There is a certain obsession with the United States in European debates, but there also seems to be a certain obsession with France in the US. Rudy Giuliani for instance recently campaigned with: If we are not careful and you don't elect me, this country will be to the left of France. Ezra Klein takes issue with that: We could elect Dennis Kucinich and 10 more Democratic … [Read more...] about Transatlantic Comparisons For Scare-Mongering
Are Republicans Really Scared of Hillary Clinton?
Taylor Marsh, who has her own popular blog, writes in the Huffington Post that, yes, Hillary Clinton IS being treated differently than the other Democratic candidates: It's interesting that when I write pieces about Clinton I'm attacked for being in her camp. But when there's an all-out attack, with most of the venom focused on her personally or she and her husband, it's … [Read more...] about Are Republicans Really Scared of Hillary Clinton?
Musharraf Declares Martial Law in Pakistan (UPDATE)
UPDATE: Musharraf Speaks on TV Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said he declared a state of emergency and martial law Saturday because Pakistan is at a "critical and dangerous juncture." The nation is going through "some very rapid changes," Musharraf said in a televised address to the nation after declaring martial law. Despite immediate condemnation from … [Read more...] about Musharraf Declares Martial Law in Pakistan (UPDATE)
Rudy & Dubya: Loyalty Trumps All
There are plenty of reasons why Republican front-runner Rudy Giuliani would make a lousy president. Like personal turpitude and an anger-management problem, flip-flopping to suit the moment, an affection for using the stick before trying the carrot, and a simplistically shallow grasp of defense and foreign policy. But no reason is more troubling than the fact that like … [Read more...] about Rudy & Dubya: Loyalty Trumps All
“Bounty Hunter” Duane ” Dog ” Chapman’s Show Pulled After Racist Phone Call
Duane " Dog " Chapman has issued an apology in attempt to bail himself out from a controversy involving a phone call he made using racist language that led to his popular show "The Bounty Hunter" being pulled from the A&E Network. At issue: use of the "n-word" which also derailed comedian/actor Michael Richards' career. The link to the phone call (we won't embed it on this … [Read more...] about “Bounty Hunter” Duane ” Dog ” Chapman’s Show Pulled After Racist Phone Call
Out of the Ashes: California Fires Provide Arnold With a Chance to Shine
The audience cheered. They roared, in fact. You’d think it was for a movie star or something. The guy they were cheering for was shouting “GO CHARGERS, GO!!†in the heart of San Diego Chargers country. The location was what had been the team’s home before 25,000 shell-shocked people took it over for nearly a week, taking refuge from a massive natural disaster. The … [Read more...] about Out of the Ashes: California Fires Provide Arnold With a Chance to Shine
Guest Film Review: Elizabeth:The Golden Age
Here's a Guest film Review by Dan Schneider, who has this heavily-visited website and whose reviews for TMV have been highly popular. Film Review Of Elizabeth: The Golden Age Copyright ©2007 by Dan Schneider To flee the brats of Halloween, my wife dragged me to see Elizabeth: The Golden Age, even though the reviews I'd seen of it made Halloween, and the need to get … [Read more...] about Guest Film Review: Elizabeth:The Golden Age
Torture, Arson, Flood, War: Some Vitamins for the Soul
On mission to post-trauma sites, I drag along a raggedy old journal I've handwrit over the decades. Inside the old moleskine, well, it's overheavy with quotes from Heschel, Berry, Lorca, Mechtilde, and others. Freeze-dried nourishment for the climb. Tonight, here in the Rockies with snow hanging heavy in the white night sky, the big wood owls land on the roof with such a … [Read more...] about Torture, Arson, Flood, War: Some Vitamins for the Soul
Bush Uses Veto To Nix Bipartisan $23 Million Water Bill
It sounds as if President George Bush wasn't kidding when he suggested that one reason he's still "relevant" is because he has the veto power: after years of not using it, he seems to be in a phase of government by veto...even on a bipartisan measure for a $23 million water bill: President Bush delivered his threatened veto of a $23-billion water bill Friday, but Congress … [Read more...] about Bush Uses Veto To Nix Bipartisan $23 Million Water Bill
New Science Frontier: Making Men Out of Mice…!!!
It can run for hours at 20 metres per minute without getting tired. It lives longer, has more sex, and eats more without gaining weight. Could the science that created this supermouse be applied to humans? asks The Independent. "The mouse can run up to six kilometres (3.7 miles) at a speed of 20 metres per minute for five hours or more without stopping. Scientists said that … [Read more...] about New Science Frontier: Making Men Out of Mice…!!!
CNN Ought to ‘Confine’ Lou Dobbs
Is CNN's Lou Dobbs an, "insolent man who uses xenophobic, protectionist, anti-immigrant messages against Latin American countries to affirm his vulgar patriotism?" According to this op-ed article from Colombia's El Tiempo, "CNN should confine Dobbs to a program called The Hour of Chauvinism, because this would help all of us distinguish between reason and its … [Read more...] about CNN Ought to ‘Confine’ Lou Dobbs
The Miami Five: Explaining Things to a Precocious Child
Is the United States protecting some terrorists that it used to employ, while at the same time jailing people for exposing terrorist plots that were being mounted with U.S. support? According to this article published in the Dominican Republic's Tomado De Hoy, explaining Washington's policy on terror to a child is a daunting challenge indeed. "Grandpa, this can't be true. … [Read more...] about The Miami Five: Explaining Things to a Precocious Child
Memo to Bandar: Shut Your Yap Hole
Rummy and Bandy It is difficult to know where to begin in describing all the things that are wrong with Saudi Arabia, let alone its favored-nation status with the U.S., so we'll leave it at the fact that this oil-rich and profoundly constipated kingdom has been a fertile breeding ground for terrorists. In fact, all but four of the 9/11 hijacker were Saudis. That seems to … [Read more...] about Memo to Bandar: Shut Your Yap Hole
Cancer, etc: Looking Beyond Old Paradigms in Medicine
The latest findings of the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), now being played up in the media, only manage to remind us of the known preventive strategy -- "stay active" and "follow certain rules" for eating. Surprisingly, the five-year-long AICR study makes no mention of the visible increase in pioneering researchers embracing traditional methods from the East and … [Read more...] about Cancer, etc: Looking Beyond Old Paradigms in Medicine
Obama Suggests Hillary Clinton Hiding Behind Gender In Campaign
Senator Barack Obama really took the gloves off this morning on NBC: Amid some buzz, newspaper and blog reporting that noted that in the most recent Democratic debate it was all the guys gang-blasting Hillary Clinton, Obama has raised the issue of whether Ms. Clinton is now using that "high concept" media and blog perception to try and cushion herself from bare-knuckle … [Read more...] about Obama Suggests Hillary Clinton Hiding Behind Gender In Campaign
Tear Gas and Tyranny
Not a big fan of Hugo Chavez? Not so enthusiastic about his tyrannical rule? Well, take that: Venezuelan troops have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of students in the capital, Caracas. The students are demonstrating against constitutional reforms proposed by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. One of the reforms would abolish term limits for the … [Read more...] about Tear Gas and Tyranny
A Medal For Henry Hyde Hypocrite
Face it, the Presidential Medal of Freedom has lost some of its luster since President Bush presented it to three extraordinary screw-ups -- George Tenet, Tommy Franks and Paul Bremer -- in 2004. But in an effort to resort it to its rightful place in the pantheon of medal-dom, say right up there is the Nobel Peace Prize, former U.S. Representative Henry Hyde of Illinois will be … [Read more...] about A Medal For Henry Hyde Hypocrite
Killadelphia: City of Brotherly Mayhem
An All Too Familiar Philly (Murder) Scene The news from bloody Philadelphia just gets more and more horrifying. I note that the city's TV newscasts are cast in the "If It Bleeds It Leads" mold, but the mayhem one day this week was so bad that it soaked up 18 minutes of the 30-minute evening newscast on one station, barely leaving any time for really important stuff like … [Read more...] about Killadelphia: City of Brotherly Mayhem
A Book Club Pick For November
....from Jess's Book Club here. … [Read more...] about A Book Club Pick For November
This Just In!!
THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz: Trick Question About 9/12 Stumps Giuliani Rudy Sputters at Town Hall Meeting GOP presidential frontrunner Rudolph Giuliani stumbled badly at a town hall meeting in Iowa last night when an audience member baffled him with a trick question about 9/12. Mr. Giuliani, who has made references to 9/11 the foundation of … [Read more...] about This Just In!!