Her new showstopper "Everything's Run By Pelosi". (Via the parody group The Capital Steps, that is. They have some GREAT CDs.) … [Read more...] about Nancy Pelosi SINGS!

So far I have avoided watching Michael Richard's racial rant because I like watching Seinfeld and didn't want to contaminate my innocent joy. I find the situation ironic because the Kramer character was the symbol of open mindedness, with friends who were small, Cuban, oriental, fat, rich, and poor. Likewise is my reaction to Mel Gibson's meltdown. But the public recurrence of … [Read more...] about Hi, My Name is Paul and I am a Racist

Most Americans were quick to condemn Michael Richards' remarks as racism. That's good. But that's only the first step. … [Read more...] about Stage One

I did not support the elevation of Alcee Hastings to Intelligence Committee Chair, but any Congressman who ends a press release with "Sorry, haters, God is not finished with me yet" scores some serious points with me. … [Read more...] about Don’t Hate The Playa; Hate The Game

What does it mean? It means this. … [Read more...] about There’s A New Phrase: “Flying While Muslim”

Mark Rutte and Rita "Iron Lady" Verdonk Well, this is freaking great: as you all know my political party the VVD (conservatives) lost 6 seats during the elections last week. Earlier this year we had an election within the party about who would lead it. In those 'internal' elections, only members can vote. It is very easy and virtually free to become a member and thus influence … [Read more...] about Ambitious and Shameless Verdonk

From the BBC: "Chile's former military ruler Augusto Pinochet has said he takes political responsibility for everything that happened during his 18 years in power." Here's some of what he said (or rather of what his wife read on his behalf): "Today, near the end of my days, I want to say that I harbour no rancour against anybody, that I love my fatherland above all... I take … [Read more...] about Pinochet’s BS

There has been an inordinate amount of flak in the blogosphere today, so let’s be charitable and call the president a slow learner. A slow learner is someone who, among other things, refuses to learn from his mistakes and blames others for them.In this instance his mistake is the Mess in Mesopotamia and the subject of his blame is Al Qaeda, which had zero presence there … [Read more...] about George Bush to American Public: Drop Dead

At last... Evidence: women talk too much. Something that cannot possibly surprise anyone with a girlfriend, wife, mother or sister (or all four):Women also speak more quickly, devote more brainpower to chit-chat - and actually get a buzz out of hearing their own voices, a new book suggests.And something about us men:But what the male brain may lack in converstation and … [Read more...] about Stop.Talking.Please.

Dealing with the devil is seldom best Iran's Ubermullah Khamenei told Iraqi President Talibani that the reason for the Sectarian violence in Iraq is the presence of U.S. troops and that before-mentioned violence would end at the moment the U.S. withdraws its troops."The first step to solve the security issue in Iraq is the exit of the occupiers from this country and leaving … [Read more...] about Iran and Iraq

With respect to the much-ballyhooed chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee, I haven't exactly kept my support for Jane Harman hidden. I still think she's the right person for the job, but, if it's not to be, Rush Holt would be a fine choice (Josh Marshall thinks so, too.) And if not him, perhaps Silvestre Reyes. Anyone but Alcee Hastings. My support for Harman puts … [Read more...] about The case against Jane Harman

Bored? and count to ten. Ann, stop obsessing. I am quite sure that you have more important things to do. I know we at TMV have... … [Read more...] about Take A Deep Breath…

Or is it all just a myth? … [Read more...] about Is NBC Calling The Iraq War A “Cronkite Moment”?

So... NBC has finally decided to call the sectarian violence in Iraq a civil war. Which is sort of like just now getting around to calling the violence in Kosovo genocide. Better late than never, I suppose, but the media's hesitation to call sectarian violence a civil war has essentially belittled the violence, prevented them from taking it as seriously as it ought to have been … [Read more...] about Look, kids, it’s a civil war!

According to former U.S. Army Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, "Rumsfeld authorized the mistreatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib". The U.S. commander at the prison until 2004, when she was relieved of her duties, she says she "saw a memorandum signed by Rumsfeld detailing the use of harsh interrogation methods". Reuters has the story here. As Jack Balkin notes, "[t]hese are … [Read more...] about Rumsfeld and Abu Ghraib

Amidst the high-level talks regarding Iraq's Civil War, ordinary Iraqi citizens are issuing more urgent appeals on Iraqi message boards. On today's Washington Post Post Global edition, blogger Zeyad translates Arabic-language appeals from desperate Baghdadi Sunnis regarding the impending Shi'ite revenge for the Sadr City slaughter last week. These messages convey absolute … [Read more...] about Desperate Appeals in Iraq’s Civil War

Today three prominent articles on Centrism. Can the GOP Find Its Center? By E. J. Dionne Jr. "Pro-market libertarians and pro-family social conservatives are more aware than ever that their respective values and interests do not coincide." ">GOP must return to its centrist roots By Governor Christine Todd Whitman"President Bush has to lead the Republican Party back … [Read more...] about What is “Centrism” and how to get to it

Surprise, surprise: it seems that Hezbollah is helping shiite militias in Iraq to carry out attacks against non-Shiite targets. Hezbollah trained 1,000 to 2,000 members of the Mahdi Army. Assuming the story to be accurate that is. O and where, according to the 'senior American intelligence official' quoted by the Times, did Hezbollah train those militias? The safe haven … [Read more...] about Hezbollah Weighing In

Someone came up with this headline. You KNOW it'll be asked (and has already been jokingly asked by the reader who sent it to us): "So would 35 shots have been acceptable?" … [Read more...] about A Headline That Begs Some of The Question

How low are President George Bush's and Congress' poll numbers? Let's just say they're down so low that they may have to soon call a plumbing company because the numbers are going down there:President Bush's approval ratings, as tracked by Harris Interactive, fell to the second-lowest of his presidency, according to a new poll. According to the telephone poll, conducted … [Read more...] about Bush’s And Congress’ Polls Numbers Still Way Down