The GOP Can’t Govern by Stephen Earl Bennett There’s one important lesson to be learned from the Republican Party’s failure – after seven years of promising to do so – to repeal and replace Obamacare. That lesson could also be learned by paying attention to some Republican legislators’ reactions to the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts to programs such as the … [Read more...] about The GOP Can’t Govern
Cartoon: Bill O’Reilly
Moral Consistency & Military Action in Syria
An act of war against a nation that is not threatening us has unpredictable consequences, almost all on the downside. Supporters of US military action in Syria (and elsewhere) must therefore have certainty that the good done and the lives saved by the action exceed any harm done, most of which is unpredictable and all of which is uncontrollable. They must also be sure that … [Read more...] about Moral Consistency & Military Action in Syria
Book Review: “Untethered The True Children of Cyrus”
There is a moment in 1974's Godfather 2 when Michael Corleone sees the determination of Fidel Castro-led rebel forces. The scene is quick and later Michael notes it to the ill-fated crime bigwig Hyman Roth: "I saw an interesting thing today. A rebel was being arrested, and rather than be taken alive, he pulled the pin on a grenade he had hidden in his jacket. He killed himself … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Untethered The True Children of Cyrus”
Mitch McConnell, the man who broke America
WASHINGTON -- "No majority leader wants written on his tombstone that he presided over the end of the Senate," the minority leader said. He continued: "Breaking the rules to change the rules is un-American. I just hope the majority leader thinks about his legacy, the future of his party and, most importantly, the future of our country before he acts." Are these the words … [Read more...] about Mitch McConnell, the man who broke America
Alec Baldwin times two: Baldwin plays O’Reilly interviewing Trump on SNL (Video)
Alec Baldwin played displayed his considerable skills as an actor comedian on SNL last night: playing both Fox News' Bill O'Reilly (noting the sexual harassment scandals swirling around O'Reilly) and President Donald Trump. It'll be a segment that'll go viral due to the political humor and caricatures, but it is also fascinating to study it as an actor displaying his incredible … [Read more...] about Alec Baldwin times two: Baldwin plays O’Reilly interviewing Trump on SNL (Video)
Trump’s wiretapping claims, other lies, have autocratic twist (Guest Voice)
Trump’s wiretapping claims, other lies, have autocratic twist Christopher F. Arndt First there was the birther theory, which Trump continued to champion in 2011 even after President Obama’s long-form birth certificate was shown to the world. Then we heard statements like “Nobody really knows if climate change is real;” and, more recently, “In addition to winning the … [Read more...] about Trump’s wiretapping claims, other lies, have autocratic twist (Guest Voice)
Authoritarians to the Right of Me. Authoritarians to the Left
Authoritarians to the Right of Me Trump’s election caused a spike in sales of George Orwell’s famous novel, 1984 – apparently to people who believe that his becoming president may be a harbinger of an Orwellian dystopia across our country. Last year, my first book was published. It concerns why Americans have let the principles of liberty on which our nation is founded … [Read more...] about Authoritarians to the Right of Me. Authoritarians to the Left
Nepal’s air pollution threatens humans and glaciers
At one of the busiest intersections in Kathmandu, business is good for 64-year-old Nucche Khadka. He says he’s been working this spot for 40 years, selling crackers, candy and cigarettes. A steady stream of customers buy cigarette boxes decorated with grotesque pictures of cancerous lungs, meant to warn customers of the danger of their contents. But… … [Read more...] about Nepal’s air pollution threatens humans and glaciers
Thoughts on Florida’s first congressman of Arab descent (Guest Voice)
Thoughts on Florida's first congressman of Arab descent by Jordon Cooper Charlie Crist is the first congressman of Arab descent in Florida history. He was one of my inspirations to go to law school and practice law. He is one of the handful of Wake Forest Demon Deacon football players to go to law school and I’m one of the few South Carolina Gamecock football players to … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Florida’s first congressman of Arab descent (Guest Voice)
Trump Boosts Cable’s Fortunes
Trump Boosts Cable's Fortunes By Peter Funt During the campaign, Donald Trump famously conceded that he gets much of his information about world affairs from "the shows." Incredibly, the impact made on Trump's thinking by what he sees on television is even more profound now that he's the leader of the free world. One example was a gem: Trump made a direct appeal to his … [Read more...] about Trump Boosts Cable’s Fortunes
Cartoon: SURELY IN SYRIA
I am glad to see Donald Trump strike against the people who killed the people that he would never allow into our country. What puzzles me though is how he was moved by the Syrian gas attack to the point that he launches 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian runway, yet he wasn’t moved by a much worse gas attack in 2013. Basically a president shouldn’t get involved in Syria unless … [Read more...] about Cartoon: SURELY IN SYRIA
Lawfare: Trump’s Collusion with Russia
Jordan Brunner, et al argue that Donald Trump absolutely colluded with Russia's hack of the election on Lawfareblog.com. There is, in fact, copious evidence of at least tacit collaboration between the Russians and the Trump campaign, collaboration in which Trump personally participated on multiple occasions. But we have collectively discounted this cooperation for two … [Read more...] about Lawfare: Trump’s Collusion with Russia
Such A Lot of Gore
Endings are always contained in beginnings: Senate Confirms Gorsuch as Supreme Court Justice New York Times WASHINGTON — Judge Neil M. Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate on Friday to become the 113th justice of the Supreme Court, capping a political brawl that lasted for more than a year and tested constitutional norms inside the Capitol's fraying upper chamber.... … [Read more...] about Such A Lot of Gore
Nuclear Options
How strange but fitting that the U.S. Senate uses the nuclear option of ultimate annhiliation as metaphor for repealing the filibuster on Supeme Court nominations. After all, the appointment of a judge to the nation’s highest court for a lifetime is the most consequential selection entrusted to the Senate. Because 60 votes are needed to end a filibuster, in effect the same … [Read more...] about Nuclear Options
President Trump’s Brilliant Move in Syria
President Donald Trump made a brilliant move when he ordered the U.S. military to make a missile attack on the Shayrat airfield in Syria's Homs province. First, in his explanation of his order, President Trump highlights Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's latest victims: "Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children. It was a … [Read more...] about President Trump’s Brilliant Move in Syria
Russia Scandal Update: Is Jared Kushner Stupid, Greedy Or Both?
In January 2013, nearly four years before the Russia scandal began eating away at the Trump presidency, future Trump campaign foreign policy advisor Carter Page, by his own admission, met with Evgeny Buryakov, a Russian spy working undercover as an executive in the New York office of Vnesheconombank, a development bank with close ties to Russian intelligence services. In … [Read more...] about Russia Scandal Update: Is Jared Kushner Stupid, Greedy Or Both?
Lack of political will stands in the way of bringing Assad to court
Why hasn’t the international community taken Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to court? Is it lack of evidence? No, says Ben Taub of The New Yorker. It's simply a lack to political will. “There is already a pile of evidence,” Taub explains. For example, in 2011, a group of former war crimes investigators formed the Commission for… … [Read more...] about Lack of political will stands in the way of bringing Assad to court
Cartoon: Syrian Pest Control
Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the Bataan Death March
This weekend marks the 75th anniversary of the infamous Bataan Death March, one of the most harrowing chapters in the history of the U.S. military and one of World War II’s greatest atrocities. An atrocity where tens of thousands of American and Filipino troops were forced to make a tortuous 65-mile march to Japanese prison camps, suffering “an ordeal of unparalleled … [Read more...] about Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the Bataan Death March