Paresh Nath, National Herald, India … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s Democracy Game
Bhutto Charges Military Link In Her Attempted Assassination Bombing
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has now openly said, in reference to the suicide bombing and attempted assassination of her, what many have more quietly suggested over the years: She has now openly pointed a finger at some elements within Pakistan's military of involved in the plot to murder her upon her return to Pakistan -- elements that some analysts have … [Read more...] about Bhutto Charges Military Link In Her Attempted Assassination Bombing
Bhutto: A Blittle Berspective, Blease
I have refrained from commenting on the horrific suicide bombing in Karachi that greeted the return of former Premier Benazir Bhutto because I think that Pakistan is pretty much an unfixable mess at the moment and there's not a whole lot that I can add that hasn't already been said. But on further thought there is something, and that is what short memories we have. Bhutto … [Read more...] about Bhutto: A Blittle Berspective, Blease
Why Don’t You Come With Me, Little Girl, on a Magic Carpet Ride: An Aerial View of World News
(This is my first 'pointer post', at least I think that's what it is. Going into my 7th month of blogging, I haven't yet got all the tools and details down pat and under control yet...but here goes...) ...It's a beautiful starry night tonight, no gusty winds, the magic carpet newly cleaned and brushed. We'll just criss-cross the world for a little bit, just go wherever we … [Read more...] about Why Don’t You Come With Me, Little Girl, on a Magic Carpet Ride: An Aerial View of World News
The (N.Y.) Times They Are A-Changin’
It has been a tough decade for the venerable New York Times. After winning a record seven Pulitzer Prizes for post-9/11 coverage that exemplified the great journalism the newspaper has produced for 150 years, it has been pretty much all downhill. To be sure, the Times has been buffeted by market forces beyond its control, but its problems are substantially of its own doing, … [Read more...] about The (N.Y.) Times They Are A-Changin’
Reid Praises Limbaugh For Record EBay Letter Sale
Mark yesterday as the day when you-know-where finally froze over: Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid is no fan of Rush Limbaugh, but the Nevada Democrat praised the conservative radio talk-show host on the Senate floor Friday for raising more than $2 million for charity — by auctioning on eBay a letter in which Reid condemns Limbaugh. "I think it's really good that this … [Read more...] about Reid Praises Limbaugh For Record EBay Letter Sale
Centrist Blog Suffers Massive Attack
One of the most curious and reprehensible facts of weblog life is the problem of sites being under attack. TMV has had its share of wounds, including one that caused us to totally dump our old design that we imported from Powerblogs to Wordpress. And, now, our fellow centrist site Donklephant has come under a massive attack. All that remains now is one post from a few years … [Read more...] about Centrist Blog Suffers Massive Attack
Al Gore’s Nobel Prize and the Discovery of the New World …
Is there any correlation between the 'discovery' of America by Christopher Columbus and the environmental movement boosted by and championed by Al Gore? According to this editorial from Brazil's O Povo newspaper, the fact that Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize on the 515th anniversary of Colombus' discovery of America shows that, 'the message preached by people like Gore in favor … [Read more...] about Al Gore’s Nobel Prize and the Discovery of the New World …
Center of Attention
A round up of recent posts by various bloggers 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. -------------------------- Steve Benen thinks Republicans have perfected "the art of the hissy fit." Over the course … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Why Baghdad Can’t Please Turks or Kurds
With Turkey poised to mount its own mini-invasion of Iraq to prevent Kurdish terrorist attacks on its territory, Iraq's central government is begging Ankara for time to address its concerns. But according to this op-ed article from Iraq's Azzaman newspaper, the political process in Baghdad is so dysfunctional that cobbling together a common policy that will stop the attacks is … [Read more...] about Why Baghdad Can’t Please Turks or Kurds
Blogging: Diss-course and Dat-course
I was interviewed by the U.S. correspondent for a big European newspaper the other night for an article on blogging and political discourse in America. Not surprisingly, the trigger for the article and what drew him to me was the S-CHIP debate and saga of Master Graeme Frost. As I typically do in such interviews, I made a number of overarching statements, generalized like … [Read more...] about Blogging: Diss-course and Dat-course
The True Face of the Muslim Brotherhood?
The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has recently released a draft of its first party platform. Citing several controversial clauses, some analysts are arguing that the draft proposal hints at the Brotherhood's true authoritarian nature. Is this an accurate analysis? If not, what exactly does the document say about the organization and its goals? … [Read more...] about The True Face of the Muslim Brotherhood?
Talk Show Host Randi Rhodes Explains Her Injury On Her Show
Yours truly is on a monster drive from San Diego in Southern California to the Sacramento area in Northern California -- and yesterday got to hear the opening of the Randi Rhodes show. Unless you were on Venus, the news cycle and the blogosphere were peppered earlier this week with a report stemming from comments made by one of Randi Rhodes' colleagues (Air America talk … [Read more...] about Talk Show Host Randi Rhodes Explains Her Injury On Her Show
Lucky Dube Victim of SA Crime Wave
South African reggae legend Lucky Dube was shot dead last night in an apparent botched carjacking in a Johannesburg suburb. Dube, 43, was murdered as he dropped his son off at a friend's home as South Africa's out-of-control crime wave threatened to overshadow tomorrow's Rugby World Cup final against England. More here. … [Read more...] about Lucky Dube Victim of SA Crime Wave
That Border Fence Represents America
So what if it's being built with Chinese steel? … [Read more...] about That Border Fence Represents America
Bush S-CHIP Veto
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Bush S-CHIP Veto
Benazir Bhutto Welcomed Back With Bombs
UPDATE: Now I hear "At least 110 dead, over 200 injured." UPDATE: 45 people have reportedly been killed in this unsuccessful attempt on Bhutto's life. MSNBC BBC: Several blasts have occurred near the motorcade carrying Pakistani ex-PM Benazir Bhutto, during her triumphant homecoming after eight years in exile. Mrs Bhutto was on her way from Karachi airport to a … [Read more...] about Benazir Bhutto Welcomed Back With Bombs
S-CHIP’s Other Little Victims
In the losing fight to override Bush’s veto, Democrats may have put the spotlight on the wrong victims. Instead of pushing forward 12-year-old brain injured Graeme Frost and two-year-old Bethany Wilkerson with her heart problem, they might have converted more Republicans by emphasizing the other sufferers from unaffordable health care--America’s small business owners. … [Read more...] about S-CHIP’s Other Little Victims
S-CHIP: Battle Lost, But On To the War
An effort to override President Bush's veto of a $35 billion, five-year expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program fell short today in a 273-156 vote in the House of Representatives. While that outcome was expected, it is only one lost battle in what is shaping up to be a helluva war. The bill had passed the Democratic-controlled Senate and House with … [Read more...] about S-CHIP: Battle Lost, But On To the War
Geez Louise! Another Wimmin’s Blog
Slate has a new blog called The XX Factor. The blog is written exclusively by wimmin, and while I am sure it will include some first-class contributors, I have some issues with wimmin's blogs in general and so-called feminist blogs in particular. Some of that has to do with self-indulgent piffle like this (sorry, I couldn’t help myself), but the larger issue is that … [Read more...] about Geez Louise! Another Wimmin’s Blog