. When I thought my opinion of the GOP radicals couldn't get any lower one of them pops up with this … [Read more...] about GOP House Member Equates He and His Fellow Radicals to Flight 93 Heroes
First President Finally Gets His ‘Presidential Library’
There have been 43 Presidents of the United States, excluding the present President. But there are only 13 Presidential Libraries, including the recently inaugurated George W. Bush Presidential Library. How come? The answer can be found at the National Archives’ “Presidential Libraries” website where we learn that President Roosevelt started the informal tradition of … [Read more...] about First President Finally Gets His ‘Presidential Library’
Congress Should Use ’89 Minimum Wage Fight And Pomeroy Lesson As Guide For Averting Shutdown
In the spring of 1989 I was a high school freshman who salivated at the chance to see the political process at work. My first opportunity was watching Congressional Democrats battle President George H.W, Bush over plans to raise the minimum wage. More than two decades later, there is again a split between the Executive and at least one chamber of the Legislative branch, and … [Read more...] about Congress Should Use ’89 Minimum Wage Fight And Pomeroy Lesson As Guide For Averting Shutdown
I Wont Be Boycotting Barilla Pasta. Why?
Here's why. I paddle past all the flotsam and jetsam on fire== as on the Cuyahoga River that exploded in fire some years back, from all the garbage floating in it-- tossed there by human beings. I paddle past the arguments of progressive, regressive. Past the hoo-holler about bigots and spigots. Past all the rest. In 1992, Colorado passed by voters' affirmation, Amendment … [Read more...] about I Wont Be Boycotting Barilla Pasta. Why?
Barilla Pasta stand on gays in advertising counter to advertising trend
The furor continues over the comments Barilla Pasta's CEO made about not wanting gays in his company's ads and that people who don't like that are free to eat another pasta. It has set off boycotts on some fronts, calls to buy more of it on others, and expressions of dismay among others about boycotting a product over a CEO's views. But Advertising Age's EJ Schultz adds a … [Read more...] about Barilla Pasta stand on gays in advertising counter to advertising trend
Republicans definitively now set stage for government shutdown
Get ready for a government shut-down and resulting river of news stories about it's negative impact. Get ready for Fox News and other conservative outlets to blame it on the White House and Harry Reid and the Democrats. But the fact is: conservative House Republicans have now all but pressed the button for a shutdown with this -- and many analysts are taking note that the GOP … [Read more...] about Republicans definitively now set stage for government shutdown
The taxpayers’ likely tab for a shutdown? Billions (Guest Voice)
The taxpayers' likely tab for a shutdown? Billions Pollution and light dance on the side of the Wilma Theater Weekly Entertainment Guide – 'Nabucco,' 'Hidden Treasures Unveiled,' & new Philly festivals 10 years on, Philadelphia pub Johnny Brenda's still anchors a changing Fishtown Opera Philadelphia opens season with tribute to Verdi Philly orchestra season starts with … [Read more...] about The taxpayers’ likely tab for a shutdown? Billions (Guest Voice)
CNN Poll: Republicans’ position with Hispanic voters worsens
If there has been any success in any of the statements Republican bigwigs have made to assure Hispanic voters their party is on their side, it's not evident in a new poll. In fact, the party has a deep rooted problem now with how the fastest-growing block of voters perceive it -- forget just the concept of rebranding: After Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney lost … [Read more...] about CNN Poll: Republicans’ position with Hispanic voters worsens
Racism Update on Trayvon Martin and Obama
Medgar Evers, James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman... On a suburban library screen, those faces impress two dozen residents of mixed races yesterday with the Mississippi martyrdom of young men 50 years ago. In a showing and discussion of PBS’ “Eyes on the Prize,” there is a sense of wonder and disbelief at the organized cruelty and mendacity of that time but, for … [Read more...] about Racism Update on Trayvon Martin and Obama
Why I Won’t Boycott Barilla
As far as I'm concerned, pasta is pasta. No matter what the shape, size, brand or color, it all tastes like pretty much like spaghetti to me. I've never seen the point of making it fresh, so I always procure it from the pasta shelf of the local supermarket. And more often than not, I find myself buying Barilla. I've never seen Barilla advertised on TV -- or anywhere else, … [Read more...] about Why I Won’t Boycott Barilla
Obama and Iran’s Rouhani speak in historic phone call
Obama and Iran's Rouhani speak in historic phone call (via AFP) US President Barack Obama and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani spoke by phone in a historic and first direct contact between leaders of their estranged nations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The stunning 15-minute call, starting at 2:30 pm… … [Read more...] about Obama and Iran’s Rouhani speak in historic phone call
Cruz works to undermine Boehner
And now we see another first: a Senator actively working to undermine the Speaker of the House who is from his own party. The Senator: Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who clearly seems determined to put himself on the fast track to the 2016 Republican nomination by wooing and winning over Tea Partiers, conservative talk show types and conservative new media writers -- and primary … [Read more...] about Cruz works to undermine Boehner
Obama warns gov’t shutdown would wreak economic havoc
Obama warns gov't shutdown would wreak economic havoc (via AFP) With the US government less than 100 hours from a crippling shutdown, President Barack Obama on Friday warned Republicans to stop appeasing "extremists" and pass a budget or risk economic chaos. The president hailed the Senate for clearing a stopgap… … [Read more...] about Obama warns gov’t shutdown would wreak economic havoc
A Guide to Current False Equivalence
James Fallows provides a "false-equivalence guide to the days ahead. … [Read more...] about A Guide to Current False Equivalence
(UPDATES): Russia Agrees to U.N. Resolution on Syria’s Chemical Weapons
Latest Update (8:30 PM ET): The Washington Post: The U.N. Security Council has voted unanimously to secure and destroy Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile, a landmark decision aimed at taking poison gas off the battlefield in the escalating 2 1/2-year conflict. The vote on Friday night marked a major breakthrough in the paralysis that has gripped the council since … [Read more...] about (UPDATES): Russia Agrees to U.N. Resolution on Syria’s Chemical Weapons
GOP Official Says Obama ‘Shucking And Jiving’ On Health Care Law
I think it's time to totally eliminate the word "rebranding" and stories on GOP rebranding, don't you? The Republican National Committeeman in Arizona used the phrase "shucking and jiving" on Thursday in a Facebook post intended to mock the Obama administration's decision to delay certain parts of the Affordable Care Act. Bruce Ash used the phrase in a post that linked … [Read more...] about GOP Official Says Obama ‘Shucking And Jiving’ On Health Care Law
Cruz Control (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 Cruz Control (Cartoon)
UN Report on Climate Change: It’s Still Our Fault (Guest Voice)
It's still our fault (via The Economist) IT HAS been a long time coming. But then the fifth assessment of the state of the global climate by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body, was a behemoth of an undertaking. It runs to thousands of pages, involved… … [Read more...] about UN Report on Climate Change: It’s Still Our Fault (Guest Voice)
Adios to Mariano Rivera, American Matador
At my first and only bullfight eons ago, I was surprised by an inner surge rising in my blood at the matadors’ movements, an unconscious response to pure grace and courage. In baseball, opposing batters pose no physical threat but, in the years between, Mariano Rivera has brought back that sensation by his demeanor on the mound and the sureness of his mastery over the fears … [Read more...] about Adios to Mariano Rivera, American Matador
On His Own Little Planet
If you were hoping that Stephen Harper was re-evaluating his approach to people -- particularly Barack Obama -- yesterday should have dashed that hope. Speaking before the Canadian American Business Council, the prime minister said that, on the Keystone Pipeline file, he wouldn't take no for an answer: The logic in support of the project going ahead is … [Read more...] about On His Own Little Planet