The 2009 Coen brothers movie, A Serious Man, would have no premise whatsoever without its extended opening, supernatural sequence featuring a “dybbuk” (an evil spirit in the form of a recently deceased person) visiting an unfortunate and hapless couple. Bad luck and spooky things then plague the family for generations. I remember: Years ago, four Orthodox Jewish boys, … [Read more...] about Love Halloween — it’s so Jewish!
‘Tjokroaminoto (The Hijra)’: An Excruciating Trifle (Tokyo International Film Festival 2015)
1/5 Five minutes into Tjokroaminoto (alternately titled The Hijra), I knew it wasn't working, but I held steady. “Be patient,” my gracious mind advised, “Give it some time to unravel. It may get better.” Never has a purer act of human benevolence gone so utterly unrewarded. The kindest thing I can say about The Hijra is that it isn't the worst film I've ever seen; the bad … [Read more...] about ‘Tjokroaminoto (The Hijra)’: An Excruciating Trifle (Tokyo International Film Festival 2015)
A New Planned Parenthood Committee! (Guest Voice)
A New Planned Parenthood Committee! By Dick Polman Fresh from their triumphant deep dive into Benghazi, House Republicans have announced Friday they've created another Special committee, this time to — of course — Planned Parenthood. I kid you not! And since the 2016 election is so clearly on their minds, perhaps they'll summon their favorite star witness. Just … [Read more...] about A New Planned Parenthood Committee! (Guest Voice)
Clinton Continues To Disagree With Sanders On Expanding Social Security Benefits & More Debunking Of DOMA Revisionism
There are some interesting items in the report from The Wall Street Journal on Clinton's recent statements on capital punishment (previously discussed here) as the story extends to other statements made by Clinton in New Hampshire this week. This includes her continuing to oppose proposals from Bernie Sanders and others on the left to expand Social Security benefits, an being … [Read more...] about Clinton Continues To Disagree With Sanders On Expanding Social Security Benefits & More Debunking Of DOMA Revisionism
Remember The Old Internet
Todd VanDerWerff over a VOX has a great post on the Internet in the mid 2000s. At that time I had a fairly successful blog of my own, that was frequently linked by the New York Times, the Washington Post and PBS. But even with the help of my conservative co blogger, Jazz Shaw, it became too much to produce the content necessary to keep it going. I moved on to to … [Read more...] about Remember The Old Internet
Is Syria The Next Vietnam?
For more than a year, numerous comparisons have been made between the U.S.’s involvement in the war in Vietnam and its involvement in Syria. After U.S. President Barack Obama announced Friday that the United States would send up to 50 special troops to Syria, the first time that the U.S. would put boots on the ground… … [Read more...] about Is Syria The Next Vietnam?
Marijuana And The Death Penalty: Sanders and Clinton Engage In More Significant Off Stage Debate Than The Republicans In Colorado
The third Republican debate was widely considered to be a train wreck. It was probably the worst for Jeb Bush as it largely turned into an excuse for pundits to write off his chances to win the Republican nomination. Failing to inspire enthusiastic support is a greater political sin than to fail to show up to one's job in the Senate (a failing common to candidates running for … [Read more...] about Marijuana And The Death Penalty: Sanders and Clinton Engage In More Significant Off Stage Debate Than The Republicans In Colorado
Milbank on GOP Whining
Dana Milbank describes Republican avoidance of policy specifics with complaints about media in The Washington Post. The Republicans seem to be testing a strategy of winning by whining. Certainly, voters are discontented and even angry. But do they want a leader who campaigns by kvetching? The constant carping is not without purpose: It avoids the need to … [Read more...] about Milbank on GOP Whining
Congressional definitions of words for the common person (Guest Voice)
Congressional definitions of words for the common person by Robert Coutinho It has become apparent that many readers of TMV (The Moderate Voice) seem to be having trouble understanding what many people in the US Congress are saying. Much of the confusion lies in the fact that, although they are using the same words, different senators and representatives have different … [Read more...] about Congressional definitions of words for the common person (Guest Voice)
Is There Life After Benghazi?
Greg Sargent at the Washington Post asks, “Now that the House Benghazi committee held its grand showdown with Hillary Clinton, and the media consensus is that she held her own and little new ground was broken, the question is: What does the committee do now?” In my opinion, on the Democratic side, Rep. Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on … [Read more...] about Is There Life After Benghazi?
Politix Update: Why Republicans Never Learn From Their Misteaks . . . Er, Mistakes
It's not true that Republicans never learn from their mistakes. It's just that they don't most of the time. True enough that House Republicans have voted 61 times to repeal Obamacare, bringing fresh meaning to the cliche that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. True enough that John Boehner announced a new partisan … [Read more...] about Politix Update: Why Republicans Never Learn From Their Misteaks . . . Er, Mistakes
Kill the Messenger (Daryl Cagle Guest Voice)
Kill the Messenger by Daryl Cagle The Daily Illini college newspaper at the University of Illinois cancelled their subscription to over fifty cartoonists in my CagleCartoons.com newspaper syndication package this week, in response to protests against a Halloween cartoon by Rick McKee of the Augusta Chronicle which featured a trick-or-treater climbing over a fence, saying, … [Read more...] about Kill the Messenger (Daryl Cagle Guest Voice)
Iranian-American businessman arrested in Tehran: report
An Iranian-American businessman was arrested by Iranian security forces two weeks while he was visiting relatives in Tehran from his home base in Dubai, the Wall Street Journal has reported. The newspaper, citing people briefed on the situation, said on Thursday that Siamak Namazi, head of strategic planning at Crescent Petroleum Co, was arrested by the… … [Read more...] about Iranian-American businessman arrested in Tehran: report
Primary Losers (Guest Voice)
Primary Losers by Michael Reagan Donald Trump did not dominate the debate stage in his usual way. Ben Carson may have put a few people to sleep. Former GOP heavyweight hopeful Jeb Bush was badly bloodied by the counter punches of Kid Rubio. Mike Huckabee and Carly Fiorina were lost in the crowd and held scoreless all night. John Kasich yelled too much and Rand … [Read more...] about Primary Losers (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: Jeb Bush
The police, the student and that South Carolina classroom (Guest Voice)
The police, the student and that South Carolina classroom by Jordan Cooper There are three things that alarm citizens throughout the world the most. The first thing is going to jail because it queries your integrity and lessens economic opportunity for many people. The second thing is being financially destitute because that limits your happiness and the chance for your … [Read more...] about The police, the student and that South Carolina classroom (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: Sinking Jeb Campaign
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Sinking Jeb Campaign
Analysis: Ryan takes speaker’s gavel, faces daunting challenges
WASHINGTON — When Paul Ryan took the gavel as speaker of the House of Representatives Thursday, his thoughts flashed the moment when Harry S. Truman was unexpectedly thrust into power. "The day after Franklin Roosevelt died and Truman became president, he told a group of reporters: 'If you ever pray, pray for me now ... .… … [Read more...] about Analysis: Ryan takes speaker’s gavel, faces daunting challenges
Bernie Sanders’ Top Campaign Aides Discuss How “Bernie is in it to win it”
John Heilemann wrote about interviews with Berny Sanders’ top campaign aides on the next phase of the campaign. The campaign started out strong, exceeding expectations, but Hillary Clinton has had a good month in October. It is no longer enough to bring in large crowds at campaign events. Sanders must, like Barack Obama eight years ago, show Democrats why they should vote for … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders’ Top Campaign Aides Discuss How “Bernie is in it to win it”
Ezra Klein on Cruz’ Debate Media-Bashing
Ted Cruz got big applause for attacking the CNBC moderators at last night's GOP debate. Ezra Klein explains why his attack got it exactly backwards on vox.com. Cruz's attack on the moderators was smart politics — but it was almost precisely backwards. The questions in the CNBC debate, though relentlessly tough, were easily the most substantive of the debates so far. And the … [Read more...] about Ezra Klein on Cruz’ Debate Media-Bashing