Going into tonight's Republican debate, Ryan Lizza offers an interesting take on party Kingmakers in The New Yorker. The question that has hung over the Republican race for the past few months is whether the party is on the path to producing another historic loser by nominating an unelectable candidate, like Donald Trump or Ben Carson, or whether Republican voters, many of … [Read more...] about Lizza on GOP Kingmakers
5 things to watch in GOP debate
BOULDER, Colo. — Ben Carson is about to confront his first big test as a Republican star. Jeb Bush is battling for his political life. Marco Rubio's on everyone's list of candidates who can soar, and Donald Trump is, well, Donald Trump. And whatever happened to Carly Fiorina? They're the ones to watch Wednesday night as… … [Read more...] about 5 things to watch in GOP debate
Book Review: Burlesque A Collection of Comedy Blackouts by Jane Briggeman
Great news for comedy fans! You can now go back in a time machine without getting into a time machine and experience the legendary comedy of the era of burlesque, when the shows featured scantily dressed women or strippers -- and comedy sketches that went beyond the motion picture code. Some of these sketches were then considered X (R at most by today's standards), or blue … [Read more...] about Book Review: Burlesque A Collection of Comedy Blackouts by Jane Briggeman
Clinton v Bush: a big 2015 contrast in campaigns
"Deja vu all over again," as Yogi Berra said. Thing is, though, Bush is running out of fuel while Clinton is on a joy ride. The contrast couldn’t have been more stark. On Friday, as Hillary Clinton was basking in the reaction to her marathon appearance before the House Select Committee on Benghazi, her communications director, Jennifer Palmieri, told reporters that … [Read more...] about Clinton v Bush: a big 2015 contrast in campaigns
Will Dr. Carson Outdare Himself Tonight?
I’ll be watching the GOP “presidential” debate tonight -- presidential in quotes because there will be nothing presidential about it -- not because I expect to learn anything new about the issues that are important to the American people because those probably will not be discussed. Rather, I am curious as to how narcissist Donald Trump will react to his fall from grace and … [Read more...] about Will Dr. Carson Outdare Himself Tonight?
Big Pressure on at Tonight’s Republican Presidential Nomination Debate
It's big pressure time for GOPers dreaming of the day when they can move into the Oval Office in January 2017. The race is not as static as it was during the last debate: some of those on the way down remain mired there, some of those expected to perform may have their last chance, and there now appears to be an authentic battle for two Republicans for frontrunner … [Read more...] about Big Pressure on at Tonight’s Republican Presidential Nomination Debate
Politix Update: Why The Nazi-Hugging Ben Carson Is So Dangerously Malevolent
Using Nazi analogies is typically a loser's game. Comparing someone or something to Hitler or the Third Reich stifles debate, almost always is in bad taste and triggers inevitable side debates about whether calling someone a Nazi is as bad as calling them a "kike" or "nigger." Then there is Godwin's Law, which states that as an online discussion grows longer, the probability … [Read more...] about Politix Update: Why The Nazi-Hugging Ben Carson Is So Dangerously Malevolent
Why Canadian Prime Minister Harper’s Defeat Rings Hollow (Guest Voice)
[protected] Why Canadian Prime Minister Harper's Defeat Rings Hollow by Luke Savage Plenty of people are happy about the recent election results. Stephen Harper's autocratic and malicious rule has finally come to an end, and this is worth celebrating. But I hope those who are thrilled by the words "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau" will try to understand why some of us … [Read more...] about Why Canadian Prime Minister Harper’s Defeat Rings Hollow (Guest Voice)
Remnick on the Presidential Candidates
David Remnick comments on the 2016 Presidential candidates in The New Yorker. History may look back on the Las Vegas debate as the event that elevated Clinton the way that Barack Obama’s eloquent victory speech after the Iowa caucuses elevated him, nearly eight years ago. It might even be regarded as the moment when she boxed out Biden, raked away the underbrush of Mssrs. … [Read more...] about Remnick on the Presidential Candidates
Hillary Clinton’s polls zoom in Iowa as exchanges with Sanders heat up
Buoyed by what most analysts proclaimed a victory in the first Democratic Presidential nomination wannabes debate, an 11-hour Benghazi hearing that even conservatives now believe was a Halloween-monster-sized mistake for Congressional Republicans, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's campaign is going into full gear as the (largely) good news for her campaign … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton’s polls zoom in Iowa as exchanges with Sanders heat up
The Iran accord is going to change everything (Guest Voice)
Stephen Kinzer spent more than 20 years working for the New York Times, most of it as a foreign correspondent. He made his first reporting trip to Iran in 1997 and has returned regularly. His books include All the Shah’s Men: A Middle East Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror, which tells the story… … [Read more...] about The Iran accord is going to change everything (Guest Voice)
“The Death of Mother Jones” – Gene Autry (1931)
My first concern when posting this old labor song was that some folks might think I know something about the viability of a certain magazine famous for providing top notch investigative journalism from a progressive perspective. As far as I know, that publication is doing fine. The song referred to here, author unknown, was written in honour of Mary (“Mother”) Jones, the … [Read more...] about “The Death of Mother Jones” – Gene Autry (1931)
Why Moderates Support Bernie Sanders
While the media narrative would simplify the Democratic race to describing Bernie Sanders as a challenger from the left, he has also received a tremendous amount of support from independents, and from voters in the battleground states where Clinton is weak. The Moderates for Bernie Community is one of the largest pro-Sanders groups on Facebook with over 72,000 following them … [Read more...] about Why Moderates Support Bernie Sanders
San Diego: named the Worst City in the Nation to Accumulate Wealth (UPDATED Oct. 29th)
San Diego: named the Worst City in the Nation to Accumulate Wealth. California Has the Highest Poverty Rate in America (by far). Why is California so oppressive to the poor and middle class?(!) According to a new study by Bankrate.com San Diego is the worst city in the United States for building wealth. San Diego ranked dead last, behind Los Angeles and … [Read more...] about San Diego: named the Worst City in the Nation to Accumulate Wealth (UPDATED Oct. 29th)
Press & Bloggers Show Sanders Was Right In Accusing Clinton Of Practicing Revisionist History On DOMA
The Clintons have never been very supportive of social liberalism, and now that the liberal views they often showed little regard for during Bill's presidency have become mainstream in the Democratic Party (and much of the country), Hillary is trying to rewrite history. Bernie Sanders pointed this out at the Jefferson Jackson dinner last weekend. His statement is being backed … [Read more...] about Press & Bloggers Show Sanders Was Right In Accusing Clinton Of Practicing Revisionist History On DOMA
Benghazi hearing was a self-defeating travesty
WASHINGTON -- Hillary Clinton must have been mindful of the old adage that you never interrupt an enemy when he is making a mistake. She sat in the witness chair with the patience of Job, hour after endless hour, while the House Select Committee on Benghazi did all it could to make her our next president. How much of a self-defeating travesty was last week's hearing for … [Read more...] about Benghazi hearing was a self-defeating travesty
Adolf Eichmann’s Daughter-in-Law Defends Him in Argentina, Drops Out of Mayoral Race
Carmen Bretin Lindemann was a mayoral candidate in the Argentinian village of Garupa until she defended her father-in-law—the late Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann—on television last week, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. “The history that you know is not the real one. The version that you know from movies and books is written by the Jews,… … [Read more...] about Adolf Eichmann’s Daughter-in-Law Defends Him in Argentina, Drops Out of Mayoral Race
White House, Congress reach tentative budget deal
By Richard CowanWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House and congressional leaders reached a two-year budget deal overnight to lift mandatory spending caps on defense and domestic programs and raise the federal debt ceiling, in an attempt to avert yet another fiscal standoff.U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner presented details of the pact to his rank-and-file in a … [Read more...] about White House, Congress reach tentative budget deal
David Murphy Is Hotter Than Hades & No One Knows Why
Scientists specializing in metrics don't know how he's done it. Sports statistic wonks don't know how he's done it. Even David Murphy doesn't know how he's done it. Murphy, an otherwise middling player, is in possession of what is arguably the hottest streak in the 139-year history of the big leagues, a genuine yowza in sports slang, and all eyes will be on the New … [Read more...] about David Murphy Is Hotter Than Hades & No One Knows Why
How Did Charles Dickens Know? (Guest Voice)
How Did Charles Dickens Know? by Linda Perret It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. When Charles Dickens wrote those words he must have been having the kind of week I was having. My week started with a complete electrical failure at my home. The 10th time in the past three months that we have been without electricity, and not just for an … [Read more...] about How Did Charles Dickens Know? (Guest Voice)