The New York Times Opinion Page We have ended TimesSelect. All of our Op-Ed and news columns are now available free of charge. Additionally, The New York Times Archive is available free back to 1987 … [Read more...] about Natural Selection Ends TimesSelect
Larry Sabato on Michael Mukasey
The (NYC) Jewish Week: “This is a smart decision by President Bush, and it avoids yet another vicious partisan battle with the Congress,†said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato. “Granted, Mukasey is a conservative — a Republican president is not going to appoint a liberal as attorney general — but Mukasey is in the Edward Levi model from … [Read more...] about Larry Sabato on Michael Mukasey
Free Speech Zone
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Free Speech Zone
A Difficult Question
Polling data shows that most Iraqis want the US to leave. But, as my co-blogger David Dryer wonders, how heavily should Iraqi popular opinion be weighted when considering what to do next in Iraq? … [Read more...] about A Difficult Question
How Many Lives Does O.J. Have Left?
It is said that cats have nine lives. The question of the moment is how many O.J. Simpson has. By my reckoning, The Juice has squandered four lives so far: Lives One and Two went poof when he skated after the so-called Trial of the Century for the murders of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman. Life Three concluded with a $33.5 million wrongful death … [Read more...] about How Many Lives Does O.J. Have Left?
Does Jackson Have The Right Idea?
Angela's post on Jesse Jackson calling Obama out on "Acting White" on the Jena Six issue inspires a few of my own musings. I don't like the specific rhetoric, but would it really be a bad thing if the Black leadership and community started building in a concern for social justice and concern for those who "haven't made it" into the idea of Blackness? Certainly, if Black folk … [Read more...] about Does Jackson Have The Right Idea?
Why Can’t Kucinich Catch On?
On the two key issues for 2008, Dennis Kucinich seems to be in tune with Democratic voters. He wants to get us out of Iraq, and he favors a single-payer not-for-profit health care plan. But his campaign is stuck in the second tier of candidates in single digits. Why? Is he too short? Is his name too hard to pronounce and spell? Does he make voters uneasy by unconventional … [Read more...] about Why Can’t Kucinich Catch On?
“Borrowing” Another Blog’s Name, Design And Even Content
What could be more personal than a weblog? Yes, there are some set-ups that give you generic templates. But the write also gets to choose a new, original name that sets his or her "brand" off from the others. But there is a little known fact on the Internet, one that is something of an unmentionable issue: the are some cases of blogs' design names and even content being … [Read more...] about “Borrowing” Another Blog’s Name, Design And Even Content
Interview with Andy Worthington
[Joe was kind enough to suggest that, as he so frequently linked to my interviews, I might as well just post them right on TMV! Hi, there! My nom-de-bloggue is "the talking dog"; by vocation, I am a lawyer in New York City. By avocation, I write "the talking dog," a blog that has just celebrated its sixth anniversary. Joe has classified TTD as "left-leaning" on the TMV … [Read more...] about Interview with Andy Worthington
Blackwater: Onward Through the Fog
CPA boss Paul Bremer with Blackwater guard The fog surrounding a weekend incident in which Blackwater USA security guards allegedly killed at least 11 Iraqis and wounded others grows thicker. There have been these developments: * A preliminary review by Iraq's Ministry of Interior found that Blackwater security guards fired at a car when it did not heed a policeman's … [Read more...] about Blackwater: Onward Through the Fog
President Bush and Iraq: Kicking the Can Down the Road to 2009
Am I the only person who didn't realize until after President Bush’s speech last week on Iraq that he all but came out and said what we have known for some time -- that it would be up to his successor to end the war? You too, eh? In retrospect, this was far and away the most important aspect of a speech that has been dissected to a fairthewell but an aspect that was … [Read more...] about President Bush and Iraq: Kicking the Can Down the Road to 2009
Hillary Clinton’s Extreme Makeover
RJ Matson, The New York Observer … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton’s Extreme Makeover
Cops Who Tasered Florida Student On Leave In Incident That Sparked Political Firestorm (UPDATED)
Yet another chapter in the low tolerance level some in 21st century America have for strongly expressed, loudmouth views (which are acceptable if expressed on radio and cable talk shows)....in yet another incident involving law enforcement/security types whose fingers get awfully itchy when clutching an instrument of power called a taser. Here it is, the video that has … [Read more...] about Cops Who Tasered Florida Student On Leave In Incident That Sparked Political Firestorm (UPDATED)
Analysis of the Maryland Anti-Gay Marriage Decision
Shorter MD Sup. Ct.: "We admit that reading the text 'literally' would require a plaintiff's victory, but with a little judicial creativity, we can do anything we want to do! Fortunately, the TMV comment threads are full of people who hate when judges rule based on what they want the law to be, rather than what it says, so when the Court admits that a "literal" reading of the … [Read more...] about Analysis of the Maryland Anti-Gay Marriage Decision
Public Campaign Finance
The Blog at The Nation presents a discussion of Public Financing of Campaigns. The "pressure for constant fundraising is unsustainable – there is a convergence of democratic values and ideals and more pragmatic considerations wrought by fundraising fatigue. ("The result of this nonsense is that almost one-third of a senator's time is spent fundraising," former Democratic … [Read more...] about Public Campaign Finance
Damn
Maryland's Highest Court, in a 4-3 ruling, has held that my state's prohibition of same-sex marriage does not violate the state constitution. The opinion is here, it's 244 pages, so more comment later. I will say that if there is any state where gay marriage might make it through the legislature, Maryland strikes me as a good bet. The State Senate is 33/14 D-R, and the House … [Read more...] about Damn
An Upside to Global Warming? Mega-Dandelions!
IUPUI study finds dandelions grow stronger with global warming A new study reported in the current issue of Weed Science reveals that rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels will drive dandelions to grow taller, stronger and more productive. Unless you love dandelions, this is not a good thing. … [Read more...] about An Upside to Global Warming? Mega-Dandelions!
Washington Yawns As Egypt’s Independent Press Is Attacked
Since the United States has abandoned its democracy-promotion strategy in the Middle East, things have gone to hell. Arab monarchies have cracked down hard on opposition groups, press has been stifled, and elections have been blatantly rigged. This is particularly evident in Egypt, where the Mubarak monarchy is literally trying to eviscerate all opposition. Besides the jailing … [Read more...] about Washington Yawns As Egypt’s Independent Press Is Attacked
Harry and Louise’s Golden Years
In the early 1990s, they were on TV all the time, a middle-aged, middle-class American couple named Harry and Louise, sitting around the kitchen table, worrying that Hillary Clinton’s health care plan would get between them and their doctor. Now, that Clinton woman is back again with her radical ideas about insurance for everyone, but will Harry and Louise still be … [Read more...] about Harry and Louise’s Golden Years
The Buck Stops Here
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about The Buck Stops Here