Should Europeans, or people in any country other than the United States for that matter, worry that the newly-revealed NSA surveillance program is legally authorized to spy on them? For Germany's Handelsblatt, columnist Axel Postinett expresses concern that almost all of the major Internet companies are based in the United States and are at the behest of the U.S. government, … [Read more...] about Obama’s Data Nightmare is Europe’s (Handelsblatt, Germany)
Privacy (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 Privacy (Cartoon)
Edward Snowden: Hero or Villain?
It was evident from the very beginning that Mr. Edward Snowden, the man who revealed highly classified national security information to The Guardian and to the world, would be a hero to some, a villain to others. And the characterization of Snowden, as either a hero or a villain has been -- for a change -- bipartisan. Conservative television host Glenn Beck and liberal … [Read more...] about Edward Snowden: Hero or Villain?
NJ’s Jim Howard A Very Special Congressman
Historic Tidbit: One day as a junior member of the House, Gerald Ford gave a somewhat elongated speech. After, a colleague from Texas came up to him and said, “Jerry, that was the best longhorne speech I ever heard.” Ford stared quizzically. The man explained that a longhorne speech is one that has "two points, far, far apart with plenty of bull in between." I received … [Read more...] about NJ’s Jim Howard A Very Special Congressman
Director James R. Clapper Interview with Andrea Mitchell
These are the opening and a couple of additional remarks made by the Director of National Intelligence, James R. Clapper, during an extensive interview with Andrea Mitchell, NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent in Tysons Corner, Va., on June 8 2013. For the entire interview, please click here. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent: Director … [Read more...] about Director James R. Clapper Interview with Andrea Mitchell
George Patton Was The General, Ed Patten The NJ Congressman
Historic Tidbit: 1958 was a very Democratic year nationwide. In fact, only one Democratic member of Congress lost her seat. It was Congresswoman Coya Knutson of Minnesota. Her husband had written a famous "Coya Come Home"letter to local newspapers asking her to make his breakfast again. Knutson, the first female Congressperson from Minnesota did go home,but managed to get the … [Read more...] about George Patton Was The General, Ed Patten The NJ Congressman
George W. Obama? With NSA spying, Obama feels wrath of the left
George W. Obama? With NSA spying, Obama feels wrath of the left (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View President Barack Obama pauses while speaking in San Jose, Calif., Friday. The president defended his government's secret surveillance, saying Congress has repeatedly authorized the collection of America's phone records and U.S. internet use.(Evan … [Read more...] about George W. Obama? With NSA spying, Obama feels wrath of the left
Amazon Forest Facing Devastating 2013 Fire Season, NASA Predicts
Amazon Forest Facing Devastating 2013 Fire Season, NASA Predicts (via Planetsave) The 2013 Amazon forest fire season is shaping up to be a devastating one according to researchers from NASA and the University of California, Irvine. Their predictions warn of a 2013 fire season that will be considerably more severe than either the 2012 or 2011 seasons were, for many of the … [Read more...] about Amazon Forest Facing Devastating 2013 Fire Season, NASA Predicts
CBS News: State Department memo reveals possible cover-ups, halted investigations
Yet another new scandal for the Obama administration -- and this one threatens to engulf former Secretary of state Hillary Clinton: allegations involving cover-ups, drugs and prostitution. Note that nothing has been confirmed on this yet -- but it's another big scandal breaking in the media that the administration will have to explain. And it's likely to generate hearings in … [Read more...] about CBS News: State Department memo reveals possible cover-ups, halted investigations
Gallup Poll: Hillary Clinton’s Favorability Has Started to Dip
A new Gallup Poll suggests that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's polling numbers are now edging closer to earth: Hillary Clinton's favorability rating fell slightly in June to 58%, from 64% in April. That is the first sub-60% rating Americans have given her since 2008. Clinton's unfavorable rating now stands at 39%, up from 31% in April. The results are … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Hillary Clinton’s Favorability Has Started to Dip
The Democratic Party’s Brain-Dead Economic Policies
For years I've misjudged the people who generate the Democratic Party's economic policies. When President Obama was first elected in 2008, and he opted to focus on a healthcare measure rather than more direct economic reordering, I thought this was because so many of the people in his new administration were carryovers from the Clinton years, and since healthcare … [Read more...] about The Democratic Party’s Brain-Dead Economic Policies
Syrian Obedience School (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 Syrian Obedience School (Cartoon)
Swallowing McCain and Graham for Breakfast
Most Americans go to church or pancake houses or sleep in, but a few million political junkies gobble Sunday morning talk shows, a diet that provides little intellectual or spiritual nourishment. The main items on the menu, the New York Times reports, are GOP blowhards like Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Mitch McConnell—-162 appearances since 2010, outnumbering by far all … [Read more...] about Swallowing McCain and Graham for Breakfast
Why “It’s just metadata” is so much pablum
Meta-data: information about information. When the story about US government digital surveillance broke last week, "no need to worry, it's just metadata" was one of the official canned responses. “Nobody is listening to your telephone calls. That is not what this program is about.... But by sifting through this so-called metadata, they may identify potential leads with … [Read more...] about Why “It’s just metadata” is so much pablum
‘Kinky’ musical snaps up Tonys
'Kinky' musical snaps up Tonys (via AFP) With lots of big stars on hand showing Hollywood can do Broadway, '80s rocker turned musical-maker Cyndi Lauper won her first Tony for "Kinky Boots" at the 67th Tony Awards. "I can't say I wasn't practicing in front of the shower curtain for a couple days for this speech," Lauper said Sunday, picking… … [Read more...] about ‘Kinky’ musical snaps up Tonys
Cockamamie & Addled Instincts in Human Beings
Most often = Animals dont eat where they void dont beat their young spit at each other for no good reason harass until one bloody beats the smirk off the other's face dis-cooperate, so no one has any resource left: either absent or fouled take more turf than they can actually defend carry guns hunt their own make excuses waste time spend time … [Read more...] about Cockamamie & Addled Instincts in Human Beings
A GREAT World Cruise Part 3
Editor's Note: Cruises that go terribly or tragically wrong are always in the news, starting with the Titanic. But what about the many, many cruises that are sheer joy? Last year retired French professor Jeffry Foster went on a world voyage. We are presenting his diary in several parts. Here's Part 3: World Voyage Part 3 by Jeffrey Foster SIXTEEN Saturday, February … [Read more...] about A GREAT World Cruise Part 3
1980 Saw Unlimited Big-Name Democrats Fall
Birch Bay (Monticello photo) lost to Quayle 1972 Presidential Nominee George McGovern lost bid for 4th term by wide margin (CNN photo) Frank Church was nipped by Steve Symms (Ebay photo) 1980 was a year that many remember for Ronald Reagan coming in like a tractor-trailer, denying Jimmy Carter a second term. But that was only part of the story. Reagan's landslide … [Read more...] about 1980 Saw Unlimited Big-Name Democrats Fall
The Worst Driver in Russia (and Beyond)
The worst driver in Russia (and beyond): … [Read more...] about The Worst Driver in Russia (and Beyond)
Spain hesitates on contentious abortion reform
Spain hesitates on contentious abortion reform (via AFP) Despite ramming through austerity measures that sparked popular protest in the streets, Spain's right-leaning government seems to be hesitating on a potentially more divisive reform: tightening the abortion law. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's Popular Party promised, in a manifesto ahead of its 2011… … [Read more...] about Spain hesitates on contentious abortion reform