The future of the United States may rest upon matters unrelated to the ultimate fate of a woman in Florida, regardless of the posturing and grandstanding of members of Congress and the President. Who is minding the store amidst all the transient sound and fury? … [Read more...] about Matters neglected because of the politics of the moment

The question now becomes: "Do we have a Teflon Congress and President?" as a new poll shows Americans overwhelmingly give thumbs down on Congress and the President's stance on getting the federal government involved in the controversy over whether Terri Schiavo's feeding tube should be removed or not. ABC News reports: The public, by 63 percent-28 percent, supports the … [Read more...] about Poll: Most Americans Give Thumbs Down On Congress/Presidential Action On Schiavo

...than the Schiavo case. The Bull Moose has been vocal in expressing the danger from how our deficits are financed. To wit: ...Niall Ferguson indicates that it is in the Chinese interest that the dollar not slide so America can buy their exports. But, the Moose asks what if the rulers of China decide that they can, in effect, hold a threat of economic blackmail to stop … [Read more...] about A matter that likely has longer range consequences…

The House has acted and President Bush has signed the bill so the ball in the complex legal, political and ethical cases involving Florida's Terri Schiavo and who has the right to decide on whether her feeding tube is removed has now been tossed back into court. Right down the line this case is unprecedented, in nearly every way: the intensely bitter family fight, Congress' … [Read more...] about Bush Signs Congress’ Bill Intervening in Schiavo Case

The Washington Post has the most complete, best reported story on the Terri Schiavo case that I've seen so far. I argued last week that mainstream media have failed to mention a crucial part of the story: Michael Schiavo's treatment of his wife for the past decade, which objectively speaking is far from husbandly and should be paired with any of his claims to speak for his … [Read more...] about Arriving a week early…

Columnist Robert Novak — is he the ultimate insider columnist or the ultimate device to deliver a trial balloon or political message? — reports that bigwig GOPers think the party could lose bigtime in the midterms: Analysts at the Republican National Committee have sent this warning to the House of Representatives: The party is in danger of losing 25 seats in the … [Read more...] about Does The GOP Fear Mid-Term Losses?

TMV always loves reading the stuff by our Guest Bloggers and he is running around so much that he got an obvious idea: why not have them contribute more often? So you may see more posts from our Guest Bloggers pointing to posts on their superb blogs from time to time or simply more original posts on certain days. A relative who doesn't understand blogging asked TMV: "You don't … [Read more...] about You May See More Of Our Guest Bloggers

During the past several weeks TMV has posted a lot of new material here, traveled up and down the Pacific Coast, done a major writing project, battled a major respiratory ailment, performed at schools, parties and before 1800 people at a beauty pageant, and marketed his shows. This weekend it all came to a head and the naturally youthful, handsome, buoyant TMV now looks like … [Read more...] about Most Of TMV’s Posts Start Around 7 a.m.

"There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods, the Canyon of the Colorado, the Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Three Tetons; and our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children's children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred." --Theodore Roosevelt … [Read more...] about Thought Of The Day

This has been a hellishly hectic 24 hours so we need to fill you in ASAP: 1)I'm Guest Blogging on Dean's World which is why there were no new posts here yesterday and there won't be at least until 9 pm tonight. Today included guest blogging, attending and observing a demonstration in San Diego (that post will be on Dean's World later today)and appearing in the Miss El Cajon … [Read more...] about Note To Readers:

The dramatic case of the legal and political tug of war surrounding Terri Schiavo went to the U.S. Supreme Court which refused to get involved — thus avoiding getting enmeshed in the middle of a buzzsaw of ethical, religious, legal and political questions. The latest twist is this: Late Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court, without comment, denied an emergency request from … [Read more...] about Terri Schiavo Case: Questions Within Questions As Supreme Court Declines Case

This will be a sell out weeks before Prom Night at high schools and Party Weekend at colleges: A chewing gum which the makers say can help enhance the size, shape and tone of the breasts has proved to be a big hit in Japan. B2Up says its Bust-Up gum, when chewed three or four times a day, can also help improve circulation, reduce stress and fight ageing. So let me get this … [Read more...] about Attention High School And College Males

If you're a cheerleader in Texas, you better watch how you move. Literally. In the Isn't There Any Area Of Modern Life In Which Some Politician Doesn't Want To Insert Government Control Department we point to this new vital area that may soon see government regulation: The Friday night lights in Texas could soon be without bumpin' and grindin' cheerleaders. Legislation filed … [Read more...] about Will Government Regulate CHEERLEADING Now?

...but is it still BY the people, and most importantly, FOR the people? Although power and corruption have long gone together, even in America, are we seeing a more disturbing trend now of government that serves the interests of those with the most cash to finance lobbying, afford lawyers for endless lawsuits, and fund the campaign coffers of politicians? Is largest threat to … [Read more...] about Government OF the people, yes…

The case of Terri Shiavo, the brain-damaged woman who is at the center of a legal tug-of-war between her parents who want to see her remain on a feeding tube and her husband who wants her disconnected, has just gotten a lot more dramatic....due to Congress. But will it make a difference? SEE UPDATE BELOW, but following a new court decision, the tube has been removed. This has … [Read more...] about Dramatic Congressional Intervention In Terri Schiavo Case

The man who provided the conceptual framework for the United States' postwar Cold War policy of containing communism is dead. His name: George Kennan, who died at 101. The New York Times has an extensive bio which notes: George F. Kennan, the American diplomat who did more than any other envoy of his generation to shape United States policy during the cold war, died on … [Read more...] about The Strategist Who Planned U.S. Postwar WWII Foreign Policy Is Dead

Fidel Castro is furious and an threatening to sue Forbes magazine (we would love to sit in the courtroom on that one) for ranking him among the world's richest people. Perhaps Forbes forgot that everything he owns, or controls belongs to "the people." You could say Castrol is fit to be tied, except in his dictatorship his security people usually do the tying...so let's just … [Read more...] about Then Should We Call It “The Fortune Of The People?”

President Ronald Reagan's daughter Patty Davis has issued a blistering attack in Newsweek on President George Bush on oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other issues, charging that Bush's main goal is winning political battles rather than enacting policies. "We have an administration in Washington that cares nothing for this planet, for beauty, for … [Read more...] about Reagan’s Daughter Blasts George Bush On ANWR Drilling

Pundits generally agree that that actor Robert Blake was acquitted of killing his wife because the prosecution relied on a largely cirumstantial case — and that clearly is not the case in the trial of Michael Jackson on child molestation charges. No one can predict how this will end, of course, but this trial will hinge on specific accusations made by his 14-year-old … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson’s Trial Is No Robert Blake Trial

It looks like there could be a breather to the bloodshed in Israel -- but it depends on a bunch of "ifs": SIXTH OF OCTOBER CITY, Egypt - (KRT) - Palestinian militants agreed in writing Thursday to end attacks against Israel through the end of the year as long as the Israeli government reciprocated. The formal extension of the "calming down" period, agreed to at a three-day … [Read more...] about A Breather In Israel