Via Hilzoy, I see that the Washington Post has a list of what Democrats say will be their top priorities if they take back congress in 2006. -Raise the minimum wage for the first time since 1997. -Roll back a provision in the Republicans' Medicare prescription drug benefit that prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from negotiating prices for drugs offered … [Read more...] about Democratic Platforming

The case for disregarding the parents' wishes. Back from Miami! But why on earth is it hot in Minnesota? I miss snowfall. … [Read more...] about Sexual Autonomy, Sex Education and Cultural Restrictions

Some folks have seen these on TV so they've decided to do their own. Reason for concern? … [Read more...] about Sting Operations For Online Child Predators

When CIA Director Porter Goss resigned the conventional wisdom seemed to be that the White House would pick someone who would be relatively free from controversy. Instead, all signs point to the White House picking someone who is not only controversial — but who will provoke a polarizing battle in Congress since Democrats and even some Republicans will oppose him. And, … [Read more...] about Bush ‘s Naming Gen. Hayden As CIA Pick Will Spark Polarizing Political Fight (UPDATED)

The barbaric terrorists beheadings that go beyond most definitions of murder in terms of their brutality have continued in Iraq. (NOTE TO READERS: You should still read this post BUT a LATER POST HERE will tell you that the actual victim was NOT the Iraqi journalist but a man from Nepal.) WARNING: This Times Online piece about the merciless on-camera butchery of Atwar … [Read more...] about On One Of Iraq’s Top Journalists Being Beheaded (UPDATED)

The Taliban claimed yet another Indian on Sunday (April 30, 2006) killing and beheading Indian telecom engineer K Suryanarayana, less than 48 hours after abducting him from Zabul province on the main highway linking Kabul and Kandahar. Suryanarayana's killing, as also M Raman Kutty's murder last November, is an unambiguous message from the Taliban which India can ill-afford … [Read more...] about Pakistan & Taliban: An Unholy Nexus?

The Taliban claimed yet another Indian on Sunday (April 30, 2006) killing and beheading Indian telecom engineer K Suryanarayana, less than 48 hours after abducting him from Zabul province on the main highway linking Kabul and Kandahar. Suryanarayana's killing, as also M Raman Kutty's murder last November, is an unambiguous message from the Taliban which India can ill-afford … [Read more...] about Pakistan & Taliban: An Unholy Nexus?

… [Read more...] about The Agony Of Victory

Will the American media overlook his situation? … [Read more...] about A Moderate Muslim’s Plight

Political jazz, that is. Real jazz can be incredibly sweet... … [Read more...] about I’ve Had Enough Of All That Jazz

If the United States decides it must go to war with Iran it better not expect much support from Europe, The Washington Times reports:The United States, in any military confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program, can expect even less support from its European allies than it received during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. "Europeans have already gone as far as they can … [Read more...] about Europeans Not Ready To Support Iran War

The question continues to rage: Where's Osama? The latest suggestion: he's in the remote area of Pakistan.A top U.S. counterterrorism official said Saturday that parts of Pakistan are a "safe haven" for militants and Osama bin Laden was more likely to be hiding there than in Afghanistan. Henry Crumpton, the U.S. ambassador in charge of counterterrorism, lauded Pakistan for … [Read more...] about Where’s Osama?

John Kenneth Galbraith (center) was presented with India's second-highest civilian award by Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansingh (left) in 2001. Also present on the occasion was Galbraith's wife, Kitty. (photo courtesy Harvard University Gazette) John Kenneth Galbraith, former US envoy to India, who died on Sunday (April 30) at the age of 97, wrote in his book Ambassador’s … [Read more...] about John Kenneth Galbraith: Last of the Old-Style Liberals

TMV was pleasantly surprised. … [Read more...] about Blogometer Blog Poll

Once again: another headline about another Kennedy in crisis after being in a vehicle — but this time not a limousine, car near water, or airplane but a car in Washington, D.C. Once again, as in the case of his father, Senator Edward Kennedy, a mea culpa from a Kennedy, this time Rep. Patrick Kennedy amid allegations that proper procedures were not followed in the … [Read more...] about Police Disciplined And Kennedy Will Go To Rehab In Latest “Kennedy Curse” Incident

It's truly getting to the point where writing about "new lows" in polling for President George Bush and the GOP-dominated Congress isn't getting to be news anymore — but the norm. And the latest AP-Ipsos poll, AP Political Writer Ron Fornier writes, illustrates why Republicans fear "an Election Day massacre":Six months out, the intensity of opposition to Bush and … [Read more...] about New Poll Driven Lower By Conservatives Leaving Bush

The ever-original The Talking Dog has another original Q&A interview. Profiled this time: Professor David Scheffer, Professor of Law and Director, Center for International Human Rights, Northwestern University School of Law. Scheffer served as the United States Ambassador for War Crimes Issues from 1997 to 2001 during the second term of President Bill Clinton. This is MUST … [Read more...] about Interview With A Former United States Ambassador for War Crimes

It's a real life horror story. Remember the story of the Florida teen whose death was viewed all over the world in a videotape, as he was surrounded — engulfed, really — by a sea of boot camp guards? The one where the autopsy set off a firestorm because it blamed his death on sickle cell anemia? In other words: natural causes. A NEW autopsy found something … [Read more...] about New Autopsy Says Florida Teen Was Suffocated At Boot Camp

Once again it's time for another gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: Cash, Cash, Wonderful Cash Stock markets may tumble, bond issues default Home prices are quirky, they can somersault Gold's upward eruptions, they come and they go Derivative products, you just never know Cash, cash, wonderful cash You can flash it or stash it, there's no … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: Cash

More details are starting to trickle out on the surprise, abrupt announcement by President George Bush that CIA Director Porter Goss had submitted his resignation — and it had been accepted. The rapidity with which this announcement took place, the lack of a full, public explanation about why Goss was exiting, and the fact that he submitted his resignation and it didn't … [Read more...] about CIA’s Porter Goss Was Forced Out