If Musharraf is trying to demonstrate how well he supports a democracy wherein other candidates are free to campaign regarding forthcoming elections, he is failing in full public sight. An order for the house arrest of Benazir Bhutto was given and executed Friday (the middle of the night, here in the USA). To many, Bhutto is attempting to run a campaign. But, to others, … [Read more...] about Bhutto Under House Arrest: Doppelganger with Burma?
Afghanistan: Many Children Killed
Nearly 60 children were killed in Afghanistan's deadliest suicide attack since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban militant movement from power. Other 96 students were wounded in the blast, the Education Ministry spokesman said Friday, reports AP. "The attack in the northern province of Baghlan on Tuesday killed at least 75 people. The dead children were ages … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: Many Children Killed
Is Obama the New Eugene McCarthy?
Andrew Sullivan has lobbed a grenade into the presidential campaign tent with "Good Bye to All That," his provocative and instantly famous essay on what for me is emerging as a central issue in the 2008 presidential race: Which candidates are capable of bringing new thinking to old problems, as well as dealing with all the new ones. Sullivan writes that: "A … [Read more...] about Is Obama the New Eugene McCarthy?
2007 Weblog Awards for Best Comic Strip: The Top Ten
The above cartoon, Suggestive Dream, from My Extra Life drawn by Scott Johnson ©2007 All Rights Reserved. Congratulations to all. A cartoon/ comic may seem simple to readers of them. Ah, that's the deceptive magic of the one who draws them... Inking a comic actually requires the skills of writing believable dialog, finding a wry storytelling style, developing a drafting … [Read more...] about 2007 Weblog Awards for Best Comic Strip: The Top Ten
2007 Weblog Award: Third Place, Best Comic Strip
Congratulations to Girl Genius, written by Professors Phil & Kaja Foglio of TPU, with drawings by Prof. P. Foglio! beautifully drawn magna/ fantasy style, highly imaginative language. http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/ This artwork ©2007 Professors Phil & Kaja Foglio of TPU, All Rights Reserved … [Read more...] about 2007 Weblog Award: Third Place, Best Comic Strip
Pakistan: Bush and Musharraf Redefining Democracy
In other words, elections can be held in a country while leaders of the opposition parties are being shoved into jails. After putting opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under house arrest, General Musharraf informs his mentor in White House that the elections would be held on February 15...and the US administration applauds its favourite dictator's grand gesture. The … [Read more...] about Pakistan: Bush and Musharraf Redefining Democracy
2007 Weblog Award: Second Place, Best Comic Strip
Congratulations to Day by Day by Chris Muir! a twist of lemon with wry humor... http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/ ©2007 Chris Muir, All Rights Reserved … [Read more...] about 2007 Weblog Award: Second Place, Best Comic Strip
2007 Weblog Award: Number #1 Best Comic Strip
Laughter really can be some of the very best medicine. Congratulations: xkcd! http://xkcd.com/88/ ©2007 xkcd, All Rights Reserved: reprinted by Creative Commons license. … [Read more...] about 2007 Weblog Award: Number #1 Best Comic Strip
Guest Book Review: Michael Shermer’s “The Mind Of The Market”
Here's a comprehensive Guest Book Review by Dan Schneider, who has this heavily-visited website and whose reviews for TMV have been highly popular. This is the FIRST TIME a review for this upcoming book has appeared on the Internet. Review Of Michael Shermer’s The Mind Of The Market Copyright © 2007 by Dan Schneider Michael Shermer has a new book coming out in … [Read more...] about Guest Book Review: Michael Shermer’s “The Mind Of The Market”
USA: Mexicans Poised to Change Anglo-Saxon Culture?
An interesting book claims that in the next few decades one of the strongest forces shaping American culture—perhaps the strongest force—will be Mexican. More here... … [Read more...] about USA: Mexicans Poised to Change Anglo-Saxon Culture?
India and China: Old Technological Giants Catching Up…
An interesting article in The Economist traces the history of the erstwhile technological/scientific powers -- China and India -- "who have much to offer the world of technology, but more still to gain from it". "TOWARDS the end of the 11th century, while tardy Europeans kept time with sundials, Su Sung of China completed his masterpiece: a water clock of great intricacy and … [Read more...] about India and China: Old Technological Giants Catching Up…
Pat Robertson’s Endorsement Of Rudy Giuliani Doesn’t Please All Conservatives
The view from conservative radio talk show host and rising Fox News fill-in star Laura Ingraham: … [Read more...] about Pat Robertson’s Endorsement Of Rudy Giuliani Doesn’t Please All Conservatives
Pat On The Back
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about Pat On The Back
Passive-Aggressive Pardons
The first thing an incoming Democratic President should do in 2009? Pardon George W. Bush. … [Read more...] about Passive-Aggressive Pardons
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Election ’07, Colbert, Congress and Beyond!
NOTES ON THE STATE OF POLITICS Election '07, Colbert, Congress and Beyond! We've been away for a while, traveling America discussing our new book, A More Perfect Constitution. The opportunity to discuss the U.S. Constitution--and what might be done to improve it--has been a special one, and I thank the thousands of people who have attended lectures and come to book-signings … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Election ’07, Colbert, Congress and Beyond!
“God, I Love Freedom!”
Here's one of the stupidest and most ignorant things George W. Bush has ever said: If you lived in Iraq and had lived under a tyranny, you’d be saying: God, I love freedom, because that’s what’s happened. And there are killers and radicals and murderers who kill the innocent to stop the advance of freedom. But freedom’s happening in Iraq. And we’re making … [Read more...] about “God, I Love Freedom!”
New FBI Warning: Al Qaeda Plans U.S. Mall Attacks Holiday Season
There's yet another warning about a planned Al Qaeda attack in the United States -- and the danger is that the political contamination of the terrorism issue, the perceived use of it by the Bush administration in past elections, and a jaded public could mean a serious warning could be shrugged off when and if it comes. News reports suggest there is already some question … [Read more...] about New FBI Warning: Al Qaeda Plans U.S. Mall Attacks Holiday Season
Show Me the Money
I've already written about Tyrant Musharraf here and here -- on what he is doing in Pakistan and to the Pakistani people, as well as on his friendly alliance with Bush and Bush's reaction to his power grab. For an excellent analysis of the situation, I highly recommend this piece -- "The Freedom Agenda Fizzles" -- by Fred Kaplan at Slate. Here are a few of key passages: The … [Read more...] about Show Me the Money
Overrode!
GWB's veto of the water bill has been over-ridden by Congress. Senate Overrides Bush Veto on Water Bill By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 7 minutes ago The enactment of the $23 billion water resources bill marked the first veto override of the Bush presidency. … [Read more...] about Overrode!
Reader Tip
If, like me, your browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6.0, you may notice, as you scroll down the page, that some of the lines in "block-quote" sections of our various posts appear to be missing or jumbled. That issue is purely visual and not a code problem. A simple "refresh" of the page should correct it. … [Read more...] about Reader Tip