In Bipartisan Hypocrisy Victor Davis Hanson writes at Real Clear Politics that: The political leaders of this country are essentially too often homogenous. Republicans may represent constituents of traditional values; Democrats may champion the underprivileged. But their similar lifestyles reflect more a political class's shared privilege than the inherent differences of … [Read more...] about Bipartisan Hypocrisy
Nice Lice Give Advice!
My first undergraduate major was in anthropology and I'm still interested in the field. Today's New York Times: In Lice, Clues to Human Origin and Attire One of the more embarrassing mysteries of human evolution is that people are host to no fewer than three kinds of louse while most species have just one. Even bleaker for the human reputation, the pubic louse, which gets … [Read more...] about Nice Lice Give Advice!
The Gingrich Who Stole Political Sloth
Love him or hate him, you really have to respect his intelligence as well as his flair for the dramatic. In that vein, I was particularly impressed with Newt's latest challenge to Presidential candidates, what he calls "The Nine Nineties in Nine Pledge." With little fanfare at the time, he extended this challenge during his February 28 discussion with Mario Cuomo at Cooper … [Read more...] about The Gingrich Who Stole Political Sloth
Changes In TMV Design
Please note that we're now making some changes in TMV design -- and these will be ongoing the next week or so. You'll be noticing some changes as time goes on as we shift from the old design to a newer, more functional and cleaner one. … [Read more...] about Changes In TMV Design
‘Talk To Iraqi Militants’: Says New US Commander
Here is a US General, who knows the ground reality in Iraq, making very important comments. But will these be able to penetrate the iron walls that now seem to surround the White House and be heard by those who matter? The new U.S. commander in Iraq said on Thursday military force would not end violence unless talks were held with some militant groups and warned of more … [Read more...] about ‘Talk To Iraqi Militants’: Says New US Commander
McCain’s Support Continues To Evaporate
Are we seeing the political implosion of Arizona Senator John McCain? This latest poll sure suggests we are: A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows the Arizona senator trailing Rudy Giuliani by more than 20 percentage points -- and encountering doubts in the party about his age and steadfast support for the Iraq war. Mr. McCain's support "is softening," says … [Read more...] about McCain’s Support Continues To Evaporate
Obama or Hillary
It promises to be a close and exciting race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Both have their strengths: Hillary is highly intelligent, very talented and has a lot of experience in politics. Obama has less experience is equally intelligent, perhaps even more talented than Hillary is and is very charismatic. Besides that, he also authored a bestseller. Both, … [Read more...] about Obama or Hillary
Veterans: With Friends Like This . . .
. . . who needs enemies? The scandal over the shabby treatment of America's returning war wounded and veterans is getting uglier by the day. The Blotter reports that a proposal to keep seriously wounded veterans from falling through the cracks of the bureaucracy was shelved in 2005 when Jim Nicholson took over as the secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department. As a … [Read more...] about Veterans: With Friends Like This . . .
Ahmadinejad: His Own Worst Enemy(?)
The Jerusalem Posts reports that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had an unpleasant telephone conversation with Syrian President Bashar Assad recently. During the conversation, Ahmadinejad reportedly told Assad that he supports "the establishment of an international tribunal on the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri". This is, obviously, quite a … [Read more...] about Ahmadinejad: His Own Worst Enemy(?)
Cheney’s Fingerprints On Libby’s
Iraq: Backwards Into the Future
People who thought that the primary goal of the post-invasion occupation of Iraq was to win over a wary population will be shocked, just shocked, to learn that a ranking U.S. general is now saying that heightened troop levels should be maintained into next year because key to the new counterinsurgency strategy is winning over a wary population. This course of events -– an … [Read more...] about Iraq: Backwards Into the Future
Libby Pardon Issue Bursts Onto Political Scene
We're clearly now in a new political and legal era for the Bush administration...one that some Bush critics contend has overtones of Watergate. The White House is now getting peppered with the question about whether it intends to let justice take whatever course it will eventually take in the case of Vice President Cheney's aide "Scooter" Libby, convicted in the Plamegate … [Read more...] about Libby Pardon Issue Bursts Onto Political Scene
A Roundup
Finals means no real post from me, just a roundup. Enjoy folks. And "finals" isn't over until Wednesday--such is life when you have 58 pages of papers do (I have drafts of 38 of the pages done). … [Read more...] about A Roundup
Guest Voice: Toolbox For Moderates
NOTE: The Moderate Voice from time to time runs Guest Voice columns from readers who either don't have their own sites or have a site and would like to raise an issue here. The piece below is by Alex Hammer, a former independent candidate for governor of Maine and the founder and managing editor of Politics 2.0. This is his second Guest Voice column on TMV. Toolbox For … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Toolbox For Moderates
Around The Sphere March 8, 2007
Our linkfest offering you a guide to intriguing posts representing various viewpoints. Links do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV. A Lot Of People Testified At The Walter Reed Hospital Scandal Hearings but was one a sociopath? Fox News Is Always Fair And Balanced...or is it? Speaking Of Fox: Fox News is planning to host the first Democratic Presidential … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere March 8, 2007
Scooter Who?
New Boss, same as the Old Boss – Redistricting
The Politico has a disappointing report on the realities of redistricting reform in California Redistricting and Blade Running ...U.S. House Democrats from California, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. With their majority potentially threatened, the California delegation is prepared to spend $10 million fighting any ballot initiative that would take redistricting … [Read more...] about New Boss, same as the Old Boss – Redistricting
Original Blog Reporting: TTD Interviews Former Guantanamo Prisoner
TMV encourages original reporting on blogs. And once again The Talking Dog is offering an original Q&A HERE -- this time with a former Guantanamo prisoner. As usual, it's hard to excerpt from it because there is so much "meat" in the interview that you MUST read it ALL yourself. But we'll give you the intro and a taste of just one exchange.British national Moazzam Begg was … [Read more...] about Original Blog Reporting: TTD Interviews Former Guantanamo Prisoner
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. A good post at Deafening Silence about Egyptian blogger Abdel Kareem Nabil who was sentenced to four years in prison for insulting Islam and Egypt's President Mubarak. The always hilarious Jon Swift wonders what kind of tree Scooter Libby is. What kind of what? Yes, what … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Secret Prison in Poland
The Raw Story reports that British and Polish intelligence officials have admitted that there was a secret "interrogation and short-term detention facility for suspected terrorists within a Polish intelligence training school with the explicit approval of British and US authorities." The Raw Story claims to have seen a memo which indicates that British "Prime Minister Tony … [Read more...] about Secret Prison in Poland