"Breaking Bad's" Bran Cranston's talents include doing improve. And here he is some year ago appearing a short-lived TV show "Thank God You're Here." … [Read more...] about Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston does improv on short-lived TV show
Seven Things You Should Know About the Wackiest “Fiscal Crisis” Yet (Guest Voice)
Seven Things You Should Know About the Wackiest “Fiscal Crisis” Yet (via Moyers & Company) Sometime in the next week, Congress will either get it together to pass a new budget resolution or the government will shut down (all but essential services). Two weeks after that, the federal government will reach its debt limit. If it is not raised… … [Read more...] about Seven Things You Should Know About the Wackiest “Fiscal Crisis” Yet (Guest Voice)
Lotsa luck, America
Our international economic reputation—reflected in our low interest rates, the safe haven status of Treasuries (when everything goes haywire, investors clamor for U.S. debt), and our status as global reserve currency—rests on the assumption that Washington isn't completely insane. ...Derek Thompson, Atlantic Lotsa luck, America. Besides Denmark, no other country … [Read more...] about Lotsa luck, America
Obama’s most important diplomacy
WASHINGTON -- President Obama's foreign policy now seems to be defined by a series of ironies. Having pledged to pivot from an emphasis on the Middle East to a focus on Asia, he has announced that the two large public initiatives of his closing years will involve Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Having begun as a foreign policy realist, he found … [Read more...] about Obama’s most important diplomacy
(Sigh)
And so it goes on and on -- to the point where it is highly predictable. But here are the facts. … [Read more...] about (Sigh)
Clinton’s Feminist Imperative – The Battle For Gender Equality
Tom Watson has a great piece in Forbes on a talk with Chelsea Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative. I attended one of the CGI meetings three years ago in New York, and it was solid and serious. Here's the some of his piece: Chelsea Clinton has a bunch of titles. In the universe of blended politics and philanthropy created by her parents, she is an emerging spokesperson … [Read more...] about Clinton’s Feminist Imperative – The Battle For Gender Equality
CBS News/New York Times poll: Republicans will take more blame for the shutdown
Unless there is a shift, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds that Republicans will take more blame if there's a government shutdown than President Barack Obama and the Democrats. And the poll also finds that voter would not be pleased if there's a default on the debt ceiling: With the budget deadline rapidly approaching as September comes to an end, there is … [Read more...] about CBS News/New York Times poll: Republicans will take more blame for the shutdown
How well do Americans think America is doing?
Eight in 10 Americans find it unacceptable for either President Obama or members of Congress to threaten to shut down the government during budget negotiations in order to achieve their goals, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. Fewer than 1 in 5 think the stalemate between Mr. Obama and the Republicans in Congress is acceptable. ...NYT ___ Pew … [Read more...] about How well do Americans think America is doing?
Ted Cruz’s all-nighter in 60 seconds (VIDEO)
Ted Cruz's all-nighter in 60 seconds (via Reuters TV) … [Read more...] about Ted Cruz’s all-nighter in 60 seconds (VIDEO)
Congressional Dictators (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 Congressional Dictators (Cartoon)
No landmark handshake by Iran President Rouhani and U.S. President Obama: Time not right?
Everything has it's time and, in the end, the time was not right for a handshake between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and U.S. President Barack Obama. But, it's clear, the rhetoric has shifted along with a new Iranian President. A reformist newspaper, Shargh, published photos on Wednesday of President Obama and Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, delivering their … [Read more...] about No landmark handshake by Iran President Rouhani and U.S. President Obama: Time not right?
Baboon Gets Handsy With Reporter’s Breast in Live Shot (Video)
A TV reporter at the Lodi Grape Festival did a live shot of a baboon. But the baboon started monkeying around with her. (Had he been watching too much coverage of former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner?) … [Read more...] about Baboon Gets Handsy With Reporter’s Breast in Live Shot (Video)
McCain lambastes Cruz on using Nazi comparison (Video)
The "maverick" and gutsy side of Arizona Senator John McCain surfaced again today when Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's 21 hour filibuster ended and McCain got up and blasted Cruz for comparing those against defunding Obama care to those who appeased the Nazis during World War II. It is now generally acknowledged by many in both parties that when a partisan is losing the argument … [Read more...] about McCain lambastes Cruz on using Nazi comparison (Video)
FBI Releases Chilling Video of Navy Yard Shooter (VIDEO)
The FBI has released chilling surveillance video of Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis arriving at the murder scene and starting to go room to room looking for innocent victims. Here's the CNN report: Here's the raw footage as posted on You Tube: CNN: Aaron Alexis, the man who went on the deadly shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard, was under the … [Read more...] about FBI Releases Chilling Video of Navy Yard Shooter (VIDEO)
The Metropolitan Opera and Politics: Why the Met Won’t Be a Platform for Social Causes
The Metropolitan Opera's season opener this past weekend has caused a stir, and not just because of the music. The Met opened its 2013-2014 season with a solid performance of Tchaikovsky 's Eugene Onegin under the baton of Valery Gergiev. Russian soprano Anna Netrebko sang the role of Tatiana, while baritone Mariusz Kwiecien sang the title role. As per the tradition, fans … [Read more...] about The Metropolitan Opera and Politics: Why the Met Won’t Be a Platform for Social Causes
After 65 Years We Know Their Names
A few days ago I wrote a short piece about immigration reform and Woody Guthrie's song Deportee, also known as Plane Wreck at Los Gatos. The song describes the death of 28 Mexican laborers in a plane crash at Los Gatos Canyon, California in 1948. The dehumanizing result that caused Guthrie to write the song was the mention of the four U. S. citizens by name while referring to … [Read more...] about After 65 Years We Know Their Names
Can Republicans Pick Up Their Pieces?
They are looking like the last scene in “Bridge on the River Kwai:” devastation everywhere, dazed survivors mumbling “Madness, madness.” With only days to go before another disastrous government shutdown, the Disloyal Opposition is splintering into fragments, turning on one another in hitherto unforeseen ways. Fox’s Chris Wallace is amazed to get “unsolicited research and … [Read more...] about Can Republicans Pick Up Their Pieces?
Hey Sen. Ted Cruz, 68 Percent of Americans Sour on Washington DC
While Sen. Ted Cruz (R-FL) continues to make a fool of himself with his fake-filibuster harangue, American voters are turning on Washington D.C. Buzzfeed reports that Ted Cruz pointless filibuster marathon may actually cost him millions. A new poll finds that 68% of Americans say that a government shutdown would be problematic. In other words, holding the country hostage over … [Read more...] about Hey Sen. Ted Cruz, 68 Percent of Americans Sour on Washington DC
Selig Cartwright, Goldman Sachs Washroom Attendant, For Fed Chairman
When Selig Cartwright's name was first put forward as a replacement for Ben Bernanke as Chairman of the Federal Reserve, questions arose in some quarters about his qualifications for the post. Merely by virtue of working for Goldman Sachs, of course, one is usually assumed qualified to help run our nation's economy. This has been the way of things in Washington for a very … [Read more...] about Selig Cartwright, Goldman Sachs Washroom Attendant, For Fed Chairman
Will the Republican Party Jump Off the Political Cliff?
Is the Republican Party about to jump off the cliff? No, not the fiscal cliff, the political cliff -- as in government shutdown or debt default. Although there are increasing rumblings from members of the Republican Party political and media establishment that they don't intend to go along with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's drive to force a government shutdown to defund Obamacare, … [Read more...] about Will the Republican Party Jump Off the Political Cliff?