Actor James Woods doesn't expect to ever work again in Hollywood after calling President Obama "an abomination" during a Twitter rant. He won't have to remind me twice never to patronize any movie he appears in. Then again, can't remember too many hit movies he had, so never mind. I won't have to go out of my way not to watch him on the big screen. I guess he didn't see the … [Read more...] about Actor James Woods Calls Obama a ‘True Abomination’ and Blames Him for Government Shutdown
MUST READ Quotes of the Day: Republicans, shut down negotiations and the conservative media (UPDATED)
Our first must-read special Quote of the Day comes from Andrew Sullivan on the efforts by conservative Republicans to win by government shutdown or threat of throwing the United States into another recession via debt limit default what they have not won at the ballot box, by working to create broad coalitions in Congress, or in the courts: But the issue now is the … [Read more...] about MUST READ Quotes of the Day: Republicans, shut down negotiations and the conservative media (UPDATED)
Combating Hyper Partisanship Requires Changes To The System And Courage
Historic Quote: "Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please." Mark Twain. What is there to say about the shutdown that hasn’t already been said? Disgusting. Disingenuous. Heinous. Inexcusable. The dysfunction of Washington is falling on the backs of the poor and the vulnerable. It's heinous enough that much of Washington is furloughed. But when … [Read more...] about Combating Hyper Partisanship Requires Changes To The System And Courage
Shutdown at Independence Hall: a Political Ghost Story
"You there!," a muffled voice called out from behind the bushes. "Come hither, sir, will you?"Let me set the scene for you: an October afternoon in stately old Philadelphia, chilly and prematurely darkening, with heavy gray clouds hanging over the spire of Independence Hall.Like the rest of the National Park system, the building that birthed the United States stood closed and … [Read more...] about Shutdown at Independence Hall: a Political Ghost Story
Republican offer: 6 week debt limit deal but government remains closed until Obamacare ironed out
The Republicans are offering a deal to the White House that will either be a face-saving way to declare a partial victory -- or a no starter. But it is a form of positive movement. They're proposing to raise the debt limit for six weeks but keep the government shut down. As the Huffington Post said in a recent headline, Republicans are offering to "release one hostage." Will … [Read more...] about Republican offer: 6 week debt limit deal but government remains closed until Obamacare ironed out
Taliban angry over Malala’s prize vows to try and kill her again
Malala has done 'nothing' to earn rights prize: Taliban (via AFP) The Pakistani Taliban Thursday said teenage activist Malala Yousafzai had done "nothing" to deserve a prestigious EU rights award and vowed to try again to kill her. The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov human rights prize to the 16-year-old,… … [Read more...] about Taliban angry over Malala’s prize vows to try and kill her again
What’s wrong with the GOP?
Major trouble is brewing for the Republican Party's dominant Tea Party faction and for the GOP itself. The Tea Partiers' clout in this government shutdown showdown, and in positioning the Republican Party to threaten an economy-destroying debt-limit default, has effectively replaced the GOP's much-hyped re-branding with negative brand reaffirmation. A host of polls show the … [Read more...] about What’s wrong with the GOP?
Can Political Liars Be Scared Straight?
Fact-checking, a new study suggests, can be an effective club to bat down political lies. Who knew? Experimenting on 1100 legislators in nine states, political scientists at the New America Foundation found fewer subsequent fibs by those who were warned about the existence of PolitiFact, which checks on their veracity: “Politicians who lie put their reputations and careers … [Read more...] about Can Political Liars Be Scared Straight?
UPDATE: Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan kidnapped- and returned
from the Guardian: UPDATE The Libyan prime minister, Ali Zeidan, has called for calm after being released by rebels who kidnapped him in the early hours of Thursday morning. "Libyans need wisdom … not escalation … to deal with this situation," he said during a televised cabinet meeting in which he thanked those rebels who helped in his release and urged them to join the … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan kidnapped- and returned
The heartbreak of extremism
WASHINGTON -- Seeing our government and our creditworthiness held hostage to the demands of a right-wing minority is infuriating. It's also heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking because the only thing keeping our country from being its growing, innovative and successful self is genuinely and unnecessarily stupid politics. The United States emerged from a horrific … [Read more...] about The heartbreak of extremism
Quote of the Day: The real Republican divide
Our political Quote of the Day comes from "Morning Joe's" Joe Scarborough who, in an opinion piece in Politico, writes about "The real Republican divide." And he nails it: Forget the GOP divide between tea party members and establishment Republicans. If you want to see where the fault line runs in the Party of Lincoln look at the difference between Washington Republicans … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The real Republican divide
That offensive Washington Redskins name (Guest Cartoonist)
That offensive Washington Redskins name by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Redskins Owner Says He Won’t Change Team Name --Are Washington ‘Redskins’ doomed? NFL’s resistance to change showing cracks. --Tribe seeks to force NFL Redskins name change --Check out some possible new designs for the possibly renamed Washington Redskins Mike Peters is recognized as … [Read more...] about That offensive Washington Redskins name (Guest Cartoonist)
Are the Republicans giving up?
Obamacare is off the docket. Republican supporters are backing off. Looks like the tea party is going down in flames -- at least this time. The New York Times has a report from the battlefront. House Republicans, facing the ninth day of a government shutdown, appeared increasingly isolated on Wednesday from even their strongest backers, with business groups demanding … [Read more...] about Are the Republicans giving up?
Federal Reserve Bailout of US Treasury to Avoid Default – Another Option to Ponder
Cullen Roche of Pragmatic Capitalism wrote earlier today on the subject of a possible solution to avoid a Federal Default. Here’s the gist of it: Scenario 1. (most likely): The market declines 2-3% further and credit markets start to show more signs of stress which causes the millionaires in Congress to look at their self imposed decline in net worth and come to their … [Read more...] about Federal Reserve Bailout of US Treasury to Avoid Default – Another Option to Ponder
Can Tex-Mex and Buffalo wings make it big in Africa?
Can Tex-Mex and Buffalo wings make it big in Africa? (via GlobalPost) Enlarge Dierdre Elliott of Gogo's Meat and Biltong Deli in Cape Town holds a piece of lean beef biltong, a spicy dried meat much loved in South Africa. A few major US chains hope to make burritos and Buffalo wings just as popular. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/… … [Read more...] about Can Tex-Mex and Buffalo wings make it big in Africa?
Rebrand This – All Time Record Low Approval For Republicans (UPDATED)
This is from Gallup, in a poll conducted October 3-6. It’s stark enough to just quote without editorial comment. [T]he Republican Party is now viewed favorably by 28% of Americans, down from 38% in September. This is the lowest favorable rating measured for either party since Gallup began asking this question in 1992. … The Democratic Party also has a public image … [Read more...] about Rebrand This – All Time Record Low Approval For Republicans (UPDATED)
Rep. Paul Ryan Faces Backlash For Failing to Mention Obamacare in WSJ Op-Ed
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), the poster-child of the Republican Party during the 2012 presidential election campaign, has been strangely quiet during the Tea Party-engineered government shutdown over defunding Obamacare. That's until he wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal detailing how to break the stalemate. Conservatives pounced because he didn't mention 'Obamacare.' Um, get … [Read more...] about Rep. Paul Ryan Faces Backlash For Failing to Mention Obamacare in WSJ Op-Ed
Three Elections That Really Changed America
My granddaughter has a high-school assignment: Was 1968 a critical election year that changed America? She will answer in her usually independent way but, as a delegate to that Democratic convention who was tear-gassed in Chicago, I can weigh in with an opinion. In my lifetime, I would argue, there were three pivotal moments: FDR in 1932, Nixon that year and George W. Bush … [Read more...] about Three Elections That Really Changed America
Fukushima and Risk Analysis
It has been reported that six workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have been doused with highly radioactive water. While that may be unfortunate it is reason for all of us to be concerned. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority Chairman Shunichi Tanaka said repeated mishaps could be a sign of the harsh work environment. "Careless mistakes are often linked … [Read more...] about Fukushima and Risk Analysis
Conservative Republican columnist John Podhoretz writes of “The Suicide of the Right”
No one can accuse The New York Post's John Podhortez of being a "RINO" or a liberal tool. But, hey, the day is still young. He has written a blunt column in The Post titled "The Suicide of the Right" about the obsession with some on the right to get rid of Obama care, the government shut down and the lingering default threat. Some excerpts: Every piece of evidence we have … [Read more...] about Conservative Republican columnist John Podhoretz writes of “The Suicide of the Right”