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
Nate Silver: Republicans Favored to take Senate
Nate Silver, now considered one of the most respected and a-c-c-u-r-a-t-e political analysts and prognosticators in the business, says the GOP is now "slightly" favored to take back the Senate in the 2014 elections: When FiveThirtyEight last issued a U.S. Senate forecast — way back in July — we concluded the race for Senate control was a toss-up. That was a little ahead … [Read more...] about Nate Silver: Republicans Favored to take Senate
America ‘Too Young to Understand’ Crisis in Crimea (tp24 Rubriche, Italy)
Is the United States simply incapable of making well-informed decisions about the crisis in Ukraine and Crimea? For Italy's tp24 Rubriche, columnist Leonardo Agate writes that American democracy, and particularly President Obama, is simply too immature to help Europe overcome the crisis, the roots of which are centuries old, and warns against 'being dragged' into U.S.-imposed … [Read more...] about America ‘Too Young to Understand’ Crisis in Crimea (tp24 Rubriche, Italy)
Political gridlock: Intransigence is good strategy (Guest Voice)
Political gridlock: Intransigence is good strategy (via The Economist) AMERICA has been pretty much stuck in neutral for the past few years, as Republicans used their gains in the 2010 elections to prevent Barack Obama from pushing any of the major items on his agenda through Congress. Mr Obama's jobs bill, climate-change… … [Read more...] about Political gridlock: Intransigence is good strategy (Guest Voice)
Hinderaker, Putin, Koch and Climate Denial, Oh My!
Charles Koch awards himself John Hinderaker of Power Line was one of the rightie smear merchants responsible for the phony perception that 60 Minutes II had "forged" Dubya's National Guard truancy documents, and for successfully getting Dan Rather fired. He's also an attorney working on retainer for the Koch Brothers. Keep that in mind as you read his petulant whine: The … [Read more...] about Hinderaker, Putin, Koch and Climate Denial, Oh My!
Giraffe Kisses Maintenance Worker Dying From Cancer
Giraffe Kisses Maintenance Worker Dying From Cancer (via Planetsave) Beautiful. I love giraffes. Apparently, a maintenance worker at Rotterdam’s Diergaarde Blijdorp zoo is dying from cancer. He requested that he be brought to the zoo to pay a last visit to some kind giraffes. “Heart-breaking pictures have emerged… … [Read more...] about Giraffe Kisses Maintenance Worker Dying From Cancer
China seeks gains from the Obama-Putin clash
China is likely to grab gains as President Barack Obama and his Western allies slide into quicksand in the confrontation with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Obama is still limping in the Middle East, Syria, Iran and Afghanistan, and faces bruises in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Beijing is quietly clenching fists to take swift advantage in its neighborhood of his imbroglios elsewhere. … [Read more...] about China seeks gains from the Obama-Putin clash
SciFi Weekend: Arrow; Hannibal; Orphan Black; Doctor Who; Star Trek; Person of Interest; The Americans; Continuum; Fox vs. Kristen Bell; Mad Men; Lost; Creationists vs. Cosmos
I must admit I was a bit underwhelmed by this week's episode of Arrow, not because it was a bad episode (it wasn't) but my expectations had been raised so high by all the hype over the introduction of the Suicide Squad. I did like how they tied it to Dingle and his ex-wife, but beyond them there was little time for anyone else other than Deadshot and Amanda Waller. Of course … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Arrow; Hannibal; Orphan Black; Doctor Who; Star Trek; Person of Interest; The Americans; Continuum; Fox vs. Kristen Bell; Mad Men; Lost; Creationists vs. Cosmos
The Voice of God
I'd like to think that when God spoke the world into existence, it sounded more like a melody and less like a command, more like a song than an instruction. We try to make the way we communicate truth hierarchical. We give the sermon precedence over the song, the doctrine authority over simple heartfelt tears; we lift up the wise man at the expense of the foolish child. We … [Read more...] about The Voice of God
Swallowed by the Streets: A Child’s Innocence in Danger
Swallowed by the Streets: A Child's Innocence in Danger By Jerome Elam and Michael Reagan On city streets throughout America a battle is being waged for the soul of humanity, and it is taking place right in front of our eyes. As darkness descends, the fading light lays bare an open wound in the fabric of society. The most vulnerable among us are being offered up as prey for … [Read more...] about Swallowed by the Streets: A Child’s Innocence in Danger
New satellite image boosts Malaysia plane search hopes
New satellite image boosts Malaysia plane search hopes (via AFP) China released Saturday a new satellite image of a large floating object possibly linked to missing Malaysian Flight MH370, boosting search efforts as anger with the pace of the operation boiled over among Chinese relatives in Beijing. The grainy photo… … [Read more...] about New satellite image boosts Malaysia plane search hopes
Medicare Benefits Under The Affordable Care Act
With all the scare stories being sent out in right wing emails, it is worth posting this press released emailed yesterday from CMS regarding how Medicare patients have benefited from the Affordable Care Act. On the 4th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act into law, new information released today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows that … [Read more...] about Medicare Benefits Under The Affordable Care Act
Because It’s About Science
After a couple of episodes I have to say that I'm pretty pleased with the "reboot" of Cosmos hosted by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Some people, of course, aren't as thrilled. Answers in Genesis, the folks who have brought you the Creation Museum, think that a show about science isn't balanced unless their views are acknowledged. Tyson explains why they're wrong: “You don’t talk … [Read more...] about Because It’s About Science
Jim Wallis on Fox News
Evangelical Christian writer Jim Wallis hits Fox News right in its hypocritical little heart on his blog, God's Politics. Gretchen Carlson tells stories about food-stamp recipients jetting off to Vegas. Of course, what billionaire casino owners are doing, the morality of what is happening in their casinos, or that one of the owners is literally paying for ultra-conservative … [Read more...] about Jim Wallis on Fox News
Tsunami at Kuji Port (VIDEO)
Yet another video is making the rounds from Japan's 2011 earthquake and tusnami which killed 15,884 people, left 6,148 injured, and 2,633 missing. This one is from the tsunami at Kuji Port. Keep your eye on the two boats with people in the water. The science of a tsunami is fascinating; the impact often tragic. … [Read more...] about Tsunami at Kuji Port (VIDEO)
Bill Kristol thinks Americans (and our leaders) are Wusses
Oh, my. The Weekly Standard's Editor Bill Kristol is suggesting that war weariness is no excuse -- basically suggesting that Americans and many of their leaders are wusses. Here's just part of his piece: Are Americans today war-weary? Sure. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been frustrating and tiring. Are Americans today unusually war-weary? No. They were wearier after … [Read more...] about Bill Kristol thinks Americans (and our leaders) are Wusses
Rick Santorum Should Be Taken Seriously by the Media
The mainstream media has almost unanimously counted Rick Santorum out as a factor within the 2016 Republican primary. The former senator is often left out of polls, while Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee remain as resident firebrand bomb-thrower and religious right magnet, respectively. But why is Rick Santorum being treated as a non-candidate when he has all but declared a second … [Read more...] about Rick Santorum Should Be Taken Seriously by the Media