Has Vladimir Putin managed to re-glue the American-German alliance? Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung columnist Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger writes that the 're-Sovietization' of Russia has shown that the West depends on U.S.-German cooperation, which makes qualms over surveillance and the Iraq War seem far less significant than they did a few weeks ago. For the Frankfurter … [Read more...] about America and Germany: The ‘Axis of Pragmatism’ (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany)
The Downside of Democracy (3)
During the 20th and 21st centuries, democracy was imposed through the force of arms in Japan, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan. The adoption of a democratic form of government also occurred in a number of nations in Eastern Europe and Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In South America, military dictatorships were transformed into democracies in Brazil, Argentina, and … [Read more...] about The Downside of Democracy (3)
Poll: Polarization gains ground as a good thing
Poll numbers for Congress and President Barack Obama may be heading south but a USA TODAY/Bipartisan Policy Center poll finds one thing is gaining lots of ground in popularity as a good thing: polarization. Yes, the polarization that in American politics was once seen as a negative because it made it harder to reach consensus that created policies having a larger base of … [Read more...] about Poll: Polarization gains ground as a good thing
MH 370: We May Not Know Why/Where, But We Know True Self
On The Wings of Cranes If this is what is, if this is what it comes to if any living soul can recover any identifiable piece of anything belonging to the silver bird or to the souls aboard, a seat cushion, an ear bud, a wallet, a cell phone, a pacifier, a hearing aide, a cane, a bra, a baseball cap-- that ---that kind of 'I know that item belonged to my loved … [Read more...] about MH 370: We May Not Know Why/Where, But We Know True Self
Keep Bossy, Ban Pink Ribboning (Guest Voice)
Keep Bossy, Ban Pink Ribboning By Tina Dupuy "Lean In" Author and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's campaign to cheer young girls to participate launched last week. Sandberg claims little boys get called leaders and for the same behavior little girls are branded as bossy. "Together we can encourage girls to lead. Pledge to Ban Bossy," reads the site. It's only a word that's … [Read more...] about Keep Bossy, Ban Pink Ribboning (Guest Voice)
Global Financial Crisis a Ticking Time Bomb (Guest Voice)
A video by William Black on what caused the global financial crisis—and why it is a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off again. by Robert Coutinho Professor Black teaches at University of Missouri, Kansas City. He was one of the regulators who investigated the Savings and Loan crisis of 1984, and he also helped to eliminate similar fraud back in 1990-1991. He talks … [Read more...] about Global Financial Crisis a Ticking Time Bomb (Guest Voice)
Flight MH370: What Is Next?
Now that the consensus is that Flight 370 crashed in the Indian Ocean, west of Perth, Australia, the next steps -- after ascertaining that any retrieved debris does in fact belong to the ill-fated airliner -- will be to attempt to retrieve the flight recorder and to hopefully locate the fuselage. These tasks will not be easy, as the search will take place in waters that … [Read more...] about Flight MH370: What Is Next?
Democrats still waiting for positive Obamacare bounce
One of the biggest shocks and disappointments for Democrats is that the positive bounce from Obamacare that many Democrats had expected has never come. They're still waiting after four years: Democrats have been waiting for ObamaCare to become popular for four years. And counting. Congressional leaders and senior White House advisers have been saying since 2010 that … [Read more...] about Democrats still waiting for positive Obamacare bounce
G7 kicks Russia out of G8 over Ukraine crisis
G7 snubs Russia summit over Ukraine crisis (via AFP) The G7 group of top economic powers on Monday scrapped a planned meeting to be hosted by Russia as they sought to deepen Moscow's isolation over the Ukraine crisis. After emergency talks called by US President Barack Obama, the G7 said they would hold… … [Read more...] about G7 kicks Russia out of G8 over Ukraine crisis
Paul Ryan Is Our Generation’s Bob Dole
Paul Ryan is running for president in 2016 because he's running for president in 2024. That is a simple fact. Ryan knows he can't win the nomination in 2016 -- the last time a losing VP candidate was nominated in the succeeding presidential cycle was Walter Mondale in 1984, and Mondale had at least been vice president. Ryan knows that he won't even be on the ticket in 2016 … [Read more...] about Paul Ryan Is Our Generation’s Bob Dole
Notoriety Pays In America: Anthony Weiner Gets Business Insider Political Column
Notoriety pays off in 21st century America. Business Insider has proudly announced that former Representative and unsuccessful New York Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner is their newest political columnist. Despite the official announcements, it's clear Weiner is getting the column because he's a controversial personality. He'll let it all hang out in a column titled … [Read more...] about Notoriety Pays In America: Anthony Weiner Gets Business Insider Political Column
The Paler the West, the More Luminous Vladimir Putin (Die Zeit, Germany)
Highlighting many of the fault lines in Germany when it comes to deciding how to punish Vladimir Putin for 'invading' Crimea, Die Zeit, columnist Michael Thumann criticizes those who have sympathy for Putin's position on Ukraine as people who love Russia, but don't really understand it; love romantic old Russia - which no longer exists; are anti-American and anti-Europe, and … [Read more...] about The Paler the West, the More Luminous Vladimir Putin (Die Zeit, Germany)
(Breaking Update) Flight MH370: The Satellite Eyes (May) Have It
Breaking Update: Both the New York Times and Washington Post are reporting on an announcement by the prime minister of Malaysia that there is no longer any doubt that the missing Malaysian Airlines jetliner, Flight 370, crashed in the Indian Ocean and that the new data shows the plane’s last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth, Australia, far from … [Read more...] about (Breaking Update) Flight MH370: The Satellite Eyes (May) Have It
Ukraine fears Russia ‘ready to attack
Ukraine fears Russia 'ready to attack' (via AFP) Ukraine's Western-backed leaders voiced fears of an imminent Russian invasion of the industrial heartland, as NATO's top commander warned of a "very sizeable" Russian troop presence on Ukraine's eastern border. The warnings came a day after Kremlin… … [Read more...] about Ukraine fears Russia ‘ready to attack
The Beyond Shameful & Brilliantly Successful Republican Lie Machine
FORMER AUSTRIAN HOUSE PAINTER AND MOUTHPIECE Since the election of Barack Obama in 2008, the Republican Party has forsworn governance for something it believes to be far more effective -- lying. The party has lied consistently and unapologetically about matters large and small, whether in grossly mischaracterizing the president and his policy initiatives or in … [Read more...] about The Beyond Shameful & Brilliantly Successful Republican Lie Machine
100 million new voters are about to transform India
100 million new voters are about to transform India (via GlobalPost) NEW DELHI, India — With only a few weeks until India elects its next prime minister, the country’s “demographic dividend” — the young people who provide its best hope of becoming a major economic power — is about to become its democratic… … [Read more...] about 100 million new voters are about to transform India
Health care’s real stakes
WASHINGTON -- You never get a second chance to make a first impression. But at the end of this month, the new health care law will get a third chance to make a decent impression -- finally. Everyone who believes that reducing economic insecurity requires a strong government role in guaranteeing health insurance to all Americans should take advantage of this opportunity. … [Read more...] about Health care’s real stakes
Is Putin using the Russian Mafia as muscle?
Is Russian President Vladimir Putin using the Russian Mafia as muscle in his takeover of the Crimea -- and perhaps poised to use it against the Ukraine? Jamie Dettmir, writing in The Daily Beast, has a must-read piece that suggests he is Here's a small part of it: Before and since Russia’s move to annex the Crimea, many who favor the pro-European government in Kiev … [Read more...] about Is Putin using the Russian Mafia as muscle?
Death of a Hero: Adolfo Suarez, a founding father of modern Spain, dies
It won't get monster headlines here in the United States, but we're giving him his due here. Adolfo Suarez, Spain's first post-Franco Prime Minister who's now recognized as one of the founding fathers of modern Spain has died. He was 81 and is an example of a life well spent. He was someone who tried to tap, capture and use something that had been in short supply Spain: … [Read more...] about Death of a Hero: Adolfo Suarez, a founding father of modern Spain, dies
A Sunday Thought on Suffering
Matthew Sitman ponders the meaning of suffering as revealed in the film "Gravity" on The Daily Dish. The Christian vision is one in which suffering is real and terrible but not, ultimately, the deepest element of our lives. Our hope is that there’s a goodness and love more enduring than our trials and tribulations that, paradoxically, suffering actually can reveal. This is not … [Read more...] about A Sunday Thought on Suffering