The LITERAL power of the press is now on display in Afghanistan, where a Newsweek report claiming desecration of the Koran at Guantanamo has sparked fierce demonstrations in which at least 16 Afghanis have died and 100 have been injured. At issue is a Newsweek story that has unleased a fire storm of protests not seen in Afghanistan in years. Details from Reuters:Afghan … [Read more...] about Afghan President Demands Strong U.S. Action On Koran Desecration

NO Day — Nuclear Option Day — is almost upon the U.S. Senate. And now the question becomes: does the GOP have the votes to ban the filibuster for judicial nominees and overcome stiff Democratic resistance? Or are there some Republicans who will join with the Democrats on this highly controversial issue? According to the AP, Majority Leader Bill Frist's effort to … [Read more...] about Does The GOP Have The Votes For The Nuclear Option Against Judicial Filibusters?

A new weapon may be developed soon to find it out and weed it out. … [Read more...] about Terrorism Messages Hiding In The Internet

Rush Limbaugh told his listeners Starr does. But Slate's Mickey Kaus, in an article here titled Sorry, Rush! Guess who's guilty of 'Dowdification,' says that's flatly wrong — and does a bit of investigation to show readers what Starr really said, and how Limbaugh presented it to his listeners. Interesting (and perhaps this kind accuracy is part of the reason why … [Read more...] about Does Former Special Prosecutor Ken Starr Back The Nuclear Option?

...this certainly didn't take very long: Swastika drawn on new Holocaust memorial Vandalism came shortly after Germany dedicated site The Associated Press Updated: 5:03 p.m. ET May 13, 2005 BERLIN - Within hours of the opening of Germany’s national Holocaust memorial to the public, a vandal scratched a swastika into one of the 2,711 gray slabs, a spokesman for the memorial … [Read more...] about While not unexpected in the least…

Now police know but the restaurant chain still faces some challenges. … [Read more...] about Who Gave The Lady Who Gave Wendy’s The Finger The Finger?

Due to a VERY LATE arrival and travel all day we're a bit tardy on our postings...but we WILL be posting this weekend. Weekends we guest blog on Dean's World but will still do a few originals here, some links to our posts there and Guest Bloggers may be posting a few things. So stay tuned..and keep checking back! … [Read more...] about We WILL Be Posting Today…So Check Back!

Scientists recently excited the world by showing a restoration of mummy King Tutankhamun's face — but it might be time to ask if political scientists will one day soon have to do the same thing to see what the GOP's one-time power daddies called Republican moderates once looked like. The ostensible issue is the controversial nomination of John Bolton for U.S. Ambassador … [Read more...] about John Bolton And The Boltin’ GOP Moderates

The first Pew survey on political typology since 9/11 shows some interesting trends in the two major political parties and unaffiliated voters. The most interesting results, in my view: the shift of the unaffiliated toward one party's side... … [Read more...] about Pew shows new trends for parties and independents

Pope Benedict XVI today made the announcement many had been hoping for but had predicted might not happen in the timeframe they wanted: he announced that he has sped up the period of time needed to attain sainthood for Pope John Paul II. There's usually a five-year waiting period but the new Pope, a friend of John Paul II who many now acknowledge was one of the greatest and … [Read more...] about Process Sped Up For John Paul II Sainthood

"Hey, Jon Stewart must have seen TMV on MNBC's Connected last month!!" Slate has an item about must-watch Stewart's bit poking fun at how several cable shows are trying to cover blogs and writer Dana Stevens agrees with him that it doesn't make compelling TV. Stevens first criticizes the concept of news anchors reading blogs on the air or reviewing them, then says of the … [Read more...] about Are Blog Segments And Bloggers On TV Borrrrrrrrring?

Due to a very late arrival here last night (from Ohio back to Michigan) TMV may be a little tardy today with his posts. In the meantime be SURE to read Jonathan Singer's original interview below — then go the link to read his complete interview. We may post a bit today but most of the day will be spent going back to San Diego. Keep checking back because our guest … [Read more...] about We May Be A Bit Tardy Today

This morning I had the opportunity to speak with California State Treasurer Phil Angelides for an interview for my blog, Basie!. Angelides happens to be a leading contender to take on Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, and had some choice things to say about the Governator. Jonathan Singer: There’s a cover story in the Washington Monthly by Mark Barabak called “Is Arnold … [Read more...] about CA Gov. Candidate Phil Angelides (D) on Arnold

If you want to look at both sides of the Iraq war there are two opposing visions readily available with the click of your mouse. Arthur Chrenkoff offers once again his meticulously pieced together, distilled and linked collection of hopeful news from Iraq. Chrenkoff's work — this is Part 27 — is the kind of documentation political scientists do. Very detailed. … [Read more...] about Iraq: On Target Or Falling Apart?

We'll have a post on John Bolton posted on here tomorrow (unless one of our contributors does one today). TMV is still in Lansing, Michigan and has to visit some people in Toledo, Ohio tonight. So keep checking back today and tomorrow. … [Read more...] about A Note To Readers

The Bull Moose questions the current priorities in Washington, especially regarding judicial nominations: Under any circumstances, this partisan confrontation would be annoying and unnecessary. But, it is particularly distressing that our political leaders could not find a way to resolve their differences while the nation is at war. We have returned to a pre-9/11 politics with … [Read more...] about Recommended reading, and a question

CNBC is dumping the Dennis Miller Show, which was an attempt at a combination humor/talk show by the once-hot Saturday Night Live and cable network comic.CNBC is canceling "Dennis Miller" in an attempt to revive the network's struggling primetime, according to Variety. "Dennis Miller" will be replaced with a second airing of "Mad Money With Jim Cramer" at 9 p.m. ET. That … [Read more...] about CNBC Says Buh-Bye To Dennis Miller

Iran simply can't make up its mind it seems:One of the diplomats told The Associated Press that Iranian government officials in Tehran were discussing maintaining their freeze on uranium conversion because of a warning from key European countries that such a move would result in "consequences ... that would only be negative for Iran" — diplomatic code for likely action by the … [Read more...] about Iranian Indecisiveness

Cross-posted at Random Fate under "Letters from Europe". GRENOBLE, France - The Real ID Act was passed today by the United States Senate as an amendment of a spending bill on the war in Iraq. While I am too much a cynic (in the Shaw definition of the term) to truly be surprised by this development, I am still disheartened. I despise hyperbole when used in political … [Read more...] about A Case of Identity: Some thoughts on the Real ID Act, a national identity card, and the definition of liberty

When a small Cessna 150 containing a pilot and student pilot veered into restricted air space, within 3 miles of the White House, sparking evacuations throughout the capital, it inadvertently brought up a key issue: How well-prepared is Washington after the bitter experience of 911? If Wednesday's evacuation was looked at as a fire-drill, how did Washington do? Although it's … [Read more...] about Cessna Scare Shows Mixed Post 911 Prep Results