President George Bush will today try to reach out to Democrats by talking to them privately at a Democratic retreat in a setting where cameras are off. He'll reportedly try to speak their language -- the language of leaving open the possibility of channels of communication with Congress, with the hopes of compromise on some issues: In an attempt to sustain key elements of a … [Read more...] about Bush Tries Reaching Out To Democrats
The Democratization of Political Discourse
Glenn Greenwald, who word for word (and boy is he long-winded) is one of the best political bloggers around, is moving on to the big time and Salon, the online magazine, where his Unclaimed Territory will be a featured blog. In a victory lap of a sort, Glenn offers some parting words. An excerpt from his post: "The political blogosphere is driven by many factors, but the … [Read more...] about The Democratization of Political Discourse
Sorry
I received e-mails from several people wondering whether there was something wrong with the site. The answer to that question: yes, sorry for the inconvenience but there was a problem which caused TMV to be offline for - as I understand it - several hours. To be exact just about 4 hours: from 6:15a - 10:15a EST. Our technical crew worked hard to solve the problem and...they … [Read more...] about Sorry
NIE on Iran in Iraq… Bush Exaggerating Threat?
Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel write for Real Cities: The Bush administration is escalating its confrontation with Iran, sending an additional aircraft carrier and minesweepers into the Persian Gulf as it accuses the Islamic regime in Tehran of arming Shiite Muslim militias in Iraq for attacks on American troops. A new U.S. intelligence estimate on Friday, however, … [Read more...] about NIE on Iran in Iraq… Bush Exaggerating Threat?
What Rich Little Will Say At The White House Correspondents Dinner
So this year the organizers of the White House Correspondent's dinner decided to invite veteran impressionist/comedian Rich Little to entertain the bigwig journalists and politicos such as President George Bush and first lady Laura Bush. The general consensus is that Little was invited as a noncontroversial choice. Darrell Hammond gives us a Saturday Night Live take on … [Read more...] about What Rich Little Will Say At The White House Correspondents Dinner
“Exxon Buys Scientists on The Cheap”
That's the title of this MUST READ POST at the All Spin Zone. … [Read more...] about “Exxon Buys Scientists on The Cheap”
Guest Poet: “Bernie For President”?
Another gem of poetic art from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein aka Wall Street Poet: By Michael Silverstein In 2008 we'll have a woman, a Black, a Latino, a Mormon, and an unemployed Italian mayor running for president. Shouldn't there be a socialist in there as well? Indeed, given the warped state of the American economy, would that be such a bad idea -- if only … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: “Bernie For President”?
Muslims Slaughtering Muslims
This Just In!!!!
THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Kucinich-Vilsack Race Turns Nasty War of Words Heats Up at Bottom of Democratic Heap The race to determine who the most obscure Democratic contender for president is took a nasty turn today, with both Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and former Governor Tom Vilsack of Iowa laying claim to that title. Much has been made … [Read more...] about This Just In!!!!
“Civil War” In Iraq?
WHAT civil war? … [Read more...] about “Civil War” In Iraq?
Biden Gaffe
Literary Quote of the Day:
Today's literary quote of the day is from Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Mijn Vrijheid (My Freedom). Sometimes keeping silent is the same as being complicit to injustice. (I translated from Dutch... I'm afraid that it gets lost somewhat in my translation) As always, share your thoughts on today's quote in the comment section of this post. … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day:
Senate votes for minimum wage increase
$7.25 an hour. That's what the minimum wage will be if a Senate bill, passed 94-3 yesterday, is reconciled with a House bill that was passed a few weeks ago. (President Bush supports the Senate bill.) The Senate bill includes moderate tax cuts for small businesses, a necessary trade-off to secure Republican support. House Democrats may not support including this and other … [Read more...] about Senate votes for minimum wage increase
Those spend-crazy Americans
Here's a slightly more serious Sign of the Apocalypse (#39 over at my blog)Â than, say, Britney's birth sculpture or Jessica Simpson. Or perhaps it isn't a SOTA at all. Perhaps it's just a Sign of America's Imminent Collapse -- a SAIC, that is. Oh, wait, there's another series. SOTA #39 = SAIC #1 (and this doesn't take account of the Bush presidency, which, along with … [Read more...] about Those spend-crazy Americans
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs. Tim F. congratulates Glenn Greenwald who has joined Salon. Some Greenwald's readers don't seem to be happy too happy about it. Tim quotes Glenn who responded to some of the complaints... I'm with Glenn and Tim on this one (although, unlike Tim, I wouldn't mind actually earning some money...). If certain bloggers are able to actually … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Gold dust brownie
(Sign of the Apocalypse #38 at The Reaction.)Â Need something to go with that $1,000 mint julep? How about a $1,000 brownie? Yes, you read that correctly -- a $1,000 brownie. And you can get it in Atlantic City. Although it really wouldn't go well with the julep. For it isn't just your basic brownie. It's "a brownie with hazelnuts imported from Italy, topped with gold … [Read more...] about Gold dust brownie
News from the climate crisis
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has determined in a report released today that climate change is "very likely" the result of human activity. In other words, "it is at least 90% certain that human emissions of greenhouse gases rather than natural variations are warming the planet's surface". Global warming deniers, many of them industry-funded … [Read more...] about News from the climate crisis
Move to the Center or Forfeit the Majority
The Congressional Quarterly offered some valuable insight into the mindset of the Democrats at this weekend's Congressional retreat Democrats Serve Up Clinton-Style Centrism at Retreat ...The retreat will give the Democrats some uninterrupted time to discuss what they intend to do with their new majority in the 110th Congress — and how they should interact with … [Read more...] about Move to the Center or Forfeit the Majority
Wanted: Scientists To Undermine UN Report On Global Warming
A major report of the world's scientists has determined that global warming is "most likely" caused by humans -- a finding that further weakens the contention by some that only tree-huggers, flaming liberals and those sympathetic to former Vice President Al Gore think it's a real problem. And now there are indications that this report has sparked a major response: A … [Read more...] about Wanted: Scientists To Undermine UN Report On Global Warming
The Mideast: Bush Plays With Dynamite
We have come to understand that George W. Bush neither listens to reason nor learns from experience. Still, it is difficult to understand what purpose the president's bullying of Iran serves other than to appeal to the withered prune formerly known as his political base. I want to be clear: Iranian President Ahmadinejad and his Awful Ayatollahs are meddling in Iraq and their … [Read more...] about The Mideast: Bush Plays With Dynamite