Strangely, the conservative policies of the Dutch government coalition are beginning to pay off. For years and years the poverty level rose. Now, however, they are once again decreasing. The CDA and VVD had to clean up a lot of the mess left by the coalitions in the 1990's (and of course from before that decade). Reforms like that always increase the povery rate for a limited … [Read more...] about Those Cold, Greedy Conservatives

Two questions: 1- Why didn't he just show his ID card? 2- What the heck was that police officer thinking?It was beyond grotesque," said UCLA graduate David Remesnitsky of Los Angeles, who witnessed the incident. "By the end they took him over the stairs, lifted him up and Tasered him on his rear end. It seemed like it was inappropriately placed. The Tasering was so unnecessary … [Read more...] about Appropriate Use of Force… Kinda

What do facts have to do, have to do with it? Don't you just hate them? Those annoying things called 'details' I mean. … [Read more...] about Details

The leaders of the left. From left to right: Femke Halsema (GroenLinks), Jan Marijnissen (SP) and Wouter Bos (PvdA PvdA leader Wouter Bos received more and more criticism for being too friendly towards the CDA. Before the campaign for the (November 22) elections began it was quite clear that the PvdA hoped to form a coalition with the CDA: he enforced that idea during the … [Read more...] about Wouter Bos Changes Strategy

Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman died earlier today. CNNmoney points out that he "helped interpret and popularize modern free-market economics that came to dominate much of U.S. public policy in the second half of the 20th century. Free-market economic theories, which included tight fiscal discipline and deregulation of markets, grew influential in the United States after … [Read more...] about Milton Friedman Dies

Mitt Romney has sent a strong signal to everyone by hiring "Alex Castellanos, a veteran of presidential campaigns known for his tough ads against Democratic candidates." Alex is one of two or three people in the country who you don't run a presidential campaign without," said Dan Schnur, who was communication director for Senator John McCain of Arizona during McCain's run for … [Read more...] about Romney Getting Ready for 08

Pelosi suffers first political defeat since this month's elections I reported a few days ago, that Nancy Pelosi wanted Murtha to become House majority leader. Sadly for her, she lost that particular battle:House Democrats picked Rep. Steny Hoyer to be House majority leader on Thursday, spurning Rep. Nancy Pelosi's handpicked choice moments after unanimously backing her … [Read more...] about Nancy Loses First Battle After Elections

CNN: Hoyer tapped for party's No. 2 House spot … [Read more...] about The New House Majority Leader is…….

Pam's House Blend: Our own Russ is America's Next Great Progressive Talk Star! UPDATE: Our friend Russ just won: Russ with 3 votes to Curtis with 2 votes. The tie-breaker judge was Ed Schultz. I think this episode will be archived online so you all can listen later. --------------------------------------------------------------- There's a contest going on to be the next … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Progressive Talk Radio

The spectacle of Democrats indulging in political cannibalism in the House, tossing away their good post-election press, and breaking the "Big Mo" they had towards positive imagery and unity is not the only Big Show in town. There's also a process of self-destruction going on within the GOP, perhaps because Republican party bigwigs got jealous watching the Democrats hurt their … [Read more...] about Congressional Republicans’ Moves Are Alienating GOPers

Longtime centrist Republican Rep. Jim Leach's defeat last Tuesday is a great loss for the House of Representatives, but it need not be a loss for the country. There is a diplomatic position for which Leach is not only qualified, but also particularly well suited: Ambassador to the United Nations. I am proud to jump on the Leach bandwagon today by announcing my strong support … [Read more...] about Jim Leach for UN Ambassador

Dick Polman sees a shift in the GOP:The fundamental tensions within the fragile Republican coalition, which were severely exacerbated by the 2006 campaign, are likely to persist now that Mel Martinez has been tapped to work as general chairman of the national party.Polman notes that Martinez's appointment is part of a move to try and win back Hispanic voters turned off by the … [Read more...] about Is the GOP Back In “Inclusion Mode?”

First it was Murtha and now it's Dean. What's justified and what isn't? My opinions are here. … [Read more...] about Dem Infighting In Full Swing

DEAR TMV: I am 10 years old. I was talking with my friends and they said corporate standards and the corporate conscience in America are disintegrating. My father says, "If you see a Starbucks on every corner it isn't so." Please tell me the truth: are there standards and is there a corporate conscience in America or are they going down the tubes? Virginia Schmidlap 1500 Main … [Read more...] about O.J. Simpson, Fox, Regan Books And The Decline Of Standards

Is the Iraq Study Group about to propose this? … [Read more...] about This Just In!

The Guardian reports that the Bush administration is planning a "big push" to win in Iraq — a strategy that would entail a sizeable increase in troops:President George Bush has told senior advisers that the US and its allies must make "a last big push" to win the war in Iraq and that instead of beginning a troop withdrawal next year, he may increase US forces by up to … [Read more...] about U.S. Reportedly Plans “Big Push” In Iraq With More Troops

I had no illusions that the recent Democratic victory would usher in an era of perfection, ponies, and light in Washington. But I was expected to have more than a week before being hit with a spectacular display of idiocy as both parties solidify their leadership team. … [Read more...] about That Was Quick

From Newt Gingrich's Winning the Future Newsletter November 15:"From a House Republican standpoint, the center of gravity should be the 54 Blue Dog Democrats. If we and the Blue Dogs can find a handful of key things to work on together, we can almost certainly create a majority on the floor just as the Reagan Republicans and conservative Democrats did in 1981. Bipartisanship … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Newt Gingrich On The Center of Gravity for Congressional Bi-partisanship

It should have been TMV, but instead they picked him. … [Read more...] about The Sexiest Man Alive

The deniers will continue to deny, not just at their own peril but at the peril of us all, but global warming, and climate change more broadly, continues to wreak havoc with our daily lives. Researchers have already connected global warming to stronger hurricanes like Katrina and Rita and to extensive heat waves in the U.S. and Europe, and now, according to CNN, researchers are … [Read more...] about Global warming and wildfires