Apparently the plaintiff is an Iranian-American filmaker, a U.S. citizen arrested and detained for two months without charge while filming a documentary in Iraq. He's also a former Navy SEAL. Talk about your ideal plaintiffs... … [Read more...] about Lawsuit Filed Over Illegal Detention

It was a debate watched all over the country. Political partisans from the state (and visiting the state) watched their man take on the hated incumbent with bated breath so strong that Sea World’s Shamu drooled. They were taking on the hated enemy, a man often called by some of them a “liar,â€? a man who stood in the way of their party’s agenda. Ah, yes, lots of … [Read more...] about The Straining Of The Center In Connecticut

Here's another classic comedy bit, in answer to emailed reader requests for more of them. This is THE classic Abbott & Costello bit "Who's on First." There are many versions of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello doing this bit (which was entered into the Baseball Hall of Fame) — but this one is perhaps the best version on film. Here's what I wrote about it on a … [Read more...] about Classic Comedy: Abbott & Costello’s Immortal Routine

Here's another classic comedy bit, in answer to emailed reader requests for more of them. This is THE classic Abbott & Costello bit "Who's on First." There are many versions of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello doing this bit (which was entered into the Baseball Hall of Fame) — but this one is perhaps the best version on film. Here's what I wrote about it on a … [Read more...] about Classic Comedy: Abbott & Costello’s Immortal Routine

...but now someone has hung up on her...on the radio. … [Read more...] about Ann Coulter May Have Hang Ups

It seems like some members of the police department in Los Angeles need to get a life or get some additional assignments from the dispatcher because they have too much time on their hands. The AP:An 82-year-old woman who was given a jaywalking ticket for taking too long to cross a busy street won't have to pay the $114 fine. Mayvis Coyle had become something of a sensation … [Read more...] about Your Dumb Government In L.A. At Work Dept.

What do you do these days when you make a comment that causes the PC police to go after you? If you're a politician, you try and spin it. And sometimes the spin seems like it's part of a Saturday Night Live sketch. Joseph Biden got himself into trouble but he should copyright his office's spin, since it could wind up on a satire sketch: WHAT HE SAID:Facing criticism, … [Read more...] about Joseph Biden And The Ultimate PC Spin

As stated by President George W. Bush in his remarkably rare (for his presidency, anyway) news conference in Chicago yesterday: "It didn't say we couldn't have done — couldn't have made that decision, see?" Mr. Bush said at a news conference in Chicago. "They were silent on whether or not Guantánamo — whether or not we should have used Guantánamo. In other words, they … [Read more...] about But they didn’t tell me not to!

Didn't you know that? … [Read more...] about The Only Polls That Matter Are Good Polls

Robert Novak reports that Rudy is almost ready:Well-connected public figures report that they have been told recently by Rudolph Giuliani that, as of now, he intends to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. The former mayor of New York was on top of last month's national Gallup poll measuring presidential preferences by registered Republicans, with 29 … [Read more...] about Rudy Giuliani Reportedly Readies Presidential Run

We are now flooded with the imagery of violence on a daily basis. From reports coming in from Iraq or Afghanistan...to our daily speech/thought/writing/blogging. So how does one survive in such a world in a healthy manner? Here is a report from The Washington Post providing an option. There is also an interesting documentary "The Laughing Club of India" by … [Read more...] about Laughter in the Violence-prone World

Joe Lieberman has a new strategy and you can read about it here. … [Read more...] about This Just In!

He's either supremely confident of his party's recuperative capabilities, supremely confident of the Democrats' ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, or he knows something we don't know — or any combination of these three: President George W. Bush, trying to boost his standing with Americans, confidently predicted on Friday that Republicans will retain … [Read more...] about GWB Is Confident GOP Will Retain Congressional Control

Here's the latest from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: A Bummer Summer Baghdad keeps bleeding Iran is a puzzle Young Kim of Korea We can't seem to muzzle Each crisis that pops up We plug with a finger But plug it don't dam it They leak on and linger I don't mean to dwell on All things getting glummer But boy this new summer Could turn out a … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: A Bummer Summer

Everyone wants to be on reality TV these days... … [Read more...] about Osama bin Laden’s Audition Tape For Big Brother

So, now that Tom DeLay is back on the ballot, the folks at Balloon Juice invite you to suggest some campaign slogans. My favorite so far: Tom Delay--A Man of Convictions It's good to have you back, Tom. At least until you're beaten in November. … [Read more...] about The DeLay Campaign Kicks Off (Sort Of. Again.)

Earlier today, Joe addressed a recent poll that found some rather shocking anti-Americanism alive and well in the U.K. — you can find his post here. I responded to that poll over at The Reaction earlier this week. Here's that post: There is still friendship at the highest level — that is, between the White House and 10 Downing Street, Bush and Blair and all who … [Read more...] about So much for the “Special Relationship”

New Jersey, my former home state, has government again. Hoo-wah! It was without government, sort of, after Governor Corzine shut it down last weekend, but now: An agreement to break the state budget deadlock and raise the sales tax to 7 percent, from 6 percent, was reached [yesterday], Gov. Jon S. Corzine announced late [yesterday] afternoon in a news conference with the … [Read more...] about Order in New Jersey

And institutions can have different purposes. It doesn't "weaken" or "degrade" marriage to recognize it in different forms--multi-faceted purposes should rightly be seen as a feature, not a bug. … [Read more...] about Words Mean Different Things

There is an excellent piece from The Times correspondent in Afghanistan trying to understand the unexpected retaliation by the Afghans. "British commanders seem genuinely surprised by the level of resistance they are facing in Helmand. The Ministry of Defence described the Taliban attacks as 'unexpected'. "Unexpected? This is a country that has been battling foreign forces and … [Read more...] about Why British Soldiers Feel Baffled In Afghanistan