Bush-era GOP political maven Karl Rove is raining on the Republican Party's parade. It wasn't enough (for some Republicans) that Rove criticized over the top verbal Republican missle hurlers for hurting their party's chances at the polls, now he's telling his party to take a deep breath and not assume that a win in Florida means the Democrats are defeated in 2014 and beyond. … [Read more...] about Karl Rove Warns Republicans (Again)
‘Honky Tonk Women’ too dirty for China as song ‘vetoed’
'Honky Tonk Women' too dirty for China as song 'vetoed' (via AFP) The sexual lyrics of "Honky Tonk Women" were apparently too much for China's Communist fathers as the Rolling Stones said the chart-topping song was "vetoed" for their second ever show in the country on Wednesday. "About now we'd usually play something… … [Read more...] about ‘Honky Tonk Women’ too dirty for China as song ‘vetoed’
Rep. Paul Ryan Under Fire for Blaming Poverty on Lazy ‘Inner City’ Men
Rep. Paul Ryan is defending racially charged comments he made about inner city men -- ahem, black men. Ryan claimed that poverty is caused by men in “our inner cities” who are “not even thinking about working.” Ryan said the comments had nothing to do with race. Um, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) begs to differ and read him the riot act: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), a member of the … [Read more...] about Rep. Paul Ryan Under Fire for Blaming Poverty on Lazy ‘Inner City’ Men
Republicans, White Working Class Voters, And Race
White working class males present a particular frustration for Democratic strategists. Most independent economists agree that Republican economic policies have increasingly led to redistribution of wealth to the ultra-wealthy at the expense of the middle class yet Republicans obtain the majority of votes from low-information white voters who are hurt the most by Republican … [Read more...] about Republicans, White Working Class Voters, And Race
Tragedy strikes SxSW as car plows through crowd, killing 2
The original post of this story contained a typo in the headline, relating that 5 persons were killed. It is two persons who were killed in this tragic accident. The headline has been corrected to reflect those facts. Thank you. Eds. [Update 9: 4:35 am Friday, Pacific] At about 12:30 am Thursday, a stolen car traveling at a high rate of speed killed two people and injured … [Read more...] about Tragedy strikes SxSW as car plows through crowd, killing 2
Francis’ anti-imperial papacy
WASHINGTON -- Religion makes a lot of mistakes. Faith traditions can be so harsh that they drive away everyone but the self-righteous scolds. Or they can so indulge in therapeutic comfort and manufactured joy that they come to seem like a charlatan's game. They can be so otherworldly that they offer no guidance to those living in this one on matters of justice, … [Read more...] about Francis’ anti-imperial papacy
Climate Change Talkathon a Sign of Weakness
Climate Change Talkathon a Sign of Weakness By Dick Polman There's a reason why the U.S. Senate has long been nicknamed the Cave of Winds. Typically, its denizens are all talk, no action. Consider Monday night's 14-hour talkathon about climate change. It's laudable that 28 Democratic senators morphed into night owls in order to spotlight a science-vetted crisis that's … [Read more...] about Climate Change Talkathon a Sign of Weakness
Christie’s handling of Sandy funds takes a big hit
Yet another step in the political deflation of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is underway -- and it's a potentially big one. Christie had shot up in the polls due to his handling of Hurricane Sandy and his willingness to work with President Barack Obama in a bipartisan way. "Bridgegate" has undermined his image of a more bipartisan type of Republican and now his handling of … [Read more...] about Christie’s handling of Sandy funds takes a big hit
Watch: President Obama and Zach Galifianakis Hilariously Trade Insults on ‘Between Two Ferns’
Watch: President Obama and Zach Galifianakis Hilariously Trade Insults on 'Between Two Ferns' (via Fandango Movie Blog) By: Erik Davis on March 11, 2014 at 9:43AM If there's one thing we like most about President Barack Obama, it's his sense of humor and willingness to have fun. Case in point: the president of the United States agreed to appear on an episode of Zach… … [Read more...] about Watch: President Obama and Zach Galifianakis Hilariously Trade Insults on ‘Between Two Ferns’
Putin to Crimeans: ‘Heads I Win, Tails You Lose’
I am sure some readers have at one time or another made such a proposition -- probably in jest. Well, the Russian-controlled Crimean government -- in reality, Vladimir Putin -- is dead serious in offering the Crimean people exactly such a “choice” in the upcoming referendum that is supposed to give the peninsula’s residents a chance to “decide fairly and freely their … [Read more...] about Putin to Crimeans: ‘Heads I Win, Tails You Lose’
Cosmos For Creationists
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmdGFWS0m54 A Fox affiliate in Oklahoma cut the only reference to evolution by cutting out fifteen seconds of the premiere episode of Cosmos. Reportedly this was accidental, just like the eighteen minute gap in the Watergate tapes. The above video shows further editing of Cosmos to appeal to the anti-science right. Cross posted from Liberal … [Read more...] about Cosmos For Creationists
Prokaryote, google it (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/prokaryote-google-it/ “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey”, Fox's new show goes against conventional wisdom as the target audience is most likely based in faith rather than science. Copyright 2014 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Prokaryote, google it (Cartoon)
It’s My Tenth Blogiversary
My Beamish Boy It is the twenty fifth anniversary of the world wide web today. It is also the tenth anniversary of this blog. I place them in order of importance, but, happily, other, more capable fingers can type paeans to the WWW, An online Magna Carta: Berners-Lee calls for bill of rights for web Jemima Kiss / Guardian Exclusive: web's inventor warns neutrality … [Read more...] about It’s My Tenth Blogiversary
BREAKING UPDATE: Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370
Breaking Update: According to the Guardian, CNN is broadcasting news that a Chinese satellite may have spotted large pieces of wreckage in the South China Sea not far off the plane’s projected flight path. Chinese officials believe it could be the wreckage from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. The images were published by the Chinese State Administration for Science, … [Read more...] about BREAKING UPDATE: Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370
Ukraine: Updates
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