President Barack Obama has been under a lot of criticism from both sides of the political aisle for the disastrous roll out of the "Obamacare" website and the fact that some Americans are finding themselves losing their existing "junk insurance" health care plans despite assurances from him that they could keep their doctors and insurance plans. So now, in an interview on NBC … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Obama apologizes to Americans hurt by Health Care Glitches (“I’m sorry…”)
Military ‘Drones’: The History and People Behind Them
Call them Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV), Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPV), Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), call them military drones, call them whatever good or bad name you wish, these aircraft -- love them or hate them -- exist and are flown, operated and maintained by skilled, dedicated military personnel and there is a history behind them. They are not only used in … [Read more...] about Military ‘Drones’: The History and People Behind Them
GOP adopts hope and change
They've changed a lot of district boundaries to get more votes. But will they be able to throw out the tea party if they change nominating procedures? Well, they'd like to give it a try. Leaders of the Republican establishment, alarmed by the emergence of far-right and often unpredictable Tea Party candidates, are pushing their party to rethink how it chooses … [Read more...] about GOP adopts hope and change
Do The Right Thing Speaker Boehner
Earlier today the US Senate voted 64-32 to approve the Employment Non Discrimination Act. This legislation would prohibit employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation. The law was crafted carefully to provide protections for religious organizations and really does nothing more than insure everyone is treated equally. It is a law that I strongly support. It seems … [Read more...] about Do The Right Thing Speaker Boehner
Governing by anecdote (Guest Columnist)
Governing by anecdote by Dana Milbank Washington Post Writers Group Writers Group 6:23 AM (5 hours ago) WASHINGTON -- It did not sound good for Sen. Pat Toomey. "I'm a two-time breast cancer survivor and I'm facing the loss of insurance," the Pennsylvania Republican declared Wednesday at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the health care … [Read more...] about Governing by anecdote (Guest Columnist)
Breaking: Senate Passes Gay Rights Bill
The Senate has just passed, in a 64 to 32 bipartisan vote, historic legislation that would bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace. This is another victory for the gay rights movement that has been gaining favor in the courts and electoral politics, according to the Washington Post. But don’t celebrate yet. The bill still faces a … [Read more...] about Breaking: Senate Passes Gay Rights Bill
Quote of the Day: Professor Larry Sabato on Rand Paul’s Plagiarism
For the news cycles, the plagiarism scandal involving Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is the gift that keeps on giving -- and a story with legs. It's being kept alive as more revelations about how Paul used whole chunks of work for others without attribution in his speeches and books. Rather than just say this was unfortunate staff work (he most likely does not write every … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Professor Larry Sabato on Rand Paul’s Plagiarism
Senate Passes Employment Non Discrimination Act
In a victory for LBGT rights the US Senate has voted by a margin of 64-32 to pass the Employment Non Discrimination Act, a law which would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation. The law provides exceptions for religious organizations and gained bipartisan support Unfortunately the House is unlikely to take up the bill. … [Read more...] about Senate Passes Employment Non Discrimination Act
Middle East Nuclear Armageddon
Now this is really scary: Saudi nuclear weapons 'on order' from Pakistan Saudi Arabia has invested in Pakistani nuclear weapons projects, and believes it could obtain atomic bombs at will, a variety of sources have told BBC Newsnight. While the kingdom's quest has often been set in the context of countering Iran's atomic programme, it is now possible that the Saudis … [Read more...] about Middle East Nuclear Armageddon
GOP Senate Candidate Owen Hill Jokes About Obama Being from Kenya
Colorado state Sen. Owen Hill, who is vying to unseat Sen. Mark Udall, went birther at the Denver County Republican Party's First Friday Breakfast Nov. 1: “You spend time out there [in a Kenyan slum] and little kids are running around barefoot in these kinds of streets and you ask them what they want to be, they want to be an astronaut, they want to be a physicist, a marine … [Read more...] about GOP Senate Candidate Owen Hill Jokes About Obama Being from Kenya
Are You a Musician? Why Not Audition for the Paris Métro?
Unlike in New York, in Paris you have to audition to perform in the subway. In fact, the city has an office to oversee arts in its Métro. Antoine Naso, current artistic director of the Paris Métro, holds yearly auditions for subway permits. These permits allow musicians and other artists to perform just about anywhere they want in the Métro. Many aspiring artists view a Métro … [Read more...] about Are You a Musician? Why Not Audition for the Paris Métro?
Time Magazine’s fat joke Chris Christie cover
You could tell Time Magazine (like many bloggers) just could not resist an obvious snark line for the cover of the magazine with a big profile of newly re-elected Republican Gov. Chris Christie. NOTE TO GOV. CHRISTIE: Get ready, because you just know that if you don't take the immediate lead on a big issue you'll see a headline: "CHRISTIE LEADING FROM BIG BEHIND." … [Read more...] about Time Magazine’s fat joke Chris Christie cover
NFL Player Welfare (Cartoon)
Copyright 2013 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about NFL Player Welfare (Cartoon)
Real Winners: Elected to Long Hours and No Pay
We won Tuesday night. Not a governor’s mansion or a mayor’s chair, but a seat on the school board. My daughter-in-law’s reelection will keep her in a job that pays nothing and requires long evenings away from her children and husband. Headlines will report triumphs of Chris Christie, Terry McAuliffe and Bill de Blasio, but across the country many more men and women were … [Read more...] about Real Winners: Elected to Long Hours and No Pay
Christie Can Outdo Mitt But Will It Be Enough?
Election morning, the New Jersey governor talked about poundage. “I sleep better,” he said. “I didn’t realize how badly I was sleeping being that much overweight.” Now that the returns are in, Chris Christie must be resting even easier as he stands tall in the runty Republican field of 2016 contenders among the likes of Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio. One thing is … [Read more...] about Christie Can Outdo Mitt But Will It Be Enough?
The Costs Of Food
With all of the debate over the tight economy and potential reduction in food stamp costs I have been pondering the stories about people having trouble surviving on $ 1.40 or 1.50 per meal so I decided to run the math and see if it works and discovered that at least for me it seems to work Here is the menu I put together for a week For Breakfast: I’m not much of a … [Read more...] about The Costs Of Food
Did man form from earth? New research suggests early life began in wet clay.
Did man form from earth? New research suggests early life began in wet clay. (via The Christian Science Monitor) Children play with Play-Doh, a clay-like substance. New research suggests that early life might have began in wet clay (not exactly Play-Doh). (Hasbro/Business Wire) A few of the world's religions have a simple answer to mankind's origin: clay. Now… … [Read more...] about Did man form from earth? New research suggests early life began in wet clay.
America shifts left
WASHINGTON -- The center of gravity in American politics moved left in Tuesday's off-year elections. Republicans took a big step back from the tea party. An ebullient progressive was elected mayor of New York City. And a Democrat was elected governor of Virginia after campaigning unapologetically as a supporter of gun control and a liberal on social issues. The … [Read more...] about America shifts left
It’s Time to Completely Restructure Government IT
The Chief Technology Officer of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services is retiring. This is not going to satisfy those who are suddenly acquainted with the word accountability since it gives them an opportunity to attack their political foes. Only the firing of Kathleen Sibelius will do that because only "getting" someone perceived to be close to President Obama can … [Read more...] about It’s Time to Completely Restructure Government IT
Lessons for Republicans in yesterday’s election results
Reporter and political analyst Dan Balz writes that the GOP has plenty to think about as it faces the outcome of Tuesday's elections. At a time when the party’s image has sunk to record lows nationally, the results of the gubernatorial elections will reverberate far beyond the borders of Virginia and New Jersey. Off-year elections are hardly foolproof in predicting the … [Read more...] about Lessons for Republicans in yesterday’s election results