In China "DL" stands for more than "Disabled list": Amber Alert is nearly 20 yars old on the Panchen Lama The View from the Virgin Islands By John F. McCarthy TMV Columnist Ever wonder why you see those “Free Tibet” bumper stickers on peoples’ cars? We have a few of them here – in St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands – where I live. For Liberals it … [Read more...] about The Boy Who Would Be Lama
V Is For Values
From time to time we see the lottery prizes soar into the hundreds of millions and we all have fun speculating about what we'd do if we won. But here is a little something to put life in perspective Do you have the following 4 things ? 1. Clothing (shirt/shoes/pants/socks) to wear each day 2. Food to eat every day (even enough to require you to go on a diet) 3. … [Read more...] about V Is For Values
“Open Internet” versus “Network Discrimination”: how the FCC could be like TSA
Using money to privilege convenience may be the American ethic. And it's a far cry from the egalitarianism exemplified in "all men are created equal." Look at the TSA and its "precheck" program, for example. With TSA precheck, you pay $85 and cough up your biometrics and an application for government review. If you don't have a prison record, you can probably get your own … [Read more...] about “Open Internet” versus “Network Discrimination”: how the FCC could be like TSA
Cartoon: Bundy
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: Bundy
The court stacks the deck
WASHINGTON -- Affirmative action has opened doors for disadvantaged minorities and made this a fairer, more equal society. The Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts apparently wants no more of that. This week's big ruling -- upholding a Michigan state constitutional amendment that bans public universities from considering race in admissions -- claims to leave … [Read more...] about The court stacks the deck
Yes, Mr. Steiner, Am Yisrael Chai!
Yes, Mr. Steiner, Am Yisrael Chai! By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — The coming observance of Yom Ha-Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, does not immediately bring to mind a global conflagration, nor the death camps, nor even the dreadful image of barbed wire. I first remember an old man. As a child in Israel, I lived naturally and comfortably with survivors of … [Read more...] about Yes, Mr. Steiner, Am Yisrael Chai!
Cartoon: Fox and Foul Friend
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: Fox and Foul Friend
Ukraine: U.S. Is ‘Teed-up’ for More Sanctions
As Russia conducts new “military drills” near the Ukraine border, and after Putin issued new threats of “consequences” and warned that “if the Kiev regime has started to use the army against the population inside the country, it, beyond any doubt, is a very serious crime," President Obama in Tokyo said that the United States is "teed up" to impose further sanctions on Russia if … [Read more...] about Ukraine: U.S. Is ‘Teed-up’ for More Sanctions
Sean Hannity Slams Cliven Bundy’s Slavery Comment as “Beyond Despicable”
Nevada cattle rancher Cliven Bundy's strongest advocate, Sean Hannity, vehemently expressed his disgust at his remarks about slavery. Hannity said Bundy's comments "are beyond repugnant to me. They are beyond despicable to me. They are beyond ignorant to me." This is coming from the same person who had no issues with Bundy's pals pointing weapons at federal agents. Of … [Read more...] about Sean Hannity Slams Cliven Bundy’s Slavery Comment as “Beyond Despicable”
Beutler on 2014 Election
Brian Beutler critiques the 2014 GOP election strategy pushing repeal of Obamacare in The New Republic. The Democrats' working theory of 2014 is that they must minimize presidential election drop-off among young people, ethnic minorities, and single women. Get the Obama coalition back to the polls one last time, or at least split the difference between a typical campaign with … [Read more...] about Beutler on 2014 Election
Putin calls Internet ‘CIA project’
Putin calls Internet 'CIA project' (via AFP) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called the Internet a "CIA project" and warned Russians against making Google searches. Putin assured a group of young journalists that the Internet was controlled from the start by the CIA and its surveillance… … [Read more...] about Putin calls Internet ‘CIA project’
Twitter conservatives defend Cliven Bundy’s ‘Negro’ remarks, but also demand video proof
Twitter conservatives defend Cliven Bundy’s ‘Negro’ remarks, but also demand video proof (via Raw Story ) As conservative politicians and commentators rushed to distance themselves from Cliven Bundy’s plainly racist remarks, Twitter conservatives offered their defense of the scofflaw rancher. Some supporters accused media liberals of playing the race… … [Read more...] about Twitter conservatives defend Cliven Bundy’s ‘Negro’ remarks, but also demand video proof
Cliven Bundy wonders if blacks were ‘better off as slaves’: Republican supporters start fleeing (UPDATED)
More responsible Republicans are now starting to flee. Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, the rancher who refused to pay grazing fees, suggested he'd violently resist if the feds showed up to try and coerce him or touch his land or property, made comments in a New York Times interview that even one of cows would look at and say: "Those comments are racist!" (UPDATE: Bundy is … [Read more...] about Cliven Bundy wonders if blacks were ‘better off as slaves’: Republican supporters start fleeing (UPDATED)
New CBO Report Shows Medicaid Expansion Is A Better Deal For The States Than Previously Predicted
The trend continues. We have seen predictions regarding costs and benefits of the Affordable Care Act and then receive further data which shows that Obamacare is working even better than expected. The latest news comes from a new Congressional Budget Office report on Medicaid expansion. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates released last week show that health reform’s … [Read more...] about New CBO Report Shows Medicaid Expansion Is A Better Deal For The States Than Previously Predicted
Mary Poppins: The Prototype
For the majority of my life I have straight up ignored what many critics call ‘classic Disney’ movies. With the exception of Bambi, I had never fallen in love with any Disney film that was made before 1991. But lately, I have made an effort to watch the golden oldies from Disney and the majority of the time I have been left utterly awe-struck. My wife bought me Cinderella … [Read more...] about Mary Poppins: The Prototype
U Is For Underdog
Today we are to the letter U and I thought I would go lightly with Underdog, a childhood favorite of many. As much as we enjoy our cartoons when we are young I suspect in many ways we enjoy them more as adults, or at least the memory of them. For me there is still that memory of Saturday morning cartoons... Super Friends and Scooby Doo, The Laffalympics and others. So … [Read more...] about U Is For Underdog
The Retro World of Vladimir Putin
So much for the hope that a new, democratic, non-confrontational Russia would emerge in the 21st century -- hopes that began on Nov. 9, 1989 when Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev took up President Ronald Reagan's challenge and tore down that 30-year-old Berlin wall. Increasingly, some pundits, analysts and policy makers face a tough choice. Should they say Russian … [Read more...] about The Retro World of Vladimir Putin
Choice and affirmative action
One of the great things about being a "liberal" is that you get to choose what to believe in. Oh, I know: in the '60's and '70's, many liberals didn't like other liberals making up their own minds about key issues. The embrace of "choice" often didn't include unorthodox beliefs. Affirmative action may one of the hangovers of that era. Coming back to America from a long … [Read more...] about Choice and affirmative action
A Dilemma We Shouldn’t Be Facing In 2014
[facebook] A Dilemma We Shouldn’t Be Facing In 2014 By Victoria Turecamo Earlier this month the Paycheck Fairness Act failed to acquire the necessary votes to pass through the U.S. Senate. Supporters emphasized this act was just one more step towards giving women the tools they need to ensure they are being fairly compensated for their work, while opponents attacked the … [Read more...] about A Dilemma We Shouldn’t Be Facing In 2014
Tennessee Governor Blanton The Most Mischievous of “Mischief Makers”
Historic Tidbit: As he was carrying out his ill-fated pardons, Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton summoned Secretary of State Gentry Crowell to his office to witness his signature. In doing so, he noted that what he was doing "takes guts." Crowell replied, "Yeah, well, some people have more guts than brains." My first volume of "Statesmen and Mischief Makers," features … [Read more...] about Tennessee Governor Blanton The Most Mischievous of “Mischief Makers”