I must admit I never had a lot of use for the Cuban Americans. For the most part they represented the 1% in Cuba that held so much of the country's wealth that a revolution was all but inevitable. Ted Cruz's father, Rafael Cruz, is an exception - he was actually part of the revolution that overthrew Batista. I'm not sure what changed his mind about Castro but he eventually … [Read more...] about The Never Ending Gift of Ted Cruz
Japan Must Safeguard Data from ‘Superpower in Decline’ (Ryukyo Shimpo Shimbun, Japan)
Even Japan, it would appear, a nation as closely allied to the United States as any in the world, is distancing itself from NSA mass surveillance. This editorial from Japan's Ryukyo Shimpo Shimbun suggests that America's ambitious surveillance program is a direct result of Washington's declining influence, and advises Tokyo to join with the rest of the world and take a 'tough … [Read more...] about Japan Must Safeguard Data from ‘Superpower in Decline’ (Ryukyo Shimpo Shimbun, Japan)
Obamacare: It Is 1936 All Over Again
I was listening to a recent* exchange on the problems surrounding the rollout of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) web site between two politicians, Democrat Jane Doe who supports the program and Republican John Doe, who opposes it.** The exchange was moderated by Upton Something (I didn’t catch his last name) on the left and Freddy Something (Sorry, didn’t catch his last … [Read more...] about Obamacare: It Is 1936 All Over Again
Obamascare (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/obamascare/ Copyright 2013 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Obamascare (Cartoon)
After PRISM, Europe Must Safeguard ‘Emerging Global Consciousness’ (Le Monde, France)
Now that it has become clear how our personal data is being harvested for espionage and profit, is Europe the last best hope for free people to regain control? For Le Monde, author and philosopher Eric Sadin outlines in detail how we got to this moment in history, what has gone wrong, and why it has now fallen to Europe to to 'lay the foundations of a 'Web 3.0'. For Le … [Read more...] about After PRISM, Europe Must Safeguard ‘Emerging Global Consciousness’ (Le Monde, France)
Prof. Clinton explains the far right
DALE CITY, Va. -- Bill Clinton, the nation's politician in chief, is on a roll on behalf of his friend Terry McAuliffe, the front-runner in next week's election for governor of Virginia. "If we become ideological, then we're blind to evidence," the former president explained to a crowd of loyalists gathered at a VFW hall here last weekend. Previewing a message he is … [Read more...] about Prof. Clinton explains the far right
Leadership lapses in NSA spying, Obamacare rollout (Guest Voice)
Leadership lapses in NSA spying, Obamacare rollout (via The Christian Science Monitor) Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is sworn in Oct. 30 prior to testifying before a House panel on the difficulties in implementing the Affordable Care Act. (AP Photo) Critics are taking President Obama to task for allegedly not knowing… … [Read more...] about Leadership lapses in NSA spying, Obamacare rollout (Guest Voice)
Halloween (Cartoon)
GOP seeks to stop Obama’s judicial appointments
Yes, indeed. The Republicans are trying to maintain a stranglehold on our federal court system -- and particularly the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. The DC Circuit Court is an important "feeder" to the Supreme Court. The Republican majority on this court has been able to advance aspects of the GOP's anti-regulatory agenda that the party has failed to accomplish … [Read more...] about GOP seeks to stop Obama’s judicial appointments
The were-elephant (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 The were-elephant (Cartoon)
Boston Red Sox win World Series, end 95-year Fenway drought
Boston Red Sox win World Series, end 95-year Fenway drought (via AFP) The Boston Red Sox carved up the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1, clinching their first World Series at home since 1918 and capping a remarkable worst-to-first transformation. The Red Sox hadn't won a World Series at home since Babe Ruth was on their roster… … [Read more...] about Boston Red Sox win World Series, end 95-year Fenway drought
Clinton on the Far Right
E.J. Dionne shares Bill Clinton's explanation of the Tea Party in The Washington Post. “If we become ideological, then we’re blind to evidence,” the former president explained to a crowd of loyalists gathered at a VFW hall here last weekend. Previewing a message he is taking across the state in stumping for Democrats facing a Republican ticket led by an unapologetic right-wing … [Read more...] about Clinton on the Far Right
NSA: For Europe, it’s Better to be Heard than Ignored (El Pais, Spain)
Here's more from Spain, where media has jumped head first into the global controversy over surveillance. After years of complaining that Washington had turned its back on Europe, Europeans are steamed that in the form of the eavesdropping NSA, the United States has taken all too much of an interest in the Old Continent. For Spain's El Pais, columnist Francisco G. Basterra … [Read more...] about NSA: For Europe, it’s Better to be Heard than Ignored (El Pais, Spain)
Ghostbusting Obama’s Haunted White House
For Halloween, Barack Obama’s residence is spooked (and not just by the CIA) with visions of a disconnected President wandering the halls unaware of what goblin underlings were doing in his name. Spying on allies? They never told him. Technical mess with the ACA launch? He didn’t know. In his first term, the President was conceded to be the smartest man in the room, even by … [Read more...] about Ghostbusting Obama’s Haunted White House
The Truth About Canceled Health Insurance
President Obama said today: One of the things health reform was designed to do was to help not only the uninsured but also the under-insured," Obama said. "And there are a number of Americans, fewer than 5 percent of Americans, who've got cut-rate plans that don't offer real financial protection in the event of a serious illness or an accident. "Remember, before the … [Read more...] about The Truth About Canceled Health Insurance
Quinnipiac Poll: Is McAuliffe lead shrinking in Virginia with Cuccinelli rebound?
The Governor's race in Virginia is being widely touted as THE race to watch in national terms because it appeared as if Democrat Terry McAuliffe was poised for a massive win over Tea Party Republican State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia, considered a "bellwether" state. But now a new Quinnipiac Poll suggests this race is far from over as it finds McAuliffe's lead … [Read more...] about Quinnipiac Poll: Is McAuliffe lead shrinking in Virginia with Cuccinelli rebound?
Health secretary on Obamacare website: ‘You deserve better’
Health secretary on Obamacare website: 'You deserve better' (via AFP) President Barack Obama's health secretary publicly apologized Wednesday for the rocky rollout of the US health care law's new website, stressing that citizens "deserve better" from the system. But while Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen… … [Read more...] about Health secretary on Obamacare website: ‘You deserve better’
Those World Series Beards of October
Watching the World Series recalls childhood days when beards and baseball came together in the House of David team, whose facial foliage was famous back then on the barnstorming circuit. Unlike today’s Boston Red Sox and many St. Louis Cardinals, their whiskers grew out of religious conviction as members of a commune founded by a charismatic preacher. They prospered and … [Read more...] about Those World Series Beards of October
The NSA Proves Dalai Lama Wrong (BNR Nieuwsradio, The Netherlands)
Edward Snowden has revealed many things to the world over the past six months, and one of those things, according to columnist Ben van der Burg of BNR Nieuwsradio, is that even the Dalai Lama can be wrong about human nature. For BNR Nieuwsradio, Ben van der Burg of writes in part: That the sharing economy is a myth is evidenced by Facebook, Twitter, or Google. They … [Read more...] about The NSA Proves Dalai Lama Wrong (BNR Nieuwsradio, The Netherlands)
How to draw Boehner (Video)
I did this video back in 2010 when the GOP won the midterms and John Boehner was to become the new speaker of the house. It aired on CNN but I thought it would be just as relevant today so please enjoy and feel free to e-mail me your version of John and maybe I'll post them up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pXC4tTd1vU … [Read more...] about How to draw Boehner (Video)