First Read quotes this article at the Politico: House Democratic leaders, seeking a compromise with several dozen anti-war lawmakers in their own caucus, are considering a vote on a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq before taking up $98 billion in new military spending," The Politico reports. "In return for the vote, the leaders want the 50 to 75 anti-war … [Read more...] about Compromise in the Making
Cheney & Libby: It’s Not Over By a Long Shot
Lost in the tsunami of commentary on the Libby perjury trial verdict is that a second trial looms that could be far more damaging to Vice President Cheney and the Bush administration. That trial would be on the lawsuit that Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame have filed against Cheney, Libby, Karl Rove and Richard Armitage. The lawsuit would have proceeded no matter the … [Read more...] about Cheney & Libby: It’s Not Over By a Long Shot
Obama’s Finances
The New York Times has an article up, stating that Obama "bought more than $50,000 worth of stock in two speculative companies whose major investors included some of his biggest political donors." One of the companies was a biotech concern that was starting to develop a drug to treat avian flu. In March 2005, two weeks after buying about $5,000 of its shares, Mr. Obama took … [Read more...] about Obama’s Finances
A Turning Point For U.S. Korea Talks?
There apparently is good news coming out of the talks between the United States and North Korea. The BBC:The US and North Korea have had "very good" talks aimed at normalising relations between the two nations, the top US negotiator has said. US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill was speaking after the second day of the talks in New York. He said there was a … [Read more...] about A Turning Point For U.S. Korea Talks?
The Libby Verdict: The Ending Or The Beginning Of Controversy?
Within minutes of "Scooter" Lewis Libby being convinced of four counts of perjury and obstruction of justice yesterday the questions began: is this political controversy going to end or to continue -- and will President George Bush pardon Libby in the end? The administration's staunchest defenders put a full-court press to say how this case and the crime for which Libby was … [Read more...] about The Libby Verdict: The Ending Or The Beginning Of Controversy?
This Just In!!!!!!
THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bush Strips Libby of Nickname President: ‘I Hardly Knew the Man’ Just hours after Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff I. Lewis “Scooterâ€? Libby was found guilty in his trial relating to the CIA leak scandal, Mr. Libby suffered another setback as President George W. Bush officially stripped him … [Read more...] about This Just In!!!!!!
A Cartoonist Looks At Two Political Women
RJ Matson's cartoon for Roll Call "Lady MacHillary Regrets Iraq Vote." And his (Ann Coulter) cartoon for the New York Observer "Wicked Witch Of The G.O.P." … [Read more...] about A Cartoonist Looks At Two Political Women
Why TMV Is So Blue
Ah, yes, we're still having serious site problems here at TMV. That's why you see this temporary template. Our dedicated techs are working on it. You may even see test posts. But, in answer to emails, no this is NOT our permanent design. It is a temporary template until the original site can be restored. We may redesign the site totally at a later date, but only after these … [Read more...] about Why TMV Is So Blue
Book Review: “Bridging the Gap”
Edward W. Brooke, the first African-American to be popularly elected to the Senate, tells the story of his life in a new memoir, Bridging the Divide: My Life (Rutgers University Press, 2007). A committed centrist who worked throughout his career to find solutions to some of this country's most pressing problems and injustices, Brooke has written a candid political autobiography … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Bridging the Gap”
Post-Modernists Die Weirder
Baudrillard is dead, and Derrida has emerged from the grave to avenge a vampire by taking his papers back from UC-Irvine. … [Read more...] about Post-Modernists Die Weirder
The Problem With Public Diplomacy
Karen Hughes, the infamous head of public diplomacy at the State Department, has a lot of work to do. A new Zogby International poll, conducted among 3,850 residents of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, found the following: Nearly 80 percent of those surveyed stated they had unfavorable attitudes -- 57 very unfavorable and 21 percent … [Read more...] about The Problem With Public Diplomacy
Wonder What’s Going On?
? Wonder what's going on? Why does everything look different at TMV? Why has the site gone down from time-to-time and frequently been slow to load? Well, someone (obviously not moderate or centrist) has attacked our site. Our tech leprechauns are busy fixing things so that you can read TMV again. … [Read more...] about Wonder What’s Going On?
Women for Hillary
Hillary Clinton “will begin an ambitious effort on Tuesday to enlist thousands of women to play roles in her presidential campaignâ€? according to The New York Times. Quite well-known women like Albright, Billie Jean King and Geraldine Ferraro will most likely play an active role in the campaign as well. Another specific part of the plan... Keep reading this>>. … [Read more...] about Women for Hillary
The Conservative Soul
In several posts and comments here at TMV, across a variety of related subjects, I've recommended Andrew Sullivan's The Conservative Soul (TCS). In response, a number of readers have indicated that they're curious about what Sullivan has to say, but they either (a) haven't yet gotten around to reading TCS or (b) are hesitant to pick up a copy because they fear it will be … [Read more...] about The Conservative Soul
Literary Quote of the Day:
Today's literary quote is from Ibn-al Zerhani, as quoted by Orhan Pamuk in The Black Book: Nothing can be as astounding as life. Except writing. Share your thoughts on today's literary quote of the day in the comment section of this post. … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day:
The Centrist Republican Leadership Council
The Republican Leadership Council Inspired by a drive to get back to the fundamentals of the Republican Party, Senator John Danforth, Lt. Governor Michael Steele, and Governor Christine Todd Whitman created the political organization the Republican Leadership Council, which advocates for the historic Republican principles of liberty, individual responsibility, and personal … [Read more...] about The Centrist Republican Leadership Council
Casualties Of War
10 Random Observations on the Scooter Libby Trial
(10.) The relationship between some big-name reporters and Bush administration insiders gives fresh meaning to the term incest. (9.) The damage wrought by the Bush administration's divide-and-govern tactics is immense. (8.) If the White House had initiated its purge of U.S. attorneys earlier, it wouldn’t have been embarrassed by Special Prosecutor Patrick … [Read more...] about 10 Random Observations on the Scooter Libby Trial
Scooter Libby Convicted on 4 of 5 Counts
Washington Post: Libby Found Guilty on Four of Five Counts Former White House aide is convicted of obstruction, perjury and lying to the FBI in an investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's identity. • Special Report: The Plame Investigation … [Read more...] about Scooter Libby Convicted on 4 of 5 Counts
The Bipartisan Policy Center
Four former Senate leaders. Howard Baker, R-Tenn.; George Mitchell, D-Maine; Bob Dole, R-Kan.; and Tom Daschle, D-S.D. have formed the The Bipartisan Policy Center aimed at putting aside partisan politics and offering solutions to the nation's biggest issues. "We've all been leaders and you know how difficult it is," said Dole, who served as both majority and minority leader … [Read more...] about The Bipartisan Policy Center