WASHINGTON -- It's a sign of how far to the right House Republicans have dragged governance in our country that the very conservative budget deal reached by Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray will need many liberal and Democratic votes to pass. The agreement leaves the jobless out in the cold, because it doesn't extend unemployment benefits, and provides little room … [Read more...] about The inadequate, necessary budget deal
The Story Behind That “Obama selfie”
The photographer who took the picture that has been represented as some horribly inappropriate behavior on the part of President Obama tells us what was really going on. … [Read more...] about The Story Behind That “Obama selfie”
Congress is scene for Republican’s establishment versus Tea Party Civil War battle
It's clear civil war has been declared. You can now see the war between the traditionally conservative Republican establishment and the 21st century Tea Party Republicans raging. Just look at Congress. In a nutshell: some Congressional Republicans including Rep. Paul Ryan want a modest deal with Democrats on the budget that would -- at the very least -- nudge Congress out … [Read more...] about Congress is scene for Republican’s establishment versus Tea Party Civil War battle
Rand Paul Is Right: Civil Rights Aren’t Simple Rights
Something recently happened in England that warrants revisiting Rachel Maddow's (in?)famous 2010 interview with Rand Paul concerning the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In April of this year, Rachel Maddow also revisited that interview, following Rand's visit to Howard University, during which he answers a question from a student with the sentence: "I do question some of the … [Read more...] about Rand Paul Is Right: Civil Rights Aren’t Simple Rights
Weather Channel teams with Discovery Education to “bring the science of weather” to classrooms
The Weather Channel hosted a live virtual field trip today for K-12 classrooms, in partnership with Discovery Education. The goal of the event: "to bring the science of weather and natural disaster preparedness to classrooms." Amen to that, especially the science part. In 2009, [the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)] found that … [Read more...] about Weather Channel teams with Discovery Education to “bring the science of weather” to classrooms
Jolly Old Elephant (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 Jolly Old Elephant (Cartoon)
It’s official: the coldest place on Earth
It's official: the coldest place on Earth (via AFP) Commuters in northeastern US might have felt they were battling the coldest weather in the world as they trudged through snow Tuesday, but they may be warmed to know it could be far worse. The coldest place on Earth is in fact a high ridge on the East… … [Read more...] about It’s official: the coldest place on Earth
Pope Francis is Time’s Person of the Year (with video and roundup)
On a top 10 list that somehow included twerker Miley Cyrus, Time Magazine has opted to recognize someone as Person of the Year who has captured the attention and in many cases won the hearts of people all over the world -- regardless of their religion: Pope Frances. But given how our political culture is now All Politics all the time, Time is now under fire for not … [Read more...] about Pope Francis is Time’s Person of the Year (with video and roundup)
What the budget deal means for the economy
Progress: there's a budget deal brokered by Democratic Senator Patty Murray and Republican Congressman Paul Ryan. Stalemate? There are rumblings from House Republicans that they don't like any parts in it that might signify "caving" (the 21st century word for "compromising" used by the Republican right and Democratic left) to Democrats. But even if it passes, is it a fix -- … [Read more...] about What the budget deal means for the economy
How Good Does the Economy Have to Get?
Numbers improve, but the President gets no credit. So deeply is the anti-Obama narrative embedded in the debate over income inequality that, even with better numbers, 61 percent of Americans continue to be negative about the economy--a majority at all age and income levels, most independents and 80 percent of Republicans. Only among Democrats, people with a postgraduate … [Read more...] about How Good Does the Economy Have to Get?
Update: (We Have a Winner) What to Do with 20 Words You’ve Never Heard of – and You Have too much Time on Your Hands
BREAKING UPDATE: Continuing with an attempt to “lighten up,” I am happy to announce that we have a winner in our unofficial, unsanctioned, unrequited challenge to use the 20 “forgotten words that should be brought back” in a small essay. Since there was only one submission, it was relatively easy to pick a winner and I did not even have to involve our editors. Having … [Read more...] about Update: (We Have a Winner) What to Do with 20 Words You’ve Never Heard of – and You Have too much Time on Your Hands
Thoughts On Immigration
It seems like these days all we have are problems that seem to evade a solution. Immigration is probably near the top of the list when it comes to such an issue. I certainly recognize that there are two sides to the debate and that both sides do have some very valid points. On the one hand there are many problems associated with illegal immigration, not the least of which is … [Read more...] about Thoughts On Immigration
2013: A Year of Ironies
If 2013 was a year of ups and downs, it was also a year peppered with ironies. Here are just a few: 1. Two liberal talkers go over the line and bite the dust. Conservative talkers have long been the political "shock jocks," who pushed the envelope so far it fell off the table from where it was just a few years ago. Authentic "untouchable" Rush Limbaugh's frequently … [Read more...] about 2013: A Year of Ironies
The growing fury of the Congressional far right
If we are going to get a deal to replace the sequester, which looks likely, perhaps one key reason may be as follows: This time, the incentives favor Republicans showing they can enter into the basic give and take of governing. With GOP Rep. Paul Ryan close to a deal with Dem Senator Patty Murray that would lift spending levels to just over $1 trillion in fiscal 2014 and … [Read more...] about The growing fury of the Congressional far right
News Reports, Studies, Research and Cop-Outs (Reader Guest Voice)
News Reports, Studies, Research and Cop-Outs by Peter W. Johnson I recently wrote a letter of complaint to the Editor of a newspaper who insisted I give proof of my claim that early voting, and absentee voting, largely consists of demographic groups who would normally tend to vote for Democrats (especially in critical swing states). This, even though this Editor had … [Read more...] about News Reports, Studies, Research and Cop-Outs (Reader Guest Voice)
Through The Looking Glass (Guest Voice)
Through the Looking Glass by Peter Funt What compromises must we make when it comes to our security on the one hand, and our privacy on the other? Personally, I'm far less concerned about being tracked by the National Security Agency than I am about being monitored by, say, Google. According to the latest headlines, the NSA is gathering cellphone records from around … [Read more...] about Through The Looking Glass (Guest Voice)
One view of Bobby Jindal (Reader Guest Voice)
From an early age I began to understand Louisiana a lot like South Carolina had many intricate minds, athletes, and musical inspirations. Ranging from Percy Miller to Bob Livingston. And today in the political world people are questioning the antics of Governor Bobby Jindal. What is Jindal stirring up? I do not know but I know it should not be bitter. But his adrenaline and … [Read more...] about One view of Bobby Jindal (Reader Guest Voice)
Netanyahu skips Mandela memorial. Israelis say ‘are you kidding?’ (Guest Voice)
Netanyahu skips Mandela memorial. Israelis say 'are you kidding?' (via The Christian Science Monitor) Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Nov. 17. Fresh off a series of scandals over his high-flying lifestyle and expensive habits, the prime minister said Monday he would skip Nelson Mandela’s funeral… … [Read more...] about Netanyahu skips Mandela memorial. Israelis say ‘are you kidding?’ (Guest Voice)
We’ll Hate You for Christmas
Two weeks and one day until Christmas in this "Christian" country with its "Christian" agenda and all its oppressed Republican "Christians." And what do these fine "Christians" see this cold morning? [emphasis added] Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro Shake Hands at Nelson Mandela Memorial ABC News President Obama shook hands with Cuban President Raul Castro today at a … [Read more...] about We’ll Hate You for Christmas
