Why is it that Algeria didn't avail itself of help from the U.S. secret services in dealing with and tracking down terrorists who raided an Algerian gas facility, took 600 hostages, and left scores dead? Listening to FOX News, one might have thought this was due a desire by the Obama Administration to remain aloof. Not so, according to columnist Saleh Awad of Algeria's Echorouk … [Read more...] about Hats off to Algeria for Rejecting U.S. Meddling in Hostage Crisis (Echorouk al-Yawm, Algeria)
Lost in Their Own Wilderness
WASHINGTON -- Republicans shouldn't worry that President Obama is trying to destroy the GOP. Why would he bother? The party's leaders are doing a pretty good job of it themselves. As they try to understand why the party lost an election it was confident of winning -- and why it keeps losing budget showdowns in Congress -- Republican grandees are asking the wrong … [Read more...] about Lost in Their Own Wilderness
Republicans and Immigration Pinata (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 Republicans and Immigration Pinata (Cartoon)
Israel strike on Syria ‘unacceptable’: Russia
Israel strike on Syria 'unacceptable': Russia (via AFP) Russia warned on Thursday that any air strike against its ally Syria would be "unacceptable," as Israel maintained a strict silence on claims it had bombed Syrian targets. Russia's foreign ministry said it was "deeply concerned" after Damascus claimed a military research centre had come under Israeli… … [Read more...] about Israel strike on Syria ‘unacceptable’: Russia
Hero School Bus Driver Shot Dead by Kidnapper
I hold my head, I hold my head... credible threat not taken credibly. Armed man, known menace, boards children-filled school bus. News media across the nation reports as per AP, A gunman holed up in a bunker with a 6-year-old hostage kept law officers at bay Wednesday in an all-night, all-day standoff that began when he killed a school bus driver and dragged the boy … [Read more...] about Hero School Bus Driver Shot Dead by Kidnapper
Girl Who Performed for Obama Shot Dead in Chicago
Girl who performed for Obama shot dead in Chicago (via AFP) A 15-year-old girl who performed at President Barack Obama's inauguration last week was shot dead in Chicago by a gunman who opened fire on a group of kids hanging out in a park, police said Wednesday. "It is believed that the offender mistook the group for gang members and fired at them," Chicago… … [Read more...] about Girl Who Performed for Obama Shot Dead in Chicago
Fox News Ratings Hit 12 Year Low
Bad News for Fox News, good news for MSNBC: Fox News is on the decline and MSNBC is on the ascent. Fox News had its worst ratings since 2001 in January, according to the latest figures. The network had a 12-year low in the coveted 25-54 demographic in primetime and fell to its lowest total day ratings since 2008, a press release from rival cable channel MSNBC stated on … [Read more...] about Fox News Ratings Hit 12 Year Low
Sen. Dick Durban Tells NRA’s Wayne LaPierre He “Misses the Point Entirely” on Background Checks (Video)
There were fireworks at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence today when Democrat and gun control advocate Illinois Sen. Dick Durban decided to puncture one of the key talking points delivered by NRA bigwig Wayne LaPierre. The bottom line on LaPierre and the NRA's position on gun regulation is: Just Say No To Any New Laws or Regulation. And that includes what … [Read more...] about Sen. Dick Durban Tells NRA’s Wayne LaPierre He “Misses the Point Entirely” on Background Checks (Video)
VIDEO: Gabby Giffords’ Moving Call for Congress to Act on Gun Control
Ex-lawmaker and shooting victim Gabrielle Giffords' testimony from Congress will long be shown by those who feel it's critical to have more extensive gun regulation. You can read about it HERE -- but here is the VIDEO so you can watch it for yourself: And here is some of the testimony by her husband, Mark Kelly: … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Gabby Giffords’ Moving Call for Congress to Act on Gun Control
That “Presidential Grub” is Resilient Stuff
Ann Althouse makes it plain that she thinks departing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was shooting less than straight when she said that isn't presently inclined to run for the presidency in 2016. Althouse asked her readers to "assess the degree of [baloney]" (my translation) in Clinton's statement. But I don't think one can assess Clinton too much blame for being … [Read more...] about That “Presidential Grub” is Resilient Stuff
Weaning Away from Smoking and Shooting
As politicians in Washington slow-dance to the Second Amendment, elsewhere in American culture a different music about gun control is being heard. On the Daily Show, sportscaster Bob Costas tells Jon Stewart about the uproar over his mild comments linking gun use to football violence, while a New York Times business columnist fills his space with 15 shooting death reports … [Read more...] about Weaning Away from Smoking and Shooting
Sign of Death for Assault Weapons Ban: Reid Declines to Endorse It
You might title retitle this story from The Hill "The NRA Wins Again": Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday declined to voice support for Democratic legislation that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips. Reid said he would bring gun-violence legislation to the floor and open it to a lengthy amendment process. But he declined to … [Read more...] about Sign of Death for Assault Weapons Ban: Reid Declines to Endorse It
Gabby Giffords to Senate: ‘You Must Act’ on Gun Violence
Gabby Giffords to Senate: 'You must act' on gun violence (via AFP) Ex-lawmaker and shooting victim Gabrielle Giffords made a brief but impassioned appeal in Congress Wednesday, telling lawmakers "you must act" to find ways to reduce gun violence. "Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying," Giffords, a former congresswoman who was shot in the head … [Read more...] about Gabby Giffords to Senate: ‘You Must Act’ on Gun Violence
A Harbinger or Not? U.S. Economy Contracts
A seeming setback for the recovery: the U.S economy has contracted: U.S. economic momentum screeched to a halt in the final months of 2012, as businesses pared back inventories and government spending fell sharply, while lawmakers struggled to reach a deal on tax increases and budget cuts. The nation's gross domestic product shrank for the first time in three and a … [Read more...] about A Harbinger or Not? U.S. Economy Contracts
Water Bubble in Space
Via NASA: NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, Expedition 34 commander, watches a water bubble float freely between him and the camera, showing his image refracted, in the Unity node of the International Space Station. … [Read more...] about Water Bubble in Space
Immigration Offers Republicans an Opportunity (Guest Voice)
Immigration Offers Republicans an Opportunity by Matt Mackowiak For too long, the only Republican plan to deal with immigration reform was to tighten border security. This tact was a helpful dodge, not requiring a politician to detail what we would do with the 11-12 million illegal immigrants already here. But in winning about 30 percent of Hispanic votes in 2012, the … [Read more...] about Immigration Offers Republicans an Opportunity (Guest Voice)
Can the Republican Party Rebrand Itself?
Can the Republican Party rebrand itself after its big 2012 national election defeat, loss of growing demographic groups, and polls indicating many perceive it as out of touch and too extreme? The answer is yes. Will it? That answer is more iffy. There are signs of movement. Senate Republicans in the "Gang of 8" reached a deal with Democrats on immigration reform. But … [Read more...] about Can the Republican Party Rebrand Itself?
What Does the World Expect from Newly Confirmed Secretary of State John Kerry?
What does the world expect from newly confirmed Secretary of State John Kerry? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Hillary Rodham Clinton has been one of the US’s most popular and peripatetic secretaries of state – logging nearly 1 million miles in four years and becoming a household name from Panama to Pakistan. Her successor, John Kerry, who was approved … [Read more...] about What Does the World Expect from Newly Confirmed Secretary of State John Kerry?
Fading Palin (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 Fading Palin (Cartoon)
Kerry Approved by Senate as Secretary of State: Now Massachusetts’ Political Scramble Begins
Senator John Kerry has been green-stamped by the Senate to be the new Secretary of State to replace Hillary Clinton -- setting in motion a big political scramble in Massachussetts for a special election. The questions now become: (1) Will former Rep. Barney Frank return One More Time to Congress to get his wish to fill Kerry's seat until the special election is held? … [Read more...] about Kerry Approved by Senate as Secretary of State: Now Massachusetts’ Political Scramble Begins