They've got a "planning kit" for the month, with an "exceptionally detailed" survival guide, according to Steve Benen. ...The "planning kit" focuses on, among other things, a "fierce hatred of all things Washington." I'm no political strategist, but wouldn't this be a more effective tactic if, say, Republicans weren't the majority party in the House of … [Read more...] about Republicans are planning a destructive (and farcical) Augus
Change is Like an Old Building
SARGENT, Neb. -- They thought it was dead, but now it's coming back. The little theater, a dancehall named Oscar's Palladium on North Second Street in Sargent, Neb., had once been the scene of shows on a Midwest vaudeville circuit, then dances featuring big bands such as Tommy Dorsey's, then early rockers. And then it closed. Now it's back featuring country western acts and … [Read more...] about Change is Like an Old Building
Return Of Wolves To Yellowstone Has Benefitted Grizzly Bears, Research Finds — Berries Becoming Abundant Again Thanks To Return Of Wolf
Return Of Wolves To Yellowstone Has Benefitted Grizzly Bears, Research Finds — Berries Becoming Abundant Again Thanks To Return Of Wolf (via Planetsave) The return of wolves to Yellowstone National Park is having an interesting — though not surprising — effect on the larger ecosystem, affecting everything from grizzly bears to elk to berry bushes, according to new … [Read more...] about Return Of Wolves To Yellowstone Has Benefitted Grizzly Bears, Research Finds — Berries Becoming Abundant Again Thanks To Return Of Wolf
Images of our Troops at War
Disclaimer: War is not glamorous, war is not beautiful, war is not romantic. War, as defined by Clausewitz “is an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfill our will.” Therefore, war is brutal, ugly, cruel, repulsive -- add your own descriptor. We have seen too many stomach-turning images of our casualties of war. A Foreign Policy “photo essay” shows what war -- … [Read more...] about Images of our Troops at War
CBC Recommends Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee for Homeland Security Secretary
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee for Department of Homeland Security Secretary? No, it's not a joke. The Congressional Black Caucus is recommending that President Obama nominate Jackson-Lee to replace outgoing secretary Janet Napolitano. A letter dated July 25 and signed by CBC Chairwoman Rep. Marcia Fudge, an Ohio Democrat, urges President Barack Obama to consider Jackson Lee for the … [Read more...] about CBC Recommends Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee for Homeland Security Secretary
Amnesty International: Bradley Manning Case Shows U.S. Government Priorities Upside Down
Wikileaks tweets Bradley Manning's conviction on espionage charges is a "very serious new precedent for supplying information to the press." Wikileaks, which served as a conduit for Manning to spill U.S. secrets, characterized the conviction as "dangerous national security extremism from the Obama administration." Wikileaks' response to Bradley Manning's … [Read more...] about Amnesty International: Bradley Manning Case Shows U.S. Government Priorities Upside Down
Bradley Manning Found Not Guilty Of Aiding Enemy, Convicted On Other Charges
Bradley Manning has been found not guilty of aiding the enemy but was convicted of other charges, including several that he already had admitted guilt on. This means he will not face life in prison but he almost certainly will do jail time. This is I think a reasonable verdict since it was difficult at best to determine whether the information he released actually … [Read more...] about Bradley Manning Found Not Guilty Of Aiding Enemy, Convicted On Other Charges
GUILTY and NOT GUILTY: BREAKING UPDATES: Manning Verdict Announced
Update II: The maximum sentence that could be handed down to Manning for all the charges of which he was found guilty is 150 years. The sentencing phase of the trial at Fort Meade will begin tomorrow, Wednesday. Edited to clarify the sentencing phase. --- Note: For further updates, please go to to the Washington Post UPDATE I: Culminating a court … [Read more...] about GUILTY and NOT GUILTY: BREAKING UPDATES: Manning Verdict Announced
Let’s NOT Focus On Job Creation And Expanding The Economy
Pick up a newspaper. Listen to the radio. Watch TV. Catch the latest fixed wisdom from a pol of any stripe talking about helping the middle class and improving American living standards. The rap these days is always the same. The emphasis is always the same. Proclaimed endlessly. We have to focus on job creation and expanding the economy. Really? Why? We're already … [Read more...] about Let’s NOT Focus On Job Creation And Expanding The Economy
Senate Republicans Predict Tea Party Disaster
You can’t hold your breath and say no forever. As the President turns his back on Congressional tantrums, some sane Republicans are starting to gasp for breath. The national political debate is slowly shifting from Tea Party vs. Obama to an internal GOP rift over avoiding defeat in 2014 and 2016. Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn predicts that shutting down government to block … [Read more...] about Senate Republicans Predict Tea Party Disaster
Conservatives Unleash Usual ‘Outrage’ Over President Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard Trip
Get ready for the conservatives to attack President Obama on his upcoming vacation on Martha's Vineyard. The fact is liberals have also gone after Republican presidents for their pricey vacations, but it seems that President Obama, probably more than others have been attacked for his 'elitist' taste: The Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard, the exclusive playground for … [Read more...] about Conservatives Unleash Usual ‘Outrage’ Over President Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard Trip
We should thank Edward Snowden
WASHINGTON -- Edward Snowden's renegade decision to reveal the jaw-dropping scope of the National Security Agency's electronic surveillance is being vindicated -- even as Snowden himself is being vilified. Intelligence officials in the Obama administration and their allies on Capitol Hill paint the fugitive analyst as nothing but a traitor who wants to harm the United … [Read more...] about We should thank Edward Snowden
The ‘Cheneyization’ of the Republican Party
When Liz Cheney, the outspoken elder daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, announced this month that she was launching a primary challenge against three-term incumbent conservative Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), she declared that it's "time for a new generation to come to the fore" and "time for us to say to ourselves, 'Can we continue to go along to get along in … [Read more...] about The ‘Cheneyization’ of the Republican Party
Remembering The Indianapolis
This week marks the 68th anniversary of one of the more unfortunate events in the history of the United States Navy. In July of 1945 the USS Indianapolis, a Navy Cruiser set sail from San Francisco to Tinian Island where it dropped off the components for the atomic bomb that would end the war. The ship then stopped in Guam to drop off some crew members and then headed for … [Read more...] about Remembering The Indianapolis
Spider Eats Snake — Snake-Eating Spider In Australia
Spider Eats Snake — Snake-Eating Spider In Australia (via Planetsave) Perhaps you’ve seen some of the images currently going around the internet that show a spider eating a snake that it’s caught in its web? If not, then take a look below…. and enjoy. The images themselves are in fact all genuine, but the writing… … [Read more...] about Spider Eats Snake — Snake-Eating Spider In Australia
Army Sgt. to Receive Medal of Honor for Valor in Afghanistan
Army Staff Sgt. Ty M. Carter provides overwatch during a 2012 deployment to Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo) President Obama, on August 26, will present the Medal of Honor -- our nation’s highest award for battlefield heroism -- to Army Staff Sgt. Ty Michael Carter for his "conspicuous gallantry" in Afghanistan on Oct. 3, 2009, while serving as a cavalry scout with the 4th … [Read more...] about Army Sgt. to Receive Medal of Honor for Valor in Afghanistan
Digital misogyny isn’t the problem: what will it take to end all misogyny?
Another day, another social media site rocked by misogyny. Last week, a UK feminist was virtually pummeled for leading a campaign to keep women memorialized on bank notes. So. Morons have been tweeting rape threats to @CCriadoPerez but @twitter says it's not their problem. Disagree? Sign http://t.co/50M9Vi6Wiv— Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) July 27, … [Read more...] about Digital misogyny isn’t the problem: what will it take to end all misogyny?
Mineral Rich Australia May Contain World’s Next Major Oil Find (Guest Voice)
Mineral Rich Australia May Contain World's Next Major Oil Find By. John C.K. Daly of Oilprice.com Australia's massive mineral exports allowed it to weather the global recession, which began in 2008, quite nicely. The U.S. government's Energy Information Administration noted in its country's analysis for Australia, "Australia, rich in hydrocarbons and uranium, was the … [Read more...] about Mineral Rich Australia May Contain World’s Next Major Oil Find (Guest Voice)
Each degree of global warming might ultimately raise global sea levels by more than 2 meters
Each degree of global warming might ultimately raise global sea levels by more than 2 meters (via Skeptical Science) Posted on 27 July 2013 by John Hartz The following article is a reprint of a press release posted by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) on July 15, 2013 Greenhouse gases emitted today will cause sea level to rise for centuries to… … [Read more...] about Each degree of global warming might ultimately raise global sea levels by more than 2 meters
The Hastert Rule- Democracy Subverted
The Hastert Rule- Democracy Subverted The Hastert Rule, named after former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, was conceived by him in 2003 when the GOP controlled the House of Representatives. Hastert promised not to allow bills to proceed to the floor of the House if they did not have the backing of “the majority of the majority.” In other words, the … [Read more...] about The Hastert Rule- Democracy Subverted