The raging political news has been the fierce battle between Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama in Iowa -- but now the ferocity of that battle is being matched by warring statehouse GOPers Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. And this battle royal of the elephants -- reflecting state and national polls that … [Read more...] about It’s Huckabee Versus Romney In A Fierce Iowa Rumble
Poll: Giuliani Loses National Lead In Republican Presidential Nomination Race
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani may be campaigning feverishly and systematically throughout the country but a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll has him tumbling so far down so fast that if the trending continues his candidacy will be in serious trouble. For months the feisty former New York Mayor had seemingly defied earlier predictions that his candidacy would never … [Read more...] about Poll: Giuliani Loses National Lead In Republican Presidential Nomination Race
The American CIA: ‘Defender of Humanity’
Has the CIA gotten a bad rap - especially in the Arab world? According to this op-ed article from Iraq's Kitabat newspaper, the agency has performed, 'noble and honorable works that have always been on behalf of the entire world and for the good of civilization, security and stability. It annihilated the Nazis, the communists, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein ... "I am … [Read more...] about The American CIA: ‘Defender of Humanity’
Huckabee Rally
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about Huckabee Rally
Democrats Sow Confusion in Iowa
If you look carefully at the Hawkeye State, you can find polls showing (a) John Edwards is in the lead (b) Barack Obama is ahead (c) Hillary Clinton and Obama are tied or (d) after the "viability rule" excludes candidates with less than 15 percent of the vote, who knows? Iowans have a reputation for being contrary, but this year they have raised sowing confusion to an art … [Read more...] about Democrats Sow Confusion in Iowa
DIY Nukes
In-home nuclear reactors, anyone? … [Read more...] about DIY Nukes
Take a Peek
If you're a map-freak like me, or otherwise fascinated by "the intersection of politics and geography," you'll enjoy this relatively new site, launched about two months ago by Patrick Offenhof, an analyst for New Media Strategies. H/t Jonathan Martin. … [Read more...] about Take a Peek
Torture Entrepreneurs
Here's something interesting (via The Wall Street Journal's Informed Reader blog): Democracies generally might not torture as much as totalitarian regimes do, but they did invent a lot of torture’s modern incarnations, writes Darius Rejali, a professor of political science in Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Democracies’ open courts and free press discourage blatant … [Read more...] about Torture Entrepreneurs
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. -------------------------- Ed Morrissey praises a recent change to the Freedom of Information Act. As someone who has been, more than once, … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Yeah, It’s Been That Kind of a Year
Time magazine has named Vladimir "A Tsar is Born" Putin as its Man of the Year. More here. … [Read more...] about Yeah, It’s Been That Kind of a Year
Advice For Mitt Romney: Beware Of Too Much Crying
Vulnerability isn't a bad trait in a Presidential candidate. After all, Bill Clinton's emotional bite on the his lip didn't hurt him and President George Bush's eyes have misted up at times. But earlier this week former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney seemingly entered The Danger Zone by generating two reports in several days time about his eyes misting up on TV. Warning … [Read more...] about Advice For Mitt Romney: Beware Of Too Much Crying
Poll Says Clinton Suddenly Regains Big Lead In New Hampshire
The political poll see-saw in this topsy turvy election year continues -- this time with the latest poll out of New Hampshire. -- which is good news for New York Senator Hillary Clinton. The big news dominating media (and blog) coverage has been from Iowa, where the latest in a series of see-saw polls has former Senator John Edwards ahead on the Democratic side, and Governor … [Read more...] about Poll Says Clinton Suddenly Regains Big Lead In New Hampshire
Another Blow to Iraqi Reconciliation
Turkish gunship near Iraqi border The never ending road to reconciliation in Iraq is littered with many setbacks. The U.S. bears responsibility for two of the worst -- the foolish de-Baathification of the Iraqi army, which has had awful consequences, and a civil war now temporarily on hold while various sectarian interests inimical to reconciliation consolidate power in … [Read more...] about Another Blow to Iraqi Reconciliation
Review: ‘Neal Cassady: The Fast Life of A Beat Hero’ & The Dark Side of Fame
Like many a child of the Sixties, I exalted over the writings and the adventures of Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg and the other Beats, but it was a free spirit by the name of Neal Cassady who held a special attraction for me. For want of a better way of saying it, Cassady was the Beats' mascot. He was the catalyst for many of their writings and figured most … [Read more...] about Review: ‘Neal Cassady: The Fast Life of A Beat Hero’ & The Dark Side of Fame
Poetic Political Commentary: A Donkey At The Bat
Here's a special original 2008 presidential campaign poetic commentary by TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet. In this very odd caucus and primary season, we may soon have a folksy small state governor selected by the Republicans, and as this poem (in the style of "Casey At The Bat") suggests, perhaps even a Democratic nominee picked at a … [Read more...] about Poetic Political Commentary: A Donkey At The Bat
Lieberman Endorses McCain
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Lieberman Endorses McCain
Is Democrat John Edwards Heading Towards Victory In Iowa?
Is the conventional wisdom in the ongoing Presidential campaign going to be turned upside down on its ear again -- this time in Iowa? A new InsiderAdvantage Iowa poll suggests it could well happen. News stories so far have contained the assumption -- based on polls, political analysis and reports from the scene -- that the REAL big battle in Iowa was between New York … [Read more...] about Is Democrat John Edwards Heading Towards Victory In Iowa?
Al Gore, Hot Air and Adolph Hitler
Is it possible that Al Gore has gone too far by equating the threat of global warming to Adolph Hitler? According to this op-ed article from Austria's Die Presse, 'What the world does not need are stupid comparisons like the one Al Gore employed equating the earth's warming with Adolph Hitler, or heroically signed international agreements that aren't the least respected.' By … [Read more...] about Al Gore, Hot Air and Adolph Hitler
The Free World Comments on the Choice of Its New Leader
Watching America.com has now been translating foreign news and opinion about the US for three years. We are never short of content because non-Americans are sometimes more affected by American policies than are Americans, themselves, and so have plenty of opinions to express. That is never more evident than at the time of a presidential election. The U.S. is fond of calling … [Read more...] about The Free World Comments on the Choice of Its New Leader
Nothing Strange About Media Assumptions
In the United States, there really are two groups of people. People who know how the media works – media professionals – and people who don't – the public. This divide, in the information age, has created problems severe enough that they make news. Media professionals use the media tools, that they learned in journalism school and other media schools – public relations, … [Read more...] about Nothing Strange About Media Assumptions