Gary Webb I have worked with a goodly number of great investigative journalists over the years, men and women who risk career, life and limb to get the story, and I can say with some satisfaction that this bunch usually did. But beyond the glamour of the Woodward and Bernstein portrayed by Redford and Hoffman in All the President's Men is a dark side: Investigative … [Read more...] about A Dark Alliance & A Lasting Shame: Remembering Reporter Gary Webb
Is Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Bid Headed For A Great Fall?
Suddenly, the imagery surrounding New York Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign is no longer about an "inevitable" nominee going through a seemingly pro-forma primary process who will face almost certain election in 2008 amid Republican ills. Now, various developments and pundits' comments make it clear that she could well be poised to be a kind of political Humpty Dumpty -- … [Read more...] about Is Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Bid Headed For A Great Fall?
Bulletin: Sears Tower Is Still Standing
Any alleged terror plot has to be taken seriously, but the Justice Department is amassing a pretty mixed record when it comes to separating the amateurs from the pros. So it is no surprise that the trial of the Liberty City Seven (photo), whom the government alleged were planning to take a bus from Miami to Chicago and blow up the Sears Tower ended yesterday with one … [Read more...] about Bulletin: Sears Tower Is Still Standing
Your Tax Dollars at Work
The Cream of Small College Football
UD All-American Omar Cuff leads nation with 38 TDs (UPDATE: Delaware lost to Appalachian State University, 49-21) The University of Delaware Fighting Blue Hens meet the Appalachian State University Mountaineers tonight in the final game of the small-college Football Championship Series. Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET at sold out Randall Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The … [Read more...] about The Cream of Small College Football
Surprises Still Occurring In Campaign 2008
As you look at the political landscape, you now see a big question mark: so what will happen NEXT? At a seemingly-breakneck pace, Campaign 2008 is shaping up as a campaign of surprises that quickly make the conventional wisdom outdated. Who would have ever thought that New York Senator Hillary Clinton's once seamless and seemingly unstoppable campaign would suddenly need … [Read more...] about Surprises Still Occurring In Campaign 2008
Democracy: A Pluralism of Parties or Meanings?
The word, "Democracy" in the American press, usually refers to a particular version of Democracy - a very Western one in which being able to make a choice is itself of greater moral importance than the results of that choice. It is a mix of pluralism, liberalism and capitalism. In many parts of the world, the value of Democracy is well understood, but without the idea of … [Read more...] about Democracy: A Pluralism of Parties or Meanings?
Guest Poet: American Workers Become More Productive
Another poetic gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet. America's workers are now the world's most productive. That's great news. Or is it? America's Workers Become More Productive Economists find, Daily toil seductive. They give it a name, They call it 'productive." They say that so great are the national stakes, We must all … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: American Workers Become More Productive
Baseball Steroids
Aislin, The Montreal Gazette … [Read more...] about Baseball Steroids
Pelosi’s 2008 Campaign Gift To GOP: Republicans “Like” Iraq War
What gift can you give to the people who have everything -- or, rather, had everything until last November's Congressional elections? What kind of gift can you give them that will be a gift that keeps on giving...way into 2008...and right up until Election Day? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi apparently figured it out and gave this beautifully-wrapped-and-presented gift to … [Read more...] about Pelosi’s 2008 Campaign Gift To GOP: Republicans “Like” Iraq War
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: SENATE SENSIBILITIES
A Second Democratic Year in '08? Look at recent history. The Senate has changed party control six times: in 1980 (D to R), 1986 (R to D), 1994 (D to R), 2001 (R to D), 2002 (D to R), and 2006 (R to D). This is no longer a rare event. And the Democrats now control the Senate by the slimmest of margins, 51 to 49. Surely, then, Republicans have a real chance to recapture … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: SENATE SENSIBILITIES
This collective collapse of ethics is the worst thing that has happened to baseball. Ever.
Cynical sports intelligentsia, many bloggers, and run-of-the-mill sports fans will insist that the appropriate response to former Senator (and Judge) George Mitchell's report on steroid use among major leaguers is a yawn. "I don't care if he used steroids or not," I heard one Fox radio sports host say last week of a major leaguer whose name has often been associated with use of … [Read more...] about This collective collapse of ethics is the worst thing that has happened to baseball. Ever.
Leading Candidates Week at the WaPo
If one of my esteemed co-editors or another TMV contributor already made reference to this week-long series of leading-candidate profiles in the WaPo, I apologize for the duplication. But in my all-too-frequent mode of being late to the party, I just discovered these articles, and I found them quite impressive and compellingly thorough -- and I wanted to share the link with … [Read more...] about Leading Candidates Week at the WaPo
Kasparov Is Out
Anti-establishment candidate Garry Kasparov, who has been energetically running for the Russian presidency, was forced out of the race yesterday. Is anyone else not surprised? … [Read more...] about Kasparov Is Out
Day In, Day Out
Cross-posted to The Debate Link Michelle Cottle has an important observation on Fred Thompson: With only three weeks to go until the caucuses, is it really possible that Thompson is going to at last get serious about the race and exert some sort of effort? I've always gotten the sense that ol' Fred likes to think of himself as a clutch player, the type of fella who … [Read more...] about Day In, Day Out
Best Behavior
If they issued grades for deportment, the six Democratic Presidential candidates who took part in today's Iowa debate would all have earned A's. No bickering, backbiting or mud slinging. The good behavior started at Reagan airport en route when Hillary Clinton apologized to Barack Obama for her now-departed New Hampshire co-chairman's snide statement on Obama's "drug use" … [Read more...] about Best Behavior
Shame
Once again, for the record, we need a new crop of Republicans in Washington -- Republicans who recognize the moral imperative of complying with the Geneva Conventions. John Cole has details. … [Read more...] about Shame
Baseball Strikes Out on Drugs
The Slaughter at Omaha: Avoid Snap Judgments …
Is this the time, after the massacre at an Omaha mall, to question the wisdom of the right to bear arms in the United States? According to this op-ed article from Chile's La Nacion, whatever the truth of such criticism, it is time to show respect to the victims and avoid the usual finger-pointing. "The new tragedy has provided the Spanish news media, once again, a chance to … [Read more...] about The Slaughter at Omaha: Avoid Snap Judgments …
Hamas Doublespeak
Dr. Ahmad Yousuf, a senior advisor to Ismail Haniyeh (left), recently wrote an open letter to Condoleezza Rice calling for the Bush administration to engage in unconditional dialogue with Hamas. (Hat tip: Jeff Dexter) Couched in flowery diplomatic language, Yousuf's portrayal of Hamas is of a benign organization with only peaceful intentions. He writes: "Many people make the … [Read more...] about Hamas Doublespeak