When Halloween became America’s most dangerous holiday
Halloween can also be a time of expression of cultural and social anxieties. AP Photo/Richard Vogel W. Scott Poole, College of Charleston The unquiet spirits, vampires and the omnipresent zombies that take over American streets every October 31 may think Halloween is all about spooky fun. But what Halloween masqueraders may not realize is that in the … [Read more...] about When Halloween became America’s most dangerous holiday
Trudeau hangs on because Canada is still progressive
EDITORS -- Effective Nov. 1, columns by E.J. Dionne will be available for print publication only. WASHINGTON -- Canada's voters brilliantly calibrated how to send just the message they hoped to deliver: They wanted to give Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a comeuppance, but did not want a Conservative government. Monday's election achieved this outcome with near perfection. … [Read more...] about Trudeau hangs on because Canada is still progressive
Forget Quid Pro Quo, It’s Criminal Extortion
Since the phone call between President Trump and President Zelensky of Ukraine came to light, one question that has risen in the public consciousness has been whether or not there was a “quid pro quo”. That’s really a non-issue, or a red herring as we lawyers might call it in the context of legal argument. Quid pro quo isn’t difficult to understand. It means simply “This … [Read more...] about Forget Quid Pro Quo, It’s Criminal Extortion
Three into Two Won’t Go
The administration of future ex-President Donald Trump appeared to be in a graveyard spiral. The House’s impeachment inquiry was going well; the G7 Summit at Trump’s beleaguered, bedbug-ridden Doral Resort was universally condemned; Mick Mulvaney spit the bit on the quid pro quo deal with Ukraine, and Joe Biden didn’t shoot himself in either foot during this week’s … [Read more...] about Three into Two Won’t Go
The Tingler is campy, creepy and scary in spots
Review by Doug Gibson I love "The Tingler," and it's a staple of mine, and family, to watch every Halloween season. It's campy to the max. Vincent Price has that tongue firmly in his cheek but nevertheless it has a couple of genuinely scary moments. That's not easy to accomplish in deliberately campy films, and director William Castle deserves kudos. The plot involves … [Read more...] about The Tingler is campy, creepy and scary in spots
TRUMP AND THE KURDS (Cartoon)
John Lithgow’s brutal Rudy Giuliani Parody (VIDEO)
CBS' Stephen Colbert -- whose late night show keeps getting better and better -- did a comedy segment on Rudy Giuliani which at the end featured a brutal parody of Rudy Giuliani by actor John Lithgow. This is truly one for the ages: … [Read more...] about John Lithgow’s brutal Rudy Giuliani Parody (VIDEO)
Most witches are women, because witch hunts were all about persecuting the powerless
Seventy-eight percent of the people executed for witchcraft in New England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries were women. Jef Thompson/Shutterstock.com Bridget Marshall, University of Massachusetts Lowell “Witch hunt” – it’s a refrain used to deride everything from impeachment inquiries and sexual assault investigations to allegations of … [Read more...] about Most witches are women, because witch hunts were all about persecuting the powerless
Republicans (with Trump’s encouragement) storm closed-door impeachment hearing
If there could be a slogan or campaign bumper sticker for Trump supporters in Congress it should be "Norms,shmorms.." A major norm was shattered today by some Trump supporting GOPers in Congress when a group of them -- with Donald Trump's encouragement -- stormed a security facility where impeachment hearings were underway. The hearings were delayed for five hours. And their … [Read more...] about Republicans (with Trump’s encouragement) storm closed-door impeachment hearing
Looking At Trump Actions Through A Different Lens
Many Americans have perceived Trump’s actions as taking place for his own benefit: to help him with his base and the 2020 election. But maybe that isn’t so. Maybe what he’s been doing is just helping his buddy Vladimir who has gained greatly from a political and military standpoint without risking a kopek or a Russian soldier’s life. Those who say that Putin has something he’s … [Read more...] about Looking At Trump Actions Through A Different Lens
Impeachment – Hope and trepidation
In light of mounting evidence, there is a too good to be true hope outside the US about the attempt by Congressional Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump before this year-end. Many outsiders would like to see Trump go. There is admiration for House Democrats and empathy for the growing anti-Trump swell of public opinion. But trepidation is rising about the day … [Read more...] about Impeachment – Hope and trepidation
Patriots or (UCMJ) Criminals?
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) makes it a crime for retired military officers to use “contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State…” making them subject to military judicial or disciplinary … [Read more...] about Patriots or (UCMJ) Criminals?
Trump has decimated diplomacy
Embed from Getty Images One of the more fascinating -- and depressing -- features of the Trump administration has been its dismantling of some State Department machinery, cutting staff, and overall decimation of American diplomacy. I've followed this process since Trump took office. But I'm not alone. In an article in Foreign Affairs, William, J. Burns -- President of the … [Read more...] about Trump has decimated diplomacy
Climate Change Deniers Become Extinct in Canadian Election
Embed from Getty Images The four parties that do offer climate action plans (of varying seriousness) collected almost 65 percent of the vote by Gary Engler Canada’s centrist Liberal Party won re-election Monday, but as a minority government, which means it will need the support of either the more left New Democratic Party or the nationalist Bloc Quebecois to … [Read more...] about Climate Change Deniers Become Extinct in Canadian Election
The Trump White House (Mike Peters Guest Cartoon)
Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political and comic strip cartoonist. His favorite expression “WHAT A HOOT” certainly sums up his outlook on his life and work which are inexorably entwined. Mike’s warm, easygoing and zany demeanor is evidence that his personality matches his creative talents. As … [Read more...] about The Trump White House (Mike Peters Guest Cartoon)
Americans, especially millennials, are embracing plant-based meat products
Soy-based Impossible Whoppers went on sale at Burger King stores across the US in August 2019. AP Photo/Ben Margot Sheril Kirshenbaum, Michigan State University and Douglas Buhler, Michigan State University By 2050, many scientists estimate that the world food supply will have to increase sharply from today’s level to meet anticipated demand from a … [Read more...] about Americans, especially millennials, are embracing plant-based meat products
I’VE HAD ENOUGH. I’M DONE WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
by Christine Flowers With so much happening in the world, you probably don’t want to read about my own personal dark night of the soul. But at the risk of sounding narcissistic, I do think there is some value in examining why a person like me would feel compelled to leave the Republican Party. It was only four years ago that I proudly, defiantly and publicly abandoned … [Read more...] about I’VE HAD ENOUGH. I’M DONE WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Stick-it-to-the-libs is all Trump has left
WASHINGTON -- The Fifth Avenue Murder Theory now faces its toughest test. This bold hypothesis was put forward in 2016 by Professor Donald Trump, who claimed that he could "stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" and not "lose any voters." His proposition is by no means implausible. He won his Electoral College majority despite his louche and obscene … [Read more...] about Stick-it-to-the-libs is all Trump has left
TURKEY, SYRIA AND OUR IGNORANT PRESIDENT
by John L. Micek Write down the date: Oct.16, 2019. When historians look back, they’ll identify It as the day that the post-World War II order officially collapsed. It happened not by coup, or by the disappearance of our collective will as a nation, but rather by the perturbed ramblings of a chief executive who has proven he is ignorant of history, unconcerned about … [Read more...] about TURKEY, SYRIA AND OUR IGNORANT PRESIDENT