THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Child, 11, Left Behind Sign That President's 'No Child Left Behind' Law May Not Be Working, Critics Say In what critics are calling a sign that President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" law is not delivering on its promise, an eleven-year-old child in Toledo, Ohio was left behind today. On a day when millions of American … [Read more...] about This Just In!

Earlier today, Michael van der Galien posted here at The Moderate Voice "Why 'Pre- and Post-9/11' Should Be Banned From Vocabulary" which brought to my mind something I wrote back in January of this year for my weblog, Random Fate, "America as an idea and an ideal". It is long so I won't duplicate the entire post here, but the key passage that reflects the ideas of Michael's … [Read more...] about Did the world change, or merely our perception of it?

Apparently, John Bolton has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is not all that notable, since (as been harped on again and again), anyone can nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Yet that didn't stop the powerful conservative "think" tank known as the Family Research Council from trumpeting it as proof of Bolton's kind and gentle demeanor: Some in the Senate like to … [Read more...] about John Bolton For Nobel Peace Prize

A new CNN poll finds the Iraq war will play a key role in how people cast their votes — and it compares some numbers in 2006 with 1994, a year when anti-Clinton administration sentiment cost Democrats control of Congress:President Bush's unpopularity — due largely to the war in Iraq — seems likely to affect GOP candidates in congressional midterm elections in … [Read more...] about New Poll Shows War Issue Will Have Big Impact

I'm leaving for Carleton tomorrow, so I don't know how much posting I'll get in between now and then. But here's some news on the anti-Semitism front to tide you over, in case I'm silent for the next few days. … [Read more...] about The Daily Anti-Semite

Over at The Reaction, co-blogger Grace suggests that Prime Minister Harper's Conservative government may use a vote on the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S. to force a new election, perhaps before the opposition Liberals are able to choose a new leader at a party convention scheduled for December. It would mean a second federal election this year (the first was in January) … [Read more...] about Are Canadians headed back to the polls?

If you hear a rubbing sound it's the sound of Democrats rubbing their hands in gleeful anticipation in Florida:Shrugging off critics who derided her campaign as spectacularly inept, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris easily won the GOP nomination for a shot at unseating incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson . "Tonight I say to Bill Nelson: Come home, Bill. Enough is enough," Harris said … [Read more...] about Harris Easily Wins GOP Senate Nomination In Florida

Another literary gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: A Passionate Congressman To His Constituents Come vote for me and back my run, And once this next election's won, For your int'rests I will slave, Never acting like a knave. I'll balance ev'ry yearly budget, And never, never, never fudge it; I'll keep a tight lid on your taxes, Even as … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: A Passionate Congressman To His Constituents

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:CNN Switches to All-Polygamy Format Becomes First 24-Hour Polygamy News Network CNN rocked the television news industry today by announcing that it would begin covering news about polygamy and nothing else on a 24-hour basis. For many viewers who had noticed a sharp uptick in the amount of its polygamy news coverage in … [Read more...] about This Just In!

It reads the news so it's taking THIS ACTION. … [Read more...] about Pluto Is Not Taking Its Rejection By Astronomers As A Planet Lying Down

In terms of imagery as an independent candidate, Joe Lieberman is now in big trouble due to this:The White House funneled millions of dollars through major Republican Party contributors to Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s primary campaign in a failed effort to ensure the support of the former Democrat for the Bush administration. A senior GOP source said the money was part of Deputy … [Read more...] about Guess Where Joe Lieberman Got Some Of His Primary Funding? (UPDATED)

The University of Wyoming Law School is trying to get funding for a moot courtroom as part of the new "Cheney Center for International Affairs"(I am not making that title up). Amenities would include: judges' chambers, a jury deliberation room, a detention area and other facilities. As UNC Law Professor (and former Wyoming law faculty member) Eric Muller points out: Huh? A … [Read more...] about Waterboards Extra

Back in 1996, according to AMERICAblog, Republicans in Congress blocked President Clinton's efforts to expand wiretapping and to deal with Osama bin Laden. This is an important post on an important story. Read it. Since 9/11, Republicans have run on terrorism, more specifically on the exploitation of the issue of terrorism, and have generally been extremely successful. More, … [Read more...] about Did Republicans appease the terrorists under Clinton?

From the "artist" who brought you Britney's pro-life birth sculpture, otherwise known at The Reaction as Sign of the Apocalypse #31, behold the latest piece of sh*t from Daniel Edwards, "Suri's Bronzed Baby Poop". Here it is — see above — in all its repulsive glory. According to E! Online, which is surely about as trustworthy an entertainment news source as it gets … [Read more...] about Sign of the Apocalypse: Suri’s poop (in bronze)

The Globe and Mail reports here. Canadian troops already face "fierce Taliban resistance" in Afghanistan. Although some "friendly fire" (and what a stupid term that is!) is perhaps inevitable on any such battlefield, particularly where air support is required, it is difficult not to succumb to anger in response to such an incident. Whatever my views on the Canadian operation … [Read more...] about American “friendly fire” kills Canadian in Afghanistan

Over at The Reaction, co-blogger Capt. Fogg examines the Bush propaganda machine's use and abuse of 9/11 and global terrorism with respect to "manipulating the passions of the public," as well as the ongoing efforts to target Bill Clinton. See here. … [Read more...] about On Islamofascism and the Bush propaganda machine

According to the The New York Times, new Chinese history textbooks have essentially purged Mao from the record: "The new standard world history text drops wars, dynasties and Communist revolutions in favor of colorful tutorials on economics, technology, social customs and globalization." Pre-1979 Communism has been reduced to a sentence, "the Marxist template that had dominated … [Read more...] about Revising Chairman Mao

TMV's 9 hour drive from Northeast Nevada to Southern California yesterday morphed into nearly 13 hours due to holiday traffic. Right now he's returning a rental Jeep and picking up his car, which had problems en route. He has to drive his car back slowly to San Diego today to drop it off to the mechanic. He will barely post today but others on this site have some things to say … [Read more...] about TMV Himself Will Post Little Today

Washington and Teheran are embroiled in a strong-jawed staring match and each is determined never to blink. The standoff is in the UN Security Council but it signals another war where the US bombs Iran to set back Iranian nuclear ambitions for some decades. Whenever that happens, it may be more a war of religions than a pragmatic tussle to halt nuclear proliferation. … [Read more...] about Staring down Iran

Patrick Cockburn, the award-winning journalist and author, has reported extensively from Iraq, Afghanistan and Jordan. Here, he explains how the 'war on terror' has fuelled resentment of the West and brought new levels of death and destruction. "Yesterday was another black day in the "war on terror". Across the Middle East, wave upon wave of violence engulfed the region and … [Read more...] about War On Terror: “Resentment of The West”