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)
Sharyl Attkisson resigns from CBS News: reportedly felt it was too liberal
CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl is leaving CBS amid what reports say was a feeling that the network's news had gotten too liberal and that it lacked its longtime commitment to investigative reporting, The Politico reports. If those indeed prove to be the reason -- we'll know when he book comes out on election day -- it will be a sign of our times: 1. News has … [Read more...] about Sharyl Attkisson resigns from CBS News: reportedly felt it was too liberal
Sullivan on Obama’s Record
Andrew Sullivan digs into the data to tout the actual record of the Obama administration on The Daily Dish. The news cycle is so punishing these days you might be forgiven for thinking the Obama era is over. But it isn’t. It’s at its peak in terms of impact, because policies, especially economic ones, take some time to have effect. Five years in, we have enough data – so … [Read more...] about Sullivan on Obama’s Record
(Updated) Ukraine: Condoleezza Rice Joins the Cabal
Update: The New Republic published a column by Leon Wieseltier that, in its attacks on Obama's Ukraine policy specifically and his foreign policy in general, is similar to Condoleezza Rice's column discussed below. Jim Sleeper, at the Washington Monthly Magazine, reacts to Wieseltier's remarks in a unique and effective way: "Leon Wieseltier’s Moral Posturing on Crimea … [Read more...] about (Updated) Ukraine: Condoleezza Rice Joins the Cabal
Poll: 61% of young Republicans favor same-sex marriage
A new Pew Research Center poll underscores an emerging fact: conservative Republicans and/or Tea Party Republicans who are battling same-sex marriage are increasingly oh, so 20th century -- even among young Republicans who favor same-sex marriage: Young people continue to be the strongest proponents of same-sex marriage. And as public support for same-sex marriage … [Read more...] about Poll: 61% of young Republicans favor same-sex marriage
Annexing Crimea ‘Too Costly for Russia to Bear’ (Gazeta, Russia)
Even if it wants to, can Russia afford to incorporate Crimea into its territory - either economically or diplomatically? Western media is not alone in posing the question. This editorial from Russia's Gazeta is categorical in its conclusions: 'No' and 'No.' The non-nonsense Gazeta editorial starts off this way: Crimea may not turn out as a "triumph of historical justice … [Read more...] about Annexing Crimea ‘Too Costly for Russia to Bear’ (Gazeta, Russia)
The View from 90: Havoc and Hope
On March 4, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was inaugurated. It was my ninth birthday. In April 1945, I was a 21-year-old foot soldier on the floor of a German farmhouse when someone shook me awake to whisper that FDR had died. Now, at 90, I am inevitably shaped by those years after a working lifetime as writer, editor and publisher trying to explain the world to … [Read more...] about The View from 90: Havoc and Hope
GOP Going Nuclear on ‘Battlefield of Ideas’
GOP Going Nuclear on 'Battlefield of Ideas' By Jason Stanford CPAC—the political convention that is to conservatives what ComicCon is to nerds—did not sort out the Republican field for 2016, but it did reveal something much scarier. Unlike most years when Republicans insist they should fight for ideals they never define, this time conservatives sketched out a frighteningly … [Read more...] about GOP Going Nuclear on ‘Battlefield of Ideas’
Mystery deepens: Malaysia says ‘mystified’ as no jet debris found
Malaysia says 'mystified' as no jet debris found (via AFP) Malaysia said Monday there is still no trace of wreckage from a jet that vanished with 239 people on board, deepening the anguish of relatives two days after the "mystifying" disappearance. A potential breakthrough emerged Sunday when an aircraft scouring… … [Read more...] about Mystery deepens: Malaysia says ‘mystified’ as no jet debris found
The Price Of Conservatism
Robert Reich writes that, in the three decades after World War II, the United States created the largest middle class the world has ever seen: During those years the earnings of the typical American worker doubled, just as the size of the American economy doubled. (Over the last thirty years, by contrast, the size of the economy doubled again but the earnings of the … [Read more...] about The Price Of Conservatism
Kerry Lampoons CNN’s Ratings Problems
I've been a huge fan of CNN since it's inception. I'm so old I remember when HLN was Headline News and presented non-stop 30 minute newscasts to supplement CNN's long form news coverage. I've also been on CNN as a talking moderate head and CNN is the most listened to station on my XM Radio dial when I travel. But CNN was target of some great jokes at the Gridiron. And who'd … [Read more...] about Kerry Lampoons CNN’s Ratings Problems
Cosmos Returns
One evening not so many years ago, a young boy (yours truly) sat down in front of the bulky living room TV to watch a show called Cosmos. From the first strains of Vangelis and the first words of the gentle man named Carl I was hooked. For the next 13 weeks I was in awe as the majesty of the Universe was revealed. To this day a part of me regrets I was not able (or perhaps … [Read more...] about Cosmos Returns
The Right’s new clothes
WASHINGTON -- Are conservatives interested in new ideas, or are they merely infatuated with the idea of new ideas? Are they really reappraising their approach, or are they trying to adjust their image just enough to win elections? One way to look at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference is as a face-off between the "No Surrender" cries of Sen. Ted Cruz, … [Read more...] about The Right’s new clothes