The media has picked up on the Washington Post story that the Chinese government is behind the intrusion at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). While I’m not usually in the position of defending the Chinese, I’m skeptical that China is behind this incident. Here’s why: The information has little intelligence value. Why the Chinese government… … [Read more...] about Was China Behind the Latest Hack Attack? I Don’t Think So (Guest Voice)
Hillary Clinton Is Correct On Voting Rights But Cannot Get Away With Cherry Picking Her Fights Forever
Sometimes the Clintons are masterful politicians. Staking out a strong position in favor of protection of voting rights was an excellent move by Hillary Clinton for many reasons. It contrasts her with her Republican opponents on the right--as opposed to where she is weak on the issues against her Democratic opponents on the left. It helps expose the Republicans who oppose her … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Is Correct On Voting Rights But Cannot Get Away With Cherry Picking Her Fights Forever
Some musings on growth and fossil fuels
Dr Ron Chusid has an informative post on global warning/climate change. Fossil fuel use is indeed a problem but while it's easy to blame the deniers we are all in a sense guilty. We should start by looking at what fossil fuels are. They are really highly concentrated forms of solar energy - yes you heard that right. They were created 300 to 400 million years ago when the … [Read more...] about Some musings on growth and fossil fuels
President Eulogizes Beau Biden
“He did in 46 years what most of us couldn’t in 146,” U.S. President Barack Obama commented while eulogizing Beau Biden at a public funeral held at the St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Delaware, Saturday. Thousands turned out in memory of the former attorney general of Delaware and the son of Vice… … [Read more...] about President Eulogizes Beau Biden
The Politics of Disaster Relief
More than 150,000 Texans sent a petition to the White House, demanding the union allow Texas to secede. This was not 1861 when Texans wanted out of the union. This was two years ago. Among those who threw around the idea of secession was conservative Republican governor Rick Perry, who has re-entered the race for president—not of the Confederate States of America, but of … [Read more...] about The Politics of Disaster Relief
No Pause In Global Warming
One of the many bogus attacks on climate science coming from the right has been to say that global warming has not been occurring because there has been a pause. The "pause" was actually a slow down in the rate of warming, not a true pause in warming, and a "pause" has only existed if you cherry pick the data to ignore ocean temperature. The effect was so minor that it appears … [Read more...] about No Pause In Global Warming
Airstrikes, Many by Navy, Killing 1,000 ISIS Fighters a Month
Airstrikes, Many by Navy, Killing 1,000 ISIS Fighters a Month by Chris Jennewein SAN DIEGO(SDONA) -- An Air Force general said Friday that airstrikes, many from San Diego-based Navy aircraft carriers, are killing 1,000 ISIS fighters a month. Air Force Lt. Gen. John W. Hesterman III told Pentagon reporters in a telephone interview that the air coalition flying strikes … [Read more...] about Airstrikes, Many by Navy, Killing 1,000 ISIS Fighters a Month
Cartoon: Hastert Curse
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: Hastert Curse
Hastert’s alleged crimes aside, citizens shouldn’t be punished for withdrawing their own money (Guest Voice)
On Tuesday, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert will be arraigned on one count of evading currency reporting requirements and one count of making a false statement to the FBI. He will not be arraigned for — because he has not been charged with — sexual misconduct toward a minor several decades ago. However horrific that latter… … [Read more...] about Hastert’s alleged crimes aside, citizens shouldn’t be punished for withdrawing their own money (Guest Voice)
Another Call For A Science Debate
It is becoming a regular feature of elections that there is a call for a science debate. Despite lack of interest by politicians, there is another call for a science debate this election: Science is changing everything, with major economic, environmental, health, legal, and moral implications. Sign the call for the candidates to debate: “Given the many urgent scientific and … [Read more...] about Another Call For A Science Debate
Politix Update: We’ve Come A Long Way Since The 9/11 Attacks, Or Have We?
I'm am unapologetic bleeding heart who believes that my right to be free from the threat of terrorism must be counterbalanced by my right to be free from government overreach. But as forthright and constitutionally sound as that view may be, too few politicians have shared it in the years since the 9/11 attacks rocked the national boat. That seems to have changed this week … [Read more...] about Politix Update: We’ve Come A Long Way Since The 9/11 Attacks, Or Have We?
Humoring the Headlines (Guest Voice)
Humoring the Headlines by Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO? Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that “all of Israel is behind the Cavaliers” in the NBA championship series because its coach David Blatt is an Israeli American. He added that he’s a big fan of the team’s Jewish superstar L’Chaim James. * Republican presidential hopefuls are attending an “economic summit” at Disney World … [Read more...] about Humoring the Headlines (Guest Voice)
Is this Marco Rubio’s Moment?
Is this Florida Sen. Marco's "moment?" Brent Budowsky, writing in The Hill, concludes: it well could be. And his reasoning is indeed sound, if his language is (quite corretly) blunt (as is his accuracy): Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) is the most interesting GOP presidential candidate in the 2016 field, a field that is becoming a party embarrassment and will soon have more … [Read more...] about Is this Marco Rubio’s Moment?
The paradox of fundamentalism
WASHINGTON -- The rise of fundamentalism and religious ultra-orthodoxy has taken much of the West by surprise. But the shock is not limited to the world's well-off democracies. For most of the 20th century, secular and usually left-leaning advocates of national liberation in the Third World fought twin battles: against Western colonialism, and against what they saw as … [Read more...] about The paradox of fundamentalism
Conservative Trolls Go After Beau Biden
Conservative Trolls Go After Beau Biden by Dick Polman Way back in 1954, Army lawyer Joseph Welch famously rebuked right-wing demagogue Joe McCarthy: "Have you no sense of decency, sir?" One can only imagine what Welch would say today about the vile Internet trolls who can't curb their hatred even when somebody dies. The trolls' reaction to Beau Biden's passing speaks … [Read more...] about Conservative Trolls Go After Beau Biden
High Fructose Corn Syrup Makes Mice Fat And Lazy
In the past few decades, high fructose corn syrup has reached unprecedented levels in the American diet as it appears more in soft drinks and some baked goods. The highly processed product of converting sugars in corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup now accounts for 10 percent of U.S. citizens’ caloric intake. While many studies have… … [Read more...] about High Fructose Corn Syrup Makes Mice Fat And Lazy
Lincoln Chafee Enters Race For Democratic Nomination–Attacks Clinton On Iraq
Lincoln Chafee has become the fourth candidate for the Democratic nomination, becoming the third liberal to enter the race along with front-runner Hillary Clinton. Bloomberg reported earlier in the day: Chafee, 62, left the governor’s mansion in January and announced in April he had formed an exploratory committee. He has said he would focus a presidential campaign on growing … [Read more...] about Lincoln Chafee Enters Race For Democratic Nomination–Attacks Clinton On Iraq
Limbaugh to GOP: Don’t accept Caitlyn Jenner (Get Ready for some Republicans to fall in line)
Here it is, folks (as he did). You can BET money now in Vegas that more Republicans will inch over to this line since it has been announced by the party's chief intellectual strategist and perception shaper: Rush Limbaugh. You hear it here first. And you can guess what he said, can't you? In case you haven't been able to predict his comments so far, here it … [Read more...] about Limbaugh to GOP: Don’t accept Caitlyn Jenner (Get Ready for some Republicans to fall in line)
Clinton Resumes Fall In Polls And Having Problems With Liberal Donors
Yesterday's polling results out of Iowa were somewhat negative for Clinton with 66 percent of Democratic caucus goers concerned that the Clinton scandals could affect her in the general election. It gets far worse in two additional polls released today. After her temporary bounce after declaring her candidacy, Clinton's favorability rating is again falling and more people … [Read more...] about Clinton Resumes Fall In Polls And Having Problems With Liberal Donors
George Stephanopoulos’ Big Mistake
They say, "Where there's smoke there's fire." Or some say, "They're just blowing smoke." Trust me: there's smoke AND fire around the high-paid host of ABC 's "This Week" and co-host of "Good Morning America" when it comes to having violated a basic tenet of responsible journalists. Forget about the predictable and tiresome partisan-motivated demonizations and typical 21st … [Read more...] about George Stephanopoulos’ Big Mistake