Putin seeks to calm Snowden tensions with US (via AFP) President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday sought to ease tensions with the United States over the stay of US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden in Russia, as a lawyer said the fugitive may request Russian citizenship. Putin said Moscow's relations with… … [Read more...] about Putin seeks to calm Snowden tensions with US
Snowden: Putin’s Perfect ‘Anti-Magnitisky’ Weapon (Moskovskij Komsomolets, Russia)
Is Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he claims, really eager to rid himself of Edward Snowden? For Russia's Moskovskij Komsomolets, columnist Mikhail Rostov's answer is emphatically 'nyet!' Rostov writes that Snowden is the perfect instrument to get revenge against Washington for the insulting Magnitsky Act, and break America's habit of treating Russia dismissively - except … [Read more...] about Snowden: Putin’s Perfect ‘Anti-Magnitisky’ Weapon (Moskovskij Komsomolets, Russia)
House Tea Party Hits a Trifecta for Mean
House curmudgeons are working on a trifecta of malice and spite. Not only are they gutting the Senate immigration bill, John Boehner’s Scrooges are taking food out of the mouths of poor children while renewing subsidies for corporate farmers who don’t need them and trying to hobble a 2010 law with new food safety provisions before it goes into effect. Patriots with “the … [Read more...] about House Tea Party Hits a Trifecta for Mean
What About Chicago ?
In the days since the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial we have heard much speculation about the justice of the verdict as well as debates over the state of race relations in this country. People have decried the death of a young man who was seemingly doing nothing wrong. I certainly understand this distress indeed I don't think there's anybody who denies that all of the … [Read more...] about What About Chicago ?
Some Observations On The Zimmerman Trial
Interesting look at the case from the point of view of a defense attorney. … [Read more...] about Some Observations On The Zimmerman Trial
Facebook & Sunday’s “Unfriending”? It’s Made Up News
People, please don't share this story. MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA – Passions ran high Sunday night as CNN and other news outlets reported the not guilty Zimmerman verdict. Tweets and Facebook status updates were filled with posts ranging from cries of vengeance to jubilant shouts of joy. Strong opinions were prevalent and as a result more people hit the unfriend and block buttons … [Read more...] about Facebook & Sunday’s “Unfriending”? It’s Made Up News
North Dakota Abortion Law Ruled Unconstitutional
On July 15, the recently-passed North Dakota law that would "[outlaw] one of two drugs used in nonsurgical abortions" met its demise. East Central Judge Wickham Corwin called the law "simply wrongheaded" and ruled that it violates both the state and U.S. constitutions. The Attorney General immediately vowed to appeal the decision to the state supreme court. >> For a … [Read more...] about North Dakota Abortion Law Ruled Unconstitutional
Cahill NJ’s Only GOP Governor in 28 Years
Historic Quote: "Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke." Will Rogers Between 1954 and 1982, New Jersey was governed by a Republican for just four years. Some may consider that surprising given that, during that period, the "Garden State" voted for a Democratic president just twice, one of those times (1960, by … [Read more...] about Cahill NJ’s Only GOP Governor in 28 Years
Liz Cheney Running For Senate
The daughter of former VP Dick Cheney is running for the US Senate in Wyoming, challenging a Republican incumbent in the primary. That incumbent, Senator Mike Enzi, is himself fairly conservative on most issues so I am not sure how she will come at him from the right. Whoever wins the primary would be heavily favored in the conservative state … [Read more...] about Liz Cheney Running For Senate
How Glee Should Deal With Cory Monteith’s Death
Reports out of Canada today confirmed what many suspected regarding the death of 31-year-old Cory Monteith, one of the stars of the his Fox TV series Glee. Although this precise details have not been determined his death was the result of heroin and alcohol consumption. On a purely human level this is a very tragic story, a young man haunted by demons since his teenage years … [Read more...] about How Glee Should Deal With Cory Monteith’s Death
Holder urges rethink of US self-defense laws
Holder urges rethink of US self-defense laws (via AFP) US Attorney General Eric Holder called Tuesday for a rethink of "stand-your-ground" laws following the acquittal of a neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot an unarmed black teenager in Florida. Addressing the National Association for the Advancement… … [Read more...] about Holder urges rethink of US self-defense laws
Did the Senate REALLY avert “the nuclear option?”
Did the Senate REALLY avert the nuclear option? Is the filibuster still intact for Republicans -- and for Democrats for the (likely) day when they are in the minority? Not really. Ezra Klein's report nails it: dangling the threat of changing the rules so the minority backs down on filibusters is now the "new normal." And expect Republicans do to the same when they're in power … [Read more...] about Did the Senate REALLY avert “the nuclear option?”
Rush Limbaugh’s New Racist Comment
Take the time machine back three years when the highly popular radio talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger got into hot water for her use of the "n" word on the air by simply using it in a non-name calling way to make a point about how much black comedians use it. There was a huge controversy and she later apologized to those who were offended and jumped to XM Radio once her … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh’s New Racist Comment
Quote of the Day: Joe Scarborough on conservative media alienating African-American voters
Our political Quote of the Day comes from "The Morning Joe's" Joe Scarborough, on how the conservative (political entertainment) media seems determined to chase away African-American and other groups from the GOP: “Why is it that Republicans, certain elements of our party, seem to go out of their way to inflame minority voters?” Scarborough asked his panel Tuesday morning. … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Joe Scarborough on conservative media alienating African-American voters
Born Black in the USA (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction without licensing from Cagle Cartoons is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about Born Black in the USA (Cartoon)
Zimmerman and the ‘Central Moral Question’
This morning, the “Balanced Views” section of my hometown newspaper, the Austin American-Statesman, published -- on one side of the section -- a column by Leonard Pitts Jr. on the Zimmerman verdict. On the other side of the page the Statesman printed an opinion piece by David Brooks on the ongoing immigration reform debate. There is no question about where Miami Herald’s … [Read more...] about Zimmerman and the ‘Central Moral Question’
Congress Must Address the Student Loan Crisis
Congress must lower student loan rates to reinvigorate the economy, invest in America’s future and foster the American dream. For many students, like my brother about to head to UConn, the interest rates on student loans will determine how long he remains under the burden of debt. For other students, it may decide whether college or graduate school is even a viable … [Read more...] about Congress Must Address the Student Loan Crisis
Zimmerman Trial Juror B37 Decides Against Tell-All Book After Intense Backlash
After facing intense backlash, George Zimmerman trial juror B37 has decided not to write a book about the trial. Um, further proof that this was a shameful and deliberate attempt to exploit the murder of unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin. After the comments made by Juror 37 on Anderson Cooper, a federal probe must be launched, particularly in light of the fact that she used … [Read more...] about Zimmerman Trial Juror B37 Decides Against Tell-All Book After Intense Backlash
Did Zimmerman Have to Be Lethal?
“Trayvon Martin,” says a New York Times editorial, “was an unarmed boy walking home from the convenience store. If only Florida could give him back his life as easily as it is giving back George Zimmerman’s gun.” Much of the furor over the verdict has focused on racism, as it surely deserves to be, but in an even broader sense, we are back to guns again. In an age obsessed … [Read more...] about Did Zimmerman Have to Be Lethal?
Mexico captures Zetas drug cartel leader
Mexico captures Zetas drug cartel leader (via AFP) Mexican marines detained the head of the brutal Zetas drug cartel without firing a shot, giving the government its biggest catch as it strives to reduce violence, officials said. Miguel Angel Trevino, alias "Z-40," was intercepted by a helicopter that… … [Read more...] about Mexico captures Zetas drug cartel leader