For those of you too young or too distracted to remember, the Ollie North-Iran Contra affair is worth reprising in light of the CIA terrorist interrogation tapes scandal. Long story short, North was the Reagan administration's point man in the sale of weapons via a covert network that included intermediaries in Iran, of all places, to the Contras in Nicaragua. Reagan … [Read more...] about Let’s Not ‘Ollie North’ the CIA Scandal
Murders in Church and Mission Center: Update Colorado
UPDATE 6:20 PM MST: It’s been determined that one man wounded five persons and murdered four persons at both churches which are about 60 miles apart. Matthew Murray, 24, a home-schooled son (one of two brothers) of a prominent Denver family did the shooting. Murray was five years ago an ‘associate’ at the Missionary Training Center, but was found ‘healthwise’ unfit for … [Read more...] about Murders in Church and Mission Center: Update Colorado
The End of King Dollar?
Has the domination of the greenback been brought permanently to an end? According to this op-ed article from France's Le Monde, the dollar has truly been dethroned, and now it's time to confront the consequences of a brave new monetary world. "The dollar has been dethroned; the monetary multi-polar world has been born. How will it turn out? … the post-dollar monetary world … [Read more...] about The End of King Dollar?
Your Tax Dollars At Work
....providing stellar telephone security. H/t to Hines Sight (the anti-Drudge). … [Read more...] about Your Tax Dollars At Work
Jane Rule (1931-2007)
More here. … [Read more...] about Jane Rule (1931-2007)
A Fall Guy’s Final Fall
Former vice presidential chief of staff Lewis “Scooter” Libby has dropped his appeal of his conviction in the Wilson-Plame leak case Libby was convicted of perjury and obstruction but President Bush commuted his 30-month prison sentence. “We remain firmly convinced of Mr. Libby’s innocence,” attorney Theodore Wells said today. “However, the realities were that after five … [Read more...] about A Fall Guy’s Final Fall
Caged Like A Dog?
Michael Vick has been sentenced to 23 months in prison. … [Read more...] about Caged Like A Dog?
What you mean, ‘we,’ Lone Ranger?
The most misused word in the media-public relationship is the word "we". Here are a couple of common examples: Dwight Garner, The New York Times: "Why are we willing to shell out $24.95 at the local Barnes & Noble to read about someone else's pets?" Kyra Phillips: CNN: "I mean, are we just so pathetic and so lonely that we have to live through people like Paris … [Read more...] about What you mean, ‘we,’ Lone Ranger?
Gore Nobel Speech: “Planetary Crisis” Requires U.S., China Role
Former Vice President Al Gore accepted his Nobel Prize today. Here are excerpts from his speech, as carried by the AP: Excerpts from former Vice President Al Gore's acceptance speech Monday for the Nobel Peace Prize he shared with the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Seven years ago tomorrow, I read my own political obituary in a judgment that seemed to … [Read more...] about Gore Nobel Speech: “Planetary Crisis” Requires U.S., China Role
Al-Qaeda’s Children
How serious is al-Qaeda's threat to Iraq's children? According to this op-ed article from Iraq's Sotal Iraq, 'the competent Iraqi authorities are unable to protect them from the brainwashing that al-Qaeda subjects them to, and which transforms them into terrorists who find it easy to commit murder.' By Mohammad Abdul Jabar Al Shubut Translated By Julian Jacob and … [Read more...] about Al-Qaeda’s Children
Target: Lucky Huckabee
Now that Mike Huckabee is doing well in the polls and picking up support, he's been put under the microscope and begun to garner negative attention. We have posted on the Dumond mess but that's not all that's out there. Howard Kurtz Media Notes: Until he finished second in last summer's Iowa straw poll, Huckabee's also-ran status served as a sort of shield. News … [Read more...] about Target: Lucky Huckabee
A Reasonable Top Court Ruling On An Unreasonable Sentencing Guideline
Reasonable is not a word that most centrists and left-of-center folks would apply to the current Supreme Court. But today in a racially sensitive 7-2 vote, the justices ruled that judges who disagree with federal sentencing guidelines can impose lighter prison sentences in crack cocaine cases. The high court overturned a U.S. appeals court ruling in Kimbrough v. U.S. that … [Read more...] about A Reasonable Top Court Ruling On An Unreasonable Sentencing Guideline
World Not United On Free Press Importance
Question: What's more important: a free press or ensuring social stability by, if necessary, curtailing a free press? Answer: The world is divided. The BBC reports: World opinion is divided on the importance of having a free press, according to a poll conducted for the BBC World Service. Of those interviewed, 56% thought that freedom of the press was very important … [Read more...] about World Not United On Free Press Importance
The Most Insidious Form of Tyranny
Just when you thought things couldn't get any more bizarre in Washington comes a week in which we learned that the CIA had destroyed terrorist interrogation tapes, Iran had apparently abandoned its nuclear weapons program four years ago and the State Department's embattled inspector general had finally resigned. The only thing that can be said with certainty about those … [Read more...] about The Most Insidious Form of Tyranny
Guest Book Review: A Walk for Sunshine by Jeff Alt
This is another Guest Book Review by fiction writer Jessica Schneider who also writes for the highly visited site Cosmoetica, is Book Editor for Monsters and Critics and is the only contributor to her own blog. Book Review: A Walk for Sunshine by Jeff Alt by Jessica Schneider 2,160 miles in 147 days. Could you hike such a distance? In Jeff Alt’s A Walk for Sunshine he … [Read more...] about Guest Book Review: A Walk for Sunshine by Jeff Alt
Not A Creature Was Stirring
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about Not A Creature Was Stirring
Right Under Your Nose
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is an incredible woman. But she is flatly wrong when she alleges that "moderate Muslims" have not been outspoken in their criticism of human rights violations by their peers. Indeed, the example she choices, the "Qatif" case in Saudi Arabia, is a textbook example of an atrocity that came to Western ears due to the tremendous outrage it sparked amongst Arab … [Read more...] about Right Under Your Nose
New Life Church: Female Security Guard Shoots Gunman Dead at Church
UPDATE: It's been determined that one man wounded five persons and murdered four persons at both churches which are about 60 miles apart. Matthew Murray, 24, a home-schooled son (one of two brothers) of a priminent Denver family did the shooting. Murray was five years ago an 'associate' At the Missionary Training Center, but was found 'healthwise' unfit for assignment after … [Read more...] about New Life Church: Female Security Guard Shoots Gunman Dead at Church
Frank Rich Agrees with Me
On November 22, here on TMV, I riffed off of an insightful column by David Broder, saying that as US voters prepare to pick a new President in 2008, they, above all, are looking for grown-ups, explaining the recent surges of Senator Barack Obama among the Democrats and former Governor Mike Huckabee among Republicans. Near the end of the piece, I wrote: Obama and Huckabee, … [Read more...] about Frank Rich Agrees with Me
The Anonymous Commenter
Do commenters on other sites have a right to their anonymity? IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: I don't set any of the comment policies here. However, at my own blog, I have always respected the anonymity of my commenters and -- barring anything unexpected -- I don't see that changing for foreseeable future. … [Read more...] about The Anonymous Commenter