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?
Elephants Spontaneously Understand Concept Of Pointing, Research Finds — Underscoring Great Similarities In Human And Elephant Cognition
Elephants Spontaneously Understand Concept Of Pointing, Research Finds — Underscoring Great Similarities In Human And Elephant Cognition (via Planetsave) Elephants spontaneously understand the concept of pointing, new research has found — greatly underscoring the great observed similarities between elephant and human cognition. Especially when you consider that while the … [Read more...] about Elephants Spontaneously Understand Concept Of Pointing, Research Finds — Underscoring Great Similarities In Human And Elephant Cognition
Larry Klayman, A Perfect Representative…of the Fringe
An event labeled as "The Million Vet March" boasted numbers more like recent Tea Party protests and also basically looked like one. It included folks like Sarah Palin and Sen. Ted Cruz and included a speaker that said President Obama is a Muslim and that there should be a peaceful revolution against the government. His name is Larry Klayman. He was a prosecutor in the Reagan … [Read more...] about Larry Klayman, A Perfect Representative…of the Fringe
Offensive Redskins (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2013/10/13/redskins-offense/ Copyright 2013 by David Donar. All rights reserved. Cross-posted from Political Graffiti. … [Read more...] about Offensive Redskins (Cartoon)
Shameless Olympics 2013 Winner: Ted Cruz
Will somebody put a net over the ten-month Senator from Texas and give him a saliva test for political rabies? Under attack from Conservative Republicans of all stripes as a destroyer of his party, Ted Cruz goes to the White House and lectures the President on how he must modify Obamacare. What’s Spanish for chutzpah and meshuga? If there is a thin line between brilliant … [Read more...] about Shameless Olympics 2013 Winner: Ted Cruz
Jesus tattoo billboard: Blasphemous or a blessing?
Jesus tattoo billboard: Blasphemous or a blessing? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Get inked for Jesus? Dozens of billboards around Lubbock, Texas, now show "Jesus" as covered in tattoos, including words such as "outcast" and "addicted." But this isn't intended to be a publicity campaign for tattoos as much as evangelizing for Christ… … [Read more...] about Jesus tattoo billboard: Blasphemous or a blessing?
Catalonia’s One State Solution Red Flag
The politics of and sentiments in Spain's Catalonia beg a question about one-state solutions, writes Gershom Gorenberg in The American Prospect. And he notes, nationalism is "alive and well in Europe," so asking Israelis and Palestinians to abandon it may not be a realistic request. A few excerpts: From the balconies above the narrow stone-paved streets of Girona hung … [Read more...] about Catalonia’s One State Solution Red Flag
Lindsey Graham is “very dangerous”
John McCain's little sidekick is pissed off: Sen. Lindsey Graham is angry. He’s frustrated. He's upset. In his own words, he's "very dangerous." With the government shutdown now in its 12th day, and a possible U.S. debt default looming on Oct. 17, the veteran Republican was in the mood to lash out at everyone Saturday. President Barack Obama, House Republicans, Senate … [Read more...] about Lindsey Graham is “very dangerous”
Super Girls – 10 Amazingly Talented Young Black Girls Who Brighten Our Future (Guest Voice)
Super Girls – 10 Amazingly Talented Young Black Girls Who Brighten Our Future (via http://mybeautifullife.me) Super Girls Shine By Yvette Brown Everyday there are people who strive for excellence and achieve their goals despite great hardship. Regardless of age, race and background often the deciding factors in their success is an unusually clear focus, inner… … [Read more...] about Super Girls – 10 Amazingly Talented Young Black Girls Who Brighten Our Future (Guest Voice)