I have an article in the New York Times Disunion series today on the transformation of American political parties and the nature of partisanship during the Civil War era. In short, extreme partisanship is nothing new, and is a key part of American political identity. But taken to excess, it can have disastrous consequences. Is there a lesson in there for today? Maybe. Anti-partisanship is also an old tradition...

Rev. Al Sharpton and a professor recently debated the “blackness” of GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain. Sharpton tore into Cain, saying “how could anyone in their right mind that grew up in the South and saw what they saw, sat up there and act like everybody that is unemployed and not rich did it to themselves.” “Start with your Mama,” Sharpton said. Tough words coming...

John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Good to see that they are willing to accept that God loves everyone. Sad that some feel the need to hate (I have no issue with those who have sincere difference of opinion as to Biblical position on homosexuality but some just hate.)

When an evangelical or the Family Research Council call Mormonism a cult, isn’t the pot calling the kettle black? A Texas pastor introduced Rick Perry at a major conference of Christian conservatives here on Friday as “a genuine follower of Jesus Christ” and then walked outside and attacked Mitt Romney’s religion, calling the Mormon Church a cult and stating that Mr. Romney “is not a Christian.” This...

WASHINGTON – It’s another nod to the Hillary Effect. Congratulations to Liberia’s Pres. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female president of Africa, Leymah Gbowee, and Tawakul Karman of Yemen. The importance of women’s role around the world elevated, with the Nobel committee making a statement and headline news, offers another change in the status quo. This is truly something to celebrate. Nobel...

Republicans in the House of Representatives today blocked consideration of a resolution “calling on Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) to apologize for not immediately ‘doing away’ with a rock bearing the controversial name of his family’s West Texas hunting camp, ‘Niggerhead.’” According to the Washington Post, The [Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.)] resolution calls the name of the hunting...

WASHINGTON – The clout Sarah Palin had in 2010 is long gone. There simply was no way to win, so she’s out. After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve,...

I won’t tell you about Gail Collins’ column in the New York Times today. I will just strongly suggest that you read it. And then forget about the rest of the paper because everything else there is repetitive versions of things too often said in pretty much the same old ways signifying…well, you know what it’s signifying. The photo of Ms. Collins that runs with her column makes her look...

The US is the largest economy in the world. Sure China may be number two, but when you consider it in per capita terms the US is near the top and China is closer to 100 in rank. The US has the most integrated market, its labor force is highly skilled and flexible, it has innovative entrepreneurs that are the envy of the world, it has a smoothly functioning and reliant legal system, it preserves and promotes...

Apple has confirmed that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has died at the age of 56. Not entirely shocking news given his long illness, but he is now in a better place. And he certainly changed this world before he left. And here is a little humor I am sure he enjoyed

Astrophysicists Saul Perlmutter, Adam Riess, and Brian Schmidt were recently awarded the Nobel Prize for their work concerning the universe and everything in it. Their recent research has contributed greatly to the discovery that the universe is not only expanding, but actually speeding up. The reasons for the Universe’s expansion and increased acceleration are less certain. Astrophysicists believe the...

I tuned into a Public Radio interview this morning and happened to hear a guy who was identified as a venture capitalist saying that the first thing he looks at when considering an investment is a company’s “head count” — the number of people on its payroll. The idea here, presumably, is that the best way to improve a bottom line id to fire as many employees as possible, thereby cutting a...

Washington National Cathedral officials announced today that they plan to reopen the cathedral on Nov. 12, but that short-term repairs and continuing cathedral operations through the end of 2012 would cost $25 million. Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi immediately called dueling press conferences. At her conference, Pelosi stated that repairs of...

WASHINGTON – So it looks like Gov. Chris Christie’s straight talking record remains intact. Christie announced earlier today he would have a press conference at 1:00 p.m. est. Then the leaks began. From Politico: “He is not running,” said a fundraiser informed of the decision. “Mary Pat and the gov just called tier one [donor] group to say he was out.” Josh Marshall nails this one with...

A gay couple trying to attend church was attacked after the pastor of the church reportedly ordered the congregation to do so. As if that weren’t enough, the Pastor is one of the men’s father.. I’m not sure which makes me madder, the attack itself or the fact that as a Christian this is NOT what my faith is about. On the other hand I am slightly bemused the church is located in Fruitland

While it may not come as big news to you that today is the first Monday in October, for those in the legal game it is a significant occassion. Every year on the 1st Monday of the month of October the United States Supreme Court opens for the annual session. Cases which have been working up the legal ladder have an opportunity for their fall (or spring) debut. Needless to say the most anticipated case (or cases)...

For most of us one of the most frustrating words of our childhood was the dreaded and disliked ‘Because’. When a parent would tell us we couldn’t do something or could not go somewhere and we asked why, the response was ‘Because I said so’ or just ‘Because’. But as I grow older I think it is time we all revisit this term with a little more affection and respect. It is...

This is a repost of an earlier commentary that I felt was worth a second look. One of the hallmarks of a civilized society is how they treat their less fortunate members. From the earliest days of American society we have tried to meet that noble goal. There has always been an unspoken understanding that ‘Society should provide the less fortunate with their basic needs’. This goal is correct and...

Here’s what certainly qualifies in several ways as a news brief: the maker of the underwear-bomber’s bomb is now believed to have been killed in that controversial U.S. drone attack in Yemen as well: A Saudi militant believed killed in the U.S. drone strike in Yemen constructed the bombs for the al-Qaida branch’s most notorious attempted attacks — including the underwear-borne explosives intended...

Today’s subject is how complicated it is to be a good person in today’s world. David Brooks offers deep-think about the “empathy craze,” citing research that “Empathy makes you more aware of other people’s suffering, but it’s not clear it actually motivates you to take moral action or prevents you from taking immoral action.” Half a century ago, Mike Nichols and Elaine May made that point by...

Reaction to the news that an American-born, militant Islamist cleric was killed by an American drone strike in Yemen has broken down on predictable partisan lines. From the far left has come hyperbolic hyperventilating about “due process free assassination.” According to this version, the killing is a blatant violation of Awlaki’s constitutional rights.  While anti-war advocates like Greenwald...

Poking around the net I found this gem in which Peter Ferrara declares that the GOP is going to sweep to a historic victory in 2012. Now I am certainly not going to deny that both the President and the Congress have low approval ratings and that anything is theoretically possible next year. Then again it is theoretically possible that I could win the lottery and retire to an island with a bevy of suitors. But...

An interesting article that takes a look at how the new 2012 electoral college impacts things. New Republic is hardly a right wing rag so the conclusions are interesting.

In an earlier video he came out to his Dad, now he does so with Mom. She still loves him but her reaction is more unsettled, I suspect because Moms tend to think grandkids more than Dads do and she thinks that just went away