RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Iraq Progress Reports
And I, For One, Am Shocked
Today in news about Israel: The UNHRC decides Israel needs constant monitoring, but Cuba and Belarus can go free....Hamas thinks all of Israel is "occupied" and thus all of its strikes (including, presumably those on civilians) are against "forces" within the theater of occupation--this is supposed to persuade America to engage with it....BBC apologizes for accurately calling … [Read more...] about And I, For One, Am Shocked
Center of Attention
Libby Spencer believes that Michael Bloomberg will, most certainly, run for President. John Cole notes that "Bloomberg was, for all intents and purposes, the real RINO, and conservatism will not suffer with his departure, but the GOP sure was happy to have him around when he was with the party." Wondering what The Populist looks like? Go here to find out. And yes, if it … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Thomas Goes To China
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Thomas Goes To China
The Colin Powelling of Petraeus
When Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki told Congress before the invasion in 2003 that several hundred thousand troops would be needed to pacify Iraq, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz ridiculed him. To justify the war, the Administration pushed Gen. Colin Powell, by then Secretary of State, into a UN presentation from which he tried, not altogether successfully, to remove Scooter … [Read more...] about The Colin Powelling of Petraeus
Republicans for Obama
In a surprising development (on the face of it at least), quite some Republicans are siding with Senator Barack Obama: There is an interesting phenomenon that has arisen over the last few months: a trend of moderate Republicans who want to vote for Barack Obama. It may seem counterintuitive, conservatives supporting a candidate who wants to tax the wealthy and embrace the … [Read more...] about Republicans for Obama
West Bank First
Jules Crittenden hits the nail right on its head: Unabashed, unrepentant terrorist Hamas, still bent on destroying Israel, vs. corrupt, ineffectual ostensibly repentant terrorism-enabling Fatah, which allowed this state of affairs to develop. The Palestinians, having divided, were in the process of conquering themselves. Not surprisingly, utter murderousness trumped weaseling … [Read more...] about West Bank First
Gallup Poll Shows Most Americans Feel Economy Getting Worse
If there was ever truly bad news for the White House and the Republican party, the latest Gallup poll is definitively it: A new Gallup Poll will only reinforce those who claim that while the rich get richer most Americans don't feel they are sharing in the growth in our economy. The stock market may be climbing and the unemployment remains relatively low, but 7 in 10 … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll Shows Most Americans Feel Economy Getting Worse
The Implications Of A Michael Bloomberg Independent Run
So if New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg runs for President in 2008 as an independent as now seems likely, what ARE the implications? Read Jonathan Singer's intriguing (and always thorough) analysis HERE. And be sure to re-read Jeremy Dibbell's excellent earlier post on the issue HERE. … [Read more...] about The Implications Of A Michael Bloomberg Independent Run
Healthy Comments Are A Sign Of Healthy Discussion
Comments are the blessing and bane of weblogs. Here at TMV, we value comments from readers because we try (and hope) that on most posts, at least, discussion in comments represent vigorous but thoughtful debate. Ditto on on our posts. But let's admit something that's a fact of life about sites such as this that have popped up in the Internet revolution. Just as the concept … [Read more...] about Healthy Comments Are A Sign Of Healthy Discussion
Iraq: A Sad Story Grows Sadder Still
The sad story of Alex R. Jimenez, one of the two U.S. soldiers kidnapped and feared dead after an Al Qaeda-led ambush in May in the Triangle of Death, has grown sadder still with the news that his wife may be deported. Yaderlin Jimenez, like her husband, is a native of the Dominican Republican, but she entered the U.S. illegally prior to marrying him in 2004. She has been … [Read more...] about Iraq: A Sad Story Grows Sadder Still
Thank You Thomas Friedman
Thomas Friedman wrote a good column for the New York Times about Britain’s University and College Union decision to call on its members to boycott Israel. Friedman's main point: the decision, or call, to boycott Israel is based on bias. To be more precise, on anti-Semitism. As Friedman explains, the situation in Israel is far more complicated than the anti-Zionists like to … [Read more...] about Thank You Thomas Friedman
Can Rory Stewart Fix Afghanistan?
If you're into the concept of national sovereignty, central governments and all that kind of stuff, then Afghanistan is a seriously beautiful but broken place. I happen to believe strongly that Afghanistan is, in fact, ungovernable, as a succession of foreign occupiers have learned to their dismay. But that doesn't mean that the culture and history of this wild place … [Read more...] about Can Rory Stewart Fix Afghanistan?
No-confidence
Larry Wright, The Detroit News … [Read more...] about No-confidence
Hillary Clinton Spoofs The Last Scene Of The Sopranos
This Hillary Clinton video spoofing the last scene of The Sopranos is a masterful use of American culture. Can you spot the real cast member from The Sopranos? … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Spoofs The Last Scene Of The Sopranos
Big News from Bloomberg
He appears on the cover of Time with Arnold Schwarzenegger with the headline "Who Needs Washington?" He's the subject of a BusinessWeek special report, "The CEO Mayor: How New York's Mike Bloomberg is creating a new model for public service that places pragmatism before politics." He's rumored to have recently had a "long, private discussion" with former Dem senator David … [Read more...] about Big News from Bloomberg
Happy Juneteenth!
Happy Juneteenth, everybody! … [Read more...] about Happy Juneteenth!
The Limits Of Political Junkiedom
Rich Horton wrote another column for my blog, and it is - if I may say so - another must read. The subject: political junkies. Excerpt: Ah, the joys of being young and in a near perpetual state of indignation. Today, I have a lot more sympathy with my old professors. Yes, I still think it wouldn’t kill them to have some basic knowledge of the present political scene, even … [Read more...] about The Limits Of Political Junkiedom
Public Financing of Senate Campaigns
June 20th the "Fair Elections Now Act" will have its first hearing before the Senate Rules Committee. Lead sponsors Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) will testify in support of the bill. This hearing is an important step in advancing the Fair Elections Now Act in the Senate, and winning full public financing for all congressional races. The four part … [Read more...] about Public Financing of Senate Campaigns
Center of Attention
Kevin Sullivan has an interesting post up about employers vs. family. Justin Gardner notes that Michael Bloomberg talks like a candidate. Bye bye Nifong. Isaac Newton - one of mankind's greatest scientists - believed that the would end no earlier than 2060. Something - I bet - many people did not know about Newton is that he was more than 'just' a scientist: he was … [Read more...] about Center of Attention