This is the China editorial that even America's myopic mainstream media reported on yesterday, however dismissively. Has the time come for the rest of the world to decouple from the U.S. dollar and the interminable domestic wrangling of American politicians? For China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, columnist Liu Chang lays out the case for a 'new world order' free of a … [Read more...] about Washington’s Fiscal Failure Demands ‘De-Americanized World’ (Xinhua, China)
The L.A. Times Strikes a Blow for Honesty
Recently the L.A. Times stated that it would no longer print letters that made blatantly false claims that Congress and the office of the President were beneficiaries of special exemptions not available to others when it came to the ACA. When explaining this policy they included this statement: Why? Simply put, this objection to the president's healthcare law is based on a … [Read more...] about The L.A. Times Strikes a Blow for Honesty
Senate leaders Reid McConnell nearing debt ceiling deal
Senate leaders nearing US debt ceiling deal (via AFP) Senate leaders are nearing completion on a deal to stave off a debt default and avert a self-inflicted political calamity that would shred US credibility and rock the global economy. Signs of hope emerged on Monday, three days before a deadline to raise… … [Read more...] about Senate leaders Reid McConnell nearing debt ceiling deal
Quote of the Day
Roger Simon of Politico is not one of my favorite pundits but he does win the quote of the day: Question: If Ted Cruz and John Boehner were both on a sinking ship, who would be saved? Answer: America. He has this to say about Ted Cruz: And for what? Because Cruz, Republican senator from Texas, has grown so drunk on the sound of his own voice and so besotted with illusions … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day
New Poll: Disapproval of GOP Peaks In Blame for the Budget Crisis
Yet more bad news for a Republican Party: a new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows a new high disapproval rating for how the Tea Party dominated party has handled the government shut down, now coupled with the real prospect that Tea Partiers could cause the U.S. to default -- a development that all but ideologists who don't live in reality say will mean economic catastrophe to … [Read more...] about New Poll: Disapproval of GOP Peaks In Blame for the Budget Crisis
“Homeland” Insecurity: Clare Danes
Reviewing movies for Esquire in the 1950s, Dwight MacDonald complained, “I can’t watch Audrey Hepburn, she makes me feel coarse.” I didn’t share that reaction at all, but watching Claire Danes now in “Homeland” recalls it. Some actors, usually among the most gifted, bring out resentment in me, best explained as feeling invaded, manipulated by their intensity into responses … [Read more...] about “Homeland” Insecurity: Clare Danes
OK, you win! (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/ok-you-win/ Copyright 2013 by David Donar. All rights reserved. Cross-posted from Political Graffiti. … [Read more...] about OK, you win! (Cartoon)
20 signs you’ve drunk the political Kool-Aid
A MUST READ: 20 signs you’ve drunk the political Kool-Aid by conservative Washington Post blogger Jennifer Rubin -- criticizing the Tea Partiers and the party's talk radio show political culture with its (politically suicidal) bubble. … [Read more...] about 20 signs you’ve drunk the political Kool-Aid
Tea Party March’s Confederate Flag: Don Lemon versus Conservative Talk Show Host
As we noted HERE, yesterday's Tea Party sponsored "Million Vet March on the Memorials" featured far less than a million (or even 250,000) vets, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, her protege Texas. Senator Ted Cruz, a huge dose of chutzpah from Cruz -- and a confederate flag held high in front of a White House occupied by an African-American family. In a CNN panel on Saturday … [Read more...] about Tea Party March’s Confederate Flag: Don Lemon versus Conservative Talk Show Host
Sorry, You Waived Your Right to a Jury Trial
Robert A. Levine and Erika Jacobsen White, Esq. In the wake of recent Supreme Court rulings, it came as no surprise when the Roberts Court made another big business friendly ruling in American Express Co. v. Italian Colors Restaurant. This time the Supremes, led by Justice Scalia, concluded that contractual class action bans in arbitration are permissible under … [Read more...] about Sorry, You Waived Your Right to a Jury Trial
Why Democrats Love Ted Cruz (Whom They Despise)
Democrats hate Texas Sen. Ted Cruz -- but these days they (should) love him more than they despise him. Why? Mark Salter, former chief of staff to Sen. John McCain, who was alsowas a senior adviser to the McCain for President campaign, gives the answers in a piece on RealClearPolitics. Some key excerpts: Sen. Ted Cruz excites the passions of both his admirers and his … [Read more...] about Why Democrats Love Ted Cruz (Whom They Despise)
Quote of the Day: On the hypocrisy of the Tea Party Veterans March
Our political Quote of the Day comes via NBC's must-read First Read, which notes the hypocrisy of yesterday's veteran's march in Washington choreographed by the Tea Party and headlined by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Texas. Sen. Ted Cruz: Also, it was striking that the conservatives who shut down the government -- by demanding that the health-care law be defunded or … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On the hypocrisy of the Tea Party Veterans March
Is the Pope Rooting for Hillary in 20016?
By now, the world won’t be surprised by anything Francis I says, but was there a subtle Papal nod to Hillary Clinton 2016 hidden in his now-famous interview? In these ugly days, the hopeful heart searches for every bit of humanity to be found, however tenuous, anywhere. Amid all the heartless rant in Washington, Mrs. Clinton and the first Jesuit in the Vatican are among the … [Read more...] about Is the Pope Rooting for Hillary in 20016?
“Jawdropping”! Even the pollsters are surprised.
That's how the guys who did the polling for the latest WSJ/NBC poll showing how far down Republicans are in the nationwide poll. Republican pollster Bill McInturff and Democratic pollsters Peter Hart and Fred Yang conducted the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. All are longtime practitioners, but even they seemed startled by the findings. McInturff wrote in an analysis, … [Read more...] about “Jawdropping”! Even the pollsters are surprised.
Congressional lawmakers split as potentially disastrous October 17 debt deadline looms
US lawmakers split as October 17 debt deadline looms (via AFP) The United States continues to face a potentially devastating sovereign debt default after senators failed to agree on terms to reopen the federal government and raise the country's borrowing limit. Republicans and President Barack Obama's Democrats… … [Read more...] about Congressional lawmakers split as potentially disastrous October 17 debt deadline looms
Americans & news : partisanship or confirmation bias?
Despite an awkward (and less than accurate) gerrymandering metaphor, the David Carr essay "It’s Not Just Political Districts. Our News Is Gerrymandered, Too." is worth a read if you are unfamiliar with selective exposure in the context of news media. Here's what I mean, from Markus Prior (Princeton) in Media and Political Polarization (pdf). Iyengar&Hahn (2009) presented … [Read more...] about Americans & news : partisanship or confirmation bias?
Obama can’t waste this moment
WASHINGTON -- The key in politics is to snatch victory from the jaws of victory. The senseless government shutdown has led to a rout of the tea party, right-wing extremism and a Republican leadership that was cowed into a march toward oblivion. But a great deal hangs on what happens next. Will this be a watershed moment? Or do we return to the same dreary politics we … [Read more...] about Obama can’t waste this moment
Relative Popularity of Republicans (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 Relative Popularity of Republicans (Cartoon)
Please give me a break — and the country a break (UPDATED with Tweet roundup)
Please give me a break — and the country a break. Please. TWEETS UPDATE: Pro tip: If you want to express your love of US Army & its monuments … leave the Confederate flag at home. pic.twitter.com/dyByu9av51— davidfrum (@davidfrum) October 13, 2013 Let's be clear, Palin and Cruz and their teabags have the right to wave their confederate flag, and we have … [Read more...] about Please give me a break — and the country a break (UPDATED with Tweet roundup)
Is Republican Senator Susan Collins’ debt default compromise proposal rising again?
At a time when there's increasing pessimism and dismay over whether the United States can avoid a House and Tea Party conservative Republican generated catastrophic default on American debts, there are now glimmers of hope that perhaps there can be a solution and that some Republicans and Democrats trying to find a solution in good-faith could eventually prevail. One sign: … [Read more...] about Is Republican Senator Susan Collins’ debt default compromise proposal rising again?