When King Solomon was faced with two women claiming the same baby, he offered to cut the baby in half so that each claimant could have part of the child. The real mother, of course, was willing to give up the baby rather than see it die. What if there had been a thousand claimants, and none of them had been willing to preserve the baby over their own interests? Obviously, … [Read more...] about Southeastern Louisiana: Solomon’s motherless baby
Hillary Clinton And Barack Obama Face Off Again
File this in your Here We Go Again Department file:Fresh off their battle for the hearts of black Americans, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are about to go head to head for Jewish votes. The leaders for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 plan dueling receptions Monday when an influential pro-Israeli lobby group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton And Barack Obama Face Off Again
30%
That’s George W. Bush’s job approval rating according to Zogby International. While overall, 30% gave Bush positive marks for his leadership of the nation, 69% gave him negative ratings. Sixty-one percent of Republicans gave Bush positive marks, compared with just 7% of Democrats and 20% of self-described independents. In December, 60% of Republicans gave Bush positive … [Read more...] about 30%
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. John Cole considers who's (really) to blame for the most recent installment in the saga of the fired US Attorneys. Among a series of subjects, Dick Polman continues his examination of "Clinton fatigue" among Democrats, essentially asking (in the words of a TV commercial … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Veterans’ Care: When Outsourcing Is a Scandal
A patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Having turned against the war in Iraq several years ago, I came to believe that its consequences would be unpredictable and beyond the pale. Yet I never could have imagined the perfect storm of scandal that is blowing through the White House these days, a storm so powerful that it makes those recent tornados in Alabama seem … [Read more...] about Veterans’ Care: When Outsourcing Is a Scandal
Taiwan Increases Tensions
The Times reports that a war of words has broken out between Taiwan and China yesterday "when Beijing criticised the President of Taiwan for making strident calls for independence." For those who don't know, Tainwan's president Chen Shui-bian said: "Taiwan should be independent. Taiwan is a country whose sovereignty lies outside the People’s Republic of China." Also: The … [Read more...] about Taiwan Increases Tensions
(Updated) Iraq: Trying to Wish the War Away
The downtick in stories in the prints, on TV and online about violence in Baghdad is encouraging and would seem to be a result of the onset of Operation Imposing Law, the so-called "surge" security crackdown in the capital. But the relative calm is illusory. Anti-American cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr has withdrawn to Iran and his Mahdi Army and ethnic cleansing squads have … [Read more...] about (Updated) Iraq: Trying to Wish the War Away
Church and State…
John Edwards said during an interview with Beliefnet.com the following: "I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs," Edwards told the site. "I think he would be appalled, actually." … [Read more...] about Church and State…
Ann Coulter: Conservatives Will Stick By Me No Matter What (UPDATED)
Commentator Ann Coulter was reportedly going to appear on CNN last night but cancelled the appearance and instead appeared on....you guessed it...Fox News' Hannity And Colmes. Think Progress has the video here. But yours truly did see the interview where when Alan Colmes read an email from a viewer Coulter immediately said it was a typical liberal reaction...and Colmes … [Read more...] about Ann Coulter: Conservatives Will Stick By Me No Matter What (UPDATED)
Iranian General Disappears
A "top" Iranian General disappeared in Turkey last february according to The Blotter. This has caused a lot of speculation: did he defect or has he been kidnapped? In either case, the story is incredibly significant considering that the general, Ali Reza Asgari, reportedly knows "sensitive information about Iran's nuclear and military projects." Obviously a great, great … [Read more...] about Iranian General Disappears
Justice Department Message In Controversial Firings Quits
Question: did he quit -- or was he shoved?The Justice Department official who told seven United States attorneys in December that they were being dismissed said Monday that he was resigning.There seems to be a lot of that going around in the Bush administration and the military these days. MORE:Michael A. Battle, director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, … [Read more...] about Justice Department Message In Controversial Firings Quits
Guest Poet: My TV Week In Verse
And now another poetic jewel from TMV's favorite, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet:Alfred Prufrock measured his life in coffee cups. Today, a great many Americans have a different day measure--the tube." My TV Week In Verse The TV is my calendar, I use it to measure my days; It helps to pass the empty times, On my cupcake life it's the glaze. The week's fun … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: My TV Week In Verse
Obama And Hillary
Prothero Online
I linked to a review in the Washington Post of Stephen Prothero's new book Religious Literacy a couple of days ago. The Washington Post now reports that Prothero will be online today at 3PM ET to take questions about the book. … [Read more...] about Prothero Online
Step by Step
Egyptian Fatwa sanctions hymen reconstruction surgery, says that men can only demand proof of virginity from their wives if they can prove their own virginity. … [Read more...] about Step by Step
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Brad DeLong on the price of oil. Better: a tax on oil. America is suffering from "fiscal cancer" according to David Walker. Read Jeremy Dibbell's post. Ron Beas: Who needs to govern when you can pillage? A reaction to the headline at WaPo stating "It's not just Walter … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Another Putin Foe Dies Suddenly
If you're an insurance company, you might want to reconsider insuring anyone who is a foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The (seeming) hits keep on coming:A senior Russian journalist who embarrassed the country's powerful military establishment with a series of damaging stories has been found dead outside his flat in mysterious circumstances. The body of Ivan Safronov, … [Read more...] about Another Putin Foe Dies Suddenly
Maher: Cheney Dead More People Live
The MSM and blogs have spent a lot of attention to Ann Coulter's outrageous remarks at CPAC. Both Democratic and Republican leaders have denounced her, the same goes for bloggers, etc. As you all know, we at TMV have done the same. Ann's remarks were bigoted, she should never be allowed to speak at a serious political gathering from now onward and I don't exactly consider it a … [Read more...] about Maher: Cheney Dead More People Live
Is Bloomberg Eyeing A 2008 Third Party Race?
From Fox News:New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is meeting with pollsters and consultants to assess his chances at winning the White House as an independent candidate. Political adviser Kevin Sheekey told Newsweek: "There is no Bloomberg campaign. But we have certainly reached out." Sheekey adds that whether he runs "depends on who the nominees are for the two major parties, and … [Read more...] about Is Bloomberg Eyeing A 2008 Third Party Race?
Taking the Jihad Online
The Internet has become a tool for terrorist organizations to spread their propaganda and to recruit new, young terrorists. Brig. Gen. John Custer: "I see 16-, 17-year-olds who have been indoctrinated on the Internet turn up on the battlefield. We capture them, we kill them every day in Iraq, in Afghanistan. Without a doubt, the Internet is the single-most important venue for … [Read more...] about Taking the Jihad Online