My Fellow TMVers, I recently sent out an email to many of the members of TMV with regards to where TMV and the blogosphere in general is going. While I will not reprint that email here in full, I would like to post a portion of it. From my email: I hope that we can continue to focus on engaging in constructional criticism of policies and issues rather than posting … [Read more...] about Individuals…Not Partisans
More Bad News For Senator John McCain
It truly seems as if his campaign is doomed. There are some pieces in the media now about McCain on the rebound, etc. and some polls that show some movement for him. But the media stories are typical of how a story flows: it's boring and old hat to write the same thing, so if it looks like he's started to pull himself out of the tar pit the story comes out that he's getting … [Read more...] about More Bad News For Senator John McCain
Interview with Randall Larsen
[Hi, there! The blogger known as "the talking dog" here. I recently brought you an interview with the author of "the book" on Guantanamo-- a woefully under-covered story in the commercial media. Today, I bring you my interview with Randy Larsen, who quite literally wrote the book on homeland security, another ludicrously under-covered, though critical, topic. You may find a … [Read more...] about Interview with Randall Larsen
The Last Jew Standing In Afghanistan Celebrates Holiday
Yes, religious communities can vanish. And not necessarily by planned persecutions, overworked gas ovens or unfeeling guards who put bullets into men, women and children including infants because they come from a different community or group. It be by political attrition, too: Zebulon Simentov, the last Jew in Afghanistan, is once again marking the Jewish holy day … [Read more...] about The Last Jew Standing In Afghanistan Celebrates Holiday
An Incredible Resource For Learning
If you're an educator, student, serious writer or just anyone who wants to learn (that lets bloggers out) be sure to check out the mind-boggling collection of superb links at Librarian Chick. … [Read more...] about An Incredible Resource For Learning
Rep. Jerry Weller: The Way NOT To Retire From Politics
When Richard Nixon lost his bid to become Governor of California in 1962 he angrily told the press: "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore." (Actually the press DID and Nixon became President and the press REALLY did have him to kick around.) Now, Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) announced his retirement and an aide of his is accused of taking that sentiment a bit further: by … [Read more...] about Rep. Jerry Weller: The Way NOT To Retire From Politics
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! . . .
. . . Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Correspondent Patrick Graham does note that the U.S. has reached out to Saddam Hussein's former henchmen, but that certainly does not make him "the new Saddam" as hyped on the cover of the new Maclean's magazine. That so noted, Graham's commentary is most excellent for its perspective, depth and balance. Click here to read excerpts and here … [Read more...] about Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! . . .
A Quick Update For TMV Readers
Last night officially ended my own extensive months-long travel show schedule, with an evening performance in Los Angeles. More travel will start up again in mid October but not as heavy until 2008. SO now some things on the back burner at TMV will be dealt with quickly: BLOGROLL UPDATE: As promised months ago, we will remove most inactive blogs or blogs TMV had links with … [Read more...] about A Quick Update For TMV Readers
Cell Phones Are Everywhere
And we DO mean everywhere: … [Read more...] about Cell Phones Are Everywhere
Ahmadinejad in New York
Simanca Osmani, Cagle Cartoons, Brazil … [Read more...] about Ahmadinejad in New York
UPDATE: Blackwater Back to Work
The New York Times reports that Blackwater USA employees have returned to work in Iraq guarding convoys. It was not immediately clear whether the Iraqi government had okayed the action, but it's a good bet that it had at least given its tacit approval. End of kerfuffle. … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Blackwater Back to Work
Signs of Change in Saudi Arabia (Part 2)
Although the Saudi government is often portrayed as hard-line and inflexible, some important reforms are starting to take place. John Burgess, a Saudi expert and a blogger at Crossroads Arabia, argues this point in the second piece in a two-part series on Saudi reform. Amongst other signs of progress, Burgess points to government efforts to expand the role of women, … [Read more...] about Signs of Change in Saudi Arabia (Part 2)
Another Anti-Syrian Politician Is Murdered In Lebanon
Insurance companies might consider dropping life insurance to politicians in Lebanon who are known critics of Syria. Yet another one has violently bit the dust: Antoine Ghanem, the Christian MP murdered in a Beirut car-bomb attack, was a member of the anti-Syrian March 14 block which forms the backbone of the Western-supported Lebanese Government. His death has reduced the … [Read more...] about Another Anti-Syrian Politician Is Murdered In Lebanon
Now Our Lives Are Complete!
Because we know THIS. … [Read more...] about Now Our Lives Are Complete!
Why Are You So Freaked Out?
These women are 9/11 widows. They're not afraid of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who says he wants to lay wreath at Ground Zero when he comes to New York to address the U.N., even though it was Iran that attacked the U.S. on 9/11. So why are so many Americans freaked out by the possibility that some good may actually come of such a gesture? Why are you so freaked … [Read more...] about Why Are You So Freaked Out?
Jena 6
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Jena 6
GOP: Boy Do They Not Got Rhythm
If you are a black, it wouldn’t take a stretch of imagination to think that the Republican presidential candidates would like nothing more than to ship you off to Jena, Louisiana. If you are a Hispanic, it wouldn’t take a stretch of imagination to think that the Republican presidential candidates would like nothing more than to ship you off to Mexico or wherever the heck … [Read more...] about GOP: Boy Do They Not Got Rhythm
The Economics of Baghdad’s Sectarian Cleansing
Megan Greenwell writes in today's Washington Post of the financial consequences of sectarian cleansing in Baghdad. If you think housing prices have suffered in the US with the sub-prime mortgage collapse, just think about what's happening to those fleeing mixed neighborhoods in Baghdad. As Greenwell summarizes: With hundreds of thousands of Baghdad residents having fled … [Read more...] about The Economics of Baghdad’s Sectarian Cleansing
The U.S. Bites Itself in the Ass Again
The intrinsic half-assedness of virtually everything associated with the planning and execution of the Iraq war is on full display in the raging controversy over Blackwater USA. Let me hasten to say that the military, despite sometimes crossed and changing signals from the White House and Pentagon, has comported itself with the utmost professionalism. But the latest … [Read more...] about The U.S. Bites Itself in the Ass Again
Iran’s President And 9/11’s Ground Zero: Bomb Site Is No Disneyland
Was this deja vu all over again? Not quite. But there did seem to be some whispers from the past.... On Sept. 19, 1959, at the height of the Cold War, then Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev was barred from visiting Disneyland, leading him to explode in a verbal rage. Pundits (and comics) had a field day. So the second most powerful man in the world was mad because he … [Read more...] about Iran’s President And 9/11’s Ground Zero: Bomb Site Is No Disneyland