There is an anticlimactic air surrounding the perjury trial of L. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, which gets under way tomorrow in Washington. For one thing, to the dismay of lefties and overeager journalists everywhere, White House consigliere Karl Rove skated despite having his dirty hands all over the Joseph Wilson-Valerie Plame affair. For another, President Bush, who … [Read more...] about It’s Not Exactly the Trial of the Century, But . . .
The Never-Ending Struggle For Civil Rights (REPOSTED)
Note: This ran in yesterday's edition but we are reposting it today. Newer posts are below this one so when you're done keep scrolling. When I was first cutting my teeth in the newspaper business, my editors sent me out on "house ends," visits to homes where I would interview families of interest because something very bad of interest had happened to them. It was the late … [Read more...] about The Never-Ending Struggle For Civil Rights (REPOSTED)
Ailing Print Media Department: Time Inc. Cuts More Jobs
The continued fallout and shakedown from the early 21st century's new media mix is again sparking financial -- and jobs -- fall out in the print media. Time Inc. will reportedly cut 150 more jobs. The significance of this increases when you consider that the once-dominant company sliced off 600 jobs last year. The New York Times:People magazine’s article this week on … [Read more...] about Ailing Print Media Department: Time Inc. Cuts More Jobs
Around The Sphere January 15, 2007
Our famous linkfest offering you links to sites with MANY different viewpoints. Links do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its cobloggers. Does It Matter If It's Called A "surge," "escalation" or "augmentation?" YES, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Dick Polman writes on his blog. He makes the case that this indeed almost Orwellian. A small quote:This battle over … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere January 15, 2007
This Just In!!!
THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bush’s Pants Spontaneously Combust President’s Pants on Fire during ‘60 Minutes’ Interview President George W. Bush narrowly escaped serious injury last night when his pants spontaneously burst into flame during an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes.â€? Millions of Americans who tuned into the CBS news program … [Read more...] about This Just In!!!
China Moves on Darfur
After years of stalling, China may finally be exerting real pressure on Sudan to end its genocide in Darfur. Great news, if true. But what's the long-term impact? … [Read more...] about China Moves on Darfur
Here We Go Again
Critics of President George Bush's surge/escalation/augmentation plan for Iraq are undercutting the troops (does this include the military present and past who've criticized it?). Can you guess who said this? Here's more...and you'll know:Cheney brought Osama bin Laden in to the argument, saying that attempts to reverse U.S. policy on Iraq was exactly "what he wants." He … [Read more...] about Here We Go Again
A Song Parody 4 U
From The Garlic the song parody "Baghdad, With The Surge On Tap," a spoof of the classic standard, “Surry, With The Fringe On Top, from Oklahoma. Words and the original music provided. … [Read more...] about A Song Parody 4 U
MLK Day (almost)
Shaun published a fantastic post earlier today because of Martin Luther King day. As commenter Steve K. pointed out in the comment section of that post: "a lovely, well thought out tribute to Dr. King, civil rights in general, and the power that's held by good people everywhere if only they'd know that they have it." Like Shaun, I published a post on MLK (day) as well. If … [Read more...] about MLK Day (almost)
Hope from the Erosion of Party Identity
Both the NY Times and the Washington Post had articles pointing out the significant number of Republicans who voted with the Democrats on the early agenda items. Eighty-two Republicans joined Democrats in approving an increase in the minimum wage; 68 Republicans backed the new majority’s measure that puts into force remaining recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission; 48 … [Read more...] about Hope from the Erosion of Party Identity
Iraq & The Waiting Game
As noted by Yours Truly after President Bush's speech on Iraq the other night, a big reason that the "new" strategy won't work is that the bad guys will simply wait until it plays itself out. As if on cue, Leila Fadel and Zaineb Obeid of McClatchy Newspapers, which journo for journo may be doing the best work out of Iraq, report that: "Mahdi Army militia members have … [Read more...] about Iraq & The Waiting Game
Turkey Considers Invading Northern Iraq
Turkish President Erdogan seems to be considering invading Northern Iraq to do something about the PKK-problem: Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Friday reaffirmed Turkey's right to send troops into Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels there and chided U.S. officials for questioning it. "The Turkish Republic will do whatever is necessary to combat the terrorists when the time comes, … [Read more...] about Turkey Considers Invading Northern Iraq
The Minimum Wage Raise: Questions for Supporters
Although I understand why quite some people believe that there should be some kind of official minimum wage and why the Democrats have voted to raise the minimum wage recently I have to say that as a moderate liberal conservative (I say moderate because, among other reasons, I'm not a 'typical' liberal conservative: one could say that I am less conservative on quite some issues … [Read more...] about The Minimum Wage Raise: Questions for Supporters
More Iraq
Hot Air has an interesting post up on Iraq with links to quite some interesting articles. One of them (The Guardian): "Its not a good time to be a Sunni in Baghdad," Abu Omar told me in a low voice. He had been on the Americans' wanted list for three years but I had never seen him so anxious; he had trimmed his beard in the close-cropped Shia style and kept looking towards the … [Read more...] about More Iraq
Literary Quote of the Day: Catharine Maria Sedgwick
Today's quote is from Catharine Maria Sedgwick's A Reminiscence of Federalism. It is a common doctrine, but one not favorable to virtue, that characters are formed by circumstances. If it be true, my friend Randolph was a noble exception; his character controlled circumstances; and, by the best of all alchymy, he extracted wholesome food out of the materials that might have … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: Catharine Maria Sedgwick
Guess What Blog MSNBC’S Tucker Carlson Doesn’t Like? (UPDATED)
No, it isn't The Moderate Voice, although he may not be happy with the picture at left. We got it off the Internet. (It IS NOT of Tucker Carlson and we are not saying it is. It's not dancing.). Once upon a time there was a clerk in a video store. He rented some movies to a famous cable talk show host and then he posted a few things about his encounter on his blog. Then, … [Read more...] about Guess What Blog MSNBC’S Tucker Carlson Doesn’t Like? (UPDATED)
Spaniards Protest Basque Separatist ETA’s Bullet-Riddled “Ceasefire”
The Basque separatist ETA has been pitchforked into international news again, sparking demonstration in Spain, angry debate among Spaniards about the proper attitude and response to it and one charge that some aspects of news agency accounts of the demonstrations are not quite accurate. First, for a comprehensive backgrounder on Spain's long-term problems with ETA, read … [Read more...] about Spaniards Protest Basque Separatist ETA’s Bullet-Riddled “Ceasefire”
A Song Dedicated To Iran’s President
From the wonderful 2005 movie version of The Producers, which you can buy here.: … [Read more...] about A Song Dedicated To Iran’s President
The 110th Congress
From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about The 110th Congress
Freedom means Opportunity
David Brooks wrote an Op-ed in the NY Times, "The American Way of Equality", about the unique way Americans view freedom. (unfortunately it is available only through the Times Select Paid subscription.). He describes the work of recently deceased Seymour Martin Lipset who, over a lifetime of research, made distinctions between the US and other Cultures. Mr. Lipset pointed … [Read more...] about Freedom means Opportunity