Gordon Smith and Steve Bainbridge duke it out over the respective weather patterns currently in their home states (Wisconsin and California, respectively). Being the devoted winter baby (and part-time Minnesotan) that I am, I of course side with Professor Smith. But this also reminds me of an event that happened to me last winter at Carleton. One of my close debate friends … [Read more...] about Winter Wonderland

Well, looks like the media does have a sense of humor after all. I'm counting on you to come up with some good captions here people! Don't let us down! … [Read more...] about Caption Time!

Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. Developing... … [Read more...] about Bush Takes Responsibility for “Wrong” Iraq Intelligence

We noted in a post that in one way we thought you could. But one of TMV's favorite television analysts disagrees in this Slate piece. PS: He makes his case quite well. … [Read more...] about Can You Compare George Bush To LBJ?

Last week Iran's hard-line President questioned whether the Holocaust existed and offered the friendly suggestion that Israel might move to Europe. Now he denies it happened and suggests Israel move to Alaska. This means he has taken his rhetoric to a new level, calling the holocaust — which ended in the usually horrific deaths of six million Jews plus millions of others … [Read more...] about Iran’s President Calls Holocaust A Myth

I don't know...where have you been lately? … [Read more...] about Is The Pentagon Spying On You?

A new guide to "appropriate" torture methods has been released by the Army, and some speculate that McCain will be none too pleased. Read more here. … [Read more...] about Army Tries To Thwart McCain’s Anti-Torture March?

Looks like the Washington Post is having an internal struggle.NEW YORK After two days of controversy, several newsroom staffers at The Washington Post, including Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr., said today they do not object to online columnist Dan Froomkin's "White House Briefing," which has sparked a debate over its title and its alleged liberal content. But they contend … [Read more...] about Wash Post Brawling Over “Liberal” Columnist

So there's already been one attempt by Iranian forces to subvert the democratic process in Iraq. Obviously, shame on them...but is it any surprise? I have more here. … [Read more...] about Fixing The Iraqi Elections

Raw Story reports that Fitzgerald wasn't particularly enamored with Rove's last minute testimony. But what does that mean? Here's more:A few weeks after he took over the investigation into the leak of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson in early 2004, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald had already become suspicious that Karl Rove and Vice President Cheney’s then-chief … [Read more...] about More On Rove’s Fate

Our occasional linkfest from weblogs of all kinds and opinions. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TMV.George Clooney Is Tired Of "Liberal" Being A Dirty Word and here's a conservative view on that. More On The Execution Of Stanley Tookie Williams at Politopics. And Even More in this MUST READ that mixes in some dramatic personal anecdotes to reach a … [Read more...] about Around The ‘Sphere

This of all weeks is a perfect time to check out Iraqi and Afghani bloggers, given the watershed elections that will be held in Iraq. And this of all weeks is a great time to explore The Carnival Of The Liberated, which has the best of the best links from Iraqi and Afghani bloggers. … [Read more...] about The Best Of Iraqi And Afghani Bloggers

It's sort of like the old saying: when in doubt, leave it out:Interior Secretary Gale Norton, campaigning to win oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, had the urgency of a saleswoman falling short of her monthly quota. "ANWR would supply every drop of petroleum for Florida for 29 years," she told a friendly audience at the Heritage Foundation yesterday, "New … [Read more...] about A Slippery Argument On Arctic Oil Drilling

The show starts at 9:00 p.m. CST. To remind, I'll be on in my new slot at 9:30 CST. Just click here and you'll either launch an audio application OR you'll download a file that you can click and it launches an audio player. Hope you like the show! … [Read more...] about Subject2Discussion Tonight

AP: RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) -- Former President Ford, suffering from "a horrible cold," was in the hospital Tuesday for what his chief of staff called routine medical tests. Ford, 92, was admitted to Eisenhower Medical Center late Monday and was expected to be released Wednesday, spokeswoman Penny Circle said from Ford's Rancho Mirage office about 110 miles east of Los … [Read more...] about Former President Ford Hospitalized

I respond to Notre Dame Law Professor Rick Garnett over at The Debate Link. Short version: education is a community endeavor, so any solution to our schooling debacle has to incorporate strengthening communities, not breaking them down. … [Read more...] about Some Reflections on “School Choice”

Oh...many things. Find some of those thoughts here. … [Read more...] about What Does Henry Kissinger Think Of Iraq?

Popular Iraqi blog Iraq the Model reports here on the early stages of voting in Iraq's parliamentary elections. ITM is characteristically optimistic. ********** A new opinion poll "suggests Iraqis are generally optimistic about their lives, in spite of the violence that has plagued Iraq since the US-led invasion," according to the BBC. However, "security fears still dominate … [Read more...] about Optimism in Iraq

The Washington Post's Bob Woodward received a megablast from Newsweek's Howard Fineman due to his journalistic technique — yet another sign of how the once-idolized, legendary Watergate reporter's status has changed within his profession:MADISON — Howard Fineman, Newsweek's chief political correspondent, said Monday night in the first program of a Drew University … [Read more...] about Bob Woodward’s Access Journalism Blasted by Newsweek‘s Howard Fineman

Nope, it's not Holly. Hey everybody, this is Justin Gardner from Donklephant. Today I turned 29. Now I get a whole year to anticipate turning 30. As George W. Bush would infamously declare, and John Kerry would unconvincingly stammer, "Bring...It...On!" Oh, and if you want to get me a present, vote for Donklephant in the Weblog Awards by going here. I love you all very much. … [Read more...] about It’s My Birthday Today