American cartoonists walk the line between being editorial heavyweights and gag-writers: some topics call for more of the former, some for the latter. The recent Walter Reed hospital scandal is a sterling (mold-infested, leaky) example of heavy-hearted cartoonists taking on a serious topic with biting sarcasm and a sense of absurdity, but without the one-liners. In Mike … [Read more...] about Walter Reed Military Hospital: A Little More Editorial, A Little Less Cartoony
Oscar Time
The New Republic Under New Ownership
TNR has been bought by a liberal Canadian media conglomerate. … [Read more...] about The New Republic Under New Ownership
Literary Quote of the Day: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Today's literary quote of the day is from Ralph Waldo Emerson's Nature: Every rational creature has all nature for his dowry and estate. It is his, if he will. He may divest himself of it; he may creep into a corner, and abdicate his kingdom, as most men do, but he is entitled to the world by his constitution. Share your thoughts on today's literary quote in the comment … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Enduring Moderation
What do you get when you throw Rep. Ellen Tauscher, a moderate Democrat from northern California, into a pit with a few ultra-liberal activists, online and off? The answer, apparently, is political road kill. As recounted in the WaPo earlier this week, that situation is neither a work of fiction nor a twisted childhood riddle. It's very real and remarkably sad, and it's … [Read more...] about Enduring Moderation
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs. PatHMV on sword-swallowing: As long as you stick to swords, and swords only, there seems to be very little risk in the occupation of "sword swallower." Ever mindful for publishing opportunities, a couple of doctors conducted a survey of sword swallowers, which they published as Sword Swallowing and Its Side Effects in the December 23, … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Tony Blair At Odds With US Hawks On Iran
Tony Blair has declared himself at odds with hawks in the US Administration by saying publicly for the first time that it would be wrong to take military action against Iran. The Prime Minister’s comments came hours before the UN’s nuclear watchdog raised the stakes in the West’s showdown with Tehran, says The Times. "...Mr Blair, in a BBC interview yesterday, said: 'I … [Read more...] about Tony Blair At Odds With US Hawks On Iran
They “Make A Run For The Border”
The rats, that is... … [Read more...] about They “Make A Run For The Border”
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: STATEHOUSE SIZZLE
The Campaigns for Governor in '07 and '08 Governors do while Senators talk--and we're not just referring to Joe Biden. The talking takes place in Washington, the most over-covered capital city in the world. The doing occurs in the fifty states, scattered across a continental country and often ignored by the D.C.-centric national press. That's one reason why the Crystal Ball … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: STATEHOUSE SIZZLE
Ayaan’s Best Seller
Ayaan Hirsi Ali's book Infidel is already quite a success: it's #6 on the NYT's best sellers list. Dutch newspaper De Pers adds that this is the first time that a Dutch author reaches a rank this high in such a short amount of time. Infidel does even better than, for instance, Michail Gorbatsjov's book Perestrojka did back in 1987: it came in at #15. As I have said … [Read more...] about Ayaan’s Best Seller
Iraq’s Brave School Kids, Mothers & Teachers
Imagine for a moment sending your kid day after day to school with no guarantee that the child would come back alive. Teachers, heads and school inspectors from Iraq who came for a visit to the U.K. on an invitation from Britain's National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) provided a first hand account of the daily life experienced by Iraqi … [Read more...] about Iraq’s Brave School Kids, Mothers & Teachers
A Message From Veterans For America
What can YOU do about the Walter Reed scandal? Read THIS SPECIAL POST on The Imus Show Blog...and it has all the information. … [Read more...] about A Message From Veterans For America
Marijuana, Religious Puritanism & Social Hypocrisy
A Salem witch trial In commenting on my post yesterday on a lawsuit brought against the government by a medical marijuana advocacy group, Marlowecan noted “the perversity of the U.S. laws on marijuanaâ€? and asked why there is so much energy and focus on a substance that is fairly innocuous and the existence of policies that are viewed as fairly crazy by folks in other … [Read more...] about Marijuana, Religious Puritanism & Social Hypocrisy
Quote Of The Day: On An Underlying Issue Confronting Hillary Clinton
A Los Angeles Times editorial brings up this point on an underlying, usually unspoken issue raised by Hollywood bigwig and Barack Obama supporter David Geffen in his controversial comments about Hillary Clinton:Geffen was on to something with his passing mention of the fact that Obama is not from "the Bush royal family" or the "Clinton royal family." Regardless of what you … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: On An Underlying Issue Confronting Hillary Clinton
Guest Poet: The Lap Dog Blues
And now another gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet. Lap Dog Blues By Michael Silverstein The U.K.'s prime minister, Tony Bair, has long been known as George Bush's lap dog because of the determined way he has supported the American president's Middle East policies. But even Tony, it seems, is finally fed up with Bush and company, … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: The Lap Dog Blues
California’s Environmental Influence Could Be Felt On 2008 Primaries
Newsweek notes that the most significant political story coming out of California last week wasn't the spat between Barack Obama supporter David Geffen, the Hillary Clinton camp and then the Obama camp -- but one that didn't get much publicity. It was the symbolism of Arizon Senator John McCain coming to California -- and California's likely new role in Presidential … [Read more...] about California’s Environmental Influence Could Be Felt On 2008 Primaries
CORRECTION
Yesterday we ran THIS LINK from Thomas P.B. Barnett's weblog. A reader spotted an error (that came about when we posted that link rather quickly):Your link to Barnett implied that he was "on the Right." I apologize for not explaining the full significance of his post. Barnett has some unique ideas about national security, but he's very much a centrist politically. In fact, … [Read more...] about CORRECTION
SECRET Bush Library SECRET
Conditions At Walter Reed Army Medical
Recalling Slave Trade…
Another interesting write-up in The Economist is about slave trade that Britain abolished 200 years ago this week... … [Read more...] about Recalling Slave Trade…