I was struck by the utter absurdity of the statement by Ted Cruz that 'Filibuster Changes ‘Will Poison The Atmosphere Of The Senate’ The Quote of the day comes from Josh Marshall who says it much better than I could. Sen. Cruz (R-TX) says that killing the filibuster (and that's really what it is) "will poison the atmosphere of the Senate." All the snark aside (and this … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day
A nuclear end to denial
WASHINGTON -- Those who lament the Senate Democrats' vote to end filibusters for presidential nominations say the move will escalate partisan warfare and destroy what comity is left in Congress. Some also charge hypocrisy, since Democrats once opposed the very step they took last week. In fact, seeing the world as it is rather than pining for a world that no longer … [Read more...] about A nuclear end to denial
It’s raining (real) rocks in Sicily (Video)
And you though YOU faced tough weather? The Mt Etna volcano erupted so it's now raining rocks in Sicily and other near by cities. It's now the city were you can get the most easily stoned: … [Read more...] about It’s raining (real) rocks in Sicily (Video)
The Iran deal: challenges for Israel
Today’s preliminary deal with Iran over its nuclear program is a master stroke of US diplomacy, which if it comes to full fruition will affect the region’s political, economic and security architecture. That final shape likely to emerge over three years would deliver regional stability that could make the Jewish homeland feel less besieged and more at peace over the longer … [Read more...] about The Iran deal: challenges for Israel
Iranian agreement: realistic step forward or Polyanna thinking?
Is the initial agreement Iran reached with world powerse over its nuclear activies a vital step forward, a sign that President Barack Obama has finally "earned" his Nobel Peace Prize -- or is the manifestation of dangerous, Polyanna-ish thinking about Iran, a agreement that shows that Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and the nations involved in the agreement are hopelessly … [Read more...] about Iranian agreement: realistic step forward or Polyanna thinking?
American Leadership (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 American Leadership (Cartoon)
American Dream: JFK’s Second Inaugural
Jan. 20, 1965—-As Inauguration Day dawns, the political agenda for John F. Kennedy’s second term is promising: a possible exit from Vietnam, more progress on arms control with the Soviets and, helped in Congress by Vice-President Lyndon Johnson who has ambitions to succeed him in 1968, passage of rudimentary civil rights legislation. Kennedy’s landslide victory over Barry … [Read more...] about American Dream: JFK’s Second Inaugural
No one opposes Putin in Russia. It says so right in the history books
No one opposes Putin in Russia. It says so right in the history books (via GlobalPost) Enlarge MOSCOW, Russia — Yevgeny Yamburg has spent decades pioneering new forms of education in Russia. But still, the prominent school director says he’d hate to have to write a new history textbook the government hopes will soon make its way into… … [Read more...] about No one opposes Putin in Russia. It says so right in the history books
Beginning of the end for filibuster?
Some political scientists see Harry Reid's rule change that way. "From here on in, the filibuster is likely to be eroded, bit by bit," Michael Mezey, political scientist at DePaul University, said Friday in an email. "Once you’ve gone to the well for the parliamentary option … it will be tempting to go there again even on legislation and perhaps on Supreme Court … [Read more...] about Beginning of the end for filibuster?
SNL’s Piers Morgan, George Zimmerman-themed Opening (Video)
NBC's Saturday Night Live managed to work Piers Morgan and George Zimmerman's legal troubles into his opening, as it reigns supreme as broadcast televisions reliable news parody source: … [Read more...] about SNL’s Piers Morgan, George Zimmerman-themed Opening (Video)
The Foggy Crystal Ball (Guest Voice)
The Foggy Crystal Ball Raging Moderate, by Will Durst The heck is going on here, people? Did someone drop the flag signaling the start of the 2016 presidential election race in secret? Was there a furtive whispered "go now" left on the voice mail of all the major players in the 202 area code? Thirty-six months before the election? Is it possible to earn extra credit by … [Read more...] about The Foggy Crystal Ball (Guest Voice)
“Breaking Bad” stars Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul read final for first time (Video)
In this age when consumers watch TV and movies and so identify with characters on the screen that they lose sight that they're watching actors, it's easy to forget that there is the moment when an actor discovers the fate of his character. And the actor reacts. We now have a quintessential example of that on video: the moment when two stars of the award-winning AMC series … [Read more...] about “Breaking Bad” stars Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul read final for first time (Video)
(Updated) An Early Thanksgiving Message
UPDATE: I have been trying for many years to locate my former commander, Major Edwin P. Leonard. Finally, during the writing of this story I was able to contact his son, Richard J. Leonard, a retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant living in Virginia, who gave me the sad news that his father, then a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with 34 years of service, passed away … [Read more...] about (Updated) An Early Thanksgiving Message
A Television 50th Anniversary Where the Show Goes On
If you've visited the Google home page today or caught any number of entertainment news pieces on what today is, you might have an idea what I've been doing with most of my day today and my evening yesterday. Today is the 50th anniversary of the BBC television show Doctor Who. Like many other Americans I discovered the show on PBS in the late '70s while Tom Baker played the 4th … [Read more...] about A Television 50th Anniversary Where the Show Goes On
Iran, world powers agree nuclear deal
Iran, world powers agree nuclear deal (via AFP) World powers on Sunday reached an agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme, their chief negotiator Catherine Ashton and Iran's foreign minister said. "We have reached agreement between E3+3 and Iran," Ashton's spokesman Michael Mann quoted her… … [Read more...] about Iran, world powers agree nuclear deal
A Fox Station Asks Why We’re Angry
I found it very, very humorous to actually see a Fox owned TV station reporter writing an article entitled "America's anger epidemic: why?". I'd have to guess that many so-called conservatives are angry because of the break between their delusions and the real world. For a clue as to how they feel about things you only have to read the comments on this article and realize that … [Read more...] about A Fox Station Asks Why We’re Angry
Brooklyn attack arrest: Is ‘knockout game’ a hate crime?
Brooklyn attack arrest: Is 'knockout game' a hate crime? … [Read more...] about Brooklyn attack arrest: Is ‘knockout game’ a hate crime?
Senate ‘nuclear option’: Within Democratic ranks, youth trumped experience
Senate 'nuclear option': Within Democratic ranks, youth trumped experience (via The Christian Science Monitor)Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) of Oregon defends the Senate vote to weaken filibusters and make it harder for Republicans to block confirmation of the president's nominees for judges and other top posts, on Capitol Hill on Thursday. The move was unanimously… … [Read more...] about Senate ‘nuclear option’: Within Democratic ranks, youth trumped experience
Our Moderate President
Conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan argues for President Obama's moderate attempt at reforms on The Daily Dish. For now, though, we actually have a figure in the middle of this polarizing vortex still straining to forge a middle ground. He’s our president. If he doesn’t succeed, someone else more radical will follow him. That’s why I, as a conservative, continue to support … [Read more...] about Our Moderate President
They should have killed filibuster for legislation, too (Guest Voice)
They should have killed it for legislation too (via The Economist) REPUBLICANS from Charles Krauthammer to John McCain are now telling Democrats they will rue the day when they decided to use a simple-majority vote to change Senate rules and eliminate the filibuster for executive office-holders and federal judges (… … [Read more...] about They should have killed filibuster for legislation, too (Guest Voice)