It was inevitable we'd see more of these. And in this story you're impressed not with this being held but by the response of the local Islamic group: An Phoenix area anti-Muslim activist is planning a "draw Muhammad" cartoon contest and rally in Phoenix on Friday. The event is being dubbed a "Freedom of Speech Rally" and comes three weeks after a similar event in … [Read more...] about ‘Draw Muhammad’ contest planned in Phoenix
Ireland’s ‘social revolution’
BOSTON -- Consider the stunned disbelief, perhaps of a somewhat aggressive sort, that would have greeted anyone who might have told a tavern crowd in Dorchester or Southie three decades ago that Ireland would be the first nation in the world to approve gay marriage by popular vote. It is a mark of how much has changed in such a short time that Ireland's vote for gay … [Read more...] about Ireland’s ‘social revolution’
NYT Article Blows Hole in Case Against Obamacare
Ezra Klein summarizes the New York Times article that "blows a hole in the case against Obamacare" on vox.com. In Tuesday's New York Times, Robert Pear — probably the best-sourced reporter on Obamacare — retraced his steps and conducted interviews "with more than two dozen Democrats and Republicans involved in writing the law." His conclusion: "None supported the contention of … [Read more...] about NYT Article Blows Hole in Case Against Obamacare
The Return of the Sweater Vest
In 2012, former Senator Rick Santorum emerged from a crowded field of candidates from the Republican primary season to challenge Mitt Romney for the nomination. The field included a black man who was an early conservative favorite (Herman Cain) and luminaries Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich, and even a Paul - Congressman Ron, not Senator Rand. After numerous implosions, both due … [Read more...] about The Return of the Sweater Vest
Bernie Sanders Answers Questions And NBC Advises Not To Count Him Out
Bernie Sanders held a rally in Vermont to kick off his campaign last night. Earlier Sanders answered ten questions from MSNBC--almost as many questions Hillary Clinton has answered in her entire campaign to date. Some excerpts, which show that while on the left of our political spectrum, he is still not out to destroy our market system as conservatives are bound to … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders Answers Questions And NBC Advises Not To Count Him Out
Bill Moyers: “The Challenge of Journalism… Is to Survive in the Pressure Cooker of Plutocracy” (Guest Voice)
“The Challenge of Journalism… Is to Survive in the Pressure Cooker of Plutocracy” by Bill Moyers The following remarks were made by Bill Moyers at the presentation of the Helen Bernstein Book Awards for Excellence in Journalism. The ceremony took place at the New York Public Library on May 26, 2015. Thank you for allowing me to share this evening with you. I’m … [Read more...] about Bill Moyers: “The Challenge of Journalism… Is to Survive in the Pressure Cooker of Plutocracy” (Guest Voice)
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Iraq’s Brave Army
Iraq's Brave Army by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: Iraq army held 10-to-1 advantage during Ramadi defeat, sources say What's wrong with the Iraqi army? Kurdish Leader Barzani: Iraq's 'Sectarian Army' Led to ISIS Gains Litany of problems keep Iraqi army weak Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Iraq’s Brave Army
For Republicans, a candidate with signs of good sense just doesn’t make sense
View image | gettyimages.com For Republicans, a candidate with signs of good sense just doesn't make sense So you can forget about Rand Paul. Anyone who asserts that he recycles, composts and believes things like "the face of the Republican Party should not be about suppressing the vote but about enhancing the vote" (oh, horrors!) is simply unacceptable. On … [Read more...] about For Republicans, a candidate with signs of good sense just doesn’t make sense
Seven Top FIFA Officials Among 14 Arrested on Corruption Charges
#FIFA CORRUPTION CHARGES: Seven top FIFA officials, including vice president Jeffrey Webb, were arrested in Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich on bribery charges. Kudos to America for finally taking down Sepp Blatter who ran FIFA like a Don. Too bad he wasn't one of the officials arrested this morning. Julio Rocha, president of the Nicaraguan Football Federation; Jose Maria … [Read more...] about Seven Top FIFA Officials Among 14 Arrested on Corruption Charges
Egypt’s military government has started executing people on overtly political charges
CAIRO, Egypt — Next Tuesday, a lawyer will plead for a Cairo court to suspend the execution of six men, arguing that their death sentences were unconstitutional. The only trouble is, the defendants are already dead. Since the coup that swept Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi from power, hundreds of his supporters have been handed death… … [Read more...] about Egypt’s military government has started executing people on overtly political charges
Journalism’s Sorry State (Guest Voice)
Journalism's Sorry State By Tom Purcell I don't know why everyone is so up in arms that alleged newsman George Stephanopoulos donated $75,000 to a private foundation co-owned and operated by a woman who hopes to be president. Georgie has been a partisan pit-chihuahua his entire career. The little guy cut his teeth managing "bimbo eruptions" when Bill Clinton was … [Read more...] about Journalism’s Sorry State (Guest Voice)
Federal appeals court refuses to lift order halting Obama immigration program
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration suffered another immigration setback Tuesday, as a divided federal appeals court declined to lift a injunction imposed by a Texas-based trial judge. The 2-1 decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means President Barack Obama's executive action deferring deportation of certain immigrants will remain stalled in court for the… … [Read more...] about Federal appeals court refuses to lift order halting Obama immigration program
Noise pollution linked to love handles, study finds
John Hopton for redOrbit.com – @Johnfinitum Scientists studying residents in Stockholm, Sweden have found a link between noise pollution from transport and a larger waist line – an apparent example of the ways in which stress can quietly seep into our lives and affect our wellbeing. The "spare tire" around the midriff is one of the… … [Read more...] about Noise pollution linked to love handles, study finds
Urban American Post-Baltimore
As most readers of TMV know, four weeks ago in the aftermath of the Freddie Gray death, the city of Baltimore experienced a series of riots which included significant property damage, the arrest of several hundred protestors and the mobilization of the Maryland National Guard. This morning, a new round of peaceful protest was initiated by a local pastor which shut down parts … [Read more...] about Urban American Post-Baltimore
America Cares When Dogs Die – Humans, Not So Much
It used to be easy to recognize the bad guy in books and movies, because he was very, very bad. "That was the end of Grogan," declares romance writer Joan Wilder in the opening of the 1984 comedy-adventure, Romancing the Stone, "the man who killed my father, raped and murdered my sister, burned my ranch, shot… … [Read more...] about America Cares When Dogs Die – Humans, Not So Much
ISIS Presses Its War on Two Fronts: on the ground and online
ISIS is aggressively pressing its war on two fronts -- and many believe they continue to be well-situated and are steadily advancing. The fronts: on the ground and online. The Christian Science Monitor notes: For Islamic State fighters, the battle for dominance continues both on the ground and online: The extremists’ capture of the ancient Syrian site of Palmyra this week … [Read more...] about ISIS Presses Its War on Two Fronts: on the ground and online
Biography breathes life into the career of Three Stooges’ mentor Ted Healy (Guest Voice)
Biography breathes life into the career of Three Stooges' mentor Ted Healy by Doug Gibson I recently purchased "Nobody's Stooge: Ted Healy," by Bill Cassara (Bear Manor Media) here (and be advised it's much more inexpensive via Kindle), It's an entertaining fact-filled account of the life of a man who was a major star in 1920s vaudeville, the creator of The Three Stooges … [Read more...] about Biography breathes life into the career of Three Stooges’ mentor Ted Healy (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: Bombs Over ISIS
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: Bombs Over ISIS
Feckless and Timid? Or Shrewd and Skillful? Obama’s Foreign Policy Assessed (Guest Voice)
By the standards he has set out for himself, President Barack Obama's foreign policy has fallen considerably short of expectations and aspirations. By the standards of his critics, of course, the performance has been even worse—with the American commander-in-chief now accused of fecklessness and irresoluteness as global crises multiply on his watch. Even two of his… … [Read more...] about Feckless and Timid? Or Shrewd and Skillful? Obama’s Foreign Policy Assessed (Guest Voice)
Stop logging our phone calls
WASHINGTON -- Once in a great while, House Republicans get it right. So let me praise them for leading a bipartisan effort to curtail the National Security Agency's bulk collection of data on the phone calls of innocent Americans. The USA Freedom Act, which the House passed earlier this month by an overwhelming 338-88 vote, would end the NSA's vast effort to compile … [Read more...] about Stop logging our phone calls