Commenting on a Ron Chusid piece on how Republican Benghazi truthers are going wild in preparation for the midterm elections, our Steve K. shares with us his growing-up with a Republican Dad when that Party was still “honorable, honest, and caring.” Steve became a Democrat “or at least a progressive liberal that agrees most often with Democrats” when Bill Clinton was running … [Read more...] about Why Did You Switch to the Republican Party?
It’s Any Somebody’s Horse Race in 2016
Why Jeb Bush Won’t Run 4 The Triple Crown A Clinton Always Beats A Bush The View From The Virgin Islands By John McCarthy TMV Columnist The skull and bones have been rolled. The die has been cast – and Jeb Bush is definitely running in 2016 – or is he? And even if he is, as Ronald Reagan once said: “you can run, but you can’t hide” (from your brother and your … [Read more...] about It’s Any Somebody’s Horse Race in 2016
What Happened To Free Speech ?
A couple of recent stories have set me to pondering if people in the US today truly understand the idea of free speech. Last month a series of protests in Oklahoma forced Attorney General Eric Holder to cancel a planned speech to the graduation class of the Oklahoma City police academy. The protesters objected to Holder because of his views on gun control, his perceived … [Read more...] about What Happened To Free Speech ?
Lara Logan and 60 Minutes
Last November I did a couple of posts on the CBS, 60 Minutes story on Benghazi, The CBS Benghazi Story and The CBS Benghazi Story, Part II. As I pointed out at the time the story was based almost entirely on a book by Dylan Davies, an independent contractor in Libya, that was being published by CBS subsidiary Simon & Schuster’s conservative book imprint, Threshold … [Read more...] about Lara Logan and 60 Minutes
Supreme Court Upholds Prayer At Public Meetings
The US Supreme Court has voted 5-4 to uphold prayer at public meetings. The case stemmed from the town of Greece, New York (details here) and their practice of having a brief prayer before each town council meeting. The majority cited precedent which stated that because prayer before government meetings has been a tradition since before the Revolution it was acceptable. … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Upholds Prayer At Public Meetings
Learn Russian in 2 Weeks! (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2014/05/05/learn-russian-in-2-weeks/ Copyright 2014 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Learn Russian in 2 Weeks! (Cartoon)
SciFi Weekend: Hannibal; Orphan Black; Agents of SHIELD; Arrow; The Americans; Fargo; The Big Bang Theory
Nako-Choko began as an extension of last week's episode of Hannibal in which Will Graham was placed in a position where he was forced to kill. There were other events including first seeing Mason Verger and viewing parallel sex scenes. One involved Will and Margot Verger and the other was between Hannibal and Alana Bloom, morphed into a threesome. Freddie Lounds was … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Hannibal; Orphan Black; Agents of SHIELD; Arrow; The Americans; Fargo; The Big Bang Theory
Does ‘Game of Thrones’ Glorify Sexual Violence? What Do You Think?
The issue of sexual assault in general and rape specifically is getting a long overdue airing in the mainstream media. Like virtually anything of social consequence, its time in the spotlight will pass, but in the meantime we -- or at least people weary of the issue being marginalized and the women who raise the issue not being taken seriously -- can be grateful for a … [Read more...] about Does ‘Game of Thrones’ Glorify Sexual Violence? What Do You Think?
The 2014 White House Correspondents’ Dinner–Full Video And Best Lines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rItO_UgaTM Above is the video of Barack Obama at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Full transcript is here and excerpts follow: I admit it — last year was rough. Sheesh. At one point things got so bad, the 47 percent called Mitt Romney to apologize. Of course, we rolled out healthcare.gov. That could have gone better. In 2008 my … [Read more...] about The 2014 White House Correspondents’ Dinner–Full Video And Best Lines
Pew: Midterm Election Indicators Working Against Democrats
There are increasing signs that the mid-term elections are the Republican Party's to lose. The latest: a national survey by the Pew Research Center and USA TODAY that show midterm election indicators are working against the Democrats. And this is an election when Democrats can't count on having a hugely popular President to ride in and save the day: With the midterm … [Read more...] about Pew: Midterm Election Indicators Working Against Democrats
Barack Macbeth’s ‘Murder’ of Net Neutrality (News, Switzerland)
To what degree does the Obama Administration reversal on net neutrality resemble a Shakespearean tragedy? For Switzerland's News, Regula Stampfli depicts President Obama in the role of Macbeth, after his FCC chairman, Tom Wheeler, attempted to persuade the American people, unsuccessfully so far, that this monumental change in policy is somehow in their interests. For News, … [Read more...] about Barack Macbeth’s ‘Murder’ of Net Neutrality (News, Switzerland)
Louisiana aims to punish the homeless by making it illegal to beg
Oh, you're a homeless person? Well, screw you. That's not me saying that, it's the State of Louisiana, which is about to punish those who live on the streets, among others: If you are poor, live in Louisiana, and have the audacity ask someone else for help, be prepared to spend up to six months in jail. A new bill to outlaw panhandling is quickly moving its way … [Read more...] about Louisiana aims to punish the homeless by making it illegal to beg
Cartoon: The GOP and Donald Sterling (Guest Cartoonist)
The GOP and Donald Sterling by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --GOP consensus on voter ID doesn't make it right -- Richard Maxwell --Wisconsin threw out voter ID Tuesday. It’s a fight still playing out in 12 other states. --Welcome to the beginning of the end of the GOP's voter-imposter performance --The Battle to Protect Voting Rights Mike Peters is recognized … [Read more...] about Cartoon: The GOP and Donald Sterling (Guest Cartoonist)
The Hillary Difference
WASHINGTON -- There are two majorities in the country right now. One disapproves of President Obama. The other is still inclined to vote Democratic. The key question for the 2014 elections is whether voting this fall -- and Obama's approval ratings -- can come into line with the electorate's broader Democratic leanings? There is also this: Obama's difficulties do not … [Read more...] about The Hillary Difference
Cartoon: Benghazi Cover-up Rat
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: Benghazi Cover-up Rat
The Future of Rural Telecom
This is a very good article about the quandary facing the state of Maine when it comes to how to cover the additional costs of providing service to rural areas in the modern era of telecom, which is very different than that world was when universal service requirements were created. The article presents arguments from the sides involved in what seems to me to be a fairly even … [Read more...] about The Future of Rural Telecom
Mortals on the high court
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?