Tom Edsall reviews the evidence in The New York Times. In “Obedience to Traditional Authority: A heritable factor underlying authoritarianism, conservatism and religiousness,” published by the journal Personality and Individual Differences in 2013, three psychologists write that “authoritarianism, religiousness and conservatism,” which they call the “traditional moral values … [Read more...] about Is Conservatism Genetic?
Mideast Turmoil Could Rally Neocons to Hillary (Le Figaro, France)
Is Hillary Clinton positioning herself to win the 'Dick Cheney' vote? For France's Le Figaro, world affairs columnist Pierre Rousselin writes that the turmoil in Iraq and Syria, if Republicans nominate a candidate with more isolationist tendencies like Rand Paul, is likely to result in significant neocon-Republican support for the former first lady. For Le Figaro, Pierre … [Read more...] about Mideast Turmoil Could Rally Neocons to Hillary (Le Figaro, France)
GOP Split on Boehner’s Lawsuit Against President Obama
GOP Split on Boehner's Lawsuit Against President Obama … [Read more...] about GOP Split on Boehner’s Lawsuit Against President Obama
Good Bye Miami
One of the bastions of climate change denial is Miami, Florida. Ironically it may be one of it's first victims. Not everyone in the area is in denial, the South Miami mayor recently referred to Senator Marco Rubio as an idiot. Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-FL) views on climate change have apparently not won him any favor in Miami. Experts say that sea-level rise could easily … [Read more...] about Good Bye Miami
Robert Stein, veteran journalist, magazine editor, book editor, blogger and TMV co-blogger dies at 90
Robert Stein, the veteran Greatest Generation journalist, magazine editor, book editor and, later in life, superb blogger, has passed away. He was a co-blogger here at TMV, admired by its writers and readers. I also had the pleasure of visiting him for a few hours at his Connecticut home about 7 years ago. His son Keith put this post on Bob Stein's blog Connecting the … [Read more...] about Robert Stein, veteran journalist, magazine editor, book editor, blogger and TMV co-blogger dies at 90
A Day in the Life of a President – in Austin, Texas
As most know, President Obama traveled to Austin this week where, according to the White House, he simply “sat down for coffee with a letter writer, delivered a speech on the economy, and grabbed some lunch at a local BBQ joint.” Of course the President did much more than that. For example, that unassuming “delivered a speech” represents, in my opinion, one of the best, … [Read more...] about A Day in the Life of a President – in Austin, Texas
Steven Spielberg is a ‘disgusting’ dinosaur hunter, Internet says
Steven Spielberg is a 'disgusting' dinosaur hunter, Internet says … [Read more...] about Steven Spielberg is a ‘disgusting’ dinosaur hunter, Internet says
This Week in Pantsuit Politics: Elizabeth Warren vs. Hillary Clinton, and an Ode to Harriet Harman
One need only look at the Oval Office to see that when it comes to politics, we've got a bit of a gender discrepancy. In this weekly Ravishly.com roundup, we focus on powerful political women in the news who are helping to break the proverbial glass ceiling of policy-making. Politicos, move aside. We bring you . . . politicas. Elizabeth WarrenWhile Elizabeth Warren has … [Read more...] about This Week in Pantsuit Politics: Elizabeth Warren vs. Hillary Clinton, and an Ode to Harriet Harman
The Cleveland Celebrezze Built Had Week Of triumph
JFK Library [icopyright one button toolbar] Historic Tidbit: When Abe Ribicoff stepped down as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1962, President Kennedy told an aide to replace him with “that little Italian from Cleveland.” The aide offered the position to Mayor Anthony Celebrezze. Some wonder if Kennedy meant Ohio’s Governor Mike DiSalle, though Bobby Kennedy … [Read more...] about The Cleveland Celebrezze Built Had Week Of triumph
Your Problem with Guns or Gays Is Not Political
[icopyright one button toolbar] Last month, I did something I’d done only once before: I went to a range and shot some guns. Lots of guns. All shapes, ages and sizes. This is a very strange thing to do for a guy born British. Guns feature nowhere in British culture. Accordingly, I was unsurprised by the reaction of my mother when I called home and told her that I’d … [Read more...] about Your Problem with Guns or Gays Is Not Political
Commonwealth Fund Study Demonstrates Success Of Affordable Care Act
Republicans have made multiple predictions of ways in which the Affordable Care Act would fail, and have been wrong on every one of them. They have claimed that no more people are insured now than before, that prices would skyrocket, that doctors would not accept people with Obamacare, and that so many people would seek medical care that there would be long waits due to … [Read more...] about Commonwealth Fund Study Demonstrates Success Of Affordable Care Act
Obama’s Actual Scorecard
Andrew Sullivan contrasts criticisms of the Obama administration's record with actual figures on The Daily Dish. The news narrative of the summer is the floundering of the president in any number of ginned-up stories: he “lost” the Middle East (as if that’s a bad thing); he’s created a crisis in illegal immigration (even though the bulk of the blame goes to a Bush-era law); … [Read more...] about Obama’s Actual Scorecard
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Republicans and Immigration
Republicans and Immigration by Mike Peters Of related interest: --Barack Obama goes after Republicans on immigration --Republicans Warn GOP About Political Perils Of Border Crisis Inaction --Republicans Embrace Bizarre Conspiracy That Obama Is Behind Immigrant Surge --GOP Congressman: Children At The Border Are Being Treated In A 'Lovely Way' --Republicans Demand … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Republicans and Immigration
An overriding need for reform now
WASHINGTON -- There's no objective need for President Obama to visit the Texas-Mexico border and see the immigration crisis first-hand, but he shouldn't have claimed that "I'm not interested in photo ops." The line about photo ops was so absurd that it's a good thing he wasn't under oath. Every president since Abraham Lincoln has been interested in photo ops. Posing for … [Read more...] about An overriding need for reform now
Immigrants and the Cootie Offense
Immigrants and the Cootie Offense By Tina Dupuy In September of 2011, a franchise of the Occupy Wall Street movement, set up camp on the steps of Los Angeles' iconic City Hall. The encampment was lauded by celebrities like Bill Maher and Tom Morello and embraced by politicians like Congresswoman Maxine Waters and then City Council President, Eric Garcetti. Garcetti, who'd … [Read more...] about Immigrants and the Cootie Offense
Cartoon: Boehner’s Mickey Mouse suit
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: Boehner’s Mickey Mouse suit
Emmy Awards 2014: The full list of nominees in the major categories
Republican Benghazi Conspiracy Theory Shot Down Again
[icopyright one button toolbar] Repeated investigations of Benghazi have debunked the Republican conspiracy theories but that doesn't keep Darrell Issa from continuing to try to find someone who will give testimony which agrees with him. Newly released testimony confirms yet again that his witch hunts have been failures as nine military officers disputed the common … [Read more...] about Republican Benghazi Conspiracy Theory Shot Down Again
America’s Growing ‘Hostility’ Toward German Democracy (Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany)
[icopyright one button toolbar] Germans are now having a conversation among themselves that, unless Washington tactically retreats on its policy of unrestrained mass surveillance, is sure to end badly for both countries. For the Frankfurter Rundschau, columnist Christian Schluter argues that Germans must begin putting relations with American into a completely different context … [Read more...] about America’s Growing ‘Hostility’ Toward German Democracy (Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany)
John Boehner to Sue President Obama Over Unilaterally Delaying Employer Mandate
The GOP clown car just keeps on rolling....Just when you think Congressional Republicans couldn't sink any lower with their obstructionist tactics, House Speaker John Boehner just outdid himself. He now plans to sue President Obama for not imposing the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act fast enough. Yes, fast enough. But wait, didn't we have a government shutdown led … [Read more...] about John Boehner to Sue President Obama Over Unilaterally Delaying Employer Mandate