“I cannot even stand to look at you," a GOP House leader told the President during negotiations over the Shutdown. According to Sen. Dick Durbin, Tea Party zealots “say President Obama just doesn't try hard enough to communicate with Republicans. But in a 'negotiation' meeting with the president, one GOP House Leader told the president: 'I cannot even stand to look at you.' … [Read more...] about Repairing the Rot in the Capitol, Inside and Out
Sabato: Republican government shutdown improves Democratic prospects in the House
The University of Virgnia's Larry Sabato has proven to be one of the country's most reliable, perceptive, and scientifically solid political analysts. In the latest edition of his must-read Crystal Ball, Sabato and his associates Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley say the GOP's government shutdown debacle has improved Democratic prospects in the House. They're not yet saying … [Read more...] about Sabato: Republican government shutdown improves Democratic prospects in the House
NSA Espionage in France: ‘Like Spying on Family Members’ (Le Nouvel Observateur, France)
Why hasn't the latest French public outrage over NSA spying been shared by the French government? In this interview with France's Le Nouvel Observateur, foreign affairs adviser to the French government Philippe Moreau Defarges says that France has bigger problems to deal with than U.S. surveillance, which after all, Defarges says, even family members engage in. Céline … [Read more...] about NSA Espionage in France: ‘Like Spying on Family Members’ (Le Nouvel Observateur, France)
RINOS and AINOS (Guest Voice)
RINOs and AINOs Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Now we bore deep into the bunker that houses the triumphant Tea Party headquarters, where they are celebrating a tactical victory over the forces of complacency and complaining loudly about all the chicken-hearted Republicans In Name Only who bowed to the will of our socialist president, and voted to reopen the government and … [Read more...] about RINOS and AINOS (Guest Voice)
European summit leaders furious over U.S. spying
Spying row hijacks EU summit, testing Europe's unity (via AFP) Mounting ire over alleged US snooping on its allies will test Europe's unity at a summit Thursday after German and French leaders Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande demanded Washington provide an explanation. Initially expected to be "a routine affair… … [Read more...] about European summit leaders furious over U.S. spying
GOP’s Mix of Religion and Politics
Andrew Sullivan on the noxious mix of fundamentalist religion and right-wing politics in The Daily Dish. The fusion of politics and religion – most prominently the fusion of the evangelical movement and the Republican party – has been one of the most damaging developments in recent American history. It has made Republicanism not the creed of realists, pragmatists and … [Read more...] about GOP’s Mix of Religion and Politics
Starbucks buys Teavana. First coffee dominance, now tea?
Starbucks buys Teavana. First coffee dominance, now tea? (via The Christian Science Monitor) A Starbucks employee shows the new Teavana 'tea bar' in New York during a media event on Wednesday. Starbucks will open its first Teavana 'tea bar' in New York on Thursday. Will Starbucks revolutionize the tea industry as it did coffee? (Candice Choi… … [Read more...] about Starbucks buys Teavana. First coffee dominance, now tea?
Don’t give up on the uninsured
WASHINGTON -- Obamacare is working. True, that sentence comes with a large asterisk. It is working in states that have followed the essential design of the Affordable Care Act, particularly in Kentucky, Connecticut, Washington and California. The law was written with states' rights and state responsibilities in mind. States that created their own health care exchanges … [Read more...] about Don’t give up on the uninsured
A Debt Ceiling Petition
After the near disasters in 2011 and earlier this month I've come to believe that the only way to avoid this kind of idiocy is to take away the political toy that is the debt ceiling. No political party should be able to threaten the economy of the nation for an instant whether it's to extort concessions from their opponents or to "make a point". We don't have to default to … [Read more...] about A Debt Ceiling Petition
Al Qaeda’s threat won’t die
If you think Al Qaeda is dead or dying...THINK AGAIN. … [Read more...] about Al Qaeda’s threat won’t die
Poli-Takes: The Rattling of the Cages:
This addition of the “Rattling of the Cages” focuses on new developments in major House, Senate, and Gubernatorial races. In addition, the vote to reopen the federal government after a two-week standstill, while mostly on predictable lines, still offeres fodder as 2014 fast approaches. Florida-13 The first special election of 2014, and in all likelihood the first test of … [Read more...] about Poli-Takes: The Rattling of the Cages:
Latest NSA Leak Puts President Nieto’s Credibility at Stake (La Jornada, Mexico)
Perceived subservience to the United States has become a major obstacle for Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto's administration, particularly after it was revealed by Germany's Der Spiegel that both he and his predecessor's e-mail accounts were hacked by the U.S. National Security Agency. This editorial from Mexico's La Jornada warns Nieto that failure to stand up to … [Read more...] about Latest NSA Leak Puts President Nieto’s Credibility at Stake (La Jornada, Mexico)
Emerging US-China rivalry around Myanmar
Myanmar (formerly Burma) is at the core of a new emerging rivalry between the US and China in the Indian Ocean region, which contains the world’s most crowded sea lanes and trade routes. The rivalry is adding to the already tense US-China competition in the South and East China Seas and the Sea of Japan. There, the Chinese navy is trying to claim islands disputed by key … [Read more...] about Emerging US-China rivalry around Myanmar
Obamacare Website (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 Obamacare Website (Cartoon)
Pope Francis suspends Germany’s ‘bling bishop’ over extravagant lifestyle
Vatican suspends Germany's 'bling bishop' (via AFP) The Vatican on Wednesday suspended indefinitely a German Catholic cleric dubbed the "bling bishop" for his luxury lifestyle, despite multiple calls in Germany for the prelate to be dismissed. "The Holy See deems it appropriate to authorise a period… … [Read more...] about Pope Francis suspends Germany’s ‘bling bishop’ over extravagant lifestyle
Texas voter ID law targets women, students and minorities
The U.S. Supreme court in its (in)famous Voting Rights Act ruling gave Texas a green light to legislate voter suppression, and here Texas most assuredly goes: Texas’s new voter ID law got off to a rocky start this week as early voting began for state constitutional amendments. The law was previously blocked as discriminatory by the federal courts under the Voting Rights … [Read more...] about Texas voter ID law targets women, students and minorities
Inhofe Used to be Rational
As if Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) hadn't provided enough doubt about his ability to think rationally with his constant accusations that the concept of anthropogenic global warming is a huge hoax on the part of thousands of scientists he now has taken his relationship with reality to a distance that might best be measured in light years. He has claimed that the kind of … [Read more...] about Inhofe Used to be Rational
A Radio Host Tired of Partisan Politics: A Call for Reconciliation
I host a daily radio talk show entitled Live from Seattle with Doug Bursch on 820 AM KGNW. Yesterday, in the first hour of our show, I spoke on Christians and partisan politics. Listen if you want to hear a somewhat different perspective than what is often heard on the religious and political airwaves. Click here to listen to the podcast on reconciliation. … [Read more...] about A Radio Host Tired of Partisan Politics: A Call for Reconciliation
FDA warns pet owners of jerky treats linked to animal deaths and illnesses
FDA warns pet owners of jerky treats linked to animal deaths and illnesses (via PBS News Hour) By: News Desk A reported 580 pets have died from jerky-related illnesses since 2007. Photo by Flickr user rawlands The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants to get the bottom of a mysterious outbreak that has sickened thousands of dogs and cats in… … [Read more...] about FDA warns pet owners of jerky treats linked to animal deaths and illnesses
14-Year-Old Philip Chism Held Without Bail for Murder of Teacher Colleen Ritzer
BREAKING : 14-year-old Philip Chism, held without bail for the murder of Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer. Philip Chism reportedly beat the teacher to death. Boston.com: Philip D. Chism was ordered held without bail at his arraignment this afternoon in Salem District Court. Judge Matthew Nestor approved funds for a mental competency evaluation. A probable cause … [Read more...] about 14-Year-Old Philip Chism Held Without Bail for Murder of Teacher Colleen Ritzer