Mortals on the high court by Ruth Marcus Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- "We are not final because we are infallible," Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson famously observed, "but we are infallible only because we are final." Now -- actually, six decades later -- comes Justice Antonin Scalia to demonstrate that neither aspect of … [Read more...] about Mortals on the high court
Odessa violence flares anew as Kiev blames deaths on Russia
Odessa violence flares anew as Kiev blames deaths on Russia (via AFP) Thousands of pro-Russian protesters attacked Odessa's police headquarters Sunday, days after deadly clashes and a fire there killed dozens of their comrades in what Kiev charged was a Russian plot to "destroy Ukraine". The unrest in the southern port… … [Read more...] about Odessa violence flares anew as Kiev blames deaths on Russia
Cartoon: Peeved Packy
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: Peeved Packy
What is an Ethnic Russian?
Are they anything but a pretext for the re-creation of Novorossiya by Putin? National Geographic has an interesting article on this issue. For one thing, the question of exactly what constitutes an ethnic Russian isn't exactly clear cut. As one policy expert notes in the article: "First of all, what constitutes 'ethnic Russians' in Ukraine?" asks Stephen Blank, a … [Read more...] about What is an Ethnic Russian?
Friedman on Obama’s Foreign Policy
Thomas Friedman offers a smart take on President Obama's foreign policy in The New York Times. Let me start by asking a question I’ve asked about other countries: Is American foreign policy today the way it is because Obama is the way he is (cerebral, cautious, dispassionate) or is Obama the way Obama is on foreign policy because America is the way America is today (burned … [Read more...] about Friedman on Obama’s Foreign Policy
How the Philippines is crushing the Indian call center business
How the Philippines is crushing the Indian call center business (via GlobalPost) BANGKOK, Thailand — It’s a call center cliche, familiar to many Americans who’ve picked up phones to contest bogus bank charges or gripe about a laptop on the skids. The agent who answers goes by a common US name, perhaps Larry or Jennifer. Yet… … [Read more...] about How the Philippines is crushing the Indian call center business
No facts, please. We just want the news.
Fox News Cuts Away From Obama Press Conference Because No One Asked About Benghazi Headline,DailyIntel Cross-posted from Prairie Weather 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 No facts, please. We just want the news.
This Week in Hillary-World: Feeling the Heat from Both Sides of the Aisle
This Week in Hillary-World: Feeling the Heat from Both Sides of the Aisle by NikkiGloudeman Each week, we explore Hillary Clinton's universe, gleaning insights from rumor-mongers, pundits, pollsters, political writers 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 … [Read more...] about This Week in Hillary-World: Feeling the Heat from Both Sides of the Aisle
Japanese fans complain local hero Godzilla too fat
Japanese fans complain local hero Godzilla too fat (via AFP) Japanese fans of Godzilla say the newly-unveiled monster, set to star in a Hollywood reboot of the post-war classic, is too fat and has been "super-sized" by a country used to large portions. The latest version of the giant beast will hit 3D screens… … [Read more...] about Japanese fans complain local hero Godzilla too fat
Watch Comedy: Obama wows ’em at White House Correspondent’s Dinner (FULL VIDEO)
Once again President Barack Obama wowed 'em as he assumed the role of Comedian In Chief at the White House Correspondent's Dinner -- a dinner where newspeople mix with politicians and celebrities and the highlight is always the political zingers. And Obama delivered a lot of them. Here's the full video of his remarks and YOU decide: Of course, when a President gets up … [Read more...] about Watch Comedy: Obama wows ’em at White House Correspondent’s Dinner (FULL VIDEO)
A Floating Nuclear Power Plant?
There are bad ideas and then there are really bad ideas. This qualifies as a really bad idea: (via Andrew Sullivan) Researchers find advantages in floating nuclear power stations THERE are many things people do not want to be built in their backyard, and nuclear power stations are high on the list. But what if floating reactors could be moored offshore, out of sight? … [Read more...] about A Floating Nuclear Power Plant?
Condoleezza Rice Cancels Rutgers Commencement Speech Over Student Protests
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice canceled her commencement address at Rutgers University after students and some faculty members protested her appearance. Rice said in a statement Saturday that she informed Rutgers President Robert Barchi that she was declining the invitation. “Commencement should be a time of joyous celebration for the graduates and their … [Read more...] about Condoleezza Rice Cancels Rutgers Commencement Speech Over Student Protests
Republican Benghazi Truthers Go Wild In Preparation For Midterm Elections
What do the Republicans do when the Affordable Care Act is exceeding expectations, their latest lies have been exposed, and there are no real scandals for them to attack with? Benghazi. Sure it has been investigated over and over again with nothing coming up, but that doesn't matter. Politics, especially in a year with a midterm election, is all about firing up the base to get … [Read more...] about Republican Benghazi Truthers Go Wild In Preparation For Midterm Elections
Fox News Fan Says Obamacare Saved His Life
Fox News Fan Says Obamacare Saved His Life By Dick Polman Dean Angstadt, a self-employed logger with a bad heart, says it's really quite simple: If he hadn't signed up for Obamacare when his life was on the line, if instead he had continued to heed the lies on Fox News, he "probably would have ended up falling over dead." For the Obamacare haters, this kind of real-life … [Read more...] about Fox News Fan Says Obamacare Saved His Life
Some History
In a comment over at OTB I said that I was fortunate enough to have "salted away" enough money for my retirement. So what is the source of the phrase salted away? In the days before refrigeration they used to soak meat, especially fish in brine to preserve it for the long winter months. This is why Gmunden, Austria became a center of civilization, they had both fish and … [Read more...] about Some History
Rush Limbaugh’s New Low: says CNN’s Don Lemon “sleeps with men, proudly”
It's hard to believe that conservative talk show titan Rush Limbaugh could hit a new low. But, yes, he proves periodically that he can sink lower in terms of taste, playing into the hands of those who consider talk radio "hate radio," and making comments that denigrate or insult groups to which he doesn't belong. And, most assuredly, dissing anyone who doesn't have an "R" in … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh’s New Low: says CNN’s Don Lemon “sleeps with men, proudly”
Could Obama’s Hedging On Keystone Be Stunt To Aid Landrieu
On Good Friday, the Obama administration announced that it was again delaying a decision on the controversial Keystone Pipeline. The reason cited was ongoing litigation in Nebraska. But because the concept of this project has been ongoing for some time for five years, I had a theory. Could Obama’s indecision be a ploy to help Congressional candidates this fall? Specifically, I … [Read more...] about Could Obama’s Hedging On Keystone Be Stunt To Aid Landrieu
NATO ‘Never Promised’ Not to Expand Eastward (Novaya Gazeta, Russia)
Critical thinking in the Russian print media is certainly not dead. Here are two columns recently translated from the Russian press that run counter to the Kremlin narrative. First, NATO 'Never Promised' Not to Expand Eastward from the Novaya Gazeta, and then Ukraine Crisis: Russia Cannot Dispense with the Dollar from the Komsomolskaya Pravda. So did NATO ever promise the … [Read more...] about NATO ‘Never Promised’ Not to Expand Eastward (Novaya Gazeta, Russia)
Winning streak for Obama
A winning streak for Obama...... and for the Congressional Budget Office which predicted accurately the success of Obamacare during its first open enrollment period. 12.8 million is the number. Around 13 million was the prediction. So much for Republican denialistas. While we're at it, let's note that unemployment has dropped to about a percentage point short of what is … [Read more...] about Winning streak for Obama
No humane way to die
WASHINGTON -- No one who supports the death penalty should have the slightest problem with the way Clayton Lockett died. Lockett, a convicted murderer, spent 43 minutes in apparent agony Tuesday night as the state of Oklahoma tried to execute him by injecting an untested cocktail of drugs. Instead of quickly losing consciousness, he writhed in obvious distress and … [Read more...] about No humane way to die