Iran offers help if US acts against Iraq militants (via AFP) Shiite Iran offered Saturday to consider working with longtime foe the United States if it takes the lead in helping push back Sunni Arab militants, who have seized a swathe of northern Iraq. The offer came as Iraqi commanders said the army had recaptured… … [Read more...] about Iran offers help if US acts against militants in Iraq
Cartoon: Guns and the Weather Report
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: Guns and the Weather Report
This Week in Hillary-World: Tepid Book Reviews, a Gaffe and a Heated Exchange
Each week, Ravishly.com explores Hillary Clinton's universe to provide a round-up of the week's most compelling news, offering analysis on media commentary, punditry, polling and more. Yes, the election is still a bazillion years away, but when it comes to the story of the potential first female president ever, it's never too early to start the conversation.Hillary's Big Deal … [Read more...] about This Week in Hillary-World: Tepid Book Reviews, a Gaffe and a Heated Exchange
Review of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Traveling Production at The 5th Avenue Theatre
The national touring company version of the recent Tony Award winning revival of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess has reached the 5th Avenue Theatre. If you desire to hear powerful melodic voices sing haunting harmonies and melodies within a surprisingly complex musical drama, then buy a ticket before Porgy and Bess leave town. The choreography of Porgy and Bess is understated but … [Read more...] about Review of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Traveling Production at The 5th Avenue Theatre
Republican Extremism And The Weakness Of Republican Leadership
The victory of David Brat over Eric Cantor was momentarily a cause for celebration, but the long term results might not be so favorable. Norm Ornstein warns that this will lead to further radicalization of the Republican Party: First, it is clear that this moves the Republican Party even further to the right, in approach, attitude and rhetoric. Even if the overwhelming … [Read more...] about Republican Extremism And The Weakness Of Republican Leadership
My Evergreen Column About the Latest Mass Shooting
My Evergreen Column About the Latest Mass Shooting By Tina Dupuy My condolences go out to the families of the victims at fill-in-the-blank. I know the gun-manufacturing industrial complex has dubbed the wake of a tragedy as an inappropriate time to talk about their product. So lets just eulogize the lives of the people lost to a fill-in-the-blank with his/her/their … [Read more...] about My Evergreen Column About the Latest Mass Shooting
Mud: All you need is love
There was a time when Matthew McConaughey’s name being attached to a film was enough for me to wipe it from my consciousness completely. The man has just been involved with too many films which have made me steaming angry – I actually paid to watch Sahara and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Paid actual money! But I haven’t seen a career rehabilitation like the one McConaughey … [Read more...] about Mud: All you need is love
(UPDATE IV) How Should The U.S. Respond To The Iraq Crisis? Are Air Strikes Now Inevitable?
ISIS militants celebrate capture of U.S. vehicle from Iraqi Army I would like to personally thank George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. I would like to thank them for creating the conditions that have led to the probability that militants will successfully establish an Islamist ministate straddling Syria and Iraq, which will further destabilize the most unstable … [Read more...] about (UPDATE IV) How Should The U.S. Respond To The Iraq Crisis? Are Air Strikes Now Inevitable?
Sullivan on Iraq
Andrew Sullivan argues against US intervention in Iraq on The Daily Dish. Does its disintegration mean more peril for the US? We cannot know. But right now, it is a classic battleground for the ancient Shia-Sunni religious war still raging in the Middle East – with Iran and Saudi Arabia deep in the conflict. We have and must have no dog in that fight. And if we were to … [Read more...] about Sullivan on Iraq
When Will Republican Leaders Fight Back Against the Tea Party?
George W. Bush's former speechwriter David Frum has been consistent in his constant call for the Republican Party to try and offer a bigger tent. And in his no-holds-barred criticism of Rush Limbaugh and the conservative entertainment political industry due to the way they have led and often mislead the once proud Republican Party, conservatives who were once considered … [Read more...] about When Will Republican Leaders Fight Back Against the Tea Party?
A Hard Reign’s Gonna Fall
The perils of playing tin god? Tin gods tend to have tin ears. [2017 NOTE: Illustrations removed due to copyright questions. GWB note is White House photo, and, thus, Public Domain. You paid for it, in other words.] George W. Bush: mission accomplished ... Congress that enabled him? Well, election's coming ... And so, having invaded a sovereign nation to kill one man … [Read more...] about A Hard Reign’s Gonna Fall
US mulls ‘all options’ as militants move nearer Baghdad
US mulls 'all options' as militants move nearer Baghdad (via AFP) Jihadists moved nearer to Baghdad Thursday after capturing a town just hours to the north, as President Barack Obama said Washington was exploring all options to save Iraq's security forces from collapse. With the militants closing in on the capital… … [Read more...] about US mulls ‘all options’ as militants move nearer Baghdad
David Brat’s Views On Economics And Religion
The surprising defeat of Eric Cantor on Tuesday appears to be largely due to the personal faults on Cantor's part along with possible preference for the more extremist views of David Brat, despite Cantor's dishonest ads calling him a liberal college professor. It does not appear that cross over Democratic voters had a meaningful impact on the results. Cantor's problems appear … [Read more...] about David Brat’s Views On Economics And Religion
Ornstein: Cantor’s Defeat and Brat’s Rise Means a More Extreme GOP
The political "earthquake" caused by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s primary defeat at the hands of Tea Party challenger Dave Brat has not yet settled down, but some already see evident damage: moderates will be weaker than ever and the Republican Party will become more extreme and even less (if that is possible) prone to compromise. Norm Ornstein, resident scholar at the … [Read more...] about Ornstein: Cantor’s Defeat and Brat’s Rise Means a More Extreme GOP
Cantor’s Defeat Doesn’t Bode Well for Progress
Something virtually unprecedented has occurred in our country. Tea Party candidate David Brat defeated Eric Cantor, Republican House Majority Leader, for the party's nomination in Virginia's 7th district. For most of the campaign, Cantor appeared to be a shoe-in for the party nomination. He spent a great deal more money on his campaign and already held a position of power … [Read more...] about Cantor’s Defeat Doesn’t Bode Well for Progress
The ‘Nazi Stench’ and U.S. ‘Fascism’ (La Jornada, Mexico)
When your government carries out untold numbers of coups and military interventions abroad without the consent of the people, often based on false allegations, when the law allows the military to capture and indefinitely detain citizens without due process of law, and well-connected multinational firms effectively own your elected representatives, what do you call it? For … [Read more...] about The ‘Nazi Stench’ and U.S. ‘Fascism’ (La Jornada, Mexico)
Juan Carlos’ Courageous Reign in Spain
Many Americans probably yawned when they saw the news that Spain's King Juan Carlos decided to abdicate the throne in favor of his son, Prince Felipe. But they should have been in awe of the King's name. He's a historical figure who displayed guts despite personal danger in helping modern-day Spain become a democracy. The reign in Spain has been anything but plain. On two … [Read more...] about Juan Carlos’ Courageous Reign in Spain
Cartoon: Student Loan Debt
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: Student Loan Debt
The Brat Win in Virginia
Gingrich explains Brat win in Virginia “What the Republican establishment and the Chamber of Commerce don’t understand is that there’s a large element of America that wants a fight,” said former Speaker Newt Gingrich. “If you’re a conservative, you think Barack Obama is literally destroying the country you love. And you watch your leadership and they seem unwilling to … [Read more...] about The Brat Win in Virginia
Wordsmiths
A brief non political post and I will mostly do those in the future. In my 68 years I have been a spy, a scientist and an engineer. But I have always loved and appreciated literature. There are authors and writers and then there are wordsmiths - craftsmen of the English language. They are rare but I have three special favorites. Alduos Huxley is the first, in addition to … [Read more...] about Wordsmiths