TMV is back from Stanford. We'll be posting his comments to the conference panel he moderated soon, plus another post with a link to antoher presenter's full comments (his really livened it up), plus some excerpts from some of the other talks and Q& A sessions very soon. There will be at least two posts based on the conference. UPDATE: Due to having just gotten back, these … [Read more...] about Back From Conference:
Flexibility found among Dean supporters
Supporters of Howard Dean usually have the stereotype of hard, uncompromising stances on the issues of the day - war, taxes, health care, etc. - but a new Pew poll shows they are more likely than Democrats in general to shift their positions on arguably the most important issue of last year. Matt Yglesias explains:Not surprisingly, Dean folks are essentially unanimous in their … [Read more...] about Flexibility found among Dean supporters
Button-crazed vigilantes
Convicted murderers get new trials for all sorts of reasons, but this is the first button-related reversal I've heard. Not surprisingly it comes from the 9th Circuit, whose decisions over the years have been "novel" to say the least. … [Read more...] about Button-crazed vigilantes
Stay Tuned
TMV will be winging his way back to San Diego from Stanford University very soon. When he returns to San Diego he'll do TWO posts on the blogging related panel he moderated at a conference here. One will contain some of the highlights of the presentations by the other three members. The other will be the prepared text of his own presentation which he intentionally made more … [Read more...] about Stay Tuned
Is The Fat Lady Starting To Sing For Tom DeLay?
With every passing day, it seems as if House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is in more political trouble — so can he counter it with "the best defense is a good offense?" Amid continued news reports that DeLay's supporters will soon launch a big campaign painting to opposition to him as merely coming from liberals and a biased media, a prominent Republican has moved to put a … [Read more...] about Is The Fat Lady Starting To Sing For Tom DeLay?
Some People Think Archeology Is Boring….
...but it can also be very interesting. … [Read more...] about Some People Think Archeology Is Boring….
So THIS Is The Guy Who’d Know What To Do With Those Damned (GOP-Appointed) Activist Judges?
QUESTION: Isn't it time for President George Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney to crack down on or completely repudiate the unprecedented verbal extremism that is making the GOP seem like a party teetering on openly calling for violence against judges whose decisions some partisans don't like? Answer: It most certainly is. And the latest evidence of verbal excess that … [Read more...] about So THIS Is The Guy Who’d Know What To Do With Those Damned (GOP-Appointed) Activist Judges?
Even in the Catholic Church, all politics are local
In the wake of the death of Pope John Paul II, not all is in harmony. The wounds from the sexual abuse scandals involving Roman Catholic priests in the United States, particularly in the Boston area, have still not healed. … [Read more...] about Even in the Catholic Church, all politics are local
Questions arise…
...after this rather terse story on CNN.com: Ailing WWII veteran finally gets medals Saturday, April 9, 2005 Posted: 2041 GMT (0441 HKT) ROSEMEAD, California (AP) — A gravely ill World War II veteran who was wounded in the Normandy invasion has been honored with a Bronze Star and other medals more than six decades after he stormed the coast of France. "I'm … [Read more...] about Questions arise…
Newsworthy angle too shy to come out of the closet
The New York Times has a baffling piece on a gay Republican political consultant marrying his partner in a civil ceremony in Massachusetts. By most standards of the newsworthy - time to pull out your first-year journalism notes - this story has no reason for being. The wedding was in December; he lives in Massachusetts, so it wasn't a trek; his sexuality has been known for … [Read more...] about Newsworthy angle too shy to come out of the closet
In other news
Just a small affair today in Windsor: Charles and Camilla have had their wedding blessed in a ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. About 800 of the couple's family and friends attended including the Queen and Prince Philip. Earlier, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, as she is now known, were married in a private civil ceremony at the Guildhall in … [Read more...] about In other news
Balancing risk and discomfort
Prescription painkillers seem to be falling by the wayside in the FDA's wake, but how do regular users feel about their most effective drugs getting pulled? … [Read more...] about Balancing risk and discomfort
A not-so-distant mirror?
There are aspects of the recent "Schiavo talking points" imbroglio that make a strange mirror to the Dan Rather/forged National Guard memo affair. … [Read more...] about A not-so-distant mirror?
In this age of fast communication…
...it might be wise to take some time and consider the effects of rhetoric, appearances, and unintended outcomes. … [Read more...] about In this age of fast communication…
More Ethical Political/Journalistic Stew: Another Columnist On Gov’t Payroll
Now we KNOW Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is a fast-study in Washington power techniques and is aiming for The Big Time (White House) with the news that his administration has hired a local newspaper columnist to shill his policies: Governor Mitt Romney's administration has awarded a $10,000 contract to a Boston Herald op-ed columnist to promote the governor's … [Read more...] about More Ethical Political/Journalistic Stew: Another Columnist On Gov’t Payroll
The Poll Numbers Continue Going Down
Bad news for President George Bush and Congress: a new poll shows many Americans think you are effectiveness challenged. Don't quit your day jobs. Oh, wait: those are your day jobs...The poll numbers: President Bush's standing with the public is slumping just three months into his final term, but Americans have an even lower regard for the job being done by Congress. Bush's … [Read more...] about The Poll Numbers Continue Going Down
DARN! Now There Won’t Be Any Place That Hires People Who Like To Pat Down Women
The T & A agency....we mean the TSA Agency...is going to be stripped of its powers and dismantled, according to reports. The agency that has come under fire for various high profile bungles, allegations of stealing, messes over a no-fly list and humiliating pat downs of women (including grandmas) will apparently be no more: The Transportation Security Administration, once … [Read more...] about DARN! Now There Won’t Be Any Place That Hires People Who Like To Pat Down Women
Shake, rattle & therapy
I can think of alternate uses for this personal technology. Fortunately I'm not an early adopter. … [Read more...] about Shake, rattle & therapy
Blogging From Stanford University
TMV is here at Stanford University getting ready for the panel discussion tomorrow (see our post below). We'll be doing a report on it most likely late tomorrow afternoon or evening. Regular posts WILL appear on this site all this weekend. (This photo and other great photos of Stanford can be found here.) … [Read more...] about Blogging From Stanford University
Reporters take a backseat on reporting
Reporters Without Borders, a press freedom group on my blogroll, just released nominations for freedom blog awards. Jeff Jarvis has two bones to pick with them: only one Iraqi blog, Riverbend, which doesn't do reporting and is very anti-American:Now if they want to nominate her, that's fine; I get it. But then for Reporters Without Borders to not nominate the many bloggers who … [Read more...] about Reporters take a backseat on reporting