Tonight (Tuesday) at 9 PM ET at Drexel University in Philadelphia PA, televised on MSNBC and live-streamed at MSNBC.com Previews: MSNBC Analysis: What must Obama do? MSNBC Analysis: Is Iran the top issue in this debate? MSNBC First Read's First thoughts: Debate at Drexel MSNBC First Read: Obama, Edwards, Clinton Oppose Mukasey for AG MSNBC First Read: Richardson's … [Read more...] about Dem Debate Details & Blogging
A Change in the ‘Sphere
Because some of you occasionally read another one of the blogs with which I've been affiliated, Joe suggested I might want to share this news. In short, for the foreseeable future, TMV will be my primary home on the Web. I'm very much looking forward to the greater level of focus enabled by this decision. Hopefully, in this case, as in others, less is more. … [Read more...] about A Change in the ‘Sphere
Debates, Networks and Candidates
Attention All Presidential Candidates and Networks! There are voters out there like me who do not get MSNBC, CNN and Fox News! Not everybody likes to watch TV all of the time and or pay huge fees to cable companies or satellite networks for a service which used to be free to all (except the advertisers). From now on, NO presidential debate should be on MSNBC, CNN and Fox … [Read more...] about Debates, Networks and Candidates
Is Tonight’s MSNBC Democratic Debate High Noon For Barack Obama? (UPDATE 2)
With polls now showing that in hard-nosed political terms the early stories about Senator Barack Obama being a political "rock star" perhaps meant a rock star in 2007 who was popular in the 1950s, the Illinois Senator heads into what some analysts now contend is a make-or-break debate. Can he recapture and transmit that charisma that once brought him to the national … [Read more...] about Is Tonight’s MSNBC Democratic Debate High Noon For Barack Obama? (UPDATE 2)
Torture: Day of Reckoning At Hand?
Abu Ghraib With the drip, drip, drip subtlety and perhaps even some of the pain of waterboarding, a growing number of politicians seem to be finally realizing that the use of torture is not only thoroughly un-American, it is morally abhorrent, and are speaking out about it. Can there be any doubt, as I wrote not long ago, that there is no darker stain on the Bush … [Read more...] about Torture: Day of Reckoning At Hand?
Center of Attention
A round up of recent commentary by assorted voices who either attempt to strike a balanced note on heated debates and controversial issues, or improve our ability to find our own sense of balance by exposing us to new information and different points-of-view. -------------------------- Steven Benen re-visits the subject of the GOP's continued implosion. He also discovers … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
The Charge of the Lightweight Brigade And Other News From the Iraq War
British armored vehicles on rare foray from base In what the Daily Telegraph describes as "a spectacular U-turn" but I would call just plain pathetic, the British Army has figured out how to keep its soldiers from getting killed in Basra, a once relatively peaceful southern Iraqi city hard by the porous border with Iran that is now considered to be more dangerous than … [Read more...] about The Charge of the Lightweight Brigade And Other News From the Iraq War
Around The Sphere Blogging Roundup October 30, 2007
Our link-fest offering readers links to blog posts from websites of many different viewpoints. Linked posts do NOT necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE CONTROVERSY OVER SAGA OF SCOTT BEAUCHAMP'S CONTROVERSIAL THE NEW REPUBLIC MILITARY DIARIES CONTINUES. You almost need a separate blog now to keep up with this … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere Blogging Roundup October 30, 2007
Federal Spending Dike
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about Federal Spending Dike
If Kurds Turn Backs On Iraqi Unity, Turks Will Be Only the First to Invade
What kind of a mess does Washington have on its hands in northern Iraq? According to this article from Iraq's Kitabat newspaper, if Iraq's Kurds turn their backs on Baghdad and instead help their terrorist brethren in the Kurdistan Workers' Party battle the Turks, the six-years of war in Iraq will likely be only a prelude to a series of invasions and wars between and amongst … [Read more...] about If Kurds Turn Backs On Iraqi Unity, Turks Will Be Only the First to Invade
Zogby: 52 Percent Would Support U.S. Military Strike Against Iran
As we noted here, Iran is becoming a huge political campaign issue -- and a Zogby poll now suggests that public support for a military strike against it is growing. And the candidate voters polled seem to feel is best equipped to deal with Iran? New York Senator Hillary Clinton. A majority of likely voters – 52% – would support a U.S. military strike to prevent Iran … [Read more...] about Zogby: 52 Percent Would Support U.S. Military Strike Against Iran
India’s US Ambassador & ‘Headless Chickens’
India's ambassador to the United States, Ronen Sen, has virtually got himself into a soup by reportedly stating that certain Members of Indian Parliament were like 'headless chickens'. Angered by his remark, the Indian Parliament asked Sen to appear before the Privileges Committee where on Monday the ambassador tenderd an unqualified and unconditional apology. Ambassador Sen … [Read more...] about India’s US Ambassador & ‘Headless Chickens’
Boston Red Sox
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Boston Red Sox
Fake News Conference Fallout: FEMA PR Chief Loses New Job
They haven't yet announced that he changed his mind because he wanted to spend more time with his family -- and hopefully the press conference that deals with the issue will be real -- but there seem to have been consequences in the case of the fake FEMA news conference: Pat Philbin, FEMA's external affairs director, was scheduled to become director of public affairs for … [Read more...] about Fake News Conference Fallout: FEMA PR Chief Loses New Job
One Woman Per Ticket
Why Clinton/Sebelius will never happen. … [Read more...] about One Woman Per Ticket
Death Penalty: Dead Man Talking
Though some try to hijack the issue of capital punishment into a left vs right tailspin, it's not a pol issue at base; it's a thinking issue about, "How shall we who are of, they say, greater minds than other creatures, how shall we live together in the forest? ... a forest that is filled with great peril, more so for some than for others... and also filled with many avenues … [Read more...] about Death Penalty: Dead Man Talking
The Kirchners-The Clintons
Rainer Hachfeld, Neues Deutschland, Germany (Argentina's newly elected President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is its former first lady.) … [Read more...] about The Kirchners-The Clintons
Congress Disapproval Rise To 75 Percent Increases Democrats’ Dilemma
Congress' approval rating is heading so far south that the Democrats in charge may soon smell the magnolias. The latest CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll shows a 75 percent disapproval rating, guardedly good news for the Democratic Party itself and generally lousy news for the Democrats in charge of -- and serving in -- Congress: A year ago, a similar poll found the … [Read more...] about Congress Disapproval Rise To 75 Percent Increases Democrats’ Dilemma
Movies About Americans Acting Badly
A Scene From Taxi to the Dark Side Coming to a theater near you just in time for the holidays: Movies about Americans acting badly. Film-makers are on a roll these days with movies like Taxi to the Dark Side, Rendition and Redacted. All have gotten generally good reviews at screenings but won't compete with forthcoming biggies like a remake of Revenge of the Nerds and … [Read more...] about Movies About Americans Acting Badly
Around The Sphere Blogging Roundup October 29, 2007
Our link-fest offering readers links to blog posts from websites of many different viewpoints. Linked posts do NOT necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. INVESTIGATIVE ORIGINAL BLOG REPORTING ON JAMES DOBSON comes via TMV co-blogger Shaun Mullen on his own excellent site, Kiko's House. This post is a MUST READ because a) of the content b) it is the epitome … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere Blogging Roundup October 29, 2007