Why did President Obama decide last week, in the midst of the Ukraine crisis, to cut the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal four years earlier than required under the 2010 NEW Start Treaty? For Italy's Libero Quotidiano, columnist Glauco Maggi writes that not only are most E.U. leaders on Putin's side, but President Obama 'is a left-wing ideologue, a slave to a pacifism divorced from … [Read more...] about Obama ‘Turns the Nuclear Cheek’ To Vladimir Putin (Libero Quotidiano, Italy)
To Beat Putin, West Needs Armor, Not Empathy (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany)
Does historical fear explain German 'understanding' for Vladimir Putin's behavior in Ukraine? For the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, columnist Volker Zastrow challenges the idea that Moscow is justifiably indignant after NATO broke its promise not to expand NATO, and warns that hand-wringing and 'false empathy' will do nothing to address the security problem Russia represents. … [Read more...] about To Beat Putin, West Needs Armor, Not Empathy (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany)
The Real Threat
The events at the Cliven Bundy ranch in Nevada and the horrible killings in Kansas City have once again reminded us of the threat posed by right wing extremists in the United states. But are they a greater threat than the Islamic terrorists? Peter Bergen thinks so: In fact, since 9/11 extremists affiliated with a variety of far-right wing ideologies, including white … [Read more...] about The Real Threat
Please Take A Moment To Meet Ashol-Pan
The next time you're feeling chuff about that backyard barbeque you put together all by your lonesome, breaking 250 in league bowling, or that honor roll student child who you're convinced is destined for an Ivy League school, please pause for a moment and take a brief trip to the other side of the planet to meet a girl by the name of Ashol-Pan. Ashol-Pan is a Kazakh who … [Read more...] about Please Take A Moment To Meet Ashol-Pan
Bill O’Reilly: Conservatives won’t watch Stephen Colbert on the ‘Late Show’
Bill O'Reilly: Conservatives won't watch Stephen Colbert on the 'Late Show' (via NJ.com) The conservative campaign against Stephen Colbert is just getting started. Days after radio host Rush Limbaugh described David Letterman's replacement as a threat to "traditional American values," Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has predicted conservatives… … [Read more...] about Bill O’Reilly: Conservatives won’t watch Stephen Colbert on the ‘Late Show’
Kyle White To Be Awarded Medal Of Honor
Once again I think we are all humbled From the Army Times article Spc. Kyle White’s platoon leader was dead, as was a Marine sergeant tasked with advising Afghan soldiers. A fellow paratrooper was wounded, and at least three others were missing. White, already dazed from an explosion, repeatedly ran the gauntlet of enemy fire to get to the wounded and fallen. When the … [Read more...] about Kyle White To Be Awarded Medal Of Honor
Ezra Klein on Obamacare
Ezra Klein comments on Obamacare Derangement Syndrome on Vox. Today, the right struggles with Obamacare Derangement Syndrome: the acute inability to see Obamacare as anything but a catastrophic failure that the American people will soon reject. For those suffering from ODS, all bad Obamacare news is good news, and all good Obamacare news is spin. In this world, … [Read more...] about Ezra Klein on Obamacare
N Is For Nature
Very early Monday morning I found myself standing in my backyard looking up in the sky as the moon gradually vanished and then turned blood red. I was texting about it with a friend and sent the comment "Nature is Awesome". And as I reflected on that idea today it occurred to me how often we take nature for granted. All of the beauty that surrounds us every day. The … [Read more...] about N Is For Nature
Cartoon: Putin on the Blitz (Guest Cartoonist)
Putin on the Blitz by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --The cost of Putin’s adventurism in Ukraine --Stephen Harper attacks Putin on Ukraine to burnish legacy: Walkom --U.S. giving Putin green light in Ukraine? --Putin warns Merkel of civil war in Ukraine --Will Putin Fall Victim to One of History’s Classic Blunders? --Ukraine PM says country ‘at war’ as … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Putin on the Blitz (Guest Cartoonist)
Fall of the House of Bush?
Are hard-line Republican conservatives about to implement their own version of political entitlement reform? Are we now witnessing the beginning of the fall of the House of Bush? If Edgar Allen Poe were alive and writing political analysis, it might make a nice story. Only a few weeks ago reports said influential Republicans were trying to draft former Florida Gov. Jeb … [Read more...] about Fall of the House of Bush?
Religion in a Dignitarian World
This is the seventeenth part of the serialization of All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity (Berrett-Koehler, 2006). The ideas in this book are further developed in my recent novel The Rowan Tree. CHAPTER 11: RELIGION IN A DIGNITARIAN WORLD If there is no God, Not everything is permitted to Man. He is still his brother's keeper And he is not permitted … [Read more...] about Religion in a Dignitarian World
Coverage Of The Success of Obamacare And Debunking Republican Lies
Reading liberal versus conservative columnists give entirely different views of the Affordable Care Act. Liberals have been writing about its success while conservatives continue to spread misinformation. Here's a few examples of liberal views on the topic (which are the fact-based articles): Tim Dickenson of Rolling Stone (source for the above graphic) writes that Obamacare … [Read more...] about Coverage Of The Success of Obamacare And Debunking Republican Lies
Hubris is reason for U.S. foreign policy failures (Guest Voice)
Hubris is reason for U.S. foreign policy failures By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — It is tempting to simply list all the ways the Obama administration — particularly Secretaries Kerry and Hagel — has been wrong on foreign and defense policy. After all, Russia/Ukraine, Syria, Iran, China, and Israel/Palestinians are nothing to sneeze at. But finding a common thread among … [Read more...] about Hubris is reason for U.S. foreign policy failures (Guest Voice)
Illinois Gray A Flamboyant Character With Many Historic Ties, Including JFK
Historic Quote: “He would threaten me during intimate moments telling me to do this or that or "I'll kick your teeth in. But you know, I'd much rather be having fun in the bedroom instead of doing all this talking in the living room." Elizabeth Ray to a People Magazine reporter referring to her sexual relationship with Wayne Hays. When I'm not putting my political … [Read more...] about Illinois Gray A Flamboyant Character With Many Historic Ties, Including JFK
Your Papers Please
When I was growing up in the 50s "Your'e Papers Please" was a phrase used to warn us about tyrannical governments. We have decided in the United States that we now need a "Your Papers Please" society, aka photo ID. You can't open a bank account, fly or take a train without a photo ID. Many states are now requiring photo ID to vote. Now I'm not going to question that we … [Read more...] about Your Papers Please
New CBO Report Projects The Affordable Care Act Will Cover More People And Cost Less Than Previously Projected
A new report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projects that the Affordable Care Act increase the number of people covered, help reduce the deficit, and will cost $104 billion less than previous forecasts:: Relative to their previous projections made in February 2014, CBO and JCT now estimate that the ACA’s coverage provisions will result in lower net costs to … [Read more...] about New CBO Report Projects The Affordable Care Act Will Cover More People And Cost Less Than Previously Projected
Tea Party Challenger Says Boehner Suffers ‘Electile Dysfunction’ (VIDEO)
Behind the Ad: Did someone say "boner"? by Richard K. Barry Who: The J.D. Winteregg campaign. Where: Ohio's 8th Congressional District - web ad. What's going on: Mr. Winteregg is a Tea Party-backed candidate running agains House Speaker John Boehner (R). Just because someone had to, Winteregg produced an ad positioning himself as the answer to "electile dysfunction." … [Read more...] about Tea Party Challenger Says Boehner Suffers ‘Electile Dysfunction’ (VIDEO)
Show Me the Money
What are the conservative justices on the Supreme Court thinking? First Citizens United and now the McCutcheon ruling. Do they honestly believe that wealthy people’s ability to spend money should be equated with free speech? Don’t they realize the unfair advantage this provides to affluent individuals who have more money to spend on political issues, whether it’s through Super … [Read more...] about Show Me the Money
A victory lap for Obamacare
[one_half_last] WASHINGTON -- It's all over but the shouting: Obamacare is working. All the naysaying in the world can't drown out mounting evidence that the Affordable Care Act, President Obama's signature domestic achievement, is a real success. Republican candidates running this fall on an anti-Obamacare platform will have to divert voters' attention from … [Read more...] about A victory lap for Obamacare
M Is For Modest
Modesty is not something that we usually associate with politicians, and especially not with Presidents. But that is a term which applies to some, including two of my favorites: Harry Truman and Gerald Ford. In looking at their lives and their Presidencies it is interesting to consider the many similarities. As suggested by the title of this post, neither man wanted to be … [Read more...] about M Is For Modest