Evidently, Christie's office couldn't manage to put some distance between the governor and the governor's old "friend" and ally. David Wildstein, who told the press that Christie knew all about those lane closings on the GeoWash bridge, is now the target of Christie's staff. The attack on Wildstein goes all the way back to high school days, sounds desperate. In a … [Read more...] about No matter who’s at fault, Christie comes off looking grimy
Turning Point? Christie faces damage from angry, knowledgeable friend (Guest Voice)
Chris Christie faces the wrath of a scorned friend (via NJ.com) Of all the arrows fired at Gov. Chris Christie over the years, the one that inflicted the deepest wound came not from a rival, but from an ally. David Wildstein, by all accounts, was thrilled to be part of the governor’s inner circle. He was known… … [Read more...] about Turning Point? Christie faces damage from angry, knowledgeable friend (Guest Voice)
Missouri Man Executed While His Appeal Pending in Court: Not the First Time
And now here's a truly shocking story. The debate over capital punishment continues to rage and one of the key points of debate is whether innocent people are executed. But now comes a new twist: cases where people whose cases are still pending are hurriedly put to death -- and the cases reportedly come out of the state of Missouri, the Atlantic reports: It is 2014, not … [Read more...] about Missouri Man Executed While His Appeal Pending in Court: Not the First Time
Loudest Voice in the Room
Check out an excerpt from Gabriel Sherman's biography of Fox News' Roger Ailes--"The Loudest Voice in the Room" on The National Memo. Sherman's picture of Ailes is a lot like other backgrounders on right-wing figures . Ailes was reportedly abused both physically and emotionally by his father. He has spent his professional life paying that abuse forward with a paranoid, bullying … [Read more...] about Loudest Voice in the Room
NFL Super Bowl XLVIII rundown
NFL Super Bowl XLVIII rundown (via Fox Sports) Joel Beall Updated Feb 1, 2014 10:39 PM ET Of New York, Walt Whitman once wrote, “There is no place like it, no place with an atom of its glory, pride, and exultancy. It lays its hand upon a man’s (guts); he grows drunk with ecstasy; he grows… … [Read more...] about NFL Super Bowl XLVIII rundown
The GOP Psyche: An Explainer (Guest Voice)
The GOP Psyche: An Explainer By Tina Dupuy I believe the Republican Party's psychic break happened the moment their "compassionate conservative" economic philosophy melted the world's economy. President George W. Bush, the champion of deregulation, bailed out the banks and then offered: "I've abandoned free market principles to save the free market system." I know when I … [Read more...] about The GOP Psyche: An Explainer (Guest Voice)
Immigration Reform: Cruz, Boehner Vie for Less
After building the most powerful nation on earth by welcoming those around the world who want a better and freer life, a significant number of Americans now want to slam the gates. Sorting out and integrating millions of illegal aliens is no easy matter, too long delayed, but John Boehner and Ted Cruz are taking off the masks that Republicans donned after losing the White … [Read more...] about Immigration Reform: Cruz, Boehner Vie for Less
Christie’s “brand” implodes
The crises swirling around New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are likely to have several legal and political consquences, but there's one consequence now, no matter how he emerges legally: the collapse of his political brand. The montage of newspaper covers above tell the story. When have we seen such a rapid implosion of a brand? To be sure, we've seen the sex scandals … [Read more...] about Christie’s “brand” implodes
A Hair Story, Confrontation and Lessons Learned
When my daughter was fourteen I got a call from her pediatrician that she had been diagnosed with stage four rhabdomyosarcoma, a very aggressive soft tissue cancer. I was on the way to her basketball game. She was a starter on her women's high school basketball team. I watched her play with tears in my eyes knowing that she didn’t have any idea what was coming; that I might … [Read more...] about A Hair Story, Confrontation and Lessons Learned
Monsters Hiding in Plain Sight (Guest Voice)
Monsters Hiding in Plain Sight by Michael Reagan and Jerome Elam In the darkest recesses of our minds we have always known that monsters exist. It is only when we are involuntarily thrust into an unfolding human tragedy that shocks our senses and devastates our hearts that we truly acknowledge their presence. Our collective eyes have been opened by the discovery of … [Read more...] about Monsters Hiding in Plain Sight (Guest Voice)
Thanks, fellas, for bringing back botched abortions
The New Yorker posts a chart showing the damage done by unlicensed doctors in unauthorized clinics, the doctors to whom women seeking abortions now turn when they can't get care from legitimate clinic. For this you can thank those"moral" neighbors in your community who, among others across the nation, are working to destroy available healthcare and reproductive choice in … [Read more...] about Thanks, fellas, for bringing back botched abortions
2014 Super Bowl stars as recruits: The Broncos offense vs. Seahawks defense (Guest Voice with Video)
2014 Super Bowl stars as recruits: The Broncos offense vs. Seahawks defense (via SB Nation) By SB Nation College News on Feb 1 2014, 11:57a + The clash of Peyton Manning's No. 1 offense and Seattle's No. 1 defense will be one of the biggest matchups in NFL history. Let's take a look at each starter on those two units as high school prospects… … [Read more...] about 2014 Super Bowl stars as recruits: The Broncos offense vs. Seahawks defense (Guest Voice with Video)
National Review in Trouble
The National Review, the conservative journal founded by William F. Buckley, faces a libel suit from climate scientist and Penn State faculty member Michael Mann for comparing Mann to convicted sex offender Jerry Sandusky. Mann could be said to be the Jerry Sandusky of political science, except that instead of molesting children he has molested and tortured data in the service … [Read more...] about National Review in Trouble
SMH: Montana GOP Congressional Candidate Ryan Zinke Calls Hillary Clinton the Anti-Christ
the right wing called President Obama the anti-Christ, now Republican Congressional candidate Ryan Zinke (MO) is now calling former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the anti-Christ. Um, are there more than one anti-Christ? A Republican candidate for Congress in Montana compared former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the anti-Christ. The candidate, state Sen. Ryan … [Read more...] about SMH: Montana GOP Congressional Candidate Ryan Zinke Calls Hillary Clinton the Anti-Christ
Ender’s Game – The Movie
While I may despise the bigoted politics of Orson Scot Card I have always enjoyed his science fiction novels. The Ender's Game series and the Ender's Shadow series are among his best. When I heard that they were going to make a movie of Ender's Game I could only wonder how they would screw it up. Well I watched the movie and they didn't. Yes, when you make a two hour movie … [Read more...] about Ender’s Game – The Movie
Breaking News: Christie Knew About Bridge Lane Closings, Says Letter
The New York Times reports: The Port Authority official who personally oversaw the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Friday that the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening, and that he had the evidence to prove it. In a letter released by his lawyer, the … [Read more...] about Breaking News: Christie Knew About Bridge Lane Closings, Says Letter
(Video Update) Super Bowl XLVIII: Enjoy, Stay Warm, Stay Alert and Be Safe – Especially in Afghanistan.
UPDATE II: Super Bowl 48 athletes and coaches from the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks professional football teams took the time to thank and pay tribute to service members, particularly those deployed overseas and in combat, before the big game. Watch their shout outs interspersed with some great football action: Watch more DOD Super Bowl coverage … [Read more...] about (Video Update) Super Bowl XLVIII: Enjoy, Stay Warm, Stay Alert and Be Safe – Especially in Afghanistan.
Hubris sinkhole swallows Chris Christie
Have we ever seen a politician flame out as quickly -- and as utterly brutal -- as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's? Not since Texas Gov. Rick Perry's famous "Oops.." brain freeze moment erased Perry's national chances and gave him the image of a not-up-to-prime-time-but-a-punchline has the political scene seen such an abrupt reversal in fortunes. Christie's national political … [Read more...] about Hubris sinkhole swallows Chris Christie
Sullivan on 2016 Race
Andrew Sullivan on the 2016 Presidential race after Hillary Clinton lapped the field in an early poll on The Daily Dish. What fascinates me is not just the dynamics of the race that is shaping up, but what could happen after. Imagine the GOP losing to Obama twice, and then losing to their bugaboo of the 1990s in 2016. Wouldn’t that be a shattering blow to morale? Could the GOP … [Read more...] about Sullivan on 2016 Race
Ann Romney: “the country lost” by re-electing Obama and not electing Mitt Romney
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's wife Ann is now raising some eyebrows by declaring the "country lost" by re-electing Mitt Romney. Ann Romney has a message for the country that rejected her husband: Your loss, America! The Romney family postmortem/movie promotion continued Friday with Ann reflecting on Mitt's defeat in the 2012 presidential election. "I really … [Read more...] about Ann Romney: “the country lost” by re-electing Obama and not electing Mitt Romney