[icopyright one button toolbar] Update (Tikrit) The New York Times is reporting that three major Shiite militia groups who were participating in the fight for Tikrit have “pulled out” of the fight “immediately depriving the Iraqi government of thousands of their fighters on the ground even as American warplanes readied for an expected second day of airstrikes against … [Read more...] about (Updates) Saudi Arabia Launches Airstrikes Against Rebels in Yemen
Obama Mideast efforts hard hit as Yemen ally flees
President Barack Obama’s main ally in Yemen, the country that hosts al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), fled in a boat today to avoid capture by forces controlled by the strongman Washington helped to dislodge in 2012. President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is also backed by the Saudi and Gulf regimes, was holed up in Yemen’s strategic southern port city of Aden, his … [Read more...] about Obama Mideast efforts hard hit as Yemen ally flees
Why Should Extremists Have All the Fun?
Sometimes I wonder why I use good brain cells in a doomed attempt to combat extremism. By now I've concluded that extremism, factionalism, discord and bile are essential components of the human genome. We're squabbling creatures, and I can do nothing to alter that essential truth. It would be like fighting primal and unstoppable forces of nature: gravity, for example, or the … [Read more...] about Why Should Extremists Have All the Fun?
The Closing of the Political Mind
Ezra Klein assesses the damage on Vox.com. If you want to feel depressed about the future of American politics, Obamacare confirms an unnerving phenomenon that has been well-documented by social scientists: more and better information has almost no effect on the political mind. There’s a simple theory underlying much of American politics. It sits hopefully at the … [Read more...] about The Closing of the Political Mind
Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva Thinks There Are Too Many “Ethnic Shows” on TV
Race is a very touchy subject for many, but I wondered out loud why Deadline Hollywood would publish an article that seems to suggest that there are too many "ethnic shows" on television right now. According to Nellie Andreeva, white actors can't find work in Hollywood because of the number of "ethnic shows," including pilots. That includes "How to Get Away with Murder," … [Read more...] about Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva Thinks There Are Too Many “Ethnic Shows” on TV
Hillary Clinton Jokes About Her Problems With The Media
Hillary Clinton spoke at the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting Monday night, and I do give her points for both humor and self-awareness: "I am well aware that some of you may be a little surprised to see me here tonight," she said. "My relationship with the press has been at times, shall we say, complicated." "I am all about new beginnings: a new grandchild, … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Jokes About Her Problems With The Media
The Book of Judges and a “Modest” Proposal
Reading the Old Testament book of Judges with the people of Living Water Lutheran Church in the past week has underscored an important truth articulated famously by Lord Acton: "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." The Old Testament judges started out as people without status. But God called them to exercise military and judicial authority on behalf of His … [Read more...] about The Book of Judges and a “Modest” Proposal
Josh Marshall on Why Ted Cruz Won’t Get Elected
Josh Marshall thinks Ted Cruz has no chance to be elected President and spells out why on Talking Points Memo. Starting with most obvious, Cruz would not survive first contact with the range of blue states and swing states where a Republican must compete. Some say, they didn't think he had a chance in Texas either. Well, Texas, as they say, is a whole 'nother country. Both on … [Read more...] about Josh Marshall on Why Ted Cruz Won’t Get Elected
The albums that changed my life
So this is taken from my blog Chocolate Films... but it is about the albums that have changed my life. It's going to be a weekly thing, so if you fancy that type of guff be sure to check the blog every Thursday. Peace. ... 10 – What’s the Story (Morning Glory) (Oasis) For the better part of 10 years, I have had to defend this album to close friends and family. I … [Read more...] about The albums that changed my life
Cartoon: GOP Rants at Obama
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: GOP Rants at Obama
Netanyahu says what is expedient (Guest Voice)
Netanyahu says what is expedient By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Those of us naïve enough to believe that politicians mean what they say, especially during election campaigns, have had our eyes opened. Two statements that Prime Minister Netanyahu made on the eve of the elections that shocked many of us at the time turned out to be untrue: his warning that Arabs were coming … [Read more...] about Netanyahu says what is expedient (Guest Voice)
Israel Spied On US-Iran Talks: Report
Senior White House officials have learned that Israel was spying on closed-door talks between the U.S. and other world powers about Iran’s nuclear program, according to the Wall Street Journal. Israel's snooping was part of a broader campaign by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to build a case against the deal, the report said. American officials discovered… … [Read more...] about Israel Spied On US-Iran Talks: Report
Affordable Care Act Helping To Create Jobs
[icopyright one button toolbar] Among the benefits of the Affordable Care, beyond expanding health care coverage and lowering costs, has been to create more jobs. Bloomberg News reports: More than 90 new health-care companies employing as many as 6,200 people have been created in the U.S. since Obamacare became law, a level of entrepreneurial activity that participants say … [Read more...] about Affordable Care Act Helping To Create Jobs
The Crushingly Regressive Complexity of Income Tax
[icopyright one button toolbar] I have just paid my biggest bill of the year. The invoice was for a cool 9% of my entire annual income – or my “Adjusted Gross Income” (AGI) as it appears on my tax returns, which have just been filed. And that invoice was from my accountant who just filed them for me. I have a pretty modest income - so modest, in fact, that my AGI is of … [Read more...] about The Crushingly Regressive Complexity of Income Tax
My Health Care Five Years Ago Today
UPDATED BELOW [icopyright one button toolbar] "Odious" health insurance is now "MODA" as in "MODA Center" where the Portland Trailblazers play with other NBA teams when they're home. Ted is about to find out that he can't enroll until next year. Like me. Ted Cruz to sign up for government health care Jennifer Jacobs / Des Moines Register Ted Cruz, one of the loudest … [Read more...] about My Health Care Five Years Ago Today
Imagine President Rafael Edward ‘Ted’ Cruz
[icopyright one button toolbar] In a New York Times editorial today the Times editorial board writes: “Think just how different the world would be,” said Senator Ted Cruz on Monday, in a speech so packed with vision-spinning and the word “imagine” that it seemed as if John Lennon had returned, as a Hispanic Texan running a hard-right, anti-establishment, … [Read more...] about Imagine President Rafael Edward ‘Ted’ Cruz
Why One Bill of Rights Is No Longer Sufficient
[icopyright one button toolbar] You might not know this, but back in 1962, President John F. Kennedy revealed to Congress and to the nation a four-point plan to safeguard the basic rights of the American consumer; this would become known as the Consumer Bill of Rights. His vision was eventually taken up by the United Nations and expanded into no fewer than eight basic … [Read more...] about Why One Bill of Rights Is No Longer Sufficient
Cruz’s slippery slope
[icopyright one button toolbar] He's been sliding almost from the beginning. Now that Ted Cruz wants to be president, he's alienated too many important people in his party to expect much support, and without that support, his candidacy goes nowhere. "He is the darling of conservatives in a conservative party. But he remains a long shot, at best," according to Nate Cohn at … [Read more...] about Cruz’s slippery slope
Mandatory Citizen Responsibilities
[icopyright one button toolbar] As citizens, we all have responsibilities that must be fulfilled for the nation to be protected and function optimally. However, the obligations at this point in our history are relatively minimal. All men (both citizens and immigrants) between ages 18 and 26 have to sign up for the Selective Service and if drafted have to serve in the … [Read more...] about Mandatory Citizen Responsibilities
Cartoon: Cruz for Prez
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: Cruz for Prez