November 12-16th Common Cause, Democracy Matters, Public Campaign, Public Citizen, and U. S. PIRG will join together to promote Fair Elections Action Week. The Fair Elections Now Act in the Senate, and similar legislation in House would bring full public financing to congressional elections and amplify a call for elections that are about voters, not big money donors. Fair … [Read more...] about Fair Elections Action Week Coming Up
Proposing Constitutional Change
In his new book A More Perfect Constitution (Walker & Company, 2007) Larry Sabato, the founder and director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics lays out a series of twenty-three proposals for constitutional revision. These amendments would, he argues, bring the Constitution into the twenty-first century by making the structures of our government more fair, … [Read more...] about Proposing Constitutional Change
“Mr. Secretary, I Got An Interesting Question.”
As Blake Hounshell notes, Bush "doesn't seem to have done a lot of thinking about the legal implications of outsourcing the Iraq war to companies like Blackwater..." (Hat tip: Belgravia Dispatch) … [Read more...] about “Mr. Secretary, I Got An Interesting Question.”
Saturday Satire: The Capitol Steps Lampoon Larry Craig And John McCain
Classic song parodies and satire from the superb group The Capitol Steps. Their take on "Tap Three Times" sung by Senator Larry Craig: And their take on Arizona Senator John McCain's campaign meltdown: You can get information on their CDs HERE. … [Read more...] about Saturday Satire: The Capitol Steps Lampoon Larry Craig And John McCain
The Bitter “Spoilsports”
Given the tone of American politics, why would you expect anything different than this these days? … [Read more...] about The Bitter “Spoilsports”
History Messing
The Osprey: ‘A Flying Shame’ Goes To War, Thugs At Arms & Other Iraq News
A bad aircraft is finally about to take part in a bad war. Ten V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor planes, which cost 30 lives and $20 billion over a quarter century of development, have been deployed to Iraq. Repeated efforts to kill the Osprey at the highest levels of the Pentagon, including by Dick Cheney when he was defense secretary, were unsuccessful. Cheney and others argued … [Read more...] about The Osprey: ‘A Flying Shame’ Goes To War, Thugs At Arms & Other Iraq News
Coke Or Pepsi Or Punch?
This is what you call hard-knuckled competition: The long-standing rivalry between Coke and Pepsi took a physical turn Friday when a Pepsi deliveryman allegedly punched his Coke counterpart in the face at a western Pennsylvania Wal-Mart, state police said. Pepsi's new marketing slogan is reportedly "More Happy" -- but this doesn't seem to be a very good start, giving … [Read more...] about Coke Or Pepsi Or Punch?
Around The Sphere Blog Roundup October 13, 2007
Our link-fest offering readers links to blogposts from websites of many different viewpoints. Linked posts do NOT necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. "PRESIDENT GORE WINS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE" is how the All Spin Zone puts it in an extensive post looking at Gore's new international status. The post must be read in full, but here's the final … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere Blog Roundup October 13, 2007
Rudy’s Really Big Skeleton
Politics is a dirty business and barring a late bid by the Flying Nun there probably isn't a candidate running for president who doesn't have a skeleton or three in their closet. Then there's Rudy Giuliani, the Republican front-runner by most accounts, who needs more than a mere closet for all of his personal indiscretions and serial philandering. This is because Bernie … [Read more...] about Rudy’s Really Big Skeleton
Al Gore Saves Planet
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Al Gore Saves Planet
Former Top General Blasts Bush Administration On Iraq
Add another former military bigwig to the ranks of those who've left the service only to come out later in public to call the administration's Iraq policy incompetent and a hard-to-escape mess. But this time it's a huge former bigwig: In a sweeping indictment of the four-year effort in Iraq, the former top American commander called the Bush administration’s handling of … [Read more...] about Former Top General Blasts Bush Administration On Iraq
Retracting the Welcome Mat
As the Democratic ascendancy continues, many Republicans are beginning to defect across the aisle to join the new majority Party. Many of these are excellent, devoted public servants who recognize that their Party has left them behind. But not every person who joins our side is worth welcoming, as a recent Colorado state representative's switch exemplifies. … [Read more...] about Retracting the Welcome Mat
Sound and fury, signifying nothing
Mainstream media outlets have already moved on from Burma. What is it now, to them, but a story of the past? What more, to them, is there to say? Not much, not much at all, there are new and far more sensationalistic stories to tell, upon which to report. And for the mainstream media outlets of our sensation-driven society, what is important about the news is what is … [Read more...] about Sound and fury, signifying nothing
Al Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize
Aislin, The Montreal Gazette … [Read more...] about Al Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize
Addendum
If I had a time machine and could wind back the clock to the point when I was compiling today's CoA installment, I'd add just one more post to the list, for our readers' collective consideration, namely, this one by Jim Wallis, "Dinner with the Antichrist." An obviously great title (if your goal is to hook readers) ... plus an extremely encouraging prediction: This dramatic … [Read more...] about Addendum
U.S. Congress Decides, While Iraqis Go ‘Beep … Beep Beep’
Is the U.S. Congress trampling on the rights of Iraqi leaders? According to this tongue-in-cheek op-ed article from Iraq's Azzaman newspaper, the only sovereignty that Iraqi officials have left is to force people to listen to their car horns, while all the real decisions involving nationhood are made on Capital Hill. "The vote in Congress to divide Iraq is the final proof … [Read more...] about U.S. Congress Decides, While Iraqis Go ‘Beep … Beep Beep’
Good Intentions, But Badly Directed
In most cases - and this one is no different - it's better to leave history to the historians. Via The Washington Post, it looks as though a House panel has ignored that advice and passed a non-binding resolution to recognize the label of "Armenian genocide." Turkey is pissed, of course, and they've withdrawn their ambassador to Washington. While its goals are undoubtedly … [Read more...] about Good Intentions, But Badly Directed
CIA Investigates Its Own Whistleblowing Inspector General
In a highly unusual -- and perhaps without precedent -- move, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency has ordered an investigation of the CIA's own Inspector General whose findings have not been pleasant for the agency in recent months: The director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Gen. Michael V. Hayden, has ordered an unusual internal inquiry into the work of … [Read more...] about CIA Investigates Its Own Whistleblowing Inspector General
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. -------------------------- Libby Spencer revisits the potential value of tossing everyone out of Washington and … [Read more...] about Center of Attention