worthwhile exception: skippy the bush kangaroo (who invented the word "blogtopia') and Jon Swift have launched Blog Amnesty Day where they're asking weblogs to link to five or six smaller blogs. (See their logo … [Read more...] about Blog Amnesty Day And The IMPORTANCE Of Linking To Smaller Blogs
The AG & Torture: Same As It Ever War
It is now beyond obvious that Michael Mukasey blew beaucoup smoke up the collective asses of the senators who grilled him regarding the Bush administration’s embrace of torture during his confirmation hearings to replace Alberto Gonzales as attorney general. Beyond being wishy-washy on the use of waterboarding, Mukasey promised that he would review the legality of the … [Read more...] about The AG & Torture: Same As It Ever War
U.S. President Will Change. Russia Policy Will Not
The Russian daily Novosti has this commentary on the implications of the American choice of President on America's policy toward Russia. The conclusion is that it will have almost no implication whatsoever! ”Any American president would not love Russia and would be active act against it, I am sure,” said Director of the USA and Canada Institute Viktor Kremenyuk. "The … [Read more...] about U.S. President Will Change. Russia Policy Will Not
Obama: End of the Baby Boom Generation
It's a beautiful thing when the internet lives up to its promise as a platform for the global sharing of information and exchange of ideas. A while ago, Andrew Sullivan, the now-famous British-born American resident commentator wrote a very interesting piece on Obama and the advantages he offers the United States as someone who is not of the baby boom generation. That … [Read more...] about Obama: End of the Baby Boom Generation
The Discarding of Candidates
It's a little too soon to say "And now there are three"... but according to this article from Spain's ABC Journal, the only three candidates worth talking about are Clinton, Obama and McCain. The whole world has a horse in this race and so reacts when one of the participants falls at a hurdle. Of the Republican Race, During the primaries, we can clearly see that … [Read more...] about The Discarding of Candidates
The American Presidency and Arab Defeatism
Every nation has a (historical) self-narrative, which informs its self-image. Such a self-image determines the perspective from which one nation views another. This is why the translations at Watching America often say more about the authors writers and the homelands than about their actual subject, which is the United States. In that context, of particular interest is … [Read more...] about The American Presidency and Arab Defeatism
Ann Coulter: NeoDem?
by Damozel | Hurray! Ann Coulter has semi-endorsed Hillary, sort of! Ed Morissey asks "Has Ann Coulter jumped the shark?"He wonders if this will finish her off with anyone who still takes her seriously, assuming anyone still does. Jill Miller Zimon has the video right here. Is this the greatest campaign season ever, or what? It's not exactly fair … [Read more...] about Ann Coulter: NeoDem?
The McCain Surge: The Beginning of a New Movement?
Looking at some of the exit polling from the South Carolina and Florida primaries, I've noticed that John McCain is winning the few GOP moderates and liberals still left (like me) as well as pro-choicers and the like. It seems that the Senator from Arizona has been able to make the long-forgotten moderate wing of the party a factor in his path to the GOP nomination leaving the … [Read more...] about The McCain Surge: The Beginning of a New Movement?
Chris Cillizza’s Veepstakes
Chris Cillizza's 'The Fix' Blog at the Washington Post has moved on to considering the most-likely vice-presidential candidates with: The Line on Running Mates As Super Tuesday draws ever closer, the fields for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations have narrowed significantly. [snip] With such a narrow field, it seems pointless to continue the presidential … [Read more...] about Chris Cillizza’s Veepstakes
The Targeting of McCain
George W. Bush and Karl Rove apparently accomplished something the North Vietnamese in five years of captivity could not do--get John McCain to consider switching loyalties. The story surfaces, just before Super Tuesday, in The Hill today, of McCain's temptation to leave the Republican Party after being savagely smeared by the Bush campaign in the 2000 primaries. In … [Read more...] about The Targeting of McCain
Bush’s REAL State of the Union Address …
For fans of President Bush - look away now! In this tongue-in-cheek 'translation' of President Bush's State of the Union speech from Mexico's La Jornada, the author does his best to give his Spanish-speaking audience an 'uncensored' version of the American president's last report to Congress. It's biting ... "This financial-corporate elite is my base. They are few in number, … [Read more...] about Bush’s REAL State of the Union Address …