Do pro-gay rights judicial decisions spark a counter-mobilization that hurts gay rights? … [Read more...] about Counter-Attack

Much has been written in response to the report and recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, including here at TMV. Baker, Hamilton, and the other distinguished ISG commissioners are all over the news media and the political blogosphere. You can find all the latest over at Memeorandum, such as this report by the Post's Dana Milbank. And just wait until Sunday. The best … [Read more...] about The devastating truth about the Iraq Study Group

This is a bit of encouraging news. And a good example of reaching out to adversaries. Two Koreas join forces for 2014 bid BRUSSELS (Reuters) - North and South Korea are joining forces to secure the 2014 Winter Olympics after the two sides reached an unprecedented joint agreement to back the bid of South Korean city Pyeongchang, officials said on Friday. … [Read more...] about Two Koreas join in 2014 Olympic bid

The Wall Street Journal's Peggy Noonan wrote a piece about former President George H.W. Bush crying when making remarks as his son Jeb left office as Florida Governor. Her last paragraphs she writes of anguished wartime Presidents and says it genuinely seems as if GWB is not anguished:But George W. Bush seems, in the day to day, the same as he was. It is part of the Bush … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Peggy Noonan On George H. W. Bush’s Crying And George W. Bush

Remember Nawaf Obaid? He's the former Saudi security advisor who, in a Post op-ed, claimed that Saudi Arabia would militarily protect Iraqi Sunnis if the U.S. withdrew from Iraq. The Saudi government denied the claim and Obaid was promptly fired. But was he right? It may not matter. For it seems that the Saudis have already intervened in support of the Sunnis. And how are they … [Read more...] about The Saudi insurgency

On November 7, voters repudiated the Republican majority in Congress and rebuked President Bush for the Mess in Mesopotamia. Since then, there has been a steady drumbeat of bad news from and about Iraq, including the defection of leading neocons from the president's camp and the long overdue sacking of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. Then came the Iraq Study Group report, which … [Read more...] about What a Difference a Month Makes. Or Does It?

This article by Youssef Ibrahim in the NY Sun describes how all the Shiite leaders were all trained in the same place, and are working together in manipulating the US and Iraq.They may talk about a new bargain at the White House, but in Qom they vowed to pursue the reversal of 13 centuries of humiliation by Sunnis and others."I will show you death so that you will accept a … [Read more...] about How To Deal With Iran

From my favorite global thinker ">Thomas BarnettNEWS: Students Cry Out for Freedom in Large Demonstration at Tehran University "Imagine what Air Force One touching down in Tehran might set off? Indeed, that's why I titled the original section in the Feb 05 article in Esquire: "Nixon Goes to Tehran." Going on the offensive in the Long War ain't always about going kinetic, … [Read more...] about What if Bush went to Tehran?

The numbers continue to go down:Americans are overwhelmingly resigned to something less than clear-cut victory in Iraq and growing numbers doubt the country will achieve a stable, democratic government no matter how the U.S. gets out, according to an AP poll. At the same time, dissatisfaction with President Bush's handling of Iraq has climbed to an alltime high of 71 percent. … [Read more...] about Poll Numbers On Expected Iraq Outcome And Bush War Handling Continue Slide

So John McCain picked a campaign manager (in)famous for creating an ad with an imagined encounter between soon-to-be-ex-congressman Harold Ford, who is black, and a white Playboy bunny. It's been tarred by not only a lot of liberal bloggers as a racist ad, but for some reason I can't divine, the the original Moderate Voice himself:This hire will not be hailed by: Those who … [Read more...] about John McCain and his new campaign manager: Racy, not racist

I was skimming through Political Fictions, Joan Didion’s classic 2001 treatise on the American political system, looking for another passage when I came across the following one. It is, in my view, more relevant now than when it was written and worth pondering as the 110th Congress unpacks its bags and a new era of governance gets underway: “The notion that a failed … [Read more...] about ‘A Casual Contempt for the Electorate at Large’

For those who hoped the 2006 mid-term elections would mean a substantive and rapid change in Iraq policy, you might have to think again. For those who thought the media narrative of the bipartisan wise men offering a "way out" for the Bush administration's fizzled Iraq policy meant a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel, you might have to think again. And for those who … [Read more...] about Bush Versus Iraq Panel Disagreement Portends Contentious Two Years (UPDATED)

Just a quick note to readers of this site — and we thank you for your supportive emails. YES, we have added a variety of cobloggers to this site recently for several reasons and we're happy that most of you enjoy the variety of viewpoints. YES, we are planning some kind of format revamp or change. We have long been urged to something in the way of classification of … [Read more...] about A Note To Readers On TMV Changes

"We need to set a date, a clear and defined date, circled on the calendar, for us to leave there." … [Read more...] about Tom Friedman Waves The White Flag

The voting in the 2006 weblog awards is now open! You can cast a vote for my blog, The Debate Link, here. The scripts for "Best Centrist Blog" (TMVs category) isn't up yet, but once it does I'll give you the link. Best of luck! UPDATE: We're in business! Vote for Best Centrist Blog here. … [Read more...] about Vote (Day One)!

No Pete, it's not a law firm. Read Pete Abel's post regarding "the decision of Rick Warren (a conservative evangelical) to invite Senator Obama (a progressive ?) to speak at his church on the global AIDS crisis." … [Read more...] about Obama, Dionne and Warren

CBS has this tidbit about George W. Bush's response to a question about James Baker:Asked if Baker would help implement the report, a spokesman for Mr. Bush said, "Jim Baker can go back to his day job."We thank Hines Site for the tip. … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: George Bush On James Baker

Michael Ledeen reports for Pajamas Media that Ayatollah Khamenei was rushed to the hospital three days ago: Three days ago, Iran’s dictator, Supreme Leader Ayatollah ali Khamenei, was rushed to the vast medical facility traditionally known as “Vanakâ€? hospital (it now has an Arabic name that means “the 12th Imam Hospitalâ€?), a 1,200-room facility that saves half of its … [Read more...] about PJM: Khamenei Rushed to Hospital

A while ago I published a post linking to an article in which an advisor of the Saudi government was quoted as writing that the Kingdom should and would support Iraqi Sunnis once the U.S. withdraws from the country as to prevent genocide and to prevent Iran from having too much power in the region. Today the AP reports that Saudi civilians are already supporting Sunni militias … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia ‘Supporting’ Iraqi Sunnis

ABC News reports that Arizona Senator John McCain is poised to pick GOP campaign operative Terry Nelson as his pick to be his national campaign manager — news that will cause some voters to raise their eyebrows all the way up to the tops of their skulls. And probably cause some to re-evaluate whether a vote for McCain and his "Straight Talk Express" might be endorsing a … [Read more...] about John McCain’s New Campaign Manager Linked To (In)Famous Harold Ford Ad