Whoopee! The House passed a budget deal that will avert a government shutdown for two years when it’s enacted by the Senate. Does that indicate a new era of comity and bipartisanship is about to descend on Washington? Don’t hold your breath and shout Kumbaya. First of all, Senate Republicans are steaming mad over the Democrats use of the “nuclear option,” eliminating the … [Read more...] about Does Passage of the Budget Deal Indicate a New Era of Bipartisanship?
The continued decline of Geraldo Rivera: loses nationally syndicated radio talk show
The continued and steady decline of Geraldo Rivera is very sad to those of us who were up and coming or aspiring journalist in the early 70s, when he was considered a young hot shot who embodied broadcast "investigative journalism." It has been a steady decline once he left ABC, even if he did get boffo ratings for a while as a daytime talk show host. Mediaite has THIS POST … [Read more...] about The continued decline of Geraldo Rivera: loses nationally syndicated radio talk show
Demand your privacy (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- It seems our elected officials have no intention of reining in the National Security Agency's mad-scientist quest to know everything about our communications and movements. If we want our privacy back, we're going to have to fight for it. Months after Edward Snowden spilled the beans, the NSA -- whose mission is supposed to be foreign surveillance -- is … [Read more...] about Demand your privacy (Guest Voice)
Authentically Fighting Santas (Video)
When I was a kid growing up in Connecticut, I remember one friend in elementary school who'd leave a glass of punch for Santa. Here's a video from Santacon showing some Santas deliver a punch in what looks like a drunken brawl. Perhaps they weren't lifting a few -- but they definitely THREW a few: NOW we know why Santa's nose is red... … [Read more...] about Authentically Fighting Santas (Video)
New Jersey Port Authority Scandal Is Result of Leadership, Patronage Mess, Analysts Say (Guest Voice)
Port Authority Scandal Is Result of Leadership, Patronage Mess, Analysts Say (via NJSpotlight) The Bridge-gate scandal that forced the resignations of two of Gov. Chris Christie’s Port Authority appointees was the inevitable result of divided leadership, growing patronage, and increased gubernatorial meddling in the operations of the multibillion… … [Read more...] about New Jersey Port Authority Scandal Is Result of Leadership, Patronage Mess, Analysts Say (Guest Voice)
Huffington Post gets almost half of traffic from overseas
And so the 21st media shakeup and shakedown continues. As print newspapers and print magazines struggle to survive, adapt and built up online versions of themselves, the online news media is growing -- and facing its own dilemmas. Adweek notes that almost half of The Huffington Post's traffic comes from overseas, but the Internet mega-site still has to tinker a bit on the … [Read more...] about Huffington Post gets almost half of traffic from overseas
How Anti-Christian is Fox News?
Andrew Sullivan poses a perceptive question on The Daily Dish. It has been fascinating lately to watch Fox News go after the Pope for reiterating long-standing Catholic and Christian doctrine about the false god of materialism. By echoing Jesus’ insistence that you cannot know the kingdom of Heaven if you are bound up in wealth and possessions, the Pope drew charges of Marxism … [Read more...] about How Anti-Christian is Fox News?
Family values hypocrisy
WASHINGTON -- Politicians talk about family values but do almost nothing to help families. They talk about parental responsibility but do almost nothing to help parents. They talk about self-sufficiency but do precious little to make self-sufficiency a reality for those who must struggle hardest to achieve it. How often can we hear that government should be more … [Read more...] about Family values hypocrisy
NSA Program Ruled Unconstitutional
United States District Court Judge Richard Leon has ruled that the NSA’s telephony metadata collection program is unconstitutional. The 68 page opinion, which the brave of heart can read here , goes deep into the weeds of federal judicial processes and standing issues before getting to the Constitutional point. This is not the work of an ACLU mole on the federal bench. … [Read more...] about NSA Program Ruled Unconstitutional
Bitcoins (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/bitcoins/ Copyright 2013 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Bitcoins (Cartoon)
NSA Official Richard Ledgett Mulls Amnesty for Edward Snowden In Exchange for Documents
In an effort to literally stem the bleeding, NSA may be mulling granting fugitive leaker Edward Snowden amnesty. In other words, they don't quite know exactly what documents he has in his possession and they want the leaks to stop and get back the extensive document 'treasure trove' he took from the agency. The White House is shooting down any possibility of amnesty for … [Read more...] about NSA Official Richard Ledgett Mulls Amnesty for Edward Snowden In Exchange for Documents
Is another government shutdown debt limit crisis likely?
Forget possibly being a centimeter into a new political era. There are increasing sings that if some political players have miscalculated there could be another government shutdown. And there are rumblings that another debt limit confrontation could be on the horizon due to the need for GOPers to appear tough to the party's conservative base, the looming 2014 and 2016 … [Read more...] about Is another government shutdown debt limit crisis likely?
How and Why Magazines Will Survive
With fewer readers and less advertising, periodicals of ink on paper seem doomed to disappear. But they won’t. A survivor of an even more acute crisis at the dawn of TV can testify that magazines will adapt and survive. The reasons are embedded in the human desire not only to know what’s happening in the world but understand its deeper meaning. The Internet stuffs … [Read more...] about How and Why Magazines Will Survive
China on the Moon (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 China on the Moon (Cartoon)
North Carolina Republican: Obamacare worse than Hitler, Stalin and terrorism — combined (Guest Voice)
North Carolina Republican: Obamacare worse than Hitler, Stalin and terrorism — combined (via Raw Story ) A Republican state senator from North Carolina thinks that extending health care to all Americans is worse than genocide, communism and terrorism – combined. Sen. Bob Rucho (R-Matthews) made the observation Sunday morning in a Twitter post attacking… … [Read more...] about North Carolina Republican: Obamacare worse than Hitler, Stalin and terrorism — combined (Guest Voice)
Peter O’Toole: Beyond “Arabia”
Obituaries will recall the actor who has died at 81 for his bravura role in the 1962 epic, “Lawrence of Arabia” and rightly so but, in an old movie lover’s heart, he will be treasured for more modest qualities of witty self-deprecation. Those whose tastes predate the Cineplex can savor that in “How to Steal a Million” (1966), a romantic comedy available on Netflix, and as a … [Read more...] about Peter O’Toole: Beyond “Arabia”
The Tea Party Minus The Militants
On this very day 250 years ago this country began a process that gained it independence but lost a most precious commodity that I’d like to re-introduce to the folks of these former British settlements. Tea. I know we all know all about tea, but we don’t. Those colonists in Mohawk war bonnets who tipped all the precious buds into Boston Harbor that Sunday were Yankees, … [Read more...] about The Tea Party Minus The Militants
The Supreme Court Episode 7: Schuette v. Coalition To Defend Affirmative Action
With the holidays coming up this is going to be the last posting of the year, I will resume after the holidays are over but it seems to make sense for us to take a couple weeks off. However before I go on break I have a big case to review, one that covers not only a serious legal issue but one that prompts major political and social debate, the topic of affirmative action … [Read more...] about The Supreme Court Episode 7: Schuette v. Coalition To Defend Affirmative Action
The 12 Days of Congress
I don’t often post anything without at least some commentary. This one certainly does not need any. Enjoy! For an extended version, please click here. … [Read more...] about The 12 Days of Congress
Legendary “Lawrence of Arabia” actor Peter O’Toole dead at 81
He seemingly skyrocketed to the top of the movie scene with his star role in the 1962 Oscar winning film "Lawrence of Arabia," and became a riviting presence on the screen in films such as "My Favorite Year." He was considered one of the most solid -- and classiest -- actors in the business. Yet, he never won an Oscar. But he was clearly appreciated -- and now Peter O'Toole is … [Read more...] about Legendary “Lawrence of Arabia” actor Peter O’Toole dead at 81