David Kurtz shares the thoughts of a former GOP Senate staffer on the filibuster situation on Talking Points Memo. And willful perversion of the Senate's rules is what the Senate Republicans committed themselves to. It is idle to complain about Sen. McConnell as if he were holding up nominees and legislation by himself. Nearly every Republican Senator -- including people like … [Read more...] about Willful Perversion of Senate Tradition
Oswald Acted Alone
We already have some very eloquent posts about the tragic events of this day so I am not going to try and top them. Nor am I going to write a long post explaining my position since it is not going to change any minds. But Oswald acted alone. Period No conspiracy, no CIA plot, no LBJ agenda in Texas, no space aliens on the grassy knoll. A sad sick demented man … [Read more...] about Oswald Acted Alone
Reading Corner: Nixon and Mao
Although we are mostly a political and social commentary site I also think we can do our readers a service by providing them with commentary and reviews on good books, movies and the like. Recently I had the pleasure of reading the above book which is about the week Richard Nixon spent in China during February of 1972. For those of us who look back on this event as history … [Read more...] about Reading Corner: Nixon and Mao
America Remembers
Fifty years ago. Older Americans remember. Younger Americans reflect. … [Read more...] about America Remembers
Nov. 22, 1963: The collective GASP from the junior high audience
It was 2:35 EST on November 22, 1963 at Amity Regional Junior High School in Bethany, CT and this was my big moment. It was my first run for student council. My first-ever talk before an extremely large audience. The auditorium was brimming with a captive 7th and 8th graders gathered to listen to candidates, and I was trying to convince them to choose me for … [Read more...] about Nov. 22, 1963: The collective GASP from the junior high audience
What Happened to the Makin Atoll Marine Raiders?
Veterans Day was two weeks ago, Memorial Day will not be for another six months. I just became aware of an unbelievably heart-wrenching yet uplifting story about some of our World War II troops -- a story that does not need any special occasion to be told. All we need to do is step away for a few minutes from the politics of the day and read and watch. So without any … [Read more...] about What Happened to the Makin Atoll Marine Raiders?
Europe’s Price for Trade Talks Must Be End to U.S. Impunity (Le Temps, Switzerland)
Must America be dragged kicking and screaming back to the concept of civilized behavior - by its wallet? For Switzerland's Le Temp, lawyer and analyst Christophe Germann argues that in order to preserve 'the European mission' to spread peace and justice and preserve cultural and biological diversity, it must insist in trade talks with the United States that Washington begin … [Read more...] about Europe’s Price for Trade Talks Must Be End to U.S. Impunity (Le Temps, Switzerland)
AEI’s Ornstein on Senate Filibuster Changes
Senate Democrats have made historic changes on filibuster rules. Sahil Gapur shares AEI's Norm Ornstein's take on Talking Points Memo. Norm Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, told TPM that Republicans forced Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to "go nuclear" after his Democratic majority took the historic step Thursday … [Read more...] about AEI’s Ornstein on Senate Filibuster Changes
Some Reflections on Today’s Dire Predictions Following the Execution of the ‘Nuclear Option’
I ask our readers’ indulgence for two reasons. First, for musing (some may wish to call it “crowing” or "making light of" -- it’s their call) over some of the faux outrage that is being expressed today around the beltway after Democrats got some spine and put a stop to the blatant abuse of the filibuster by Republicans in the Senate. As Eugene Robinson so eloquently put … [Read more...] about Some Reflections on Today’s Dire Predictions Following the Execution of the ‘Nuclear Option’
Obama’s statement on Senate passing Nuclear option now and in the past (Videos)
President Barack Obama gave this statement on the Senate passing the nuclear option on filibusters: Like all but a handfull of partisan on each side, Obama's position on ending the filibuster has flipped. Writing this sentence means 1)the political false equivilency police will come after me 2) many will point out how the GOP has abused filibuster use, which is easily … [Read more...] about Obama’s statement on Senate passing Nuclear option now and in the past (Videos)
Enough of GOP obstruction
WASHINGTON -- Way to nuke 'em, Harry. It was time -- actually, long past time -- for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to invoke the "nuclear option" and ask his colleagues to change the Senate's rules. This isn't about partisan politics. It's about making what has been called "the world's greatest deliberative body" function the way the Framers of the Constitution … [Read more...] about Enough of GOP obstruction
A Couple Odd Kennedy Factoids
With tomorrow being the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination I thought I'd post a couple odd factoids. This week we also saw the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg and there was a minor controversy over President Obama failing to attend. But that was not the first time a President turned down an invitation. In 1963 President Kennedy was invited to the … [Read more...] about A Couple Odd Kennedy Factoids
DEMOCRATS USE “NUCLEAR OPTION” — AND POLITICAL RADIATION SPREADS (News and blog reaction roundup) UPDATED
Senate Democrats have dropped the "f" bomb. After concluding Republicans are not making a good-faith effort to evaluate President Barack Obama's judicial appointments but are simply trying to keep Obama from appointing judges of his ideological choice, Democrats have removed the right of the minority to filibuster on most Presidential judicial nominees. Supreme Court … [Read more...] about DEMOCRATS USE “NUCLEAR OPTION” — AND POLITICAL RADIATION SPREADS (News and blog reaction roundup) UPDATED
Typhoon Haiyan: Aid and Relief Efforts Continue
In the aftermath of most major disasters, reports inevitably appear of alleged graft and corruption and of slow, inefficient or insufficient aid and relief efforts. It is, and will be, no different with Typhoon Haiyan. The good news is that aid, donations and support continue to pour and, in fact, are being stepped up. Here are images of our Marines, Sailors and Airmen … [Read more...] about Typhoon Haiyan: Aid and Relief Efforts Continue
Koch Bros Reach Out to Punish Sick and Needy
Americans for Prosperity, the voice of billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, is wasting no time to target vulnerable Democrats up for re-election next year with $3.5 million of attack ads over Obamacare. The “Kochtopus,” as described in Jane Meyer’s classic 2010 New Yorker takedown, is always at the ready to pick up its anti-Obama campaign with aims of “drastically … [Read more...] about Koch Bros Reach Out to Punish Sick and Needy
Democrats ready to use “nuclear option” to break Republicans ideological filibuster
It has been threatened by both parties but never used but now it seems as if it's going to happen. Faced with Republicans filibustering a-n-y appointments by President Barack Obama to the powerful D.C. Circuit Court because they don't want him to appoint anymore and upset the existing conservative tenor, Majority Leader Harry Reid is reportedly ready to use the Democratic … [Read more...] about Democrats ready to use “nuclear option” to break Republicans ideological filibuster
Federal trial court vacancies soar highest under Obama
As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid now seems poised to make good on a long-made threat to trigger the "nuclear option" to halt nonstop Republican filibusters aimed at preventing President Barack Obama to appoint ANYONE to the powerful D.C. Circuit Court, the Brennan Center for Justice reports that trial court vacancies are now higher than during President Clinton or President … [Read more...] about Federal trial court vacancies soar highest under Obama
Up to 15,000 foreign troops could stay in Afghanistan: Karzai
Up to 15,000 foreign troops could stay in Afghanistan: Karzai (via AFP) Afghan President Hamid Karzai gave his backing Thursday to a proposed security pact with the United States that will see up to 15,000 foreign troops stay in the war-torn country. But he said it would not be signed until after next year's election. A… … [Read more...] about Up to 15,000 foreign troops could stay in Afghanistan: Karzai
George Zimmerman (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 George Zimmerman (Cartoon)
Kerry’s ‘End of Monroe Doctrine’ Seems More Like New Beginning (La Jornada, Mexico)
Days ago, at the headquarters of the Organization of American States in Washington, Secretary of State Kerry undertook to declare the 1823 Monroe Doctrine ended. Beginning by saying that he was 'happy to be here' because it is such a short drive from his office, Kerry called for a 'partnership of equals' before immediately launching into Monroe-Doctrine-like language about Cuba … [Read more...] about Kerry’s ‘End of Monroe Doctrine’ Seems More Like New Beginning (La Jornada, Mexico)