Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens gets it. And says so. Neither Citizens United nor McCutcheon holds up in the clear light of day. He talks with the New York Times' Adam Liptak about what he considers a misleading opinion from Chief Justice Roberts. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. started his controlling opinion with a characteristically crisp and … [Read more...] about Why should some radical halfway across the country be able to elect your district’s representatives?
A Bigot’s ‘Point System’
It has been mentioned before, sometimes in passing, sometimes at length. However, the grotesque, cruel irony -- the perverse senselessness of it all -- did not fully register with me until I read a short, eye-opening column in TIME Magazine. As had been quite apparent from his past actions and diatribe and as it became crystal clear from his after-the-rampage shouts, … [Read more...] about A Bigot’s ‘Point System’
The Stealth Revolution
This is the eighteenth 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 12: THE STEALTH REVOLUTION Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.... Live the questions now. … [Read more...] about The Stealth Revolution
Rape in Game of Thrones
For two weeks in a row there has been considerable talk about a scene from Game of Thrones. Due to the questions raised by this scene and all the discussion it has stimulated, I have decided to post on this today rather than waiting until the weekend for the usual weekly review of genre television. Major spoilers ahead for those who are behind in watching. The scene between … [Read more...] about Rape in Game of Thrones
US Supreme Court Upholds State Constitutional Ban On Racial Preferences
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Michigan's constitutional ban on consideration of race in college admissions. The decision reverses a Sixth Circuit opinion that held that the state's constitutional ban made it more difficult for minorities to achieve legislative goals and was, therefore, unconstitutional. The Supreme Court's opinion pointedly notes that the issue is not … [Read more...] about US Supreme Court Upholds State Constitutional Ban On Racial Preferences
Supreme Court: states can ignore race in university admissions
Top US court: states can ignore race in university admissions (via AFP) The US Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that states can disregard race as a factor in university admissions, in a fresh blow to a legacy of the 1960s civil rights movement. The 6-2 ruling upheld the constitutionality of a measure passed by referendum in… … [Read more...] about Supreme Court: states can ignore race in university admissions
The Irrelevancy of the Sunday Talk Shows
Joe has a post below on the problems of NBC's Meet The Press and David Gregory. I haven't watched the Sunday shows for years simply because I have better things to do. I'm sorry but David Gregory is not the problem! They parade the same cast of characters every week making them irrelevant. Why should I tune in to watch John McCain when I already know what he is going to … [Read more...] about The Irrelevancy of the Sunday Talk Shows
Anti-Semitic Marionville, Missouri mayor resigns
Tip to future politicians: saying you "kind of agreed" with a white supremacist who apparently went Jew-hunting and shot and killed three people (including a grandfather and grandson who weren't Jewish) does not a tranquil life -- or a political career -- make. Marionville, Missouri's former Mayor Dan Clevenger just found that out. He became former when his comments in the … [Read more...] about Anti-Semitic Marionville, Missouri mayor resigns
Increased Health Care Spending Just Might Be Buying Higher Quality Care
Jonathan Cohn has looked at what appears to be a recent increase in health care spending (national health expenditures in the above graph) after a period of decline. Most likely this is due to a variety of reasons, and I don't find it surprising that a period of decreased spending would be followed by increased spending. This is partially a sign of an improving economy as … [Read more...] about Increased Health Care Spending Just Might Be Buying Higher Quality Care
S Is For Suo Gan
I first heard this Welsh lullaby in the film Empire Of The Sun (a brilliant film if you've not seen it before). But the song itself is hauntingly beautiful. Sleep my baby, at my breast, 'Tis a mother's arms round you. Make yourself a snug, warm nest. Feel my love forever new. Harm will not meet you in sleep, Hurt will always pass you by. … [Read more...] about S Is For Suo Gan
How Not to Talk About Wealth Inequality
How Not to Talk About Wealth Inequality By Tina Dupuy Have you heard we live in an oligarchy? Perhaps you've been told America is a plutocracy? Is that because of widespread demagogy? Circumlocution: a big word meaning using unnecessarily lofty words to express an idea. Welcome to the baffling world of liberal-speak. Oligarchy, plutocracy and demagogy: The holy … [Read more...] about How Not to Talk About Wealth Inequality
Where Macondo came alive
WASHINGTON -- Years before I met him, Gabriel Garcia Marquez changed my life. "One Hundred Years of Solitude" gave me a new way of looking at the world. The label "magical realism" does not begin to capture the poetry of Garcia Marquez's imagination or the evocative power of his prose. Reading his masterpiece was like stepping through a portal into a Technicolor reality … [Read more...] about Where Macondo came alive
Depp flops, ‘Captain America’ rules US box-office
Depp flops, 'Captain America' rules US box-office (via AFP) Hollywood heart-throb Johnny Depp suffered the worst box-office debut of his career while "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" maintained its grip on North American theaters, final figures showed Monday. Despite being one of the highest paid actors… … [Read more...] about Depp flops, ‘Captain America’ rules US box-office
The Fox Effect – The Movie
My father was a moderate Democrat for most of his life but when he retired he started listening to Rush Limbaugh and later watching FOX news. The change in his attitudes and personality were astounding. This thoughtful moderate became an extreme right winger and my mother went along for the ride. I'm not alone in this and via Josh Marshall someone has actually made a movie, … [Read more...] about The Fox Effect – The Movie
South Korean Ferry Tragedy: As Recovery Efforts Continue, Obama to Mourn Victims
An aerial view shows South Korean ships conducting search and rescue operations, April 20, 2014, for the Sewol, the ferry that sank April 16 off Jindo Island. U.S. sailors and Marines are assisting in the search. Photo: DOD This morning, Dr. Estés shared with us her heartfelt thoughts on the tragedy of the South Korean ferry that sank April 16 off Jindo Island with 476 … [Read more...] about South Korean Ferry Tragedy: As Recovery Efforts Continue, Obama to Mourn Victims
Obama decides America should keep Justin Bieber, Canadians breathe huge sigh of relief
Looks like the U.S. will still have Justin Bieber to terrorize its popular culture, not to mention anywhere he happens to be at any given time, for a whole lot longer: The White House has declined to comment on a "Deport Justin Bieber and revoke his green card" petition, saying the "We the People" Whitehouse.gov petition system allows the Executive Office to dodge … [Read more...] about Obama decides America should keep Justin Bieber, Canadians breathe huge sigh of relief
The Fuss About Military Hairstyles
Women in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, TMV’s Managing Director, in a recent article pointed out the arbitrariness -- and insensitivity, I might add -- of the recent changes to Army Regulation (AR) 670-1, “Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia.” Estés describes the unique characteristics of the hair of African Americans: To … [Read more...] about The Fuss About Military Hairstyles
Politicizing Legal Advice
A panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered the Justice Department to release a redacted copy of a classified memo outlining the legal basis for drone strikes targeting American citizens overseas. This seems a very dangerous decision. In essence, the court held that when the President stated that the strikes were "legal," he waived all claims of … [Read more...] about Politicizing Legal Advice
Cosmos For Creationists
Creationist Cosmos from Funny Or Die Cosmos contains facts which some on the anti-science religious right object to, such as discussion of evolution and creation of the universe in the big bang. Last month I posted a video in which an episode of Cosmos was edited for creationists. Funny or Die made their version of an episode made for creationists--video above. Cross … [Read more...] about Cosmos For Creationists
Treat “Meet the Press” — and David Gregory?
If you need an indictation of how much our broadcast media relies on personality to capture audience share, or a sign of how badly NBC's venerable "Meet the Press" is now ailing in ratings, then look no further than this Washington Post piece about the show's trials and tribulations. But The Huffington Post really gets to the central issue: A new report from The … [Read more...] about Treat “Meet the Press” — and David Gregory?