It's down to the home stretch in Iowa. After a day of Peace On Earth Goodwill To Men (and Women) it's now back to the antithesis: the political campaign to win the Iowa caucuses for the 2008 Democratic and Republican Presidential nominations. The biggest prize: the conservative voter, who seems more undecided than ever, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Arkansas … [Read more...] about Big Push By Candidates In Iowa To Win Votes (And Conservatives)
Yes (Still) Trumps No
In a cleverly titled article at Politico -- "The audacity of nope" -- writers Jeremy Lott and W. James Antle III set up Congressman Ron Paul as the antithesis of not only Sen. Barack Obama but the entire field of presidential candidates, Republicans and Democrats alike. Lott and Antle make a good point, but in the process, they miss a much larger (and more obvious) point, … [Read more...] about Yes (Still) Trumps No
Huckabee Goes Hunting (Macho Bona Fides)
AP: Presidential contender Mike Huckabee bagged a pheasant Wednesday, offering Iowa voters the image of an experienced outdoorsman on the hunt, shotgun blasting and dogs braying. AND: Of four birds flushed by the party, three were felled. Huckabee claimed the third with his .12-gauge shotgun. He proudly displayed the birds and said jokingly, "See that's what happens … [Read more...] about Huckabee Goes Hunting (Macho Bona Fides)
Center of Attention
Assorted items from the past week, wherein the writers attempt to strike a balanced note on current affairs or challenge us to review and refine our own sense of balance, of what's right and wrong, fair and unfair, rational and not. -------------------------- 'Twas the day after Christmas and all through the 'sphere, no one really cared who was balanced or not ... except … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Escaped Tiger Makes Day At San Francisco Zoo Deadly
Just imagine you've gone to the zoo. And just imagine the absolute terror you'd feel if you were confronted face-to-face with an escaped tiger. Just imagine the lawsuit that will likely stem from this: Two people attacked by a tiger Christmas Day remained in critical condition today, as investigators tried to determine how the animal escaped its enclosure and roamed the … [Read more...] about Escaped Tiger Makes Day At San Francisco Zoo Deadly
Iowa Conservatives Still Deciding On 2008 GOP Presidential Candidate
Iowa conservatives are still thinking about it. And thinking...and thinking. By all accounts -- and if you look at the roller-coaster polls over the past few weeks it confirms the anecdotal journalism -- the January 3 Iowa caucus date is getting closer and closer and many Republicans in Iowa are more undecided than ever (good news for media types and bloggers...bad news for … [Read more...] about Iowa Conservatives Still Deciding On 2008 GOP Presidential Candidate
A Happy New Year
Pavel Constantin, Romania … [Read more...] about A Happy New Year
Around The Sphere December 26, 2007
Our original link-fest offering readers links to blog posts from websites of many different viewpoints -- soon to enter its fourth year. Linked posts do NOT necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, THE WORLD SAW ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS. Or did it? DON'T SAY THE PHRASE "WELL, I'LL BE A MONKEY'S UNCLE" at a Republican … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere December 26, 2007
Can Campaign 2008 Candidates Use Weblogs To Get Votes Or Are Blogs Now Merely Echo Chambers?
The 2004 election was a kind of prototype: candidates started realizing the relatively-young Internet's potential for raising campaign funds -- and to get votes. In Campaign 2008 candidates in both parties are nurturing weblogs (with conference calls to friendly sites), blog outreach activists (by hiring bloggers to pitch ideas and positions to other bloggers) and to raise … [Read more...] about Can Campaign 2008 Candidates Use Weblogs To Get Votes Or Are Blogs Now Merely Echo Chambers?
Mitt’s Man George
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Mitt’s Man George
None of the Above
After the longest shopping season in history, Americans are not ready to buy. The oscillating poll numbers seem to reflect not changing enthusiasms but unease over their choices in both parties. As Clinton and Giuliani slide, Obama and Huckabee gain traction, Edwards and McCain come back from oblivion, and Mitt Romney keeps barely running in place, voters are vacillating in … [Read more...] about None of the Above
Santa’s Eggnog
Tab, The Calgary Sun … [Read more...] about Santa’s Eggnog
Poll: McCain Greatly Widens Election 2008 Lead Over Clinton
A new Rasmussen poll provides double-barreled good news for Republican Senator John McCain: it shows him greatly widening his lead over Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton if the two face each other in Election 2008 -- and that McCain is widely perceived as a centrist to the right of Clinton. With a recent poll indicating Clinton may in fact be poised to win the Iowa caucuses … [Read more...] about Poll: McCain Greatly Widens Election 2008 Lead Over Clinton
Brenda Lee Sings “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
The one and only Brenda Lee in a more recent performance of her 1950s hit (she sounds the same). Why not take her advice? NOTE: Turn your volume up real loud to hear this video (low audio): … [Read more...] about Brenda Lee Sings “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
Dump New Conventional Wisdom: Poll Gives Clinton Big Lead In Iowa
It looks like it's that time again....and not just Christmas time. It looks like it's time to deep-six the latest conventional wisdom and get ready for a new one. After weeks of sagging polls, political missteps, and problems stemming from personal attacks by apparent surrogates on Democratic Senator Barack Obama, a new poll shows New York Senator Hillary Clinton is pulling … [Read more...] about Dump New Conventional Wisdom: Poll Gives Clinton Big Lead In Iowa
Paco Underhill Interview: Why We Shop
Bill Steigerwald is a columnist at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. His column is distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons. WHY WE SHOP by Bill Steigerwald Someone once called Paco Underhill the Margaret Mead of shopping. That’s because the founder, CEO and president of Envirosell has spent more than 25 years studying the behavior of consumers and helping companies … [Read more...] about Paco Underhill Interview: Why We Shop
“All Alone in the World” from Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
A poignant song from a vastly underrated cartoon Christmas classic: … [Read more...] about “All Alone in the World” from Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
Merry Christmas To You And Yours
All us here at TMV are so greatly honored to be visited and linked by all of you and we've come know many of you in private emails. The VERY best to you and yours from all of us here at TMV. … [Read more...] about Merry Christmas To You And Yours
Bethlehem & Vatican: Pilgrims Progress…
Thousands of pilgrims joined local Palestinians in celebrating Christmas Eve in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, and the observances were more cheerful than in previous years, reports VOA. "It's a more joyful Christmas. We have more tourists, we have more pilgrims coming to the city of Bethlehem, twice as much as last year," said Bethleham Mayor Victor Batarseh. "All the hotels … [Read more...] about Bethlehem & Vatican: Pilgrims Progress…
You Can Track Santa’s Progress
You can see where he is and it's updated constantly via Google Maps. CLICK HERE. … [Read more...] about You Can Track Santa’s Progress