It's a good rule of thumb never to let the military conduct its own misconduct investigations. If you don't follow that advice, you'll end up with results like this one: The Israeli army on Monday said it will not press charges against officers who ordered the use of cluster bombs during last year's war in Lebanon, brushing off international criticism that the weapons … [Read more...] about War Crimes? Pffaww…
Jon Swift’s Best of 2007
Jon Swift has collected a "best of 2007" round-up, with every blogger contributing their own favorite post of the year. I ended up choosing The Chronicle of Madison's Tomb: Why "Roe Rage" has Nothing To Do With Legal Theory". I want to thank everyone who gave their input on my list of finalists -- it was a good year of blogging, if I do say so myself. But you should … [Read more...] about Jon Swift’s Best of 2007
Review: The Price of Whiteness
Eric L. Goldstein, The Price of Whiteness: Jews, Race, and American Identity (Princeton: Princeton UP, 2006), 239 pages excluding index and endnotes. The book is about the shifting relationships Jews had with Whiteness, race, and Blacks. My review is in the classic law review sense of the term -- I use the book as an excuse to talk about what I want to talk about -- in this … [Read more...] about Review: The Price of Whiteness
Longtime Bhutto Adviser Blames Musharraf For Assassination
Today's MUST READ. … [Read more...] about Longtime Bhutto Adviser Blames Musharraf For Assassination
U.S. to Expand Military Presence in Pakistan
On the day of Bhutto's assassination, the Nation of Pakistan reports of the U.S.' military expansion in Pakistan. EARLY next year, US special forces are expected to vastly expand their presence in Pakistan, as part of an effort to train and support indigenous counter-insurgency forces and clandestine counter-terrorism units, according to American defence officials … [Read more...] about U.S. to Expand Military Presence in Pakistan
Giuliani Benefits?
Why in the face of a tragedy does silliness still rear its warty head? Benazir Bhutto is assassinated and some yahoos at MSNBC and Fox News start talking how Rudy Giuliani can benefit from this politically... Sickening. According to some punditry, "America's Mayor" will show Americans how dangerous the world is because of this assassination which will translate into … [Read more...] about Giuliani Benefits?
Centrists in Congress
Mark Statin's "Radical Middle" site has created a list of the Centrists in Congress. "There Is a Radical Middle in Congress, and Its Stars Are Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Rep. Rush Holt(D-NJ)" December 2007. This month we polled 21 leading radical centrist thinkers and activists to determine the "Best Radical Middle or Post-Partisan Members of Congress." They not … [Read more...] about Centrists in Congress
Football for All
I'm no fan of the NFL Network, for both professional and personal reasons. I work for one of the cable broadband companies that has refused to bend to the league's pressure tactics, and while I'm an avid fan, I think the idea of a 24/7 channel devoted to pro footbal is a waste of time. But even I have to give the NFL and Commish Goodell props for making the historic … [Read more...] about Football for All
Reality Overtakes Rhetoric: Why Bhutto’s Blood Is On Bush’s Hands
Let’s put a few things in perspective before we mourn the passing of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated by a gunman prior to a suicide bombing today that took upwards of 20 lives at a campaign rally in Rawalpindi. An earlier attempt on her life killed 140 people in October shortly after she returned from exile. It speaks volumes that: * … [Read more...] about Reality Overtakes Rhetoric: Why Bhutto’s Blood Is On Bush’s Hands
Ron Paul Plays Religion Card In New Ad
First he said this... "It reminds me of what Sinclair Lewis once said. He says, 'when fascism comes to this country, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross.' Now I don't know whether that's a fair assessment or not, but you wonder about using a cross, like he is the only Christian or implying that subtly. So, I don't think I would ever use anything like … [Read more...] about Ron Paul Plays Religion Card In New Ad
Biden To Play Spoiler?
(AP Photo by Evan Vucci) Joe Biden is sort of like the anti-Obama. He's deeply entrenched in Washington, is a firm believer in the process and has a boatload of national legislative experience. So will that help him make an impact in Iowa? Well, if you ask Joe Biden... DES MOINES - - Joe Biden is talking. “Barack does a room, Hillary does a room, I do the same room … [Read more...] about Biden To Play Spoiler?
Hoagie Carmichael: An Appreciation
Is there a more beautiful song than Hoagie Carmichael's "Stardust"? For me there is not. The hauntingly beautiful melody is a special part of the soundtrack of my life, from my humming it as I tried to fall asleep as a child on a hot summer night through to my 30s when my appreciation for the Great American Songbook blossomed to the present when I marvel at how it just sounds … [Read more...] about Hoagie Carmichael: An Appreciation
Benazir Bhutto Gunned Down
It is a sad day in the history of Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister and the opposition leader, was assassinated Thursday in a suicide bombing that also killed at least 20 others at a campaign rally, reports AP and BBC. Bhutto is survived by her husband Asif Ali Zardari and their three children: Bilawal, Bakhtwar, and Aseefa. Benazir Bhutto was born in … [Read more...] about Benazir Bhutto Gunned Down
R.I.P. Benazir Bhutto
I just got to my computer to find that former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a suicide attack (along with 15 others) while speaking at an election rally. BBC: Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a presumed suicide attack. News of her death was confirmed by a military spokesman and members of her Pakistan People's Party … [Read more...] about R.I.P. Benazir Bhutto
Republican Squeaky Wheels
The overhyped story of the 2008 elections so far is the role of the Religious Right in picking a GOP candidate, fueled by headlines about Huckabee's commercial cross, Romney's speech on "Faith in America," Pat Robertson's underwhelming endorsement of Giuliani and the Rev. James Dobson's serial excommunication of each aspirant as he edges toward supporting his fellow … [Read more...] about Republican Squeaky Wheels
Eight Critical Days for Candidates
Here's a nice little roundup of the state of play written by Luxembourgians. Everyone is Watching America, especially now. Eight Critical Days for Candidates for the White House After a brief truce to celebrate Christmas, eight days from the first elections, candidates for the White House resumed campaigning on Wednesday in Iowa (center) to try to convince the … [Read more...] about Eight Critical Days for Candidates
Candidates Exchange
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about Candidates Exchange
Two Doses Of Good News For Hillary Clinton’s Iowa Primary Hopes
After several weeks of bad press and roller coaster like poll numbers, New York Senator Hillary Clinton got two doses of good news -- news that should enhance an image that had become sullied recently and could perhaps help restore the aura of "inevitability" in the January 3 Iowa caucuses. Substance and image matter in politics and so does a sense that a candidate has … [Read more...] about Two Doses Of Good News For Hillary Clinton’s Iowa Primary Hopes
Election ’08: Machiavelli Beats Goethe ??
Here’s my favorite quotation from any article currently linked on WatchingAmerica.com. It is taken from an article in the Guardian (U.K.), entitled, “A Man Who Abides by Moronish Wisdom” My residual problem with Romney being a Mormon is … that it seems such a wacky collection of man-made Moronical codswallop. The statement speaks to something that sets the U.S. … [Read more...] about Election ’08: Machiavelli Beats Goethe ??
Blaming The Jews Department
Apparently with some folks, the Goodwill Toward Men of Christmas is supposed to last less than 24 hours. We don't often write about other blogs on TMV (we concentrate on news and events), but this is a bit shocking. PREFACE: Don't blame this one on ME. I'm too busy running the country's banks, producing all of Hollywood studios' entertainment, giving written orders to … [Read more...] about Blaming The Jews Department