E.J. Dionne says it well: This month's offensive by President Bush and his allies in Congress against gay marriage and flag burning proves one thing: The Republican Party thinks its base of social conservatives is a nest of dummies who have no memories and respond like bulls whenever red flags are waved in their faces. Yes, but they keep voting for him. In large enough numbers … [Read more...] about Wedging the base

If you're interested in checking out my latest take on the incomparable Ms. Coulter, click here. I don't need to take up any space here at TMV on such a loathsome topic. … [Read more...] about Ann Coulter is a talking obscenity

There was a major development yesterday regarding Iran's nuclear program: From the NYT: "In a sign that Iran may be willing to restart talks on its nuclear program, the country's chief negotiator did not immediately reject an incentive plan delivered by the European Union today, saying that the proposal deserved further study." But that's not all. From the AP: "A package of … [Read more...] about Iranian development

The proposed amendment to define marriage in the Constitution failed in the Senate today (hardly surprising to anyone). It needed sixty votes to achieve cloture, and only got 49. Forty-eight senators voted in opposition. I'll update this with a link to the roll call when it's available. Now, Senate, get back to work on some important issues. Update: The roll call is here. … [Read more...] about Marriage Amendment DOA in Senate

Just a few weeks ago, many Democrats were cautiously optimistic that local school board member Francine Busby could win the House seat once held by disgraced and jailed Republican Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Now, in the wake of the news that former Housemember and GOPer Brian Bilbray has won the seat by some 5,000 votes, Democrats should look at the results — and be … [Read more...] about Republican Bilbray’s Win of Bellwether Seat Means “Caution” To Democrats (UPDATED)

Target: Harper The Globe and Mail is reporting that the PM was a possible terrorist target: "At least one of the 17 terror suspects arrested last weekend is accused of wanting to behead Prime Minister Stephen Harper during an attack on Parliament Hill." In addition: "The alleged plot also involved taking political prisoners in exchange for the withdrawal of Canadian troops … [Read more...] about Toronto terrorism threat (UPDATE 6)

We've said it many times over the past few months when people have emailed us and said "how can you call yourself a moderate" when we've criticized the Bush administration, so we'll say it again: It's getting to the point where you cannot be a moderate and support the Bush administration. And, according to the Pew Research Center, that's precisely what's happening in … [Read more...] about Bush Is Losing Moderate Republicans

...at Dilby News Monitor a site that you might first think is patterned after the Drudge Report -- but when you explore it, you realize it gives you so much more. Unlike Drudge, Dilby isn't pinned down to being widely perceived as in one political camp. It's often all over the place. Like Drudge, it's constantly updated. Indeed, the GOOD NEWS is that you can get what you'd … [Read more...] about Take A Peek

Whether a third party is practical, viable and can do more than defeat one of the big parties by sucking away people that would vote for it are separate issues that can be debated later. But, for NOW, one thing is certain: there is LOTS of "buzz" in centrist circles across the country about finding ways to short-circuit polarization — even if this means looking at a … [Read more...] about Centrists Talk To Unity08 Co-Founder

It has big implications. Read this. … [Read more...] about The Palestinian Referendum

While TMV is hard at work interviewing aliens (OOPS! Wrong kind of aliens!) his blogging will be at an absolute minimum today. The reason: TMV in his other incarnation was on a variety show bill in San Diego yesterday and he'll be on one today in San Bernardino, 110 miles east of his home. He will be gone most of the day and evening. But be sure to keep checking back because … [Read more...] about TMV’s Posts Will Be Limited Today

I went this afternoon to a showing of Al Gore's film, "An Inconvenient Truth," and boy am I glad I did. This is a movie that had the potential to be absolutely horrible (yes, that would be the vision of Al Gore giving a slide show about global warming), and yet it was not that at all. It managed to be powerful without preaching, intelligent but not overwhelming, and, perhaps … [Read more...] about “An Inconvenient Truth”

Ynet News: Following warnings by extremist Islamic group al-Muhajiroun, in which the group said that the red cross in the England flag symbolizes the 'blood thirsty crusaders' and the occupation of Muslims, some of the largest companies in England have ordered their workers not to wave the flags. The flag has recently appeared in England on everything from bikinis to cars, … [Read more...] about England Afraid to Fly Its Own Flag

I just got back home from college, and am trying to get my laptop hooked to our house's network. Right now, though, it's not acquiring a network address. Any clue what's going on? Computer intellegensia can email me at schraubd -at- carleton -dot- edu with clues. Danke! UPDATE: All set now! … [Read more...] about Network Difficulties

You didn't? Ann Coulter thinks so. … [Read more...] about Did You Know That 911 Widows Enjoy Their Husbands’ Deaths?

...like China's Tiananmen massacre. Remember it by WATCHING HERE. … [Read more...] about Some Things We Shouldn’t Forget

MSNBC: 11,000 evacuated as new lava flows spurt from Java volcano. From this morning's New York Times: Quake Adds to Fear That Indonesian Volcano Will Erupt MAP … [Read more...] about The Volcano is Being a Volcano

The idea behind the quest was an honorable one: a blog called Online Integrity would be the anchor and focal point for a nonpartisan, nonideological statement of principles about respecting privacy, signed onto by bloggers of varying viewpoints (this site signed onto it early and remains a firm supporter of the idea). What happened after that? And is it still a viable idea? … [Read more...] about The Quest For Online Integrity

Cross-posted to Random Fate. --- The English-speaking culture of England and the United States has a long history of satire, one of the premier examples is the essay "A Modest Proposal: For Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland from Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick" by Jonathan Swift. I had been … [Read more...] about When satire cannot encompass and exaggerate reality

President Bush signaled to his followers — and the nation — once and for all something many Americans had already concluded: He is a divider, not a uniter. And even in this era of ultra-political polarization he's willing to tilt to those who want to divide Americans rather than those who would unite them. Without batting an eyelash. Bush yesterday effectively … [Read more...] about Will Bush’s Controversial Gay Marriage Ban Stance Reap Rewards?