WASHINGTON — A deadlocked Supreme Court decision that blocks President Barack Obama from granting amnesty to the parents of legal U.S. residents who are in the country illegally will deprive many of those people of the right to sign up for health insurance in California, analysts of the decision said Thursday. Most immigrants who are in… … [Read more...] about Supreme Court deadlock on immigration will have far-reaching implications
Brexit: the earthquake has begun
The earthquake has begun. About 52 percent of British voters have decided to leave the European Union while about 48 percent voted to remain in the EU. These are not definite figures but close to the final calculations. An EU summit is likely next week to work out how Britain might actually leave since the process of untangling ties might take several years. Exit by any … [Read more...] about Brexit: the earthquake has begun
Why More Countries Need to Back Sustainable Tourism
With France's air-traffic controllers in constant disputes with their government about issues like salary, staffing and retirement, these workers have been on strike for an average of one in every 12 days since the beginning of 2016. Not only has the strike cost international airlines millions of dollars in revenue, but it's also affecting tourists as more and more flights have … [Read more...] about Why More Countries Need to Back Sustainable Tourism
Donald Trump’s Lies
Non-partisan fact-check website Politifact.com calls it like they see it on Donald Trump. We’ve fact-checked Trump about 160 times. We have rated 76 percent of those statements Mostly False, False or Pants on Fire. (See his entire PolitiFact file, which updates as we post new fact-checks.) As we noted when we awarded Trump our 2015 Lie of the Year award for his portfolio of … [Read more...] about Donald Trump’s Lies
Thanks, Mitch!
A lot of talking heads will shake their shaggy manes and harrumph and blither and blather and suchlike, as talking heads are wont to do. Supreme Court deadlocks, thwarting Obama's immigration actions Josh Gerstein / Politico: The Supreme Court has thwarted President Barack Obama's drive to expand his executive actions on immigration by making as many as five million … [Read more...] about Thanks, Mitch!
Britain’s Choice: Suicide or Freedom, and Nothing In Between
For 1000 years, British men, women and even children, have fought and died to move power from elites to people, to increase their liberty, and to ensure that those to whom they delegate political power can be booted out when they do something wrong or stupid. It started in 1014, with the Anglo-Saxon charter, went through Magna Carta in 1215, the Petition of Right, the Bill of … [Read more...] about Britain’s Choice: Suicide or Freedom, and Nothing In Between
Another Look at VP Potential Julián Castro (Update)
Update: According to Politico.com, “Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine is emerging as the leading candidate atop Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential short list…” Politico: Sen. Elizabeth Warren and HUD Secretary Julian Castro are also top prospects for the Democratic ticket — both representing nods to important Democratic constituencies. But they have serious … [Read more...] about Another Look at VP Potential Julián Castro (Update)
For Trump, fringe conspiracies take center stage
WASHINGTON -- Nobody brings the crazy quite like The Donald. For years, the conspiracy-minded have been trying to prove that Hillary Clinton gave "stand-down" orders blocking the military from helping ambassador Chris Stevens and other U.S. personnel in Benghazi the night of the 2012 attacks. But Donald Trump asserts the opposite: Clinton was unconscious. … [Read more...] about For Trump, fringe conspiracies take center stage
Cartoons: No bill no break
This cartoon by Clay Jones is from his website www.claytoonz.com … [Read more...] about Cartoons: No bill no break
Brexit: good riddance or a new Europe?
Today is the day! German Chancellor Angela Merkel says British voters will decide “Europe’s destiny” on this day. Others in the European Union cry “good riddance” to a country that was never a part of Europe at heart. Whatever the British decide, the EU will never be the same again. It may not break up or weaken significantly if Britain leaves. But even leaders most … [Read more...] about Brexit: good riddance or a new Europe?
Trump’s Potemkin village
WASHINGTON -- Not long ago, Donald Trump set a $1 billion fundraising goal for his presidential battle against Hillary Clinton. Now he says there's "no reason" to raise that much, and his operatives fear they will struggle to raise even $300 million. He brought in only $3.1 million in May to Clinton's $27 million, leaving him with $1.3 million in the bank to her $42 … [Read more...] about Trump’s Potemkin village
Democrats stage House “sit in” over guns, despite Republican rebuke
By Susan Cornwell and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives descended into chaos on Wednesday after Republicans refused demands by Democrats, who staged a "sit-in", to bring up gun control legislation in the wake of the nation's worst mass shooting in modern history. Scores of Democrats flooded the chamber for more than 12 hours, sitting … [Read more...] about Democrats stage House “sit in” over guns, despite Republican rebuke
Scalia on the Second Amendment
In the majority decision in the SCOTUS case of District of Columbia v. Heller, Associate Justice Antonin Scalia writes, "Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited. From Blackstone through the 19th-century cases, commentators and courts routinely explained that the right was not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner … [Read more...] about Scalia on the Second Amendment
FDNY Chief Larry Stack Represents What A Hero Truly Is
Battalion Chief Lawrence Stack Photo via the New York City Fire Department There is no question the term hero is overused, but Lawrence "Larry" Stack is the embodiment of the dictionary definition of the word. In a story nothing short of amazing, the FDNY New York City Safety Battalion Chief who died in the North Tower on 9/11 where he refused to abandon an injured man, was … [Read more...] about FDNY Chief Larry Stack Represents What A Hero Truly Is
The Significance of the Warrior Games, In Their Own Words
We recently (about one month ago) covered the second Invictus Games, held this year in Orlando, Florida. As mentioned here, the Games -- the brainchild of Britain’s Prince Harry -- hosted more than 500 wounded, ill and injured service members from 14 nations around the world in an event meant to “inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and … [Read more...] about The Significance of the Warrior Games, In Their Own Words
Lynch : Fight Terrorism With Love
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has put her foot in her mouth. Here is an excerpt from a Reuters story: "Let me say to our LGBT friends and family ... this Department of Justice, and your country, stands with you in the light," Lynch told a news conference. "We stand with you to say that the good in the world far outweighs the evil; that our common humanity transcends … [Read more...] about Lynch : Fight Terrorism With Love
Trump accuses Clinton of corruption, attacks policy record
By Emily Flitter NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump lashed out at his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's policies and personal record on Wednesday, accusing her of perfecting "the politics of personal profit and theft." In a fiery speech in New York that Clinton's campaign called "nutty" and "hypocritical", Trump argued that the former … [Read more...] about Trump accuses Clinton of corruption, attacks policy record
Branded: Trump Surprise Bankruptcy (Guest Voice)
Branded By Andrew Feinberg In what some are calling the cherry on top of the strangest campaign in American political history, Donald J. Trump, the former alleged billionaire and famed “Dukakis of Fifth Avenue,” announced today he had filed for bankruptcy. Trump made his statement at the former Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York, where he works as a … [Read more...] about Branded: Trump Surprise Bankruptcy (Guest Voice)
Mother bears now use humans as shields to protect their cub
Credit: Pixabay That humans pervade just about every ecosystem on Earth is no surprise anymore, but how some animals adapt to our presence can be truly astonishing. A new study, for instance, shows that mama bears are now living very close to human settlements were hunters live during the mating season to protect their cubs from… … [Read more...] about Mother bears now use humans as shields to protect their cub
Report: Trump has been giving out fake diamond cuff links for years
I've often said that Donald Trump is a person of the high class -- but he lacks class. We are increasingly getting a picture of someone who epitomizes vulgarity, hustle and who is truth challenged. And this report from the New York Post confirms it: Donald Trump has been doling out diamond cuff links to unsuspecting pals as presents — but they’re actually fabulous fakes, … [Read more...] about Report: Trump has been giving out fake diamond cuff links for years