THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:STARBUCKS TO OCCUPY LEBANON Only International Force Willing to Go, Says Condi Frustrated in her attempts to assemble an international peacekeeping force to serve as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today that she has received a firm commitment from the coffee chain Starbucks to … [Read more...] about This Just In!

If you've left a comment and particularly if TMV himself has left a comment about something you wrote and you replied to it, be sure to check comments again. TMV doesn't have time to read all comments these days but he does reply to some — and sometimes his replies are flawed...so he'll rectify it. … [Read more...] about One Little Reminder To Readers

As many of you might know, embattled Montana Senator Conrad Burns (R) landed in some hot water a few days ago after insulting the firefighters who were (and are) risking their lives to battle wildfires raging through the state. In damage control mode, Senator Burns apologized, and held a conference call to discuss the issue with reporters. After the call was concluded, he … [Read more...] about Burns Gets Burned

I've already written about Katherine Harris's [fill in the blank] Senate candidacy four times, and I seem finally to be out of creative nouns and adjectives to describe it. In our last installment just a few days ago -- which you can find here (with links to the previous ones) -- we saw that Harris's poll numbers had fallen dramatically, with support even from Republicans … [Read more...] about The sad state of Katherine Harris

Remember that notorious South Dakota abortion ban, the one that flagrantly disregards Roe, the one that may end up at the Supreme Court? (I've written about it here and here.) Well, Governor Mike Rounds approved the ban earlier this year, but, as the Argus Leader puts it, "[o]pponents circulated a petition and got enough signatures to prevent the law from taking effect until … [Read more...] about Poll shows South Dakotans against abortion ban

The mind boggles. Speaking in Beirut, where he met yesterday with his Iranian counterpart, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said this: "In the region there is of course a country such as Iran -- a great country, a great people and a great civilization which is respected and which plays a stabilizing role in the region." He's kidding, right? Or is he crazy? It's … [Read more...] about The crazy French

A reminder again that some comments are crossing the line — a line that not only exists on the more sedate Letters To The Editor's pages in print publications but also on talk radio shows where some of the comments here would be greeted by a hang-up by a conservative or a liberal talk show host. Spirited and vigorous discussion are more than welcome here and have been … [Read more...] about Final Reminder On Comments

An environmental one. … [Read more...] about Yet Another Crisis In The Middle-East

As Israel prepares to widen ground operations and continues its air assault on southern Lebanon even during a putative 48-hour pause, and President Bush maintains his refusal to call for a cease-fire, Republican senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska has broken ranks with the Administration to call for strong steps toward ending the conflict before it expands still further. In a … [Read more...] about Hagel on the Mideast Crisis

"Most Likely Future Sponsor of Hezbollah is Baghdad's Shiite Tyranny of the Majority," says The Washington Note quoting former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and former Asst. Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Chas Freeman. "The most interesting item I came across tonight on the Middle East crisis came by way of an email from Ambassador Chas … [Read more...] about Hezbollah and Baghdad Shias : Another View

Peace Grid as it appears on the wall of the Oil Press Art Gallery in Old Jerusalem "Israel vows to fight on in Lebanon," says The Times. While the Euro News informs us that "the French Foreign Minister has met his Iranian counterpart in Beirut. Philippe Douste-Blazy described Iran as a significant, respected player in the Middle East which is playing a stabilising role, … [Read more...] about Israel – Lebanon Stalemate : So What’s Next?

ABC reportedly cancels his series on the Holocaust. ALSO: Mel Crosses Hollywood Line Critics Find Voice In Gibson Drama Booze And Bigotry Transcript of Gibson Arrest Gibson In A World Of Hurt Mel Gibson's Meltdown Sins Of The Father? Hollywood Fury At Gibson's Jewish Rant … [Read more...] about Mel Gibson’s P.R. Holocaust

Political punditry has become an incredibly huge business and pastime in the United States these days. Consider: Newscasts operating 24-hours-a-day have talking heads seemingly asserting 24-hours a day...Always-confident newspaper columnists get huge readerships analyzing and predicting...Left and right talk radio shows, guests and listeners/viewers scream and rant as they … [Read more...] about Expect the Unexpected in Politics

Yes, The Three Stooges are an acquired taste for some. But not for ME. One of my proudest moments as a staff reporter on the San Diego Union was when I convinced my editors to let me go to Hollywood to cover the historic moment when The Three Stooges (years after many of their deaths) finally got their long-sought star on Hollywood Boulevard. But how did trio begin? This You … [Read more...] about Comedy Greats: The Three Stooges’ Origins

We're always particularly fascinated by the daily Rasmussen Reports poll on GWB's job approval rating. For a while it looked like he was regaining support he lost from his base and making a modest rebound. Now it looks like he's on a journey south again. … [Read more...] about Poll Shows Bush Support Sinking Again

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:AXIS OF EVIL FLOODED WITH MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS Kim Jong-Il 'Very Picky' About Filling Open Third Slot The Axis of Evil, which originally consisted of Iran, Iraq and North Korea, has been flooded with membership applications of late as evildoers around the world vie to fill the slot vacated by Iraq. That is according to … [Read more...] about This Just In!

TMV's own postings will remain limited for at least a few weeks. This is due to the continued murderous travel schedule (250 miles today and two shows) coupled with a respiratory illness...from which TMV is not totally recovered. His will do a few posts in the morning and a few at night and perhaps one or two on a timer but for much of August he will be on this reduced … [Read more...] about TMV’s Own Postings Will Remain Limited

Reuters via MSNBC News: Fidel Castro undergoes intestinal surgery HAVANA - Cuban President Fidel Castro underwent intestinal surgery Monday and delegated government functions provisionally to his younger brother Raul Castro, the government said in a televised statement signed by the Cuban leader. Castro, who turns 80 on Aug. 13 and has led Cuba since a 1959 revolution, … [Read more...] about Fidel’s Guts

The French Foreign Minister calls Iran a "stabilizing" influence on the mid-east. What did they put in his baguette, I wonder? Or perhaps I'm taking this the wrong way. If we define "stabilizing" as "preventing significant alterations from the status quo," and remember that the mid-east status quo is perpetually in a state of violence or near-violence centered around Israel, … [Read more...] about Jewel of the Mid-East

As I mentioned back in February, the Democratic Republic of Congo has a new constitution, one that introduces democratic rule to a country that hasn't had free elections in 40 years. Well, yesterday was the big day, reports the BBC, and the polls are now closed: The elections were aimed at ending a long civil war, with 32 candidates, including incumbent Joseph Kabila, … [Read more...] about Nascent democracy in DR Congo