Primal prejudices are intractable, but American liberals are put to the test with a new Pope professing a large-hearted vision of the Catholic faith even as the Tea Party hunkers down in Washington to defend to the death its deep belief that the poor and the sick are unlovable and evil. Religion and politics collide in a spiritual train wreck. Those of rational bent are … [Read more...] about The Pope Makes the GOP Look Medieval
Hi-Tech Harvest
Hi-Tech Harvest by Peter Funt SALINAS, Calif. — It's possible that the weapons of choice to combat illegal immigration will turn out to be drones and robots. We're not talking about patrolling the borders with Mexico — although, in fact, drones are being tested there. The real breakthrough is in the fields, here in the Salinas Valley and elsewhere across the Salad Bowl … [Read more...] about Hi-Tech Harvest
What Are the Motives Behind Iran’s ‘Charm Offensive’? (Guest Voice)
What Are the Motives Behind Iran's 'Charm Offensive'? (via PBS News Hour) GWEN IFILL: So, what do President Rouhani's overtures to the United States mean? And how much change is actually happening inside Iran? For those answers, I'm joined by Haleh Esfandiari, director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center, and… … [Read more...] about What Are the Motives Behind Iran’s ‘Charm Offensive’? (Guest Voice)
Atom bomb nearly detonated over North Carolina in 1961
US nearly detonated atomic bomb by accident in 1961: file (via AFP) The US Air Force came dramatically close to detonating a huge atomic bomb over North Carolina in 1961, according to a newly declassified document published by Britain's Guardian newspaper on Saturday. Two hydrogen bombs were accidentally dropped over… … [Read more...] about Atom bomb nearly detonated over North Carolina in 1961
America’s political center has completely vanished
The political center is dead in America. And if it isn't dead, it's at least on life support. Far-right House Republicans just prevailed over the party establishment in what most analysts consider a fruitless, politically suicidal move in which the GOP threatens to shut down the government to force Democrats to defund ObamaCare. But the seemingly outlandish idea that … [Read more...] about America’s political center has completely vanished
Texas Latino Growth May Soon Impact Deep Red Cong. Seats
For political strategists and junkies alike, the redrawing of Texas Congressional boundaries is a fascinating and unpredictable dream. The state's massive growth and Latino population surge always guarantees an increase in House seats, and with it, a gargantuan, Texas-sized struggle between Democratic and Republican interest groups over how they'll be allocated. This cycle … [Read more...] about Texas Latino Growth May Soon Impact Deep Red Cong. Seats
HBO’s “Newsroom:” Is It Over?
Waiting this long to watch your recorded season finale doesn’t even earn you a “spoiler alert.” The question hanging in the air for those who enjoy Aaron Sorkin’s HBO media circus is whether or not the show will be back for a third season. As the season ender ties up so many plot knots, it’s natural to wonder if the fast-talking characters have finally run out of steam. And … [Read more...] about HBO’s “Newsroom:” Is It Over?
Pope Francis Sees the Catholic Church as a Big Tent – a ‘Field Hospital After Battle’
"This church with which we should be thinking is the home of all, not a small chapel that can hold only a small group of selected people. We must not reduce the bosom of the universal church to a nest protecting our mediocrity." Pope Francis, in an interview with La Civiltà Cattolica Back in March of this year, I -- as a South American -- was proud, humbled and … [Read more...] about Pope Francis Sees the Catholic Church as a Big Tent – a ‘Field Hospital After Battle’
Republican House jumps off political cliff: votes to fund government but defund Obama Care (UPDATED)
And now the Republican Party's rebranding is complete. Not rebranding the party as a more inclusive, compassionate party, but a party seemingly controlled by the Tea Party movement and far-right segments of the party that have now ignored warnings from Republican political pros and GOP establishment types: House Republicans have voted to keep the government open and linked that … [Read more...] about Republican House jumps off political cliff: votes to fund government but defund Obama Care (UPDATED)
Occam’s Razor Economics — The Middle Class Solution
The middle class is being squeezed and downsized. Its spending power, the main engine of the economy, is being diminished. More and more of its members are falling into poverty. The upper one percent of earners, meanwhile, are seeing their own incomes rise dramatically. It soaked up 19 percent of all new income last year, the highest percentage since 1928. The economic … [Read more...] about Occam’s Razor Economics — The Middle Class Solution
The Nation as a Hostage
I consider it singularly appropriate that this article from The Daily Beast refers to the current actions of the GOP as a murder-suicide. Consider that there are basically two schools of thought among the more radical members of the GOP on how the attempt to defund Obamacare will play out. One says that the Democrats will cave in because they won't want to be blamed for a … [Read more...] about The Nation as a Hostage
Children blackmailed into sex abuse online
Children blackmailed into sex abuse online (via AFP) Children as young as eight are being blackmailed into performing sex acts live on webcams, causing some of them to self-harm or even commit suicide, a British watchdog warned on Friday. The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) said… … [Read more...] about Children blackmailed into sex abuse online
Obama Beats McCain Again–as a Pen Pal
In the age of sound bites, the President and his 2008 opponent are reviving an ancient art, lobbing letters at foreign adversaries rather than missiles, an improvement no doubt but neither quite has the hang of it. John McCain, in his usual retro style, sends Putin an old-fashioned “Dear Sir, You Cur” missive, telling his constituents, “I am pro-Russian, more pro-Russian … [Read more...] about Obama Beats McCain Again–as a Pen Pal
Obama needs to stand his ground
WASHINGTON -- Republicans in the House are like a bunch of 3-year-olds playing with matches. Their hapless leaders don't have the sense to scold them and send them to their rooms -- which means President Obama has to be the disciplinarian in this dysfunctional family. Mature adults in the GOP should have explained reality to these tantrum-throwing tykes long ago: It … [Read more...] about Obama needs to stand his ground
The right to bear arms is not absolute (Guest Voice)
The right to bear arms is not absolute (via The Economist) YESTERDAY Howard Schultz, who heads Starbucks, released an open letter containing a "respectful request that customers no longer bring firearms into our stores or outdoor seating areas." His letter was polite, thoughtful, even-handed and thorough. In… … [Read more...] about The right to bear arms is not absolute (Guest Voice)
Big DNA Surprise
On the original CSI there was an episode years ago that depended on the killer being a chimera, someone who actually had two genomes in his body so a cheek swab test had different results than a blood test. It turns out that this condition and a related one aren't nearly as rare as once believed. Researchers still aren't quite sure how widespread this condition is, though there … [Read more...] about Big DNA Surprise
Odd evidence that Republicans don’t care what happens to the country
There is some seriously screwed up thinking over there to our right, though why I'm surprised I can't say. Greg Sargent looks at the poll numbers on raising the debt ceiling in his Post column. * Republicans are far more likely to oppose raising the debt limit than anyone else; they say don’t raise it by 61-25. By contrast, Dems say raise it by 62-31, and independents … [Read more...] about Odd evidence that Republicans don’t care what happens to the country
House GOP Votes To Slash Food Stamp Spending
The big ongoing political story now is the Republican Party leadership steadily, inexorably surrendering branding of the party and the party's actions to its most conservative members. Some say the GOP doesn't have leadership. It increasingly looks as if it does: House Republicans. And now we have another example: After GOP leadership capitulated to conservative demands, … [Read more...] about House GOP Votes To Slash Food Stamp Spending
How Obama can stop the “apocalypse (Guest Voice)
How Obama can stop the "apocalypse" (via NewsWorks) National Interest Dick [email protected] September 19, 2013 By Dick Polman Once again, the right-wing kamikazes are threatening to crash their planes into the good ship America and drive us into default. The deal, as they see it,… … [Read more...] about How Obama can stop the “apocalypse (Guest Voice)
How can you LIVE on $172,000 a year??
Let's all frown sadly and say: "Awwwwwwwww...": In an argument against a special exemption allowing Hill staffers to buy health insurance, one lawmaker said he’s “stuck” making $172,000 a year, while aides will go on to make in big bucks lobbying on K Street, according to a report. Staffers “may be 33 years old now and not making a lot of money. But in a few years they … [Read more...] about How can you LIVE on $172,000 a year??