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. -------------------------- Andrew Sullivan is skeptical of a relatively radical health care reform proposal … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
A New Realism: Bill Richardson’s Foreign Policy
The Harvard International Review recently published an essay by Governor Richardson. In the essay, Richardson describes the foreign policy he favors as "New Realism." New realism is an interesting theory, and it's important for all of us to stop looking at the controversy of the day, and to start talking policies / plans. This is why I have summarized and analysed Richardon's … [Read more...] about A New Realism: Bill Richardson’s Foreign Policy
Edwards Psychiatrist
Mike Lester, The Rome News-Tribune … [Read more...] about Edwards Psychiatrist
The Democrats: Profiles in Cowardice
Can You Spot Reed and Pelosi? The retreat of the Democratic congressional majority from trying to force the White House to delineate an Iraq war exit strategy, as well as agreeing to a timetable for wholesale troop withdrawals, is yet another shameful chapter in the Age of Bush. Using the modest and temporary successes of the surge strategy as a fig leaf, the very … [Read more...] about The Democrats: Profiles in Cowardice
Some Republicans’ Takes On The Republican Debate
A few more takes on the Republican debate from Republican Internet writers: --Glenn Reynolds: Okay, I'm not liveblogging, but all this piling-on toward Fred Thompson is as likely to build him up as to tear him down. Stephen Green comments: "First question: Is Fred Thompson smarter than you guys? Answer: If he’s having a postshow cocktail in Leno’s greenroom, he is." … [Read more...] about Some Republicans’ Takes On The Republican Debate
PAVAROTTI Looked as the Stars Trembled With Love and Hope
Have you ever noticed that some brilliant souls seem to come to earth close together in time, eddy near one another in genius, and then also leave the earth within a few short months of one another? ... as though they arrive in pods, like creatures of the sea and together swim away at a signal only they know. The most recent: Antonioni, and Bergman. Now Sills, now … [Read more...] about PAVAROTTI Looked as the Stars Trembled With Love and Hope
Bush Badmouths Congress Overseas And Emanuel Responds
President George Bush took a verbal swat at Congress overseas yesterday, making a comment that hurled some more gasoline and lit matches on political polarization in the United States. Bush's suggestion: that Iraq's parliament is more efficient than the one in his own country. The Chicago Tribune's blog has the text of a response letter written by Rep. Rahm Emanuel, … [Read more...] about Bush Badmouths Congress Overseas And Emanuel Responds
Can Barack Obama “Talk His Way Into The Presidency?”
The Pheonix's Steven Stark looks at Barack Obama's campaign and as some suggestions. Here's the opening of his must-read piece: The press — or some of it — at least some of it have put Barack Obama on the road to oblivion. When the candidate responded, at the July 23 CNN/YouTube Democratic debate, that he would meet with rogue foreign leaders during his first year … [Read more...] about Can Barack Obama “Talk His Way Into The Presidency?”
What I Did On My Summer Vacation
RJ Matson, The New York Observer … [Read more...] about What I Did On My Summer Vacation
Fred Thompson Announces Presidential Candidacy On Tonight Show
Former Senator and actor Fred Thompson formally announced his candidacy for President on Jay Leno's Tonight Show -- following in the footsteps of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger who found the venue a lucky one to announce his own intentions: After months of false starts, staff shake-ups, and questions about the seriousness of his intention to run for president, … [Read more...] about Fred Thompson Announces Presidential Candidacy On Tonight Show
Fresh Fred Thompson
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Fresh Fred Thompson
Off to Northfield
I'm heading back to college tomorrow (senior year -- very scary). This week has been a nightmare of packing and travel plans, and presumably the next few days will show similar anarchy before I can truly settle into the dorm. I'll try to get back to posting as soon as I can. … [Read more...] about Off to Northfield
Tonight’s Republican Debate on Fox News
I don't get Fox News and don't feel like live-blogging this Republican Debate (9 pm EDT) without Tardy Fred. washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog The Fix will be live-blogging. Meanwhile, Chris Cillizza has plenty to say about the debate and Fred's absence therefrom. From a political strategy perspective, it's tough to know whether skipping tonight's debate is savvy or … [Read more...] about Tonight’s Republican Debate on Fox News
Germany’s 9/11 Averted
A lot has happened lately: not only has Turkish Daily News published some columns by yours truly, a few days ago I was also asked by Pajamas Media whether I would like to write for them. Of course, I answered that I would be happy and proud to be part of such a fine and constantly growing organization. Today, PJM published my first article. It's about the arrests in Germany … [Read more...] about Germany’s 9/11 Averted
Can Fred Thompson Close the Gaffe Gap?
When he announces tomorrow, the former Senator/actor will start with a clean slate in the hoof-in-mouth department. His Republican opponents have had six months to say stupid things, and they have made the most of them. Rudy Giuliani had to back off telling Barbara Walters that his wife would attend cabinet meetings and, more recently, his claim to have spent more time at … [Read more...] about Can Fred Thompson Close the Gaffe Gap?
Takin’ It to the Street
If you're a registered U.S. voter and regular TMV reader, the chances are quite good that you're more politically savvy than the overwhelming majority of the rest of the nation's electorate when they head to the polls. I'm confident making that claim for three reasons: (1) I think my co-authors and I do an (ahem) incredible job of covering and opining on political players … [Read more...] about Takin’ It to the Street
Original Blog Interview: Melanie Morgan
Susan Duclos of Wake Up America had the opportunity to interview Melanie Morgan, chair(wo)man of Move America Forward, a pro-war organization. A part of the interview published at Susan's blog, is also published at the Washington Times (Susan is a freelancer for them). Read the interview, it is a good and interesting read from the pro-war / pro-surge perspective. I do not … [Read more...] about Original Blog Interview: Melanie Morgan
The Surge, Iran And A Possible Journalistic Conflict Of Interest
The idea: get the administration's message out on the "surge" in Iraq and recent reports say Dick Cheney's position on Iran (that the military option is looking more and more preferable). Is there a journalistic conflict of interest (one quite glaring (apparently not noted by a news outlet?)? First read THIS and then THIS. … [Read more...] about The Surge, Iran And A Possible Journalistic Conflict Of Interest
Immigration in Britain
Now this is an interesting research: Using the UK Fourth National Survey of Ethnic Minorities, we explore the determinants of religious identity for Muslims and non-Muslims. We find that Muslims integrate less and more slowly than non-Muslims. A Muslim born in the UK and having spent there more than 50 years shows a comparable level of probability of having a strong religious … [Read more...] about Immigration in Britain
Going After Gore
Vanity Fair published an article describing the treatment Al Gore received back in 2000 from the mainstream media. I am not talking about so-called right-wing media, but about the New York Times and the Washington Post. The author of the article did not just ask Gore and his staffers what they thought about the way the media depicted him, she also talked to journalists … [Read more...] about Going After Gore