Can Barack Obama do anything to satisfy anybody? Right and left, Washington pols denounce his “abject surrender” to Iran on a nuclear agreement while a “disappointed” Chuck Schumer distances himself from what could be a time bomb for Democrats. Even when he takes a sensible step with safeguards toward testing Iran’s willingness for a nuclear stand-down, this President is … [Read more...] about Obama Peace Scare Upsets Friend and Foe
Washington blows up: Has American politics hit an all-time low?
Washington blows up: Has American politics hit an all-time low? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington Thursday after the Democrat majority in the Senate pushed through a major rules change to curb the power of the Republican minority. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) One by one,… … [Read more...] about Washington blows up: Has American politics hit an all-time low?
Number of adolescents with HIV jumps by one-third: UN
Number of adolescents with HIV jumps by one-third: UN (via AFP) The number of adolescents infected by the HIV virus has jumped by one third over the past decade, the UN's health agency said Monday, blaming gaps in care programmes. "More than 2 million adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 years are living with… … [Read more...] about Number of adolescents with HIV jumps by one-third: UN
Short of Manpower, TEPCO Boosts Pay for Fukushima Workers (Minyu Shimbun, Japan)
While this editorial from Japan's Minyu Shimbun doesn't mention the United States, it highlights TEPCO's obstinate refusal to call in outside help from the U.S. and elsewhere in containing radiation at its Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. According to the editorial, the company has decided to raise bonus pay for workers operating in high-radiation areas by $100 a day, … [Read more...] about Short of Manpower, TEPCO Boosts Pay for Fukushima Workers (Minyu Shimbun, Japan)
Quotes of the Weekend
It was predictable that, on such a grave and contentious issue as the preliminary agreement that was reached over the weekend on Iran’s nuclear program, there would be equally argumentative and mixed pronouncements on both sides of the issue. As is evident from Joe Gandelman’s excellent roundup of such reactions, they were all over the place and, generally, along Party … [Read more...] about Quotes of the Weekend
The Court System and Subversion of Democracy
The judicial branch of our government was established by Article III of the Constitution. Little did the creators of the Constitution realize that as the nation and its laws evolved, this branch of government would become dictatorial in its oversight of the other two branches and subvert the process of democracy. The Supreme Court and the Federal Appeals Courts judge the … [Read more...] about The Court System and Subversion of Democracy
The Supreme Court Episode 4: Kansas v. Cheever
This case deals with the 5th amendment protection against self incrimination and poses some fairly interesting questions in that regard. Arguments were held before the US Supreme Court on October 16th. The case is Kansas v. Cheever The story begins in January 2005 when Mr. Cheever shot and killed Greenwood County Sheriff Matt Samuels. Cheever was charged with murder and … [Read more...] about The Supreme Court Episode 4: Kansas v. Cheever
Quote of the Day
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