WASHINGTON -- It takes chutzpah, or perhaps just an extraordinary lack of self-awareness, to argue vehemently that a program should never be implemented -- and then complain it isn't being implemented well enough. But that seems to be the new Republican position: We want the Affordable Care Act, and we want it now. Given that House Republicans have voted dozens … [Read more...] about Plenty of time to fix Obamacare
‘Hellish’ exoplanet has Earth-like mass
'Hellish' exoplanet has Earth-like mass (via AFP) An Earth-sized planet far beyond our Solar System has been found to have a similar mass to our planet, said researchers Wednesday engaged in the hunt for other habitable worlds. While Kepler-78b is not a hospitable place, with surface temperatures exceeding… … [Read more...] about ‘Hellish’ exoplanet has Earth-like mass
Sickening Debate Over American Health
In the most advanced society ever, we argue savagely over the best way to let private companies profit from medical care to ease suffering and keep people alive. As politicians rant over Obamacare, missing from all the yowling is any acknowledgement that human lives are considered a commodity as surely as they were in the days of slavery. Even the President, for all his … [Read more...] about Sickening Debate Over American Health
Flight Changes When Passengers Learn Fallen Soldier Is Aboard
No words I could write can add to this story … [Read more...] about Flight Changes When Passengers Learn Fallen Soldier Is Aboard
Children, dementia patients in Belgium’s euthanasia sights
Belgium continues its lonely international road in considering an "unprecedented law" to grant euthanasia for children and dementia patients: In Belgium, the ruling Socialist party has proposed the bill expanding the right of euthanasia. The Christian Democratic Flemish party vowed to oppose the legislation and to challenge it in the European Court of Human Rights, if it … [Read more...] about Children, dementia patients in Belgium’s euthanasia sights
Sebelius Issues Public Apology for HealthCare.gov
The federal government didn’t have the best track record for October. The month started with the first government shutdown in years, during which thousands of federal workers were furloughed. Soon after the government was back in business, it launched the HealthCare.gov website, which was supposed to give citizens information about the Affordable Care Act and help them enroll … [Read more...] about Sebelius Issues Public Apology for HealthCare.gov
Ted Cruz’s Cuban-Born Dad Wants President Obama to Go “Back to Kenya”
Rafael Cruz, the Cuban-born father of Canadian-born Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is on video speaking on his son's behalf during his Senate campaign last year, calling President Obama an "outright Marxist" who "seeks to destroy all concept of God" and he urged the audience to send the president "back to Kenya," Mother Jones reports. Um, where do I begin? Let's see, for starters, if … [Read more...] about Ted Cruz’s Cuban-Born Dad Wants President Obama to Go “Back to Kenya”
The Zombies Among Us – Exploring The Resurgent Popularity of Zombies In Modern Culture
The Zombies Among Us – Exploring The Resurgent Popularity of Zombies In Modern Culture (via Planetsave) There are real zombies, or “sleep walkers”, in this world…the voodoo victims of hoodoo drug-induced slavery, normally restricted to the tribal cultures of Western Africa and the West Indies (following the introduction of African slaves to the… … [Read more...] about The Zombies Among Us – Exploring The Resurgent Popularity of Zombies In Modern Culture
Police have video of Toronto mayor ‘smoking crack’
Police have video of Toronto mayor 'smoking crack' (via AFP) Toronto's embattled mayor Rob Ford refused once more to resign Thursday, even after the Canadian city's police chief revealed that investigators have a video reportedly showing him smoking crack. "The mayor does appear in that video," Chief Bill Blair… … [Read more...] about Police have video of Toronto mayor ‘smoking crack’
The Never Ending Gift of Ted Cruz
I must admit I never had a lot of use for the Cuban Americans. For the most part they represented the 1% in Cuba that held so much of the country's wealth that a revolution was all but inevitable. Ted Cruz's father, Rafael Cruz, is an exception - he was actually part of the revolution that overthrew Batista. I'm not sure what changed his mind about Castro but he eventually … [Read more...] about The Never Ending Gift of Ted Cruz
Japan Must Safeguard Data from ‘Superpower in Decline’ (Ryukyo Shimpo Shimbun, Japan)
Even Japan, it would appear, a nation as closely allied to the United States as any in the world, is distancing itself from NSA mass surveillance. This editorial from Japan's Ryukyo Shimpo Shimbun suggests that America's ambitious surveillance program is a direct result of Washington's declining influence, and advises Tokyo to join with the rest of the world and take a 'tough … [Read more...] about Japan Must Safeguard Data from ‘Superpower in Decline’ (Ryukyo Shimpo Shimbun, Japan)
Obamacare: It Is 1936 All Over Again
I was listening to a recent* exchange on the problems surrounding the rollout of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) web site between two politicians, Democrat Jane Doe who supports the program and Republican John Doe, who opposes it.** The exchange was moderated by Upton Something (I didn’t catch his last name) on the left and Freddy Something (Sorry, didn’t catch his last … [Read more...] about Obamacare: It Is 1936 All Over Again
Obamascare (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/obamascare/ Copyright 2013 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Obamascare (Cartoon)
After PRISM, Europe Must Safeguard ‘Emerging Global Consciousness’ (Le Monde, France)
Now that it has become clear how our personal data is being harvested for espionage and profit, is Europe the last best hope for free people to regain control? For Le Monde, author and philosopher Eric Sadin outlines in detail how we got to this moment in history, what has gone wrong, and why it has now fallen to Europe to to 'lay the foundations of a 'Web 3.0'. For Le … [Read more...] about After PRISM, Europe Must Safeguard ‘Emerging Global Consciousness’ (Le Monde, France)
Prof. Clinton explains the far right
DALE CITY, Va. -- Bill Clinton, the nation's politician in chief, is on a roll on behalf of his friend Terry McAuliffe, the front-runner in next week's election for governor of Virginia. "If we become ideological, then we're blind to evidence," the former president explained to a crowd of loyalists gathered at a VFW hall here last weekend. Previewing a message he is … [Read more...] about Prof. Clinton explains the far right
Leadership lapses in NSA spying, Obamacare rollout (Guest Voice)
Leadership lapses in NSA spying, Obamacare rollout (via The Christian Science Monitor) Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is sworn in Oct. 30 prior to testifying before a House panel on the difficulties in implementing the Affordable Care Act. (AP Photo) Critics are taking President Obama to task for allegedly not knowing… … [Read more...] about Leadership lapses in NSA spying, Obamacare rollout (Guest Voice)
Halloween (Cartoon)
GOP seeks to stop Obama’s judicial appointments
Yes, indeed. The Republicans are trying to maintain a stranglehold on our federal court system -- and particularly the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. The DC Circuit Court is an important "feeder" to the Supreme Court. The Republican majority on this court has been able to advance aspects of the GOP's anti-regulatory agenda that the party has failed to accomplish … [Read more...] about GOP seeks to stop Obama’s judicial appointments
The were-elephant (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 The were-elephant (Cartoon)
Boston Red Sox win World Series, end 95-year Fenway drought
Boston Red Sox win World Series, end 95-year Fenway drought (via AFP) The Boston Red Sox carved up the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1, clinching their first World Series at home since 1918 and capping a remarkable worst-to-first transformation. The Red Sox hadn't won a World Series at home since Babe Ruth was on their roster… … [Read more...] about Boston Red Sox win World Series, end 95-year Fenway drought