At a time when America's political center has seemingly vanished, all eyes this week will be on Texas Sen. Ted Cruz who many see as a key instigator in House Republicans' effort to defund Obamacare by shutting down the government. His test will soon come when it goes to the Senate and, in true Cruz style, he's politically repelling Democrats, and angering members of his own … [Read more...] about Government Shutdown and GOP: on Cruz control?
Obamacare’s strange bedfellows
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It was the last thing the Rev. Tim Ahrens expected to do during a chat in his book-lined office at the historic First Congregational Church here: He expressed admiration for Gov. John Kasich. Ahrens is a progressive social activist whose house of worship has deep roots in the old Social Gospel movement. He has demonstrated and organized against Ohio's … [Read more...] about Obamacare’s strange bedfellows
Post on TMV prematurely
Due to a technical glitch, an unfinished post on Ted Cruz went on TMV. It will not go on until several more hours. We've pulled this post since it was incomplete and unedited. It may be indexed on some sites (the link is up) but it will now just be edited as is but not put on TMV until it's completed. … [Read more...] about Post on TMV prematurely
Kenya mall siege: Live Report
Kenya mall siege: Live Report (via AFP) 1505 GMT: Kenyan Interior Minister Joesph Ole Lenku says security forces are in control of "all floors" of the four-storey Westgate mall. Authorities have since early this morning been saying they are hopeful of a "speedy conclusion" to the operation… … [Read more...] about Kenya mall siege: Live Report
GOP Deja Vu (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 GOP Deja Vu (Cartoon)
Poll: 53% to 25% Americans’ desire for leaders compromise INCREASES
Despite the feeling of some politicians and groups of partisans, Americans more than ever -- by a whopping margin -- want their leaders to compromise. A new Gallup Poll finds voters thirst for compromise has increased and they favor reaching across the aisle to come to consensus building solutions by a more than two to one margin: At a time when disagreements and inability … [Read more...] about Poll: 53% to 25% Americans’ desire for leaders compromise INCREASES
Obama ‘Leads from Behind’, Putin from Up Front (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
How badly outplayed has Barack Obama been by Valdimir Putin? For Poland's Rzeczpospolita, columnist Marek Magierowski writes that anyone with an elementary grasp of the Cold War - which the Poles have in spades - would have handled the Syria crisis and a long string of other issues far better than the Obama White House, which he considers to be an absolute foreign policy … [Read more...] about Obama ‘Leads from Behind’, Putin from Up Front (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Is the GOP Actually Driving Us Crazy?
If McCain, Graham, Boehner, Cruz, Rand Paul et al shut up, would our mental health be better? Without such nasty sounds in our heads 24/7, would there be less violence in America? A proposed GOP filibuster on defunding Obamacare raises such questions in the light of a provocative essay about the angrier voices schizophrenics hear in America as opposed to India and elsewhere … [Read more...] about Is the GOP Actually Driving Us Crazy?
2013 Emmy Awards: Shocking Wins and Snubs
2013 Emmy Awards: Shocking Wins and Snubs (via NewsLook) Video News by NewsLook The 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were full of surprises and snubs -- and one really awkward green room guy named Shemar Moore! … [Read more...] about 2013 Emmy Awards: Shocking Wins and Snubs
New NASA Map Shows Where You Are Most Likely To Die From Air Pollution
New NASA Map Shows Where You Are Most Likely To Die From Air Pollution (via Planetsave) Each year millions of premature deaths world-wide result from various forms of air pollution. According to a new atmospheric pollution model designed by earth scientist Jason West of the University of North Carolina (data from which informs the NASA… … [Read more...] about New NASA Map Shows Where You Are Most Likely To Die From Air Pollution
(UPDATED) Washington Navy Yard Killings – The Aftermath
UPDATE: The New York Times this morning echoed the helpless, sickening Groundhog Day feeling many Americans have after yet another mass gun tragedy. Reporting on the president’s remarks at yesterday’s memorial service for the Navy Yard shooting victims, the Times says: But the president appeared exasperated with the political system that he leads, admitting that … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) Washington Navy Yard Killings – The Aftermath
Book Review: ‘Lawrence In Arabia.’ How The British Double-Crossed The Arabs & Guaranteed Endless Regional Turmoil
History, one might presume, is an assemblage of facts, and the longer and more complex a particular history is the more facts there are. But facts are malleable, and it took me many years of history reading to come to understand that they too often are merely reflections of historians' perspectives -- the political axes they happen to grind. This may be no truer than in the … [Read more...] about Book Review: ‘Lawrence In Arabia.’ How The British Double-Crossed The Arabs & Guaranteed Endless Regional Turmoil
Immigration Reform – Plane Wreck at Los Gatos
For those who missed it, PBS ran a tribute to Woody Guthrie to celebrate his 100th birthday. Among the highlights was Ani DiFranco singing Deportee. The alternate title to the song is Plane Wreck at Los Gatos. It was written by Guthrie following the crash of a plane carrying 4 Americans and 28 Mexican deportees in Los Gatos Canyon, California. News media of the day, 1948, … [Read more...] about Immigration Reform – Plane Wreck at Los Gatos
Syria: Russian Embassy in Damascus Shelled
CBS News reports that a mortar round landed inside the Russian Embassy compound in Damascus today. The Russian Foreign Ministry’s response -- while accusing the rebels of the attack -- was surprisingly restrained saying that three workers were injured in the attack, but that the injuries were not life-threatening and providing no additional details, according to … [Read more...] about Syria: Russian Embassy in Damascus Shelled
(UPDATE)Terrorist Attack at Upscale Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya
UPDATE: The Washington Post reports that most of the hostages in the Nairobi mall standoff have been released, according to a Kenyan military spokesman: Kenyan security forces have swept into an upscale Nairobi mall in an effort to end a two-day standoff with heavily armed assailants that left 68 dead, and most of the hostages were rescued, according to … [Read more...] about (UPDATE)Terrorist Attack at Upscale Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya
Video: Priest shocks wedding by berating videographer during vows
Once in a while you see a video that makes you wonder, "What planet is this guy FROM" -- and so we have one here. The scene: wedding. The event: right in the middle of the wedding vows a priest decides to chew out the videographer for -- shooting his video. Watch the bride and groom's faces. It's truly dismaying. Videographers are present at most wedding, bar mitzvahs, … [Read more...] about Video: Priest shocks wedding by berating videographer during vows
The Nairobi Mall terrorist attack: could it happen here?
I've long feared that malls are an easy target for a terrorist group, even with mall security in place at many malls. In my nonwriting incarnation I have done many events at malls and it's clear some have better security than others. The Daily Beast raises the issue of why Americans should be following and seriously pondering the attack in Kenya by a group affiliated with Al … [Read more...] about The Nairobi Mall terrorist attack: could it happen here?
Merkel wins in Germany, ‘grand coalition’ likely: exit polls
Merkel wins in Germany, 'grand coalition' likely: exit polls (via AFP) Chancellor Angela Merkel clinched a third term in German elections Sunday but will be forced to form an awkward coalition with her chief rivals to govern Europe's top economy, exit polls indicated. Voters rewarded Merkel, often called the world's most… … [Read more...] about Merkel wins in Germany, ‘grand coalition’ likely: exit polls
Knotty Republicans (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 Knotty Republicans (Cartoon)
Grocery store at the top of the world
Grocery store at the top of the world (via GlobalPost) Enlarge TASIILAQ, Greenland — You can buy almost anything in Pilersuisoq, a modern two-story supermarket in this town of 2,000 people on the rugged east coast of the world's largest island. Past the glass doors plastered with posters advertising the… … [Read more...] about Grocery store at the top of the world