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 Stuck in reverse (Cartoon)
Rep. Michael Grimm threatens to throw reporter off balcony: UPDATED (Video)
So much for being a "rising star." Everyone who has worked as a print or broadcast reporter knows it goes with the territory. You ask a question of someone in the news and he or she doesn't like it. But seldom does someone threaten you physically and if it was a news source working for a company (an employee, a p.r. person) the person would be fired. Elected officials … [Read more...] about Rep. Michael Grimm threatens to throw reporter off balcony: UPDATED (Video)
Tea Party Claims Another GOP Scalp
Former Nevada assemblywoman, state senator, lieutenant governor and gaming commissioner, Sue Wagner has turned in her Republican registration to become an Independent. Explaining her decision, she said she has tired of the GOP’s embrace of far right politics. “I did it as a symbol, I guess, that I do not like the Republican Party and what they stand for today...I’ve … [Read more...] about Tea Party Claims Another GOP Scalp
Obama’s speech: more pizzazz than power?
The pundit jury is coming in with a verdict about President Obama's State of the Union speech and it's generally positive. A former Bush speechwriter claims Obama plagiarized George W. Bush, but when the lines are compared it seems one more exaggeration typical of partisans on each side (here come the False Equivalency police at my door). Meanwhile, CNN's instant polling found … [Read more...] about Obama’s speech: more pizzazz than power?
The SOTU Address: A Speech and an Evening that ‘Belonged to the Purple Heart Recipient in the First Lady’s Box’
Even before the president started to deliver the State of the Union (SOTU) address, many had watched the uniformed soldier slowly and carefully make his way down the steps of the House gallery to take his seat in the front row, next to where First Lady Michele Obama would soon be sitting. During the president’s address, Americans would get to see shots of this Army Ranger … [Read more...] about The SOTU Address: A Speech and an Evening that ‘Belonged to the Purple Heart Recipient in the First Lady’s Box’
The Christmas Miracle Gift: the restored childhood teddybear (video)
What happens when a guy decides to give a girl the ultimate gift? He takes her tattered childhood teddy bear and restores it. He searches for the worn and destroyed parts by getting some other Teddy Bears. And then she opens the gift and sees a teddy bear -- but notices what it really is. Most adults (and teens) have some object from their childhood that meant a lot to them. … [Read more...] about The Christmas Miracle Gift: the restored childhood teddybear (video)
Washington Be Damned, CELAC Makes Real ‘Our America’ (Opera Mundi, Brazil)
The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, an organization fathered by Hugo Chavez on the premise of excluding the United States and Canada - and with the intention of uniting Latin America politically and economically - has just held its second summit in Havana. This column from Brazil's Opera Mundi by Argentine academic Atilio Boron is notable for a number of … [Read more...] about Washington Be Damned, CELAC Makes Real ‘Our America’ (Opera Mundi, Brazil)
Obama’s Final Turning Point
It's crunch time for President Barack Obama. President Lyndon Johnson once said: "Being President is like being a jackass in a hailstorm. There's nothing to do but stand there and take it." That Obama & Co. would like us to be in a New Era is evident by comments from administration aides and Obama during the State of the Union address: we're in "A Year of Action." He'll use … [Read more...] about Obama’s Final Turning Point
Obama’s state of the union address: Obama rides again? (News, blog and Twitter roundup)
A revival or a yawn? Reaction is now pouring in on President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Partisans may differ on their judgement -- and you can almost predict what some writers and websites will say before you read them -- Obama displayed a determination, energy, and a Happy Warrior playfulness that made it more than a perfunctory speech. Obama showed he has his … [Read more...] about Obama’s state of the union address: Obama rides again? (News, blog and Twitter roundup)
SOTU First Responders (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 SOTU First Responders (Cartoon)
Obama in 2014: handling Russia’s discontents
Relations with Russia may not get much mention in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address tonight but they seem headed towards creating more trouble for US foreign policy in 2014 than in recent years. Obama’s reset with Russia has floundered during his second term and President Vladimir Putin’s new and aggressive assertiveness is likely to cause more problems for … [Read more...] about Obama in 2014: handling Russia’s discontents
The ‘Cape Ray’ Is Ready – Are the Syrians Ready and Willing?
“The second cargo of Syria’s most toxic chemical weapons was exported by ship on Monday for eventual destruction at sea,” says the New York Times in a column on Monday. Reportedly, this is the second cargo exported thus far from the port of Latakia. The first one left the port on January 7 each carrying 15 to 20 tons, according to the Times, which adds that, if confirmed, … [Read more...] about The ‘Cape Ray’ Is Ready – Are the Syrians Ready and Willing?
Behind the Paranoia of the 1%
Josh Marshall analyzes financier Tom Perkins' comparison of the critique of income inequality and the 1% to Hitler's persecution of the Jews on Talking Points Memo. If you've been in the media slipstream today you know the outrage and mockery directed at Tom Perkins, one of the world's wealthiest and most successful Silicon Valley venture capitalists, for an oped he wrote in … [Read more...] about Behind the Paranoia of the 1%
State Of The Union Blah Blah
This is a repost of my regular commentary on the State of The Union speech. this year of course we will have a slightly different take because of the 2014 campaign aspects to the address. Both President Obama and the GOP responses are likely to add more rhetoric and a bit more of a partisan tilt to their speeches. But overall I think the commentary stands As we move closer … [Read more...] about State Of The Union Blah Blah
Dignity in the Workplace (Part 1)
This is the seventh 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 4: DIGNITY IN THE WORKPLACE (Part 1) This is the age of the Resume Gods…in which it is immoral to;discriminate according to race or sex, but … [Read more...] about Dignity in the Workplace (Part 1)
Big friendly fish bites unwise scuba diver (Video)
One of the first rules in dealing with any kind of wildlife is: respect it. Remember, even a panda looks fluffy and cuddly, but cuddle a real one at your own risk. What what happens when a scuba diver encounters a huge friendly fish and let's his guard down. In fact, his guard is almost bitten off: … [Read more...] about Big friendly fish bites unwise scuba diver (Video)
Obama will use executive order to raise minimum wage under federal contractors
Faced by Republicans in Congress who most of the time effectively check-mate his agenda, President Barack Obama will use an executive order to require that janitors, construction workers and other workers who work for federal contracts get a minimum $10,10 an hour. Obama will still press for action from Congress but he'll use the executive order to get at least part of his plan … [Read more...] about Obama will use executive order to raise minimum wage under federal contractors
Did the real Mitt Romney stand up?
Here is another review of the Netflix documentary Mitt for TMV to enjoy. This will appear sometime this week on my site. ... In the heat of the 2012 elections, I had a real deep seeded hatred for Mitt Romney. There were a number of reasons for this: He was going up against a man who I considered a hero, I thought he represented a type of venture capitalism that I … [Read more...] about Did the real Mitt Romney stand up?
Lobbyists, Politicians, and Access
It’s like a disease, a plague that continuously infects our democracy, for which no treatment seems to work. Laws are passed by Congress to try and control the scourge of the lobbyists, but lobbyists and the politicians find ways to circumvent the laws and hook up again to benefit the special interests- the clients of the lobbyists. However, some observers would not describe … [Read more...] about Lobbyists, Politicians, and Access
Gentle Warrior For The Common Man, Dies. RIP Pete Seeger
No doubt many of you in my generation who stumbled about with a guitar [mine was a sunrise red and yellow Gibson that I worked months to pay for] and calloused fingers, adored this kindly subversive who sang about LAND belonging to EVERYONE, the United States belonging to EVERYONE, [bear with, I think I can pull it all back from memory; we all sang Seeger's songs so often… … [Read more...] about Gentle Warrior For The Common Man, Dies. RIP Pete Seeger