The following statement is not coming from someone who is a Mitt Romney supporter: There truly is an element of the 1960 Presidential campaign when Senator John F. Kennedy had to battle stereotypes and downright bigotry about his Catholicism in what former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is now going through in having to explain and defend his faith -- to Republicans. … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney Still Has To Battle To Defend His Faith (UPDATED)
Some Bloggers Want To Form A Bloggers’ Labor Union
In a way, you just knew this had to happen: In a move that might make some people scratch their heads, a loosely formed coalition of left-leaning bloggers are trying to band together to form a labor union they hope will help them receive health insurance, conduct collective bargaining or even set professional standards. The effort is an extension of the blogosphere's … [Read more...] about Some Bloggers Want To Form A Bloggers’ Labor Union
Covering up the Tillman Cover-up
Mike Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Covering up the Tillman Cover-up
Shinichi’s Trike & The Lessons of War
Shinichi Tetsutani loved to ride his beloved tricycle outside his house in Higashi-Hakushima-Cho, a neighborhood in the Japanese port city of Hiroshima. Shin-chan, as his family called the three-year-old, was doing just that on the morning of August 6, 1945, when there was a brilliant flash in the sky. Shin was about a quarter mile from the hypocenter of the detonation of … [Read more...] about Shinichi’s Trike & The Lessons of War
30 Percent of U.S. Weapons Given To Iraq Unaccounted For
So how do the insurgents get their guns? It now seems as if one way is...from guns given to Iraq by the United States: The Pentagon has lost track of about 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, according to a new government report, raising fears that some of those weapons have fallen into the hands of insurgents … [Read more...] about 30 Percent of U.S. Weapons Given To Iraq Unaccounted For
Our Hometown: The News Couldn’t Be Weirder or Sweeter
Is your hometown like mine? Strange and sweet in its profound oddities? Perhaps you remember the piece I wrote on TMV a few weeks ago that was big news in my hometown newspaper ... it was about the man in the wheelchair who was at a gas station just across the road from where I grew up. He wheeled himself in front of an idling 18 wheeler rig whose driver did not realize … [Read more...] about Our Hometown: The News Couldn’t Be Weirder or Sweeter
Guest Poet: August in Baghdad
And now another gem from TMV's favorite artist of verse, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: August in Baghdad By Michael Silverstein August in Baghdad, the air's like an oven, The parliament's shut down, it's too hot to govern; The people who claim to be running this nation, Have packed up their bags and gone off on vacation. They haven't, of course, left … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: August in Baghdad
Hillary Cleavage
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Hillary Cleavage
Center of Attention
A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Nancy Hanks joins the ranks of those disaffected with Kos. Daniel DiRito comments on the "militant," "repulsive" approach of so-called Christians who "treat homosexuals as second class citizens." Dave Schuler addresses "the bottom line on health care." Money quote: The only force that … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Covering the Super-Healthy Only
If Bill Clinton, Dick Cheney or Chief Justice John Roberts applied for private health insurance, they wouldn’t get it. Neither would Michael Moore for his obesity or Arnold Schwarzenegger, who went to the hospital in 2005 for rapid heartbeats. An organization called the Medical Information Bureau would take a quick look at their histories and tell 470 companies they are … [Read more...] about Covering the Super-Healthy Only
Ron Paul Blasts Iraq War During GOP Debate
Ron Paul doesn't generally come across very strongly at the GOP debates with his soft spoken voice and almost grandfatherly demeanor. But during last night's debate, he seemed pretty animated in his harsh criticism—not only of the war—but of those in favor of perpetuating it. Mitt Romney's response: Has he forgotten about 9/11? … [Read more...] about Ron Paul Blasts Iraq War During GOP Debate
Türkiye Sen Çok Güzelsin
Izmir: clock tower. Again: I made photographs of Izmir myself, but not on a digital camera. On July 14 I arrived - for the second time - in Turkey. Turkey has become somewhat of a second fatherland for me. I feel right at home, comfortable and at ease. In fact, when I visited Turkey for the first time back in April I fell in love with the country immediately. The city I … [Read more...] about Türkiye Sen Çok Güzelsin
Harnessing the Wind
The power company responsible for much of the Boston area, NSTAR, recently announced that beginning in January (pending approval by state regulators), 1.1 million customers in Boston and beyond will be able to sign up for NSTAR Green and buy half or all of their "power directly from a wind farm in upstate New York and a second under development in Maine." A report in the … [Read more...] about Harnessing the Wind
Are Democrats Enabling Bush Administration “Radicalism?”
Salon's Glenn Greenwald comes out and flatly states what some Bush administration critics have said less diplomatically: if the Bush administration is more "radical" than conservative, some Congressional Democrats have played a huge role in helping it achieve its goals: It is staggering, and truly disgusting, that even in August, 2007 -- almost six years removed from the … [Read more...] about Are Democrats Enabling Bush Administration “Radicalism?”
Bush and Bridge
Paul Zanetti, Australia … [Read more...] about Bush and Bridge
Do Blacks Get Screwed?
And is it time we build a screwdriver? Today's MUST READ. … [Read more...] about Do Blacks Get Screwed?
The Bridge as Dream Symbol: The Rainbow Bridge
Considering the recent disaster of the bridge collapse at Minneapolis, no doubt many people are dreaming night dreams of bridges, not just those in proximity, but any who have heard of the event that took place there. ‘Like tends to stimulate like’ and the dream maker picks its symbols that consciously or unconsciously resonate for the dreamer and... they show up in night … [Read more...] about The Bridge as Dream Symbol: The Rainbow Bridge
Sunday Beer Blogging
In which I quote Frank Zappa, piss on American beers and explain why they're intentionally watered down, discuss the disconnect between the American love of Mexican beer but not Mexicans, and other staff having nothing to do with George Bush, Iraq, bridge collapses or Yearly Kos. Please click here for less. … [Read more...] about Sunday Beer Blogging
Your Tax Cuts At Work
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Your Tax Cuts At Work
The Next Generation
Okay, so we all know that this incarnation of Republican candidates is not very impressive--especially to their fellow Republicans. So who are some people who could raise the party's flagging spirits? I have a list of five names that I think may pop up in presidential talk, possibly as saviors this time around, but more likely as candidates to take the White House back in 2012. … [Read more...] about The Next Generation