Fifty years ago. Older Americans remember. Younger Americans reflect. … [Read more...] about America Remembers
Nov. 22, 1963: The collective GASP from the junior high audience
It was 2:35 EST on November 22, 1963 at Amity Regional Junior High School in Bethany, CT and this was my big moment. It was my first run for student council. My first-ever talk before an extremely large audience. The auditorium was brimming with a captive 7th and 8th graders gathered to listen to candidates, and I was trying to convince them to choose me for … [Read more...] about Nov. 22, 1963: The collective GASP from the junior high audience
What Happened to the Makin Atoll Marine Raiders?
Veterans Day was two weeks ago, Memorial Day will not be for another six months. I just became aware of an unbelievably heart-wrenching yet uplifting story about some of our World War II troops -- a story that does not need any special occasion to be told. All we need to do is step away for a few minutes from the politics of the day and read and watch. So without any … [Read more...] about What Happened to the Makin Atoll Marine Raiders?
Europe’s Price for Trade Talks Must Be End to U.S. Impunity (Le Temps, Switzerland)
Must America be dragged kicking and screaming back to the concept of civilized behavior - by its wallet? For Switzerland's Le Temp, lawyer and analyst Christophe Germann argues that in order to preserve 'the European mission' to spread peace and justice and preserve cultural and biological diversity, it must insist in trade talks with the United States that Washington begin … [Read more...] about Europe’s Price for Trade Talks Must Be End to U.S. Impunity (Le Temps, Switzerland)
AEI’s Ornstein on Senate Filibuster Changes
Senate Democrats have made historic changes on filibuster rules. Sahil Gapur shares AEI's Norm Ornstein's take on Talking Points Memo. Norm Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, told TPM that Republicans forced Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to "go nuclear" after his Democratic majority took the historic step Thursday … [Read more...] about AEI’s Ornstein on Senate Filibuster Changes
Some Reflections on Today’s Dire Predictions Following the Execution of the ‘Nuclear Option’
I ask our readers’ indulgence for two reasons. First, for musing (some may wish to call it “crowing” or "making light of" -- it’s their call) over some of the faux outrage that is being expressed today around the beltway after Democrats got some spine and put a stop to the blatant abuse of the filibuster by Republicans in the Senate. As Eugene Robinson so eloquently put … [Read more...] about Some Reflections on Today’s Dire Predictions Following the Execution of the ‘Nuclear Option’
Obama’s statement on Senate passing Nuclear option now and in the past (Videos)
President Barack Obama gave this statement on the Senate passing the nuclear option on filibusters: Like all but a handfull of partisan on each side, Obama's position on ending the filibuster has flipped. Writing this sentence means 1)the political false equivilency police will come after me 2) many will point out how the GOP has abused filibuster use, which is easily … [Read more...] about Obama’s statement on Senate passing Nuclear option now and in the past (Videos)
Enough of GOP obstruction
WASHINGTON -- Way to nuke 'em, Harry. It was time -- actually, long past time -- for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to invoke the "nuclear option" and ask his colleagues to change the Senate's rules. This isn't about partisan politics. It's about making what has been called "the world's greatest deliberative body" function the way the Framers of the Constitution … [Read more...] about Enough of GOP obstruction
A Couple Odd Kennedy Factoids
With tomorrow being the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination I thought I'd post a couple odd factoids. This week we also saw the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg and there was a minor controversy over President Obama failing to attend. But that was not the first time a President turned down an invitation. In 1963 President Kennedy was invited to the … [Read more...] about A Couple Odd Kennedy Factoids
DEMOCRATS USE “NUCLEAR OPTION” — AND POLITICAL RADIATION SPREADS (News and blog reaction roundup) UPDATED
Senate Democrats have dropped the "f" bomb. After concluding Republicans are not making a good-faith effort to evaluate President Barack Obama's judicial appointments but are simply trying to keep Obama from appointing judges of his ideological choice, Democrats have removed the right of the minority to filibuster on most Presidential judicial nominees. Supreme Court … [Read more...] about DEMOCRATS USE “NUCLEAR OPTION” — AND POLITICAL RADIATION SPREADS (News and blog reaction roundup) UPDATED
Typhoon Haiyan: Aid and Relief Efforts Continue
In the aftermath of most major disasters, reports inevitably appear of alleged graft and corruption and of slow, inefficient or insufficient aid and relief efforts. It is, and will be, no different with Typhoon Haiyan. The good news is that aid, donations and support continue to pour and, in fact, are being stepped up. Here are images of our Marines, Sailors and Airmen … [Read more...] about Typhoon Haiyan: Aid and Relief Efforts Continue
Koch Bros Reach Out to Punish Sick and Needy
Americans for Prosperity, the voice of billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, is wasting no time to target vulnerable Democrats up for re-election next year with $3.5 million of attack ads over Obamacare. The “Kochtopus,” as described in Jane Meyer’s classic 2010 New Yorker takedown, is always at the ready to pick up its anti-Obama campaign with aims of “drastically … [Read more...] about Koch Bros Reach Out to Punish Sick and Needy
Democrats ready to use “nuclear option” to break Republicans ideological filibuster
It has been threatened by both parties but never used but now it seems as if it's going to happen. Faced with Republicans filibustering a-n-y appointments by President Barack Obama to the powerful D.C. Circuit Court because they don't want him to appoint anymore and upset the existing conservative tenor, Majority Leader Harry Reid is reportedly ready to use the Democratic … [Read more...] about Democrats ready to use “nuclear option” to break Republicans ideological filibuster
Federal trial court vacancies soar highest under Obama
As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid now seems poised to make good on a long-made threat to trigger the "nuclear option" to halt nonstop Republican filibusters aimed at preventing President Barack Obama to appoint ANYONE to the powerful D.C. Circuit Court, the Brennan Center for Justice reports that trial court vacancies are now higher than during President Clinton or President … [Read more...] about Federal trial court vacancies soar highest under Obama
Up to 15,000 foreign troops could stay in Afghanistan: Karzai
Up to 15,000 foreign troops could stay in Afghanistan: Karzai (via AFP) Afghan President Hamid Karzai gave his backing Thursday to a proposed security pact with the United States that will see up to 15,000 foreign troops stay in the war-torn country. But he said it would not be signed until after next year's election. A… … [Read more...] about Up to 15,000 foreign troops could stay in Afghanistan: Karzai
George Zimmerman (Cartoon)
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 George Zimmerman (Cartoon)
Kerry’s ‘End of Monroe Doctrine’ Seems More Like New Beginning (La Jornada, Mexico)
Days ago, at the headquarters of the Organization of American States in Washington, Secretary of State Kerry undertook to declare the 1823 Monroe Doctrine ended. Beginning by saying that he was 'happy to be here' because it is such a short drive from his office, Kerry called for a 'partnership of equals' before immediately launching into Monroe-Doctrine-like language about Cuba … [Read more...] about Kerry’s ‘End of Monroe Doctrine’ Seems More Like New Beginning (La Jornada, Mexico)
Myanmar’s Rapid Modernization is Making More Trades Obsolete
Although it may seem incredulous to some Americans, there are some parts of the world where many people don't use laptops. One such place is the southeastern country of Myanmar, also known as Burma. Much of the country's technology and infrastructure has long been obsolete elsewhere. In Myanmar, things like rubber stamps, typewriters and public phone booths are still fairly … [Read more...] about Myanmar’s Rapid Modernization is Making More Trades Obsolete
Tea Party’s Shameful American Hunger Games
In the Great Depression, when I was a child, the greatest sin imaginable was to let others go hungry when you had food, however little, to share. Whatever your religious beliefs, if any, that was the most unforgivable crime against humanity. Now the Republican-controlled House would cut food stamps by almost $40 billion over 10 years. In the Senate, if the GOP had its way, … [Read more...] about Tea Party’s Shameful American Hunger Games
Obama Is No JFK. How Could He Be Today?
As he sends John F. Kennedy’s daughter to be his Ambassador to Japan, our 44th President is besieged not only by today’s forces of political darkness at the low point of his tenure in office but a flood of national memories to mark the violent death of her father. Cultural changes aside, how does Barack Obama measure up to JFK in the qualities essential to lead America in … [Read more...] about Obama Is No JFK. How Could He Be Today?