There's no lack of irony in the fact that two top stories today are political haymaking in New Jersey and a record percentage of Americans telling Gallup that they are political party independent. Combine that with a record low saying that they are "Republicans". Here's what folks are saying on social networks and blogs. Christie 2016 pic.twitter.com/nofNUYoEBq— … [Read more...] about Americans rejecting Republican party (or are they lying to Gallup?)
Nepotism in Defense of Torture
Andrew Sullivan on Liz Cheney's abrupt exit from her Wyoming Senatorial race on The Daily Dish. But can we please, please find a way to limit the role of pure nepotism in American politics? I know it’s as old as the republic, but it’s just one of those weird, strange things in a country of well over 300 million people, with a robust and rowdy political scene, that it picks the … [Read more...] about Nepotism in Defense of Torture
Gallup: Record-High 42% of Americans Identify as Independents as GOP Identification Plummets
A new Gallup Poll finds a record number of Americans are identifying themselves as political independents, Democrat Party identification unchanged, and identification with the Republican Party going south. The bottom line: look for the 2014 mid-terms to be more unpredictable than ever: Forty-two percent of Americans, on average, identified as political independents in … [Read more...] about Gallup: Record-High 42% of Americans Identify as Independents as GOP Identification Plummets
Bob Woodward’s Embarrassing Robert Gates Book Review (Guest Voice)
Bob Woodward's Embarrassing Robert Gates Book Review (via http://crooksandliars.com) By John Amato January 7, 2014 10:59 pm Former defense Secretary Robert Gates penned a new book about his time in the Bush and Obama administrations and Bob Woodward twisted himself in knots trying to smear Obama. Robert Gates has just written a new… … [Read more...] about Bob Woodward’s Embarrassing Robert Gates Book Review (Guest Voice)
Earrings (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 Earrings (Cartoon)
Dennis Rodman Sings Happy Birthday To BFF Kim Jong-Un (Video)
Dennis Rodman Sings Happy Birthday To BFF Kim Jong-Un (via Sky News) Former US basketball star Dennis Rodman has led a team of retired American players in a game to celebrate the birthday of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. The match in North Korean capital Pyongyang is described by organisers as a "birthday present… … [Read more...] about Dennis Rodman Sings Happy Birthday To BFF Kim Jong-Un (Video)
Christie in trouble: Emails Link Top Christie Aide To George Washington Bridge Closure (UPDATED)
Has the political success story of New Jersey Chris Christie now hit a vehicle-destroying speed bump? It sounds that way :The Record reports that emails tie a top Christie aide to the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge that many believe was done to retaliate for Christie's problems with Fort Lee's mayor in Christie's re-election bid: Private messages between … [Read more...] about Christie in trouble: Emails Link Top Christie Aide To George Washington Bridge Closure (UPDATED)
A New American Dream
As we continue with back and forth bickering in Washington with the left playing fear games and the right stubbornly digging in with an unreasonable agenda I can't help but reflect on a discussion we had last year, which I'd like to renew. When President Kennedy made the proposal that we land a man on the moon it was less than two months after the first man had gone into … [Read more...] about A New American Dream
GOP “Female Problem”
Ruth Rosen describes an ongoing and ignored electoral problem for the Republican Party in In These Times. In 2008 and 2012, President Obama won two presidential elections in Virginia—once viewed as a reliably Republican state—by a tiny margin. More recently, Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, won the Virginia governor’s race by bombarding the public with messages that highlighted … [Read more...] about GOP “Female Problem”
Downton Abbey’s Season Opener Yard Sale
Phew! Avoiding spoilers for those who watch later, it’s hard to recover from the weekend’s Season 4 opener of everybody’s favorite gilded guilty pleasure without at least a warning about what mastermind Julian Fellowes is up to now. Key cast members gone, the two-hour Downton premiere is stuffed with not only surviving lead actors but what looks like a lawn sale of forgotten … [Read more...] about Downton Abbey’s Season Opener Yard Sale
Diss-cussion? Gates Blasts Obama on Afghanistan in new memoir
When President Barack Obama took office, a sign of continuity -- and a reassurance to Republicans -- was President George W. Bush's Secretary of Defense Bob Gates continuing in the same job under Obama. It illustrated the seamless continuation of key aspects of foreign policy and a rare example of consensus. Oh, so that was what was? Because now the answer is: not really. In … [Read more...] about Diss-cussion? Gates Blasts Obama on Afghanistan in new memoir
The Big Freeze and the Military
From some of the comments here I gather that several of our readers are enduring the trials and tribulations brought about by the severe winter weather affecting parts of the country. Our thoughts are with them. The inclement weather is also affecting our military and their operations. Last Thursday, Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick mobilized nearly 400 Soldiers and … [Read more...] about The Big Freeze and the Military
‘When We Were Young’ in the Military
It is January 1960, the middle of the Cold War and what seems to be the middle of the even colder North Atlantic Ocean. A 19-year old crew member aboard a sleek EC-121D Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) "Warning Star" Super Constellation -- its elegant lines only interrupted by two "radomes," one on top and one underneath the aircraft -- on his way to a patrol … [Read more...] about ‘When We Were Young’ in the Military
Obama presses Republicans on jobless benefits
Obama presses Republicans on jobless benefits (via AFP) President Barack Obama made an emotional, moral and economic case for extending long-term unemployment benefits on Tuesday, kicking off his first skirmish of the year with Republicans. The spat over prolonging the lifeline to 1.3 million Americans,… … [Read more...] about Obama presses Republicans on jobless benefits
Nothing, Not Even Cancer, Would Deter This Trooper.
After experiencing surgery similar to the one this Army Sergeant endured, I never even entertained the idea of traveling to or living somewhere where living conditions and medical care were not at least close to those in the U.S., let alone deploy to a combat zone. But that is exactly what this courageous and determined trooper did after going through life-threatening … [Read more...] about Nothing, Not Even Cancer, Would Deter This Trooper.
Dennis Rodman Defends North Korea Basketball Game, Gets Testy Over Kenneth Bae
Dennis Rodman shouted at CNN host Chris Cuomo this morning during an interview in which he tried to defend his trip to North Korea, as well as his basketball game to honor dictator Kim Jong Un. Dennis Rodman blew a fuse when Cuomo wanted to know if he would help secure the release of Kenneth Bae, a U.S. citizen who’s been detained there for more than a year. Growing angry … [Read more...] about Dennis Rodman Defends North Korea Basketball Game, Gets Testy Over Kenneth Bae
Global Warming Hoax (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed by Cagle Cartoons to appear on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about Global Warming Hoax (Cartoon)
Elegy For The Incandescent Bulb (Guest Voice)
Elegy for the Incandescent Bulb by Tom Purcell Farewell, old friend. I am going to miss you. I speak of the incandescent bulb — the light of my life for all of my years. As of Jan. 1, you have been shut off. That was the mission of a 2007 law that raised energy-efficiency and wattage standards far beyond what you are capable of reaching. You had a fine run, my friend. … [Read more...] about Elegy For The Incandescent Bulb (Guest Voice)
Arctic air brings record cold to huge swath of USArctic air brings record cold to huge swath of US
Arctic air brings record cold to huge swath of US (via AFP) A blast of bone-chilling cold reaching lows not seen in two decades gripped the United States early Tuesday, snarling air travel, closing schools and prompting calls for people to stay inside. Superlatives of cold-talk abounded, even in midwestern states… … [Read more...] about Arctic air brings record cold to huge swath of USArctic air brings record cold to huge swath of US
Sabato: Republicans really could win it all this year
I've often noted that the University of Virginia's Larry Sabato is among the most accurate and serious political analysts in the United States with a stellar track record in predicting what's about to happen. So when, in his new incarnation as The Politico Magazine's twice-monthly columnist, he concludes that the "three three factors seem to be pointing toward Republican gains … [Read more...] about Sabato: Republicans really could win it all this year