REALITY CHECK TIME: Many bloggers think their golden words influence our nation — but a new study seemingly throws ice-cold water on that idea. Yes, blogs are satisfying to write. And, yes, some blogs have big circulations but this new info-and-(at times)-propaganda tool has a long way to go as a major molder of opinion according to a new study. The Boston Herald … [Read more...] about Americans Are NOT Addicted To Blogs

In case you haven't heard, Bob Novak uttered a profanity during Thursday's edition of CNN's Crossfire and promptly walked off the set. The AP reports here, but see also my commentary at The Reaction. It's not as amusing as Jon Stewart's notorious "dick" appearance on the show last year, but this brief glimpse into Novak's state of mind is fascinating nonetheless. Isn't it about … [Read more...] about Bob Novak has lost his mind…

The phrase "Judeo-Christian ethics/morals/tradition" may be the most aggrevating on the planet. Why? Because not only does it not exist, but it is an infuriating attempt to make Christian proposals seem "diverse." And of course, it's even worse when Jews are willing to play stoolie and sing along about how Judeo-Christian values are critical to American ways of life. Here's … [Read more...] about You Say Judeo-Christian, I Hear Christian

...an interesting question arises. Stephen Green, at The Vodka Pundit, attempts to puzzle out the true motives underpinning the joint military exercises to be held by Russia and China later in August. In his musings (with much before and after the quoted passage below that is well worth reading in entirety), Green writes: A quick look around the map shows that China and … [Read more...] about For the alternate history buffs…

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.    -William Shakespeare, "Hamlet", Act 1 scene 5 At my weblog, Random Fate, I advocate looking deeper than our Cold War/bipolar world bent minds would lead us to believe is sufficient. … [Read more...] about There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio…

I'm not above admitting that my views change -- or, more specifically, that I modify them as I learn more -- and I seem to be warming more and more to Supreme Court nominee John Roberts. When he was first nominated, I called him "a right wing radical" and I argued that his nomination was "clearly for the base" (see here). A day later, having digested the pick and gotten over my … [Read more...] about A modest judge: John Roberts, gay rights, and legal precedent

This is nice. As reported by Media Matters, Focus on the Family's James Dobson, one of the leading figures on the evangelical right, recently compared stem-cell research to Nazi experimentation on living human beings: You know, the thing that means so much to me here on this this issue [embryonic stem cell research] is that people talk about the potential for good that can come … [Read more...] about Dobson’s extremism on stem-cell research

...from outside the United States, Spiegel Online, the English language, Internet edition of the German magazine Der Spiegel, is a useful source: On Monday, US President George W. Bush bypassed Congress and installed the pugnacious John Bolton as UN Ambassador. While diplomats are trying to smile graciously, academics and European specialists insist the appointment is a direct … [Read more...] about For a view on the Bolton recess appointment…

Al Qaeda's latest video has a message for Great Britain and the United States: we're coming to get ya: Al Qaeda deputy leader Aymen al-Zawahiri marked the four-week anniversary of the deadly blasts in London's transit system by threatening more attacks on London and against the United States. Al-Zawahiri, in a tape shown on the Al-Jazeera satellite channel, warned that … [Read more...] about Al Qaeda Video Threatens More Attacks

"Hey: I wasn't the one who said it!" That's essentially the message of President George Bush who has made it clear that as far as he's concerned the "war on terrorism" REMAINS "the war on terrorism" on the war on "violent extremism" as some of his advisors began to call it as the latest round of PC fever seemingly hit Washington:GRAPEVINE, Tex., Aug. 3 - President Bush … [Read more...] about Bush Rejects Attempt To Change War On Terrorism’s Name

Is a hero someone who comes to the rescue during battle? Is a hero someone who runs into a building on fire to save a child? Is a hero a police officer who gives up his life to stop a crime? And isn't a hero someone who defends core values like this guy? … [Read more...] about How Do You Define “Hero”?

South Korean researchers have cloned a dog. That's right, cloned a dog. And the name of the cloned canine is Snuppy. Cloning enthusiasts no doubt see this as a major triumph, a step towards actual human cloning, but ethicists may see it as yet another, well, Sign of the Apocalypse. I'm somewhat ambivalent. … [Read more...] about The cloned life of Snuppy the Dog

In a move long expected, numbers of Kurds are returning to Kirkuk years after being displaced by Saddam Hussein. It's an obvious effort to consolidate influence in the region before the unveiling of the proposed permanent Iraqi constitution which will most likely make way for Kurdish autonomy. Still, the question remains whether or not the final draft of the constitution will … [Read more...] about Status of Iraq Federalization

TMV will be starting his posting a bit late today: around 7 a.m. Wyoming time. Also, due to a logistical logjam, TMV's own posts will be greatly limited today as well. However you will likely see some posts by our co-bloggers throughout the day. So keep checking back! … [Read more...] about Late Posting 2Day

While expressing some reservation on a few memos he wrote in the Reagan administration--memos in which he came down on the right of some of his other administration colleagues--ex-president Bill Clinton had generally positive things to say about Supreme Court nomineed Judge John Roberts (via How Appealing). This comes at the same time dKos is making murmers of filibustering … [Read more...] about The Split Begins

America desperately needs more men and women like Wendell Wilkie. … [Read more...] about Resurrecting a Forgotten Hero

A new Gallup poll taking the pulse of voters on the 2008 race has good news for Republican candidates in general and very bad news for Democrat John Kerry in particular. The poll shows the GOPers would be ahead in a vote — and that Kerry's image has deteriorated since the election. In other words: for the Republicans: if it's not broke, don't fix it. For Kerry, it's … [Read more...] about Republicans Fare Better In 2008 Presidential Poll

Terrorist "insurgents" have claimed another innocent victim in Iraq — this time freelance American journalist and blogger Steven Vincent. He had dared to criticize Shiite clerks. His fate: kidnapped, shot to death, his body dumped. The BBC reports:A US freelance reporter, Steven Vincent, has been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Basra, southern Iraq, police have said. Mr … [Read more...] about US Journalist/Blogger Shot Dead In Iraq

Greetings from Graybull, Wyoming. Our hotel wireless connection doesn't work, so we have to use very slow dial up. Due to that and our daily schedule, TMV himself will do limited blogging today. Our daily schedule is both time consuming and will have us in an area with no Internet connection. But check back often to see what our co-bloggers have to say. And SCROLL DOWN to see … [Read more...] about Light(er) Blogging From TMV Today (But Co-Bloggers Will Chime In)

Don't miss a GREAT talk show that features bloggers. We got this from one of our favorite talk shows: Tonight SUBJECT2DISCUSSION the LIVE webcast about the news with bloggers will have as its guest Robin Koerner co founder of WatchingAmerica.com LIVE at 6pm PST, 8pm CST and 9pm EST LIVE on LVROCKS.COM The site WatchingAmerica shows what the world is thinking about the USA. … [Read more...] about Listen To A Blogger LIVE