Public approval ratings for Congress have remained consistently low for a number of years, though recently they have reached depths not previously seen. Americans seem to overwhelmingly agree that members of Congress are doing a terrible job, yet incumbents keep getting repeatedly reelected. Are citizens lying in response to the pollsters’ questions, or is something being … [Read more...] about A Perplexing Political Puzzle
Fun With Electoral College Math
[icopyright one button toolbar] Fun with Electoral College Math by Fig So I think the Electoral College is a bad system for a number of reasons, but I want to focus on one major reason in this article. For starters, it really seems to give the wrong impression about how divided this nation is, and how Presidents score a “mandate” because of electoral college numbers … [Read more...] about Fun With Electoral College Math
Please Politicize Ebola (Guest Voice)
Please Politicize Ebola By Tina Dupuy "Politicize" is a jab meaning the other side is trying to capitalize on a news topic. "The Republicans have tried to politicize the border crisis," says Nancy Pelosi. Reince Priebus says Democrats are trying to politicize Benghazi. Jay Carney says Republicans are trying to politicize Benghazi. Steny Hoyer says Republicans are trying to … [Read more...] about Please Politicize Ebola (Guest Voice)
Warren makes the case
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren says she isn't running for president. At this rate, however, she may have to. The Massachusetts Democrat has become the brightest ideological and rhetorical light in a party whose prospects are dimmed by -- to use a word Jimmy Carter never uttered -- malaise. Her weekend swing through Colorado, Minnesota and Iowa to rally the faithful … [Read more...] about Warren makes the case
Keep Portland Weird
I grew up in Portland but have not actually lived there for decades. I do still live a few miles from Portland and I'm proud of it. Can "Keep Portland Weird" be a winning strategy? Apparently so! [icopyright one button toolbar] From across the country, Portland looms as this place where everything comes in quirkier, locally produced, more artisanal versions of what the rest … [Read more...] about Keep Portland Weird
Cartoon: Ebola Cable News
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: Ebola Cable News
As Boardwalk Empire comes to an end, it still hasn’t figured out its main character
They decapitated Deadwood and they've foreshortened Boardwalk Empire. HBO seems to have it in for ambitious drama series with recent historical settings. The death of Deadwood was a cultural crime. That new look at the old West had a rhythm and flavour all its own; it belonged in the same bracket of achievement as The Sopranos… … [Read more...] about As Boardwalk Empire comes to an end, it still hasn’t figured out its main character
After U.S. airdrop, Turkey agrees to let Iraqi Kurds cross to fight at Kobani
ISTANBUL — In a dramatic policy shift, Turkey agreed Monday to allow fighters from Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region to cross its territory to help save the Syrian Kurdish enclave of Kobani from Islamist radicals, the Turkish foreign minister said. "We are helping peshmerga forces to cross into Kobani," Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara. He spoke… … [Read more...] about After U.S. airdrop, Turkey agrees to let Iraqi Kurds cross to fight at Kobani
Of Oil and Ethnic Cleansing: Allow Me to Explain the Turks (La Stampa, Italy)
Despite Turkey's attempts to explain why it's 400,000 man NATO military stands by passively as the Islamic State commits murder and mayhem a stone's throw away - the world remains baffled. Is Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insane? Is he in cahoots with the terrorists? And why such an obsession about opposing the long-suffering, nation-deprived Kurds? Answering these … [Read more...] about Of Oil and Ethnic Cleansing: Allow Me to Explain the Turks (La Stampa, Italy)
Cartoon: Fear
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: Fear
Republicans Attack Ebola Czar While Blocking Surgeon General Nomination
On the surface, Republicans have been all over the place regarding the idea of a government official to coordinate handling of Ebola. For example, there's John McCain. Back in 2009 he attacked Obama over having too many czars: Obama has more czars than the Romanovs - who ruled Russia for 3 centuries. Romanovs 18, cyberczar makes 20. — John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) May 30, … [Read more...] about Republicans Attack Ebola Czar While Blocking Surgeon General Nomination
The blue-collar imperative
WASHINGTON -- In Georgia, Democrat Michelle Nunn is giving Republicans a real scare in a Senate race the GOP thought it had put away. Some of her new momentum comes from a sustained attack on David Perdue, her businessman foe, for his work shipping American jobs overseas. One ad includes a quotation from Perdue about his outsourcing past: "Defend it? I'm proud of it." … [Read more...] about The blue-collar imperative
Thirty (plus) Years War
Peter Van Buren comments on our most recent war in the Middle East in The American Conservative. The most likely outcome of all this killing, whatever the fate of the Islamic State, is worsening chaos across Iraq, Syria, and other countries in the region, including possibly Turkey. As Andrew Bacevich observed, “Even if we win, we lose. Defeating the Islamic State would only … [Read more...] about Thirty (plus) Years War
Everything you need to know to understand #GamerGate
The hashtag #GamerGate went mainstream in the past week, with commentary and reporting at the Boston Globe, CBS, CNN, Entertainment Weekly, TIME, The Guardian, the Washington Post. Simple summaries are hard to craft: #GamerGate is complicated hashtag that grew out of a discussion of game industry journalism and morphed into death threats against women. I'm not a gamer, and … [Read more...] about Everything you need to know to understand #GamerGate
Catholic Church Won’t Be More Welcoming To Gays
Roman Catholic bishops abandoned their planned welcome of homosexuals into the church Saturday, expressing disagreement at the close of a two-week meeting Pope Francis, 77, called to establish a better approach to ministering to church members, the Associated Press reported. The bishops were unable to agree on an effective way to signify acceptance of gays by… … [Read more...] about Catholic Church Won’t Be More Welcoming To Gays
SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; Dr. Cotton’s Bizarre Ideas, Boardwalk Empire & The Knick; DC and Marvel Movie Plans; Twin Peaks; The IT Crowd & Other British Adaptations
Flatline managed to provide an episode of Doctor Who which successfully combined elements of both horror and humor. While not a totally original idea, it was something not seen on Doctor Who before, and realistically few television shows manage to come up with ideas which have not been influenced by other works. Think of it as if the residents of Flatland by Edwin Abbott … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; Dr. Cotton’s Bizarre Ideas, Boardwalk Empire & The Knick; DC and Marvel Movie Plans; Twin Peaks; The IT Crowd & Other British Adaptations
Warren’s credibility grows
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren's credibility grows:[icopyright one button toolbar] It kind of looks like a) she's chosen a great way to run without yet running, and b) she's developing a solid base among new voters. And she's managed to put an effective distance between her potential candidacy and the corporatist Clinton crowd. Speaking before more than 400 … [Read more...] about Warren’s credibility grows
Will Palestinians join ISIS caliphate?
Will Palestinians join ISIS caliphate? By Lloyd Levy EILAT, Israel –While soaking up the sun in Eilat ( 100F. this week), my body was idle but my mind was still ticking over. I had a Damascene revelation, on this ancient road from Cairo to Damascus. The symbolism of Eilat’s location occurred to me. It is at the head of a small bay, with four countries bordering each … [Read more...] about Will Palestinians join ISIS caliphate?
POLL: Romney ahead among Republicans, Hillary Clinton dominates among Democrats
Less than a month before the scramble for the 2016 Presidential nominations of both parties really begins -- the second after the November elections ballots are counted -- the latest ABC News/Washington Post shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ahead in a split Republican field and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton totally dominating among Democrats.[icopyright … [Read more...] about POLL: Romney ahead among Republicans, Hillary Clinton dominates among Democrats
Cartoon: Turkey and the siege of Kobani
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: Turkey and the siege of Kobani