E.J. Dionne shares Bill Clinton's explanation of the Tea Party in The Washington Post. “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 taking across the state in stumping for Democrats facing a Republican ticket led by an unapologetic right-wing … [Read more...] about Clinton on the Far Right
NSA: For Europe, it’s Better to be Heard than Ignored (El Pais, Spain)
Here's more from Spain, where media has jumped head first into the global controversy over surveillance. After years of complaining that Washington had turned its back on Europe, Europeans are steamed that in the form of the eavesdropping NSA, the United States has taken all too much of an interest in the Old Continent. For Spain's El Pais, columnist Francisco G. Basterra … [Read more...] about NSA: For Europe, it’s Better to be Heard than Ignored (El Pais, Spain)
Ghostbusting Obama’s Haunted White House
For Halloween, Barack Obama’s residence is spooked (and not just by the CIA) with visions of a disconnected President wandering the halls unaware of what goblin underlings were doing in his name. Spying on allies? They never told him. Technical mess with the ACA launch? He didn’t know. In his first term, the President was conceded to be the smartest man in the room, even by … [Read more...] about Ghostbusting Obama’s Haunted White House
The Truth About Canceled Health Insurance
President Obama said today: One of the things health reform was designed to do was to help not only the uninsured but also the under-insured," Obama said. "And there are a number of Americans, fewer than 5 percent of Americans, who've got cut-rate plans that don't offer real financial protection in the event of a serious illness or an accident. "Remember, before the … [Read more...] about The Truth About Canceled Health Insurance
Quinnipiac Poll: Is McAuliffe lead shrinking in Virginia with Cuccinelli rebound?
The Governor's race in Virginia is being widely touted as THE race to watch in national terms because it appeared as if Democrat Terry McAuliffe was poised for a massive win over Tea Party Republican State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia, considered a "bellwether" state. But now a new Quinnipiac Poll suggests this race is far from over as it finds McAuliffe's lead … [Read more...] about Quinnipiac Poll: Is McAuliffe lead shrinking in Virginia with Cuccinelli rebound?
Health secretary on Obamacare website: ‘You deserve better’
Health secretary on Obamacare website: 'You deserve better' (via AFP) President Barack Obama's health secretary publicly apologized Wednesday for the rocky rollout of the US health care law's new website, stressing that citizens "deserve better" from the system. But while Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen… … [Read more...] about Health secretary on Obamacare website: ‘You deserve better’
Those World Series Beards of October
Watching the World Series recalls childhood days when beards and baseball came together in the House of David team, whose facial foliage was famous back then on the barnstorming circuit. Unlike today’s Boston Red Sox and many St. Louis Cardinals, their whiskers grew out of religious conviction as members of a commune founded by a charismatic preacher. They prospered and … [Read more...] about Those World Series Beards of October
The NSA Proves Dalai Lama Wrong (BNR Nieuwsradio, The Netherlands)
Edward Snowden has revealed many things to the world over the past six months, and one of those things, according to columnist Ben van der Burg of BNR Nieuwsradio, is that even the Dalai Lama can be wrong about human nature. For BNR Nieuwsradio, Ben van der Burg of writes in part: That the sharing economy is a myth is evidenced by Facebook, Twitter, or Google. They … [Read more...] about The NSA Proves Dalai Lama Wrong (BNR Nieuwsradio, The Netherlands)
How to draw Boehner (Video)
I did this video back in 2010 when the GOP won the midterms and John Boehner was to become the new speaker of the house. It aired on CNN but I thought it would be just as relevant today so please enjoy and feel free to e-mail me your version of John and maybe I'll post them up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pXC4tTd1vU … [Read more...] about How to draw Boehner (Video)
Spineless Joke
This might be funny if it were not so sad. An example of what a spineless joke the Republican Party has become. 27 GOP Senators 'Disapprove' Of Their Own Vote To Raise Debt Ceiling Twenty-seven Republican senators voted with Democrats on Oct. 16 to lift the debt ceiling and avert a catastrophic default. And each one of those 27 senators voted Tuesday to "disapprove" of … [Read more...] about Spineless Joke
Spain Reacts to NSA Surveillance Revelations
Since Spain's El Mundo published reports that the National Security Agency had monitored the phone calls of over 60 million of the nation's citizens, and that its prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, was one of the 36 heads of state spied upon by the agency, Spain's newspapers have been publishing editorials and op-eds about the situation. Here are three, translated by the people of … [Read more...] about Spain Reacts to NSA Surveillance Revelations
Quirky Journalism: New Obama War Doctrine
Journalism students are taught to “never bury the lead” but, with a little help from the President, I did just that in my last post, raising the question of whether there is a new Obama Doctrine for military action in the Middle East. Writing about the aftermath of Benghazi, I cited his National Security Adviser’s interview with the New York Times three days ago, headlined … [Read more...] about Quirky Journalism: New Obama War Doctrine
The Flight of Marco Rubio
Isn't it time to do a new political version of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's famous "Flight of the Bumblebee?" The musical piece has had various incarnations in American culture. In the 40s, it was the theme for "The Green Hornet" radio show. In the 60s, jazzed-up adaptation performed by trumpet player Al Hirt was the theme for the TV show -- and it became a worldwide hit when it … [Read more...] about The Flight of Marco Rubio
Fringe and purge (Guest Voice)
Fringe and purge (via The Economist) A COUPLE of days ago Ramesh Ponnuru and Rich Lowry published a long essay in the National Review arguing that Republicans need to stop engaging in intra-party purity wars, and fighting politics as if it were a perpetual last stand against the teeming… … [Read more...] about Fringe and purge (Guest Voice)
We will find proof of aliens, says Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth
We will find proof of aliens, says Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth (via The Inquirer) CANONICAL FOUNDER and technology entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth is no stranger to exploration. As the first South African to enter space when he launched aboard the Russian Soyuz TM-34 mission as the second spaceflight tourist in 2002, the man responsible… … [Read more...] about We will find proof of aliens, says Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth
NSA’s snooping: the real damage
The outrage of several European governments at alleged electronic espionage by the US is understandable but has a whiff of pretense to hide their own ineptitude. In the case of Germany’s Angela Merkel, the surprise is not that the NSA conducts this kind of deep surveillance but that the country famed worldwide for high technology failed to veil the communications of its … [Read more...] about NSA’s snooping: the real damage
New poll gives McAuliffe big lead in Virginia
New poll gives McAuliffe big lead in Virginia (via PBS News Hour) By: Terence Burlij and Christina Bellantoni Virginia Tech students attend a Monday event in Blacksburg, Va. for gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe. Photo by Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesWith one week to go until Election Day… … [Read more...] about New poll gives McAuliffe big lead in Virginia
Obama Tiptoes Out of Future Mideast Messes
“We’re here to kill Americans.” That chilling statement from an attacker of the US compound reported on 60 Minutes by a pseudonymous witness stirs again the anguish of four deaths last September 11. The pain of that loss is genuine on all sides, but it doesn’t stop there, rippling into politics as a preemptive strike against a Hillary Clinton run in 2016 and raising even … [Read more...] about Obama Tiptoes Out of Future Mideast Messes
Actress Suzanne Somers: Affordable Care Act is “Socialist Ponzi Scheme”
I never thought I would say it, but there's someone even dumber than Sarah Palin and Rep. Michele Bachmann -- Suzanne Somers. The Wall Street Journal ran a column called "The Affordable Care Act Is a Socialist Ponzi Scheme," written by Somers. You will recall her role as Chrissy on "Three's Company." Well that says it all. Somers warns: Medical care will be degraded, the … [Read more...] about Actress Suzanne Somers: Affordable Care Act is “Socialist Ponzi Scheme”
Australia to Leave Afghanistan ‘Not with Victory, Not with Defeat…’
One of our staunchest allies is winding down its military mission in Afghanistan at the end of the year. During a surprise visit to troops in Uruzgan province, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced an end to Australia’s Defense Forces (ADF) combat involvement in Afghanistan. “It has been worth it. This has been a very difficult commitment. People have paid a high price. … [Read more...] about Australia to Leave Afghanistan ‘Not with Victory, Not with Defeat…’