David and Marc have already weighed in on yesterday's Washington Post editorial on the life and legacy of Pinochet, but I wanted to provide in some detail an argument for why it is a mistake to credit the former dictator with Chile's relative economic success. ********** The first two paragraphs of the editorial address Pinochet's tyranny. Sort of. While acknowledging that … [Read more...] about Excusing Pinochet

Today is not going to go down in the books as one of my favorites. I had to take my grandmother to a doctor's appointment in downtown D.C. (I hate driving, and I hate city driving even more). When we got there, we found out that the doctor was unaware she had an appointment in the first place, and had gone home for the day. So we had to drive all the way back. And nearly got … [Read more...] about Not The Best Day

It's unbelievable, but the once-so-stable Netherlands seems to have degenerated into a Western banana republic. I have reported on multiple occasions by now, about several political crises down here. Today... yet another crisis. The cause of today's crisis? Minister of Immigration and Integration Rita Verdonk. Dutch Parliament, now in new shape, had a debate with her about … [Read more...] about My Banana Republic

I had made a comment about Lebanon in one of the posts and a more informed reader corrected my facts. I asked if they would be interested in summarizing the situation in Lebanon for TMV. Here is an excerpt and a link to a Lebanon overviewThe ousting of Syria was an unacceptable blow to Iran and Syria . When the now independent government asked the world court to investigate … [Read more...] about Lebanon Overview

I apologize for the infrequency of my posting here at TMV recently. I seem to be battling a neverending cold and have directed most of my blogging energy at The Reaction. (The rest goes to work and family, of course.) Here's the first of a couple of posts I'll put up today, and hopefully I'll be back to a regular co-blogging schedule soon. ********** The Washington Post is … [Read more...] about Factory work

At TNR. Provides for a lengthy albeit very interesting read. … [Read more...] about Letter to a Christian Nation… Signed, Atheist

In Praising Speaker Pelosi, Dick Morris cites an example of the kinds of controversies she will encounter:Pelosi now faces the challenge of whether to let West Virginia Democratic Congressman Alan Mollohan head the Appropriations subcommittee, which oversees the FBI, an organization which plans to spend part of the money Mollohan lets them have investigating Mollohan! Formerly … [Read more...] about Another example of possible Congressional Corruption

Time For Bi-partisan Consensus on Tax ReformTwo former communications directors at OMB, one for Bush II and one for Clinton, argued for bi-partisan tax code reform this week in the Baltimore Sun. Noam Neusner and Lawrence J. Haas said the time is ripe for a consensus that would lower federal income tax rates and broaden the tax base. Politically, tax reform would broaden the … [Read more...] about Opening For Bi-partisan Consensus on Tax Reform

I can count on one hand the number of times I have agreed with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, but he seems to have hit the right note in crafting a majority opinion stating that a federal appeals court had no basis for overturning a state court ruling allowing the family members of a murder victim to wear buttons with his picture during a trial. Note that Thomas's main … [Read more...] about Score One For Clarence Thomas?

What does Ciro Rodriguez's victory in the Texas 23rd District run-off tell us about the aftermath of the 2006 election? … [Read more...] about The Last Stab

If one of my co-bloggers at TMV already saw and posted this round-up of the Top Ten Funniest Political Quotes Of 2006, I apologize for the duplication, but this is just too good and too sad to miss. (Speaking of sad, did you read the one about the hot new gift for this holiday season of love, peace, and joy?) … [Read more...] about We’re Not Laughing AT You, We’re Laughing WITH You

Is anyone buying the explanation that Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., has abruptly resigned after only 15 months on the job "to spend more time with his family"? Nah. First of all, things change very sloowwwly in the Saudi kingdom. Turki's predecessor, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, was ambassador for 22 years. Secondly, the departure comes only … [Read more...] about Iraq & Saudi Arabia’s Turki Trot

When one opens up an American newspaper (well, online for me that is), one can read about all kinds of debates about 'moral values' and in how far the government should be allowed to intervene in one's personal life. The hot issues are, obviously, abortion and gay marriage. A while ago I wrote an article about abortion, today I would like to spend some attention to the issue … [Read more...] about A Plea For Euthanasia

The 'conference' about the holocaust ended yesterday. FOX has a few quotes up from some of the 'participents', or as Ahmadinejad calls them, 'researchers'. David Duke:"The Zionists have used the Holocaust as a weapon to deny the rights of the Palestinians and cover up the crimes of Israel," "This conference has an incredible impact on Holocaust studies all over the world."Ali … [Read more...] about Nice Conference Part 2

To prove that I'm not solely interested in self-promotion on this blog, here's a link to a great post by PG at De Novo, one of my very favorite bloggers. It's on the place of religion in the public square (a favorite topic of mine). Er...then go cast a vote for The Debate Link. But do read PG's post as well. She blogs regularly at De Novo, but she also pops up in a variety of … [Read more...] about Two Steps Forward…

The Moderate Voice encourages and applauds weblogs that use this new infotechnology to go beyond offering what are in effect long op-ed pages to its readers offer original reporting content as well. And once again we MUST point to The Talking Dog which proves to be thinking man's best friend with yet another delicious original Q&A involving the war on terror. This time his … [Read more...] about Original Blog Reporting: The Talking Dog Interviews Trevor Paglen

Foreign Policy Watch writes:Yesterday's decision by several Arab countries to pursue a collective nuclear program has some alarming implications. While it was specified that this program would be used solely for peaceful energy purposes, there is little reason to believe such statements. With Iran's rising influence in the Middle East and its (alleged) attempt to acquire a … [Read more...] about Oil-rich Arab States Consider Shared Nuclear Program

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bush Refuses to Set Timetable for Reading Study Group Report Finishing Report Would Send ‘Wrong Message’ to Enemies, President Says In a press conference at the White House today, President George W. Bush flatly refused to set a timetable for reading the Iraq Study Group’s report, telling reporters that doing so … [Read more...] about This Just In!!!!!

From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about iPod Envy

Congressman Barney Frank is taking some flak from Progressive writer David Sirota about his thoughts on a grand bargain between Business and Labor. What I understand Rep Frank to have said is that he wanted to explore some collaboration to improve workers conditions and benefits in exchange for lightening regulations on business. Sirota, a passionate writer and devoted … [Read more...] about Rep. Frank’s Grand Bargain