Today's literary quote of the day is from Langston Hughes' Democracy: I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread. From the same poem: Freedom Is a strong seed Planted In a great need. As always, feel free to share your thoughts on today's literary quote in the comment section of this post. … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: Langston Hughes
Brownback enters presidential race
It's one after another now, this time on the Republican side. Kansas Senator (and arch-conservative stalwart) Sam Brownback formed one those required exploratory committees six weeks ago, and on Saturday, in Topeka, he announced that he is indeed running for president. With McCain and Giuliani running from the center, or at least the Republican conception of the center, that … [Read more...] about Brownback enters presidential race
The Wreck of the Mission Accomplished Express
I am not a blogger who has been giddy with blue-state schadenfreude as the presidency of George Walker Bush has begun to come apart. For one thing, the Democrats are perfectly capable of screwing things up even worse. For another, the White House's serial missteps of the past six years leave Americans vulnerable in ways that are not readily obvious but are pretty freaking … [Read more...] about The Wreck of the Mission Accomplished Express
Native Americans: Their Story – Chapter 1, Part 1
Patrick G. Barkman As you all know, I'm working on quite a big project about Native Americans. I sincerely believe that they still are mainly neglected: they have a rich culture, a rich - and sad - history and, today, many of them live in poverty. Their story is one worth telling. I wrote a post a few days ago, asking Native Americans to contact me in order to share their … [Read more...] about Native Americans: Their Story – Chapter 1, Part 1
Confident Hillary
Raw Story reports that Hillary Clinton is quite confident. In a private Sunday night conference call with several hundred major donors, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) trumpeted the success of her website-announced campaign and revealed that healthcare and climate change will rank among the top issues she plans to tackle as she begins her candidacy for the presidency, an … [Read more...] about Confident Hillary
Chavez Says: “Go To Hell, Gringos!”
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez used three words that readers in emails have often aimed at yours truly:President Hugo Chavez told U.S. officials to "Go to hell!" on his weekly radio and TV show Sunday for what he called unacceptable meddling after Washington raised concerns about a measure to grant Venezuela's fiery leftist leader broad lawmaking powers.Chavez is, in-effect, … [Read more...] about Chavez Says: “Go To Hell, Gringos!”
And Iran’s President Would Probably Blame It On The Jews
Is a nuclear policy shift in the offing in Iran? Times Online's Tehran reporters say it's on the table:IRAN’S supreme leader is considering a change of policy on the country’s nuclear programme in an effort to defuse growing tension with the West, according to senior sources in Tehran. Alarmed by mounting US pressure and United Nations sanctions, officials close to … [Read more...] about And Iran’s President Would Probably Blame It On The Jews
Centrist Bill Richardson Enters 2008 Democratic Prez Nomination Sweepstakes
Yet another Big Democratic Name has entered the 2008 Democratic Presidential sweepstakes -- a name that would have appeared perhaps bigger if people named Obama and (Ms.) Clinton were not getting all the big headlines...and sucking up all of the political oxygen: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson:Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico jumped into the 2008 presidential race … [Read more...] about Centrist Bill Richardson Enters 2008 Democratic Prez Nomination Sweepstakes
On The Increasingly Looooong Length Of Presidential Campaigns
Mark Daniels gives us a fascinatingly solid and terse summary of the evolution of Presidential campaigns and how they have now morphed into multi-year campaigns. A key quote:The point: Anyone who wants to win the nomination of her or his party needs to build up a head of steam to win early. That means more than having an organizational infrastructure or piling up a campaign war … [Read more...] about On The Increasingly Looooong Length Of Presidential Campaigns
You’ve Heard Loud Voices At Sports Events
How about THIS (which is actually good). … [Read more...] about You’ve Heard Loud Voices At Sports Events
Super Match-Up!
The football team of the city in which I resided for more than 20 years (Indianapolis Colts) will be playing the football team of the city in which I was born (Chicago Bears) in the NFL Super Bowl on Feb. 4th! Indianapolis Star: Super Bowl bound! John at AMERICAblog on Da Bears … [Read more...] about Super Match-Up!
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs. Tim F. writes at Balloon Juice that the escalation in Iraq is "amazingly unpopular with America". He agrees with the majority of the American people and adds that, in his opinion, Bush does not have any credibility left. Hilzoy isn't particularly fond of Hillary. NYT's Carlotta Gall stalked in Pakistan... by Pakistani … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
A Quick Personal Note
I've gotten some emails about why I've been AWOL from TMV for the past two days. It's due to being an a very long drive, a killing schedule since early yesterday morning and some family issues. All of these kept me offline for 24 hours. I will be posting a bit today en route back to San Diego...but this site's other fine writers have a lot of things to say (and probably say it … [Read more...] about A Quick Personal Note
Kurds Deserting Army En Masse
Remember that a major part of Bush's (new) plan, is that the Iraqi army has to be able to take over, ASAP? Kurds disagree. In short: they seem to be deserting en masse since the Iraqi government announced that it plans on sending Kurdish army brigades to Baghdad. The main problem is that (deserted) Kurds don't consider the sectarian violence to be their battle. There is also … [Read more...] about Kurds Deserting Army En Masse
America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present
Theodore Roosevelt and a companion ride camels in Sudan, c. 1909 (Bettmann / Corbis) Robert Kagan wrote a review for The Washington Post of Michael B. Oren's new book America in the Middle East, 1776 to Present. The review is very positive. Kagan has convinced me that this is a book everyone interested in this subject / American foreign policy / the Mideast, should read. … [Read more...] about America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present
Suspect Arrested in Hrant Dink Murder Case
This young man, identified as Ogun Samast, was photographed running from the scene. A 16 or 17 year old Turk, originally from the Black Sea area, but now living in Istanbul, has been arrested by Turkish police, after his father reported him. Turkish TV showed a picture of Ogun Samast running away after shooting Hrant Dink. His father saw it and called the police. Besides … [Read more...] about Suspect Arrested in Hrant Dink Murder Case
Words and their meanings
Cross-posted to Random Fate. --- God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ... … [Read more...] about Words and their meanings
Literary Quote of the Day: Anzia Yezierska
Today's literary quote of the day is from Anzia Yezierska's The Lost "Beautifulness". I'll wake up America from its sleep. I'll go myself to the President with my Aby's soldier picture and ask him was all this war to let loose a bunch of blood-suckers to suck the marrow out from the people? As always, feel free to share your thoughts on today's literary quote of the day in … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: Anzia Yezierska
Okay, So She’s Running . . .
Ed Morrissey at Captain's Quarters on the anticlimactic political announcement of the young year: "Of course, it wouldn't be Hillary without getting Sillary. She tries for an Oprah-like chatty tone to her announcement, and winds up offering this laughable little nugget: 'I'm not just starting a campaign, though, I'm beginning a conversation with you, with America,' she … [Read more...] about Okay, So She’s Running . . .
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs. The Gun Toting Liberal congratulates "the democrats for (almost) keeping their promise to the American people." He adds, though that he is far from willing to endorse the Democratic party because it has committed "too much collective treason in this country". If the Democrats think that they can now relax... they are mistaken. Dick … [Read more...] about Center of Attention