Update III: Confirming a previous report (Update II), the Pentagon announced today that a dozen more F-16s and 300 personnel based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, will augment the U.S. aviation detachment at Lask Air Base, Poland. Army Col. Steven Warren said that the 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons and associated personnel from the 555th Fighter Squadron at Aviano are expected to … [Read more...] about Ukraine: Updates
Rand Paul’s Wild Flip-Flopping On Russia And Ukraine
What Rand Paul has been saying about Russia and Ukraine is much more confusing than it is isolationist. Days after Moscow's pawn, Viktor Yanukovych, fled Ukraine, Sen. Paul wasn't celebrating the triumph of the Kiev democracy movement, but telling the Washington Post, "Some on our side are so stuck in the Cold War era that they want to tweak Russia all the time and I don't … [Read more...] about Rand Paul’s Wild Flip-Flopping On Russia And Ukraine
Conservatives Target Free School Lunches
Did you ever think you'd see the day when decrying low-income kids who get free school lunches would become a political battle cry, coupled with the suggestion that parents who sign up their kids for free lunches love them less than parents who send their children to school with brown bagged baloney sandwiches? The real baloney is actually in conservatives' "No free school … [Read more...] about Conservatives Target Free School Lunches
The Latino Vote: A real barrier to GOP success in ’16.
I suppose it would be possible for money -- Koch money and more -- to buy Latino votes. If not, things don't look so good for Republicans in 2016. Greg Sargent points to new calculations indicating that all is not well for the right in key states thanks to the fallout from the failure, so far, to do anything meaningful about immigration reform. It's an issue many Republicans … [Read more...] about The Latino Vote: A real barrier to GOP success in ’16.
More Information Comes Out On Republican Misinformation As Democrats Stand Up To Koch Brothers
The Affordable Care Act is bringing about considerable reductions in health care expenses for millions of Americans. Republicans opposing health care reform have tried to undermine support for the law with a series of false ads in which they falsely claim people such as cancer patients have to pay more than in the past for health care coverage. Whenever these claims are … [Read more...] about More Information Comes Out On Republican Misinformation As Democrats Stand Up To Koch Brothers
Elephants can tell difference between human languages
Elephants can tell difference between human languages (via AFP) African elephants can differentiate between human languages and move away from those considered a threat, a skill they have honed to survive in the wild, researchers said. The study suggests elephants, already known to be intelligent creatures, are… … [Read more...] about Elephants can tell difference between human languages
GOP Holds On To Florida 13
In something of a surprise to me the Republicans have held on to the seat of the late Congressman Bill Young (R). Given that the Democratic nominee had higher name recognition (having run for Governor) and the district now leans a bit Democratic I was expecting her to win but the GOP nominee edged her out by a narrow margin. I don't consider this a bellweather election … [Read more...] about GOP Holds On To Florida 13
The Politics of Dignity
This is the thirteenth 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 8: THE POLITICS OF DIGNITY Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried. --Winston Churchill All the … [Read more...] about The Politics of Dignity
Third Anniversary of the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
Today, March 11, marks the third anniversary of one the greatest disasters in recent times, the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011. The devastating impact and lingering effects of that tragedy -- especially the effects of the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant -- are still felt today, three years later. PBS Newshour science … [Read more...] about Third Anniversary of the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
Millennials (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/millennials/ Copyright 2014 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Millennials (Cartoon)
Missing Airliner Reportedly Far Off Course
Breaking news this morning that the missing Malaysian airliner was far off course when it disappeared. According to an anonymous source in the Malaysian Air Force, after the plane's transponders stopped transmitting the plane made a wide u turn and was hundreds of miles off course when it vanished from radar. Of course we always want to take such reports with a grain of salt … [Read more...] about Missing Airliner Reportedly Far Off Course
Big Move
I am going to sever my telephone land line. I probably should have done it years ago since it's redundant and only costs me money. I still remember my childhood phone number. It was before 7 digit phone numbers and area codes, Capitol (CA) xxxx. It latter became 227-xxxx. I can't really recall when area codes came into play. I have always had a land line but in this … [Read more...] about Big Move
With A Little Help From Our Friends
THE GRASS IS A LITTLE BROWNER ON THE OTHER SIDE. ‘CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG’ ISN’T A BAD PHILOSOPHY. THE VIEW FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS By John McCarthy TMV Columnist The more things change, the more they stay the same. Sometimes a truism just isn't true – so says a non-“truther”. Instant Karma was popular during John Lennon’s time (if only just to … [Read more...] about With A Little Help From Our Friends
Number Of Uninsured Continues To Decrease
Gallup reports a continued decrease in the percentage of Americans without health insurance, including a drop in uninsured young people: The percentage of Americans without health insurance continues to fall, measuring 15.9% so far in 2014 compared with 17.1% in the fourth quarter of 2013. These data are based on more than 28,000 interviews with Americans from Jan. … [Read more...] about Number Of Uninsured Continues To Decrease
Recognize Russia’s Legitimate Interests or Ukraine is Doomed (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
Is it time for leaders in the West to cut talk of confrontation and accept the fact that Crimea is legitimately in Russia's sphere, and that Ukraine must be seen as neither West nor East? For de Volkskrant, columnist Thomas von der Dunk looks at history and geopolitical reality in an effort to awaken Western policy makers from what he regards as a deluded, self-righteous … [Read more...] about Recognize Russia’s Legitimate Interests or Ukraine is Doomed (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
The Downside of Democracy (1)
“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Winston Churchill’s famous quote has been employed repeatedly over the years to reinforce the idea that democracy is the preferred way for states to be managed and for people to be governed. In Western societies, this is considered an accepted truth by the vast … [Read more...] about The Downside of Democracy (1)
Cabin in the Woods: Something special… I think
I have stated on many occasions that when it comes to horror films I am a certified b**ch. I don’t like them, I have never liked them – and more importantly, I have always hated the fact that I don’t like them. I am forced to be ignorant of a whole genre of cinema because of my cowardliness and that just grinds my gears. There are times when I try to test my nerve, times … [Read more...] about Cabin in the Woods: Something special… I think
On the Money: A House Divided Against Itself
On the Money: A House Divided Against Itself (via Moyers & Company) In the first two months of this year, 20 percent of all the money spent on election advocacy came from conservative political groups attacking Republican candidates — a total of $2.3 million — reports The Center for Public Integrity. Super PACs,… … [Read more...] about On the Money: A House Divided Against Itself
Watch in Horror as “Gravity” Plays Out in Real Life w/ SuitSat 1
Watch in Horror as “Gravity” Plays Out in Real Life w/ SuitSat 1 (via Planetsave) Watching what looks like a cosmonaut slipping away from the International Space Station in an uncontrolled spin is utterly horrifying. Seeing the camera track the motionless suit as it orbits nearby in a slowly deteriorating orbit for months on end… … [Read more...] about Watch in Horror as “Gravity” Plays Out in Real Life w/ SuitSat 1
Dick Cheney (Cartoon)
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 Dick Cheney (Cartoon)