David Cameron has warned that the mistakes made in appeasing Adolf Hitler during the 1930s must not be repeated in the treatment of Vladimir Putin. Speaking behind closed doors at an EU summit in Brussels, the prime minster warned European leaders that Putin must be prevented from seizing all of the Ukraine to avoid the situation… … [Read more...] about ‘Don’t Make Same Mistake With Putin As We Made With Hitler’
Life, Liberty and the Right of a Child to Fire an Uzi
The news made many Americans do a double-take. Wait a minute: this news story says a 9-year-old girl accidentally killed her gun instructor while he was teaching her to use...an Uzi? An UZI?! One of those Israeli-designed compact sub automatic machine guns? That gun that can fire 600 rounds per minute? It just had to be a bad joke.[icopyright one button toolbar] But it … [Read more...] about Life, Liberty and the Right of a Child to Fire an Uzi
Cartoon: ISIS vs Western Modernity
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: ISIS vs Western Modernity
What killing is for
Dexter Filkins, who knows more about the Middle East than most of us know about our own neighborhood, puts the on-video murders of Americans in Iraq in a context. What do these beheadings mean to the men who are carrying them out?[icopyright one button toolbar] During the Iraq War, Al Qaeda in Iraq (A.Q.I.)—ISIS’s parent organization—used to post “greatest hits” videos … [Read more...] about What killing is for
West Must Not Allow Kiev to ‘Internationalize the War’ (Die Zeit, Germany)
On the eve of one of NATO's most consequential summits since the Cold War ended, how far should the West go in defending Ukraine from Russian aggression? For Germany's Die Welt, columnist Ludwig Greven writes that Kiev's purpose in asserting that Russia has 'invaded' is to draw the U.S. and E.U. into what could be a disastrous confrontation, and that people have to face the … [Read more...] about West Must Not Allow Kiev to ‘Internationalize the War’ (Die Zeit, Germany)
Cartoon: Great Leaders
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: Great Leaders
Remembering Steve Sotloff, and Too Many Others
I heard the news that Steve Sotloff might be dead in the same place I heard about the planes crashing into the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001: in the Paris Métro. Everybody remembers where they were when that horrific event happened, but by a miserable twist of fate, I was also in the Paris Métro… … [Read more...] about Remembering Steve Sotloff, and Too Many Others
Time for a Recalculation of the Political Calculus
Chad Taylor, the little known Democrat who was his party's nominee for Senator from Kansas, has officially withdrawn from the race. This leaves independent and former Democrat Greg Orman to challenge incumbent Pat Roberts. In many red states and most of the time this might not mean much but Orman is better funded than Taylor was and according to one recent poll actually leads … [Read more...] about Time for a Recalculation of the Political Calculus
Their Name is ISIL, Not ISIS
Their name is ISIL-- pronounced as in-- Is-ill. ISIS is an ancient Egyptian godddess-healer who ironically [in the face of ISIL's braggert beheading of now hundreds of innocents for show] seeks out the dismembered parts of her brother who was taken down by his own evil brother-- and Isis, through love, brings her dismembered brother back to wholeness again. So, yes, … [Read more...] about Their Name is ISIL, Not ISIS
Martin O’Malley Making Moves Towards Running For Presidential Nomination
While I would like to see a liberal challenge to Hillary Clinton, so far there has not appeared to be anyone willing to run against her other than would most likely be only as a protest candidacy by someone like Bernie Sanders. Previously Martin O'Malley has indicated he was only considering running if Clinton decided not to, but now The Wall Street Journal believes he is … [Read more...] about Martin O’Malley Making Moves Towards Running For Presidential Nomination
Friedman on ISIS
Sadder but wiser Iraq war supporter Thomas Friedman urges caution against ISIS in The New York Times.[icopyright one button toolbar] In criticizing Obama for taking too much time, Representative Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told “Fox News Sunday” that “this ‘don’t-do-stupid-stuff’ policy isn’t working.” That sounded odd to my ear — … [Read more...] about Friedman on ISIS
(Updated with Reactions) Reports that ISIS Has Killed Steven Sotloff
Democrats Beating Expectations In Congressional Races
The fundamentals are certainly against the Democrats this year. Democrats are expected to do poorly in the sixth year of an unpopular presidency, in a midterm election where young and minority voters are less likely to turn out. The conventional wisdom has the Republicans picking up seats in the House and many are predicting that the Republicans will take over the Senate. Both … [Read more...] about Democrats Beating Expectations In Congressional Races
David Weigel Leaving Slate To Join Bloomberg
Bloomberg is attempting a major increase in their political coverage. I first discounted this when I heard it is being run by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. They have frequently fallen into covering trivia over substance in politics. Halperin has done some good in describing the political freak show, but instead of dismissing it will frequently report on it as news, … [Read more...] about David Weigel Leaving Slate To Join Bloomberg
Obama: Second journalist killing stiffens U.S. resolve
ESTONIA — President Barack Obama on Wednesday confirmed the authenticity of a video showing the beheading of Steven Sotloff, the second American journalist executed in two weeks by Islamic militants in response to U.S. airstrikes against its fighters in northern Iraq. "Overnight, our government determined that tragically Steven was taken from us in a horrific act… … [Read more...] about Obama: Second journalist killing stiffens U.S. resolve
The Tone Deaf President
I voted for him twice and must say he has terribly disappointed me. Of course, his opponents for the presidency were uninspiring and I believed Obama would do a better job. But in so many areas his indecisiveness has become painful for Americans and he certainly does not project an image of youthful vitality and strength. His ability to say the wrong thing, procrastinate, and … [Read more...] about The Tone Deaf President
The wave has failed to materialize
WASHINGTON -- Meanwhile, back at the ranch -- as foreign events hog the spotlight -- why haven't Republicans sealed the deal on the coming election? When summer began, the conventional wisdom was that the GOP sorta kinda probably maybe would take control of the Senate in November. As summer ends -- and it hasn't been great for President Obama, which means it also hasn't … [Read more...] about The wave has failed to materialize
Will Obama Cost Democrats the Senate?
Will Obama Cost Democrats the Senate? By Dick Polman Labor Day marks the traditional start of the autumn campaign season, and the biggest question is whether President Obama will sink his party. Since the fight for the Senate is being waged largely in the red states - where Obama has always been deemed toxic - it's no wonder that Democratic candidates are behaving as if he … [Read more...] about Will Obama Cost Democrats the Senate?
Hysteria Makes ISIS Stronger
Sometimes, terrorists are the best teachers. Americans tend to be irrational about terrorism. Someone living in the U.S. is thousands of times more likely to die in a car accident than to ever be killed in a terrorist attack. Not only are successful strikes on American soil incredibly rare, but—even in 2001, the year of the… … [Read more...] about Hysteria Makes ISIS Stronger
Cartoon: ISIS UN Israel
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: ISIS UN Israel