No, that's not very good news. Nobody with an ounce of loyalty to democracy wants to lose Republican aides who kept the government going even as their bosses were trying to destroy it. And that's what's happening. The Post has a long article about the changes and Jonathan Chait, at Daily Intel, sounds a warning: Republicans have defused the bomb before by crafting … [Read more...] about Some of the smartest staffers are leaving the Hill
Abbott vows to be Australia’s ‘PM for Aborigines’
Abbott vows to be Australia's 'PM for Aborigines' (via AFP) Australian conservative leader Tony Abbott pledged Saturday to spend one week every year in a remote indigenous community if elected, saying he wanted to be the "prime minister for Aboriginal affairs". Abbott said he wanted to make Australia's most… … [Read more...] about Abbott vows to be Australia’s ‘PM for Aborigines’
Chilling News (Guest Voice)
Chilling News by Peter Funt SAN JOSE, Calif. — All I know about climate, some say, is what's outside my window. Across much of California this is one of the coolest summers in memory, with temperatures well below normal. Here in San Jose, where the average high in August is 82 degrees, so far this month it's at 75 — with no warming predicted anytime soon. Yet, on a … [Read more...] about Chilling News (Guest Voice)
With seniors turning on Republicans, are Republicans done?
Carville and Greenberg notice something interesting, and perhaps transformational, going on: There's something going on with seniors: It is now strikingly clear that they have turned sharply against the GOP. This is apparent in seniors' party affiliation and vote intention, in their views on the Republican Party and its leaders, and in their surprising positions on jobs, … [Read more...] about With seniors turning on Republicans, are Republicans done?
(Video) YMCA as Sung by Lord of the Rings Characters
Hey, everyone loves that song. Must viewing: YMCA -- as sung by the Lord fo the Rings Characters: … [Read more...] about (Video) YMCA as Sung by Lord of the Rings Characters
Lovestruck: A Hollywood Dreamgirl Turns 90
In the classic movie “Citizen Kane,” a very old man reminisces, “One day, back in 1896, I was crossing over to Jersey on the ferry, and as we pulled out, there was another ferry pulling in, and on it there was a girl waiting to get off. A white dress she had on. She was carrying a white parasol. I only saw her for one second. She didn't see me at all, but I'll bet a month … [Read more...] about Lovestruck: A Hollywood Dreamgirl Turns 90
US-Russia relations: A cancelled summit, a troubled relationship
US-Russia relations: A cancelled summit, a troubled relationship (via GlobalPost) Copyright ImageClick to View Enlarge There were many good reasons for President Barack Obama to scrap a one-on-one meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow next month, but NSA leaker Edward Snowden wasn’t one of them. At least not a major one… … [Read more...] about US-Russia relations: A cancelled summit, a troubled relationship
How do you spell “AOL CEO?”
How do you spell "AOL CEO"? If THIS is any indication, it's "S.O.B." … [Read more...] about How do you spell “AOL CEO?”
Texting While Driving Kills: Werner Herzog Film
Texting While Driving Kills: Werner Herzog Film (via Planetsave) Texting while driving kills several thousand people in America every year. Research has found that texting while driving makes it 23 times more likely that there will be an accident. Drinking and driving actually results in slightly fewer teen deaths… … [Read more...] about Texting While Driving Kills: Werner Herzog Film
Barbar Boxer open letter to Filner: Resign…you have already hurt so many people”
California Sen. Barbra Boxer has posted an open letter to San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who has had 14 women come foward accusing him -- often in graphic detail -- of sexual harassment. Boxer urges Filner to resign. The full text: Dear Bob, We’ve known each other for a long time, and have worked together on many issues that are important to the people of San Diego – from … [Read more...] about Barbar Boxer open letter to Filner: Resign…you have already hurt so many people”
Bob Filner: From progressive hope to national punchline
When Bob Filner was elected San Diego's mayor last November, the 70-year-old progressive Democrat's supporters hoped he'd be a hands-on mayor who would aggressively take on the city's traditionally conservative interests and powers that be and bring lots of attention to San Diego. At least part of that came true. Filner is now being accused of literally being a hands-on … [Read more...] about Bob Filner: From progressive hope to national punchline
Long-lost Orson Welles film turns up in Italy
Long-lost Orson Welles film turns up in Italy (via AFP) A long-lost silent film directed by Orson Welles in 1938 has been recovered from a warehouse in northeastern Italy, where it will be screened in public for the first time in October. "Too Much Johnson" was originally intended to be shown as a prologue… … [Read more...] about Long-lost Orson Welles film turns up in Italy
Demographics, Seniors and Republicans
I thought I would expand on my comment on Prairie Weather's post below. We have heard a lot about how demographic changes are impacting the Republican party but most of it has been about non whites. Well here is another demographic change, seniors are turning against the GOP. Old people die and new people become old. My parents were conservative and I have always been pretty … [Read more...] about Demographics, Seniors and Republicans
Thank you, Graham family
WASHINGTON -- Thank you, Eugene Meyer. Thank you, Philip Graham, Katharine Graham, Donald Graham and Katharine Weymouth. Thank you for building and sustaining one of the world's greatest newspapers -- and, when the time came, letting it go. Thank you, Mr. Meyer, for spending $825,000 to buy The Washington Post at a bankruptcy sale. That was a lot of money in 1933, but … [Read more...] about Thank you, Graham family
On Late Night TV’s Leno Barack Obama Is Big B.O.
Variety used to have a phrase "Big B.O." in headlines referring to monster box office. It's clear that President Barack Obama still has "big B.O." when goes on late night television -- and it's political significant because despite the tsk-tsking of some Republicans and media critics, it's a way to get his viewpoint out and bypass the media filter and partisans. Variety … [Read more...] about On Late Night TV’s Leno Barack Obama Is Big B.O.
Hiroshima Witness: A Young GI’s Vantage
If you live long enough, once in a while your past goes beyond being irrelevant to the present and comes back to life as history. This week’s remembrance of dropping atomic bombs on Japan 68 years ago is one of those times. Looking back, I see a 21-year-old foot soldier in Germany waiting to be deployed for a bloody Pacific invasion to storm beaches and fight through cities. … [Read more...] about Hiroshima Witness: A Young GI’s Vantage
Face of the GOP (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 Face of the GOP (Cartoon)
A Family Matter (Guest Voice)
A family matter by Kathleen Parker Washington Post Writers Group WASHINGTON -- When The Washington Post Writers Group came courting several years ago, inviting me to join the company's syndicate, I remember well the pitch: We're a family. By then I had been syndicated for more than a decade by the Tribune Co. and was struck yet again by the layers of … [Read more...] about A Family Matter (Guest Voice)
US pulls staff from Lahore consulate over ‘threats’
US pulls staff from Lahore consulate over 'threats' (via AFP) The United States has evacuated all non-emergency staff from its consulate in the Pakistani city of Lahore, citing "specific threats" amid a worldwide alert over Al-Qaeda intercepts. The US State Department also reiterated a longstanding warning to… … [Read more...] about US pulls staff from Lahore consulate over ‘threats’
Martha’s Big Adventure – News of the Day (Guest Voice)
Martha's Big Adventure — News of the Day By Martha Carr I am over my worry allotment for this month. It's not without some very good justifications. My mother, Tina died suddenly at the age of 86 in April and just like that all of the older generation that I knew is gone. There are still relatives out there but we haven't traded even a Christmas card in too many years to … [Read more...] about Martha’s Big Adventure – News of the Day (Guest Voice)