WASHINGTON -- President Obama gave a majestic speech in Dallas, one of the best of his presidency, at once a soaring tribute to slain police officers and an affirmation of peaceful protest. But he was wrong about one thing: On race, sadly, we are as divided as we seem. This condition is not due to anything Obama has said or done. He bends so far backward to avoid giving … [Read more...] about Obama helped us peer into the racial divide
New Hillary Clinton ad: Role Models
I like this ad. It's the latest effort by the Hillary Clinton campaign to remind voters that boorish behaviour in a candidate aspiring to the presidency of the United States is not acceptable. The best part is that it relies almost entirely on comments made by the presumptive GOP candidate himself. Depicted also are children watching Trump say the kinds of things he cannot … [Read more...] about New Hillary Clinton ad: Role Models
Trump’s convention could revive the GOP ? or kill it
CLEVELAND — Will the idea of "President Donald Trump" seem plausible by Thursday night? Or will rioting and big-name no-shows take the spotlight off this week's Republican convention? The GOP opens its four-day convention Monday facing an uncommon amount of uncertainty. Such events long ago stopped being true party meetings where disagreements were aired and candidate… … [Read more...] about Trump’s convention could revive the GOP ? or kill it
3 police officers killed in Baton Rouge
Three police officers were shot to death Sunday in Baton Rouge, La. The gunman was killed by police, and authorities said no others were sought. "We do believe the person who shot and killed our officers, he is the person who is shot and killed. We don't believe we have any shooters holed up," said Col.… … [Read more...] about 3 police officers killed in Baton Rouge
Jaws 2 – The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel (Book Review)
Review by Steve D. Stones I'll never forget seeing a trailer for Jaws when I was about three years old. The images on the screen scared me so bad that I wanted to crawl under my seat and hide forever. When my family took a trip to Southern California in the late 1970s, I didn't want to get out of the car to go down to the beach for fear that a shark might get me. Movie goers … [Read more...] about Jaws 2 – The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel (Book Review)
For Trump, it’s (white) America First
WASHINGTON -- It was just another week in Donald Trump's (white) America First campaign. At least twice, Trump alleged that people have called for a "moment of silence" for the madman who killed five police officers in Dallas at a Black Lives Matter protest. It was an incendiary accusation, bound to stir racial hatred. Like Trump's accusation that New Jersey … [Read more...] about For Trump, it’s (white) America First
Book Review: Nguyen’s ‘Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam And The Memory Of War’
Every American generation, it seems, has its own war. My grandparents had the Great War, my parents had the Good War, and I had the Vietnam War, with the Forgotten War in between. My children had the Iraq War and, at the rate things are going, my grandchildren with inherit the War in Afghanistan, which at 15 years and counting, is far and away the U.S.'s longest overseas … [Read more...] about Book Review: Nguyen’s ‘Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam And The Memory Of War’
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: The Trump Pence Ticket
Trump Pence by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Trump's Pence pick may give Clinton more running mate options --Donald Trump Delivers a Long, Passionate Speech. He Introduces Mike Pence, Too. --Trump’s Pence introduction takes 2016 in even weirder direction --Two days, two campaign logos: Trump, Pence try, try again Mike Peters is recognized as one of our … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: The Trump Pence Ticket
Military Weekend – A Flurry of Visits
This past week saw several high level visits by the White House and the Department of Defense to Naval installations and ships around the world and to Afghanistan. After attending NATO and European Union meetings in Poland, President Obama visited U.S. Naval Station Rota in Spain and the USS Ross. Lead photo: U.S. and Spanish military leaders renders honors to President … [Read more...] about Military Weekend – A Flurry of Visits
UPDATES: Reports Differ: 3 police dead, 3 Officers wounded Baton Rouge
UPDATES: Two male suspects were apparently shooting at one another out in the open in Baton Rouge. When police officers and deputy responded, six officers were shot. Three officers are dead, one is critically wounded and in hospital, and two officers wounded with no verified report on their conditions but they are parsed in various media at this time... as … [Read more...] about UPDATES: Reports Differ: 3 police dead, 3 Officers wounded Baton Rouge
Pence for Vice-President?
Now that Donald Trump has picked Mike Pence for his running mate, people all over the political spectrum are chiming in on the merits of the pick. As to be expected, Hillary Clinton wasted no time in criticizing Pence. Let's be real here. Clinton was going to criticize Trump's pick no matter who the pick turned out to be, even if the pick were the USA's version of Mother … [Read more...] about Pence for Vice-President?
‘Colin’s Hope’: A World Where No Child Drowns (Update)
Update: I don't know how this article (also published at the Huffington Post) ended up in the on-line North Korea Times, but if it helps save the life of a child there, who am I to be choosy. It is an interesting "newspaper." Upon close reading, it does not appear to be under control of or censored by the North Korean government. For example: North Koreans Labor … [Read more...] about ‘Colin’s Hope’: A World Where No Child Drowns (Update)
Cartoons: TP for America
TP for America by Clay Jones Donald Trump actually did something boring. He made Indiana governor Mike Pence his vice presidential running mate. Boooooooooooring. There’s a lot of disappointed editorial cartoonists in America right now. There weren’t a lot of people who wanted the job. Chris Christie wanted it because he’s pretty done messing up New Jersey. He’s probably … [Read more...] about Cartoons: TP for America
Turkish forces try to crush last remnants of coup as Erdogan returns
By Orhan Coskun and Gulsen Solaker ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) - Forces loyal to Turkey's government fought on Saturday to crush the last remnants of a military coup attempt which collapsed after crowds answered President Tayyip Erdogan's call to take to the streets and dozens of rebels abandoned their tanks. One hundred and sixty-one people were killed, including many … [Read more...] about Turkish forces try to crush last remnants of coup as Erdogan returns
Bathrooms are the New Battlefields for Politicians
When I was a junior at San Diego State, I had a sudden urge to need a restroom. The closest one was clearly marked, “Faculty Men Only.” The nearest one for male students was on the other side of the building. I did what any rational person would do—I used the faculty restroom. One of the professors, who was using a urinal a couple spaces away, told me the restroom was for … [Read more...] about Bathrooms are the New Battlefields for Politicians
The Accidental Running Mate
Today, Donald Trump put Indiana Governor Mike Pence in position to be one heartbeat away from leadership of what we used to call the Free World. Pence is a world-class Conservative. In 2015 he signed into law the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which legalized discrimination based on sexual orientation. This was the case of the bakery that claimed that forcing it to bake … [Read more...] about The Accidental Running Mate
What is the GOP Doing?
Donald Trump is a self-evident disaster as Presidential candidate. Matthew Yglesias ponders what Republicans think they are doing backing him on vox.com. This all raises the question (and not for the first time) of what it is all the Republican Party leaders — from Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell to Scott Walker and Chris Christie and beyond — think they’re doing. The best … [Read more...] about What is the GOP Doing?
Cartoon: Bloody Religions
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 Cartoon: Bloody Religions
Mike Pence is a sign of Trump’s weakness
Donald Trump's selection of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate is just what everyone is saying it is: a safe, traditional choice. Pence won't hurt Trump too much and may help him with Republican politicians and some conservatives. But the pick is also -- and more importantly -- something else: a sign of real weakness. There were many Republicans who could have … [Read more...] about Mike Pence is a sign of Trump’s weakness
Cartoon: Profile of a Senator
Profile of a Senator by Clay Jones Republicans and conservatives love to shoot down the fact that African-Americans are often profiled by the police. They’re oblivious to the fact that every black child has to be given “the talk” on how not to be killed by the police. A Harvard study was recently published saying encounters between police and African-Americans “rarely … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Profile of a Senator