What are the signs that CNN has hit on a good business thing in its often overkill coverage of the mystery of Flight 370? Here are three. SIGN ONE: Bill O'Reilly (in the ultimate irony for a Fox News personality) talks about another network "corrupting the news biz." SIGN TWO: CNN keeps doing more of it throwing out all possible speculative scenarios even supernatural … [Read more...] about CNN’s Ratings Sharply Rise With Missing Airline Coverage
The Medal of Honor: ‘Setting the Record Straight’
President Barack Obama recognizes Medal of Honor honorees, from left, Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris, Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela, and Specialist Four Santiago J. Erevia, during the Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, March 18, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) A month ago, the White House announced that, in a rare and historical … [Read more...] about The Medal of Honor: ‘Setting the Record Straight’
Chairman Issa Gets the Last Word (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 Chairman Issa Gets the Last Word (Cartoon)
Breaking: Report of Russian Troops In Moldova and Near Romania
An anonymous source in Moldova has reached out to inform me that, beyond current reports that Russia might be taking Moldova, in point of fact Russian troops are already there, near the city of Cahul, and only about 3 kilometers from the Romanian border. I can only release these photos asking that readers believe me when I say my source is reliable. It very much appears that … [Read more...] about Breaking: Report of Russian Troops In Moldova and Near Romania
Are Obamacare premiums about to skyrocket? (Most likely NOT) REVISED
Are Obamcare premiums about to skyrocket? And, if so, will overall healthcare costs go up due to treating Democrats who have heart attacks or strokes if they see the premiums skyrocket during an election year in which it now appears the Demo could suffer huge losses and maybe lose the Senate? According to The Hill, rates may soon go up bigtime. But wait! The original … [Read more...] about Are Obamacare premiums about to skyrocket? (Most likely NOT) REVISED
Pro-Russian militias seize Ukraine’s Crimean navy HQ
Pro-Russian militias seize Ukraine's Crimean navy HQ (via AFP) Pro-Russian forces captured Ukraine's naval commander after seizing his headquarters in Crimea on Wednesday as Moscow's grip tightened on the peninsula despite Western warnings its "annexation" would not go unpunished. Kiev said it was dispatching its… … [Read more...] about Pro-Russian militias seize Ukraine’s Crimean navy HQ
Douthat on Obama
Conservative columnist Ross Douthat comments on inaccurate criticism of the President in the New York Times. Q: Name three conservative criticisms of President Obama that you think are unfair. 1) The claim that he’s a Marxist radical, or some variation on that theme. If there’s anything that should be clear after six years of this presidency, it’s just Obama is … [Read more...] about Douthat on Obama
The Attempted Typecasting of Ronan Farrow
It's always fascinating to follow typecasting. An actor gets a role and makes such a big splash that he becomes a "type," so casting directors look for others with a similar "look" or style to fill future roles. Or an actor becomes so famous in a role that he can never get any other parts, and the role of a lifetime becomes the curse of a career. So it's fascinating to see … [Read more...] about The Attempted Typecasting of Ronan Farrow
Russia’s moment in the sun
Russia’s moment in the sun (via GlobalPost) Talk about a new Cold War: Vladimir Putin’s speech on Tuesday announcing Russia would annex Crimea was a virtuoso exercise in Soviet-style propaganda. Speaking forcefully and with a straight face, the Russian president characterized his country as… … [Read more...] about Russia’s moment in the sun
Bill is at it Again
"There's been a certain amount of pop sociology in America ... that the Shia can't get along with the Sunni and the Shia in Iraq just want to establish some kind of Islamic fundamentalist regime. There's almost no evidence of that at all. Iraq's always been very secular." ~Willaim Kristol, April 4th, 2003 William (never been right about anything) Kristol is at it again. He is … [Read more...] about Bill is at it Again
A Culture of Dignity (Part 1)
This is the fourteenth 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 9: A CULTURE OF DIGNITY(Part 1) The public...demands certainties....But there are no certainties. --H. L. Mencken, American writer Know you what it … [Read more...] about A Culture of Dignity (Part 1)
Physicist Learns His Theory Has Been Proven
As some of you have probably heard scientists at Stanford have discovered evidence strongly supporting the Big Bang Theory of the Universe. One of the things the evidence supports is what is called the inflation theory of the universe (or as the article calls it the Bang of the Big Bang). The godfather of this theory is Professor Andrei Linde who came up with the concept … [Read more...] about Physicist Learns His Theory Has Been Proven
St. Patrick’s Day Revelry
I have not seen this photo anywhere. It depicts something so rare these days that I thought I would post it without much additional comment. The White House photo caption reads (readers may want to make up their own captions): President Barack Obama shares a laugh with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, during a St. Patrick’s Day lunch for Prime Minister Enda Kenny … [Read more...] about St. Patrick’s Day Revelry
Jon Stewart launches the comedic genius of #mcconnelling
As part of one of the best Daily Shows in recent memory, Jon Stewart introduced us to #mcconnelling -- that is, setting a new ad for Republican Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader running for re-election this year (against a formidable Democratic challenger, Alison Lundergan Grimes), to music. Pretty much to any music. It all works. Stewart went with … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart launches the comedic genius of #mcconnelling
Flight MH370: Finally, a Plausible Theory
While the reports, theories, speculation and just plain rumors surrounding the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 continue, I finally have come across a reasonable, simple, non-conspiratorial theory that might well explain (more or less -- the writer is not a diviner) what happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. The writer, Chris Goodfellow, a Canadian … [Read more...] about Flight MH370: Finally, a Plausible Theory
VLAD THE REDEEMER
Irredentism: noun ir-i-den-ti-zm (der. Italian: irredento: "unredeemed") the policy advocating a return of territories historically possessed and/or ethnically related to one political unit but currently under the political control of another. So, to absolutely no one’s even mild surprise, over 97% of Crimeans voted to declare their independence from Ukraine - a … [Read more...] about VLAD THE REDEEMER
Lying About Obamacare Not Working Out That Well For Republicans
Republicans, lacking any real policies they can campaign on, have been relying on ads based upon lies about the Affordable Care Act. One ad which has received a lot of attention in the Michigan Senate race centered around a cancer patient who claimed her health insurance was unaffordable under Obamacare. Several fact-checkers found that her new policy through the Affordable … [Read more...] about Lying About Obamacare Not Working Out That Well For Republicans
“Crimea has always been a part of Russia.”
Holy crap. When Walter Russell Mead wrote that Vladimir Putin has been working right out of the Hitler playbook, I found the point provocative but perhaps overstated. Although I have been cynical about diplomatic efforts to get Putin to back off Ukraine, because I don't think Putin cares what anyone thinks of him, I didn't expect him to be this bold and this blatant this … [Read more...] about “Crimea has always been a part of Russia.”
How Russia Rigged the Crimean Referendum
In Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, turnout for Sunday's referendum reached an astonishing 123% of registered voters. There may be an explanation for this number that doesn't involve the simple stuffing of ballot boxes: One reporter from Kiev showed his Russian passport and was handed a ballot and allowed to vote. This raised questions in Kiev if perhaps the Russian … [Read more...] about How Russia Rigged the Crimean Referendum
The Downside of Democracy (2)
Leaders in the West have committed themselves to spreading democracy, whether or not the ground is fertile for the introduction of self-government. Citizens of the Western nations have for the most part supported this diffusion of democracy, having been educated to believe in the superiority of this form of government. However, notwithstanding Churchill’s adage about … [Read more...] about The Downside of Democracy (2)