EDITOR'S NOTE: The shocking assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has now pitchforked her name into the headlines -- and made her a household name all over the world. There have been a slew of moving tributes including articles about what she could have done for her country had she lived. But a counter opinion is also emerging … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Benazir Bhutto Not All That The Media Claimed She Was
God Bless Andrew Williams
A Bush Administration Poster Child Remember when people used to do things based on principle? Well, that hallowed but seemingly moribund concept has gotten a boost with the resignation of Lieutenant Commander Andrew Williams, a U.S. Naval Reserve lawyer, over the Bush administration's approval of the use of torture and the willful destruction of video tapes by the CIA … [Read more...] about God Bless Andrew Williams
“The Strongest Trans-Atlantic Relations…”
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee accused the Bush administration of having an "arrogant bunker mentality" on foreign policy. Secretary Rice responded: We have right now probably the strongest trans-Atlantic relations ... I would say in a very long time. (...) We're working with allies in Europe, Russia and China on Iran. The (NATO) alliance is mobilized … [Read more...] about “The Strongest Trans-Atlantic Relations…”
The Blossoming Comedy And Irony Of Will Drinker
I'm a huge fan of Will Drinker, an award winning student filmmaker. Drinker -- whose name you will likely see on credits in a movie theater or on some hit television program one day -- has a wonderful sense of humor and irony. For students of comedy (and non students): Here is one of my favorite videos of all time -- Color Me Blind which is about how activists fail to see … [Read more...] about The Blossoming Comedy And Irony Of Will Drinker
Who The Hell Is Huckabee?
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Who The Hell Is Huckabee?
Patriots Get Their Perfect Season (But Just Barely)
Patriots 38 - Giants 35 AP via NY Times … [Read more...] about Patriots Get Their Perfect Season (But Just Barely)
Will It Be Bloomberg And Unity In Independent Bid?
Hold your political calculations. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is going to meet with the bipartisan group Unity and there's a possibility that they could join forces in a third party bid. There have been stories plus speculation in informed political circles that Bloomberg could still jump into the race -- and now the Washington Post's David Broder reports this: New … [Read more...] about Will It Be Bloomberg And Unity In Independent Bid?
Europe Watches Iowa
Watching America has a flurry of articles from Europe on the Iowa caucuses. The French media have been busy summarizing events for their readers, as in Last Moment of the Campaign before the Iowa Caucuses from the Nouvel Observateur, France and the current feature story, Iowa Caucuses Kick off the Primaries from Le Monde, France The Brits are more colorful and opinionated, … [Read more...] about Europe Watches Iowa
Sister Sujita: Profile of an Indian Nun
Sister Sujita Kallupurakkathu, the global leader of the Sisters of Notre Dame, the religious community of 2,400 nuns serving in 17 nations, was born into a middle-class Catholic family in southern India, earned degrees in social work and communications from Bombay University, and learned many of her most important life lessons in an Indian slum. This interesting profile of a … [Read more...] about Sister Sujita: Profile of an Indian Nun
Democratic Republican Iowa Primary Race Closing: Fire In The Belly Time
It's "fire in the belly" time for all the candidates -- Republican and Democratic -- running in the January 3 Iowa caucuses. Send in caseloads of Tums. From one end of the state to the other, on radio, in print ads and in the all important TV air wars, the pace -- and stridency -- is increasing. And there is a reason why: it's a down-to-a-photo-finish horse race amid … [Read more...] about Democratic Republican Iowa Primary Race Closing: Fire In The Belly Time
Poll: Young Britons Back Prince William And Monarchy
Every once in a while there are a spate of news stories that surface, suggesting that the British monarchy is losing support -- but a new one is about a poll that suggests the monarchy and Prince William in particular are now on solid ground with young people: Britons overwhelmingly back the monarchy and would like to see Prince William to be the next monarch, of whose … [Read more...] about Poll: Young Britons Back Prince William And Monarchy
EDITORIAL: Pakistan – Preventing a Nuclear-Armed Taliban
Beyond supplying billions of dollars in military aid, is it time for the United States and Europe to get more directly involved in Pakistan's battle against extremists? According to this editorial from Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, a failure to do so could lead to nuclear-armed Taliban in Pakistan. “Now after the murder of Bhutto, the West must become more engaged: … [Read more...] about EDITORIAL: Pakistan – Preventing a Nuclear-Armed Taliban
Bon Voyage to Bush
The good news is that our President will be elsewhere much of next year, giving him less time in Washington to start disastrous wars and subvert the Constitution. The bad news: He will be abroad, winning hearts and minds for America with his wit, warmth and incomparable charm. In early January, Bush makes his first visit to Israel with side trips to the West Bank, Kuwait, … [Read more...] about Bon Voyage to Bush
I’ll Be Home After Christmas
Seat 22A. Directly over the wing. I didn't care. We had negotiated 60 miles of freeway from Kenosha, Wisconsin, to O'Hare, heavy snowfall in a rental car with bad wipers, weaved around big trucks with flashing yellow lights, huge plows on the front and spitting salt out the back, and managed to avoid Illinois motorists who were driving like this was a sunny July … [Read more...] about I’ll Be Home After Christmas
Best Blog Posts of 2007 (Chosen by the Bloggers Themselves)
Jon Swift has compiled this GREAT LIST of the best blog posts of 2007, chosen by each blogger. FOOTNOTE (and apology). He also emailed yours truly at TMV but due to heavy travels and an error on my part I never sent him my entry. But how could he run links to ALL of my posts? (Quite seriously, he also sent me a list of links of mine to select. APOLOGIES to JS.) This … [Read more...] about Best Blog Posts of 2007 (Chosen by the Bloggers Themselves)
New Video Shows Benazir Bhutto Getting Shot
It shows the shooting several times during this newscast (not in English): The Pakistan government is claiming she died due to a head injury when her head hit the car. Be sure to read our coblogger Swaraj Chuahan's earlier post Benazir’s Murder: Deepening Mystery & Musharraf Regime’s Vanishing Credibility. The latest development is that a Pakistan government official … [Read more...] about New Video Shows Benazir Bhutto Getting Shot
Benazir Bhutto And The Pakistan Crisis
Two MUST READ posts: --Arianna Huffington shares her memories of her dear and highly courageous friend. --Pajamas Media's Ghalia Aymen reports from Pakistan on the mood there. And be SURE to read our India-based coblogger Swaraaj Chauhan's earlier post today: --Benazir’s Murder: Deepening Mystery & Musharraf Regime’s Vanishing Credibility … [Read more...] about Benazir Bhutto And The Pakistan Crisis
Oh That George Bush! He Was For The Troops Before He Was Against Them
Hee, Hee. Ha, ha. Ho, ho George Bush's misadventure in Iraq has had innumerable consequences, but what occurred on Friday evening while the rest of us were watching football bowl games may take the cake: Bowing to a corrupt Iraqi government that his administration keeps on life support, the president vetoed a sweeping defense authorization bill because it could expose the … [Read more...] about Oh That George Bush! He Was For The Troops Before He Was Against Them
Benazir’s Murder: Deepening Mystery & Musharraf Regime’s Vanishing Credibility
As I write this post, India's leading TV channels are showing video clips of the alleged assailants firing from the revolver at Benazir Bhutto. And the news agency AP reports: "An Islamic militant group said Saturday it had no link to Benazir Bhutto's killing and the opposition leader's aides accused the government of a cover-up, disputing the official account of her … [Read more...] about Benazir’s Murder: Deepening Mystery & Musharraf Regime’s Vanishing Credibility
Bush Vetoing Military Bill: The Tail Wagging The Dog?
Over the years President George Bush has been accused by critics of doing the bidding of Big Business, oil interests, the religious right, defense contractors, big tobacco companies and other groups. But now, in a development that surprised not only Democrats, it was announced that Bush will veto an important military bill in order to prevent legal action against the Iraqi … [Read more...] about Bush Vetoing Military Bill: The Tail Wagging The Dog?