Embed from Getty Images Israeli Soldier Convicted of Manslaughter by jdledell The case of Sgt. Elor Azaria is roiling the Israeli public today. This 19 year old IDF Medic was convicted yesterday of manslaughter in the extra-judicial killing of Abdul Fatah al-Sharif, age 21. How did these two young men meet on March 24, 2016 with such tragic consequences? In Hebron … [Read more...] about Israeli Soldier Convicted of Manslaughter
What’s the deal with Trump and Russia?
WASHINGTON -- Coming from a presidential candidate, Donald Trump's misty-eyed admiration of Russia and its autocratic leader was weird. Coming from a president-elect, it's nothing short of alarming. I repeat the questions I asked back in September: What's the deal with Trump and Russia? Does he have financial entanglements with Russian banks, businesses or billionaires … [Read more...] about What’s the deal with Trump and Russia?
Cartoons: Sucky Healthcare
Sucky Healthcare by Clay Jones During the presidential campaign Donald Trump promised to repeal Obamacare and replace it with “something better.” He never told us what “something better” includes but we’re going to love it. After The Affordable Healthcare Act was passed in 2012 Republicans attempted to repeal it over 60 times. Not once in that time span have they had a … [Read more...] about Cartoons: Sucky Healthcare
Cartoons: Trump Zone
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 Editor's note: … [Read more...] about Cartoons: Trump Zone
Previewing the Upcoming Barbarian Apocalypse
The three pillars of the science fiction story are, traditionally, "What if?", "If only," and "If this goes on." The first two have embraced in the irrational proposition that if only all regulations and laws were suspended and greed is enshrined as our sole engine of governance, an Ayn Rand Utopia of strong individualists progressing civilization into an unsullied … [Read more...] about Previewing the Upcoming Barbarian Apocalypse
Obama Retrospect
Russia cyber attacks are “major threat,” Congress probe hears
By Dustin Volz and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russian cyber attacks pose a "major threat" to the United States, top U.S. intelligence officials told a congressional hearing on Thursday despite skepticism from President-elect Donald Trump about findings that Moscow orchestrated hacking of the 2016 election. Although Trump called himself a "big fan" of the … [Read more...] about Russia cyber attacks are “major threat,” Congress probe hears
The farewell message Obama wishes he could give: ‘You’re welcome!’
WASHINGTON -- In the new Disney animated film "Moana," the once mighty but now fallen demigod Maui, in the voice of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, sings about his earlier triumphs in hopes of earning admiration: What can I say except you're welcome For the tides, the sun, the sky? Hey, it's OK, it's OK You're welcome … [Read more...] about The farewell message Obama wishes he could give: ‘You’re welcome!’
What If Illinois Drops Two Congressional Seats in ’22
The winners and losers from the next round of redistricting will be known in four years almost to the day but, it’s never too early for political junkies such as myself to start looking ahead to scenarios that might cause an ever-so-slight shift in the balance of power. One state that captures my imagination is Illinois. The "Land of Lincoln" will definitely be losing one of … [Read more...] about What If Illinois Drops Two Congressional Seats in ’22
GOP Lesson: Governing is Hard
Andrew Prokop explains on vox.com. For the past eight years, divided government has inadvertently protected the House GOP from electoral consequences for many of their legislative actions. Even the unpopular GOP-driven shutdown of the federal government in 2013 was soon forgotten by the electorate, since a majority of the voters consistently disapproved of President Barack … [Read more...] about GOP Lesson: Governing is Hard
The New Honesty
January 5, 2017 Note to readers: This is the latest entry in Super Baby DonDon’s diary. The series imagines that President-elect Donald Trump has the emotional make-up of a five-year-old and confides his deepest thoughts—such as they are—to Andrew Feinberg, and to readers, every day. In his private moments, he always thinks of himself as Super Baby DonDon. One of Super … [Read more...] about The New Honesty
Mass Psychosis in Manhattan. Again.
Mass Psychosis in Manhattan. Again. by David Anderson I live in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York, a trendy slice of South Manhattan which defines “gentrification”: expensive wine and cheese stores, fru-fru patisseries, Google and Twitter’s East Coast headquarters on 17th. There’s the High Line, the new Whitney Art Museum, and Chelsea Market, so lots of tourists mix … [Read more...] about Mass Psychosis in Manhattan. Again.
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump’s Change
Donald Trump's Change by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Quietly, Trump and Republicans Are Gunning to Destroy Medicaid --Sanders Blows Up Trump Tweet To Press Him On Medicaid, Social Security Cut --Safety net faces dire threats from Trump, GOP --WILL TRUMP GO ALONG WITH PAUL RYAN’S PLAN TO DESTROY MEDICARE? Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump’s Change
Can Megyn Kelly Thrive Outside the Bubble?
When the news broke Tuesday that Megyn Kelly was leaving the Fox News bubble to pursue a broader audience at NBC, my initial thought was: Who cares? Talking heads frequently switch networks, and Americans increasingly get their news not from TV, but from social media sites. But Kelly's imminent move is huge because it's Kelly. The very fact that NBC covets her polarizing … [Read more...] about Can Megyn Kelly Thrive Outside the Bubble?
Presidential Farewells
After eight years of commanding the world’s mightiest and finest military, how does the commander in chief say farewell to the nearly one-and-a-half million men and women who have served under him? Well, departing President Barack Obama did just that at a memorable armed forces full honor review and farewell ceremony today at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., where … [Read more...] about Presidential Farewells
Bosom Buddies
Though it may be hard for many Americans to believe, our new president-elect, Donald Trump, and the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, are bosom buddies. Trump has had no personal contact with Putin but seems to think that Vladimir is a good guy and someone America can do business with on the world stage. It’s reminiscent of George W. Bush saying that he looked into Putin’s … [Read more...] about Bosom Buddies
THE BENEVOLENCE OF RAY AND JOAN KROC (Book review)
Ray & Joan: The Man Who Made the McDonald’s Fortune and the Woman Who Gave It All Away, by Lisa Napoli (Dutton, New York, NY, 2016, 353 pages). Book Review by Dennis Moore Virtually everyone in the world has had and tasted a McDonald’s hamburger at some time or another. In my case I have actually had thousands, and as a matter of fact, my first job at the age of 19 was … [Read more...] about THE BENEVOLENCE OF RAY AND JOAN KROC (Book review)
Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter spent $600 campaign funds to fly pet rabbit
What's up Dunc? No, the following isn't fake news, it isn't Andy Borowitz, it's not Mad Magazine. It comes via my distinguished former employer, the San Diego Union Tribune. Rep. Duncan Hunter -- who recently voted to gut the House Office of Congressional Ethics -- used $600 of his campaign funds to fly a pet rabbit. I now fully expect Fox News' Sean Hannity (p.r. person … [Read more...] about Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter spent $600 campaign funds to fly pet rabbit
Trump opponents find an ally: Republican incompetence
WASHINGTON -- Doesn't anybody here know how to work this thing? For 10 years, Republicans have waited for their chance to govern, and finally the voters handed them the car keys: unified GOP control of Congress and the White House. But the moment the starter's flag dropped Tuesday, the opening day of the 115th Congress, the eager majority seized the wheel of … [Read more...] about Trump opponents find an ally: Republican incompetence
Sweden tries to curb buy-and-throw-away culture through tax breaks
If you wear your jeans a lot, eventually they’ll start to get a hole. What do you do? You throw them away and buy a new pair, of course. Everybody knows that. Sweden’s Minister of Financial Markets and Consumer Affairs Per Bolund says we need to change that mindset. “Part of that is making it more… … [Read more...] about Sweden tries to curb buy-and-throw-away culture through tax breaks