The BBC reports that the Dutch government supports a plan by Dutch immigration and integration Minister Rita Verdonk to ban the burqa from all public spaces.The burqa, a full body covering that also obscures the face, would be banned by law in the street, and in trains, schools, buses and the law courts. The cabinet said burqas disturb public order, citizens and safety. The … [Read more...] about Dutch Government Backs Burqa Ban

NOTE: We ran this earlier this week. In light of 21st Century cutting-edge comedy, which often has a meaner edge, we hope all readers will just take a minute and watch a classic short bit of a gentler form of comedy. (TMV saw and liked Borat so he is not dumping on current comedy forms. But you can like BOTH forms) Years ago, on a retrospective on the late Jack Benny, a clip … [Read more...] about Take A Break For A Bit Of Gentle Comedy

Just a few days ago the political world was ga-ga over a report in Insight Magazine that said White House political maven Karl Rove would stay through the entire Bush administration because, a source quoted in the story says: "He knows too much." Perhaps that source doesn't know enough. Because now we get this report from Think Progress that says:The White House Bulletin, a … [Read more...] about Is Karl Rove On The Way Out Soon?

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bush's Dad Asks For Keys to White House Back Air Force One, President Grounded For Life In yet another setback for President George W. Bush, his father, former President George H.W. Bush, appeared in the Oval Office today and demanded that his son give back the keys to the White House at once. For the elder Mr. Bush, who … [Read more...] about This Just In!

I need this kid in the audience at my shows. … [Read more...] about Hahaha

Defeated Republican Pennyslvania Senator Rick Santorum has announced he will not run for President in 2008. His campaign supporter must be upset. … [Read more...] about News Flash!

Conservatives seem to be more generous than liberals:Syracuse University professor Arthur C. Brooks is about to become the darling of the religious right in America — and it's making him nervous. The child of academics, raised in a liberal household and educated in the liberal arts, Brooks has written a book that concludes religious conservatives donate far more money … [Read more...] about Those Cold, Greedy Conservatives Part 2

As usual, I have to do some research for a project for my study (as you all know I switched from law school to American Studies). This time - however - I do not have to write an essay: I have to hold a presentation. Subject: the social (security) system in the US. Finding data etc. is not that difficult, but I like giving the perspective of Americans on subjects like this as … [Read more...] about Social System in the US

We will not make any wisecracks about politicians who qualify for the same job so they could do to the ladies what they do to the country. … [Read more...] about Mike Tyson May Have A New Job

It seems that Senator John McCain (mostly) understands why the GOP suffered a tremendous loss. He said 'that Republicans had lost the midterm elections because “we abandoned our principlesâ€? on fiscal policy and government restraint, inviting a backlash from Americans over what they saw as widespread hypocrisy.'“Hypocrisy, my friends, is the most obvious of political sins … [Read more...] about McCain Understands

Hot Air explains how readers can support conservative blogs: People occasionally e-mail us asking for a PayPal button so that they can donate. That’s kind of them, but there are other ways to help the site that don’t require quite so much largesse. For one thing, you can buy stuff at the HA store and get something for your money in return. Alternatively, what you can do is … [Read more...] about Helping Your Favorite Blog

Amir Taheri writes for the New York Post that Islamists around the world celebrate the outcome of the US elections.Calling the election "the beginning of the end for Bush," Ayatollah Imami Kashani told a Friday congregation in Tehran that the Americans were learning the same lesson that last summer's war in Lebanon taught the Israelis. Tehran decision-makers believe that the … [Read more...] about Islamists Rejoice?

Say goodbye to....Bull Moose (but he promises to re-emerge, perhaps in another venue...). NOTE: TMV is in and out today but he encourages you to leave your comments on Bull Moose and his role in centrist politics (he has many fans and nonfans...as do us all...) in comments. … [Read more...] about A Blogger Says Goodbye

This doesn't sound like someone who saw the same election results that most pundits saw. It doesn't sound like someone who's cooly evaluating all policy options. It sounds like someone indulging in faith-based policy. George Bush in Vietnam:The president said there was much to be learned from the divisive Vietnam War _ the longest conflict in U.S. history _ as his … [Read more...] about Bush Sounds Like He Wants To Stay The Course

Guess what? It hurt the state of Texas. … [Read more...] about The Republican Redistricting Of Texas

The groundbreaking of the MLK memorial drew a massive crowd of Washington dignataries and politicians. But who among them is sufficiently committed to his legacy to justify the homage? … [Read more...] about Unworthy Heirs

Some of the images and stories coming out of 21st Century America, although not necessarily interconnected, are not nice ones. So much for the days of Americana artist Norman Rockwell. The latest is a story — and a You Tube video — that is truly cringeworthy. See our coblogger Michael van der Galien's earlier post HERE. Even though some will argue that the student … [Read more...] about Furor Over UCLA Student Tasered By Police

With the fog of elections out of the way, the world is sighing with relief that the shortsighted cabal led by Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld has met its Waterloo. But their successors are not necessarily wiser although they do favor different tactics to achieve key foreign policy goals. European observers expect political deadlock and squabbling in both Congress and Senate. … [Read more...] about Jim Baker is no savior

It's a round-up! Wish me look luck (for example, that my profs don't grade spelling) on my final exams! … [Read more...] about Because You’re Tired Of Hearing Me Talk

He's a front runner for the Republican nomination in '08, so this situation begs the question... is this move ethically suspect? It's certainly not illegal, but you know what they say...if you can't beat the media, buy the media. Okay, nobody says that...but I'd bet Romney at least made one crack about it before the sale. I mean, how could you not? Come on Mitt...fess up...we … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney’s Company Buys Clear Channel