Russia says Snowden could stay if he stops harming US (via AFP) Edward Snowden could stay in Russia if he stops issuing leaks that damage the United States, the Kremlin said Friday after the US fugitive told rights activists in a Moscow airport that he is seeking asylum in Russia. "Mr. Snowden could hypothetically… … [Read more...] about Russia says Snowden could stay if he stops harming US
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Resigns, to Lead Univ. of California System
BREAKING NEWS: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano resigns. She will take over as head of the University of California system. This is big. Did Obama finally come to his senses and push her out? Here's Janet Napolitano's statement on her abrupt resignation: “For more than four years I have had the privilege of serving President Obama and his … [Read more...] about Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Resigns, to Lead Univ. of California System
Europe Will Rue Toppling Obama Over Snowden (La Stampa, Italy)
Are headline-hungry European politicians milking the NSA scandal by feigning alarm, while playing into the hands of Russia and China, who want to see Obama's back? La Stampa columnist Gianni Riotta warns that effectively destroying the Obama presidency over the age-old practice of spying on allies will blow up in Europe's face. For La Stampa, Gianni Riotta gets off to a … [Read more...] about Europe Will Rue Toppling Obama Over Snowden (La Stampa, Italy)
What the Farm Bill Really Means
The failed farm bill has largely been viewed in light of immigration reform and congressional dysfunction, but it also underlies another spectre: the weakening farm lobby. Since our nation’s founding, farmers (originally slave-owners) have had an unequal voice. The senate, for instance, is made up of two representatives from every state, no matter how large or small. The … [Read more...] about What the Farm Bill Really Means
Quote of the Day: Why Immigration Reform Fizzled
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Week's Marc Ambinder (one of my favorite, most level-headed analysts) who explains why immigration reform if probably dead. I'd say "probably" is a hedge word at this point. Ain't gonna happen. I have consistently noted the role of conservative talk show hosts in setting the no-compromise, just-please-the-base tone of today's … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Why Immigration Reform Fizzled
Party of No
WASHINGTON -- Self-delusion is a sad spectacle. Watching Republicans convince themselves that killing immigration reform actually helps the GOP is excruciating, and I wish somebody would make it stop. House Speaker John Boehner's unruly caucus has been busy convincing itself not to accept or even modify the bipartisan immigration bill passed by the Senate. Rather, it … [Read more...] about Party of No
Republicans and Immigration Reform (Guest Cartoonist)
Republicans and Immigration Reform by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Bush’s call for GOP to embrace immigration reform seems to have little effect --No easy road ahead on immigration in GOP House --US immigration reform under threat from Republicans as Obama wades in --House GOP pushes immigration reform to the brink --House Republicans Have A New Problem With … [Read more...] about Republicans and Immigration Reform (Guest Cartoonist)
Egypt rival rallies planned as tensions soar
Egypt rival rallies planned as tensions soar (via AFP) Activists for and against ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi have called rival rallies for the first Friday of Ramadan, as tensions soar over the army's overthrow of the Islamist leader. The Muslim Brotherhood, the influential group from which… … [Read more...] about Egypt rival rallies planned as tensions soar
Texas House passes abortion law: why it matters beyond Lone Star State
div class="rpuEmbedCode"> Texas House passes abortion law: why it matters beyond Lone Star State (via The Christian Science Monitor) There’s nothing small or shy about Texas. And so it was Wednesday, when the state House of Representatives passed a bill containing major new restrictions on abortion. Crowds cheered and jeered for both sides, the supporters clad in blue, … [Read more...] about Texas House passes abortion law: why it matters beyond Lone Star State
DNA links ‘Boston Strangler’ to final victim
DNA links 'Boston Strangler' to final victim (via AFP) A breakthrough in DNA technology has linked the man who confessed to being the Boston Strangler to the last of the 1960s murders attributed to the notorious serial killer, officials said. The body of Albert DeSalvo -- widely thought to have raped and… … [Read more...] about DNA links ‘Boston Strangler’ to final victim
Republican Care (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 Republican Care (Cartoon)
Snowden’s ‘Financial and Legal Teams’
Millions around the world support Edward Snowden for revealing secret information about NSA surveillance activities. But in his quest to continue to expose such information and to stay one step ahead of U.S. authorities who want to bring him home to face the justice system, Snowden needs more than just moral and emotional support. First, he needs financial … [Read more...] about Snowden’s ‘Financial and Legal Teams’
South vs. North: Snowden’s Place in History is Assured (Izvestia, Russia)
In the debate about whether Edward Snowden will be a footnote in history or a history maker, Izvestia columnist Kirill Benediktov is quite certain it will be that latter. Beyond plunging foreign ministries around the world into turmoil, Benediktov writes that the former NSA hacker has been a catalyst for bringing to the surface historic forces that have been simmering for … [Read more...] about South vs. North: Snowden’s Place in History is Assured (Izvestia, Russia)
Digest of United States Practice in International Law
Want to know the background on significant legal issues such as our ongoing involvement in the crisis in Syria, or on our support of UN General Assembly resolutions condemning human rights abuses in Iran, North Korea, and Syria, or about President Bush’s promise -- back in 2002 -- of “our enduring commitment to the important principles of the Geneva Convention. Consistent with … [Read more...] about Digest of United States Practice in International Law
The Big Lie About The Economy
It's a dirty political trick that keeps getting played because it works — at least for awhile. The trick of lying about something over and over again, in as many ways as possible, in as many media as possible, until people start believing it. Even people who were originally skeptics. Even people who sense in their gut, feel in their personal lives, that the lie seems very, very … [Read more...] about The Big Lie About The Economy
Freeman Nominated Kennedy in ’60, Was Last Surviving Cabinet Member
Historic Tidbit: It was called a “My Three Sons” race. In 1998, the sons of the three politicians who are credited with building the modern Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, Humphrey, Mondale, and Freeman, sought the party’s nod for Governor. It was a polite affair, “Minnesota nice.” Freeman won the convention nod but Humphrey decided to take it to the primary where he … [Read more...] about Freeman Nominated Kennedy in ’60, Was Last Surviving Cabinet Member
Phil Hoff Vermont’s First Democratic Governor In 109 Years
One could say that Phillip Hoff was Vermont even before Vermont. The "Green Mountain State" is a liberal bastion today. It's three electoral votes are routinely the first to go into a Democratic Presidential nominees column on Election Night, often by record margins. Had Hoff accomplished little else in his eight year tenure, he would already have made history. The … [Read more...] about Phil Hoff Vermont’s First Democratic Governor In 109 Years
Fight expert: George Zimmerman more like Pee-wee Herman than Chuck Norris
Fight expert: George Zimmerman more like Pee-wee Herman than Chuck Norris (via The Christian Science Monitor) An expert in the mechanics of hand-to-hand combat who took the stand in the George Zimmerman trial on Wednesday testified that Mr. Zimmerman is a hapless fighter who could well have felt justified in shooting Trayvon Martin in self-defense. Dennis Root… … [Read more...] about Fight expert: George Zimmerman more like Pee-wee Herman than Chuck Norris
Spitzer Sprints to Top in Poll for NYC Comptroller’s Race
It's most assuredly true that the consequences of sex scandals ain't what they used to be -- and the latest proof is this: disgraced and resigned New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer has leap-frogged to the top in the poll for the New York City Comptroller spot: Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer leads Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer by nine percentage points in the … [Read more...] about Spitzer Sprints to Top in Poll for NYC Comptroller’s Race
Charles Koch: Help the poor by eliminating the minimum wage
In an interview in my old mater The Wichita Eagle (I worked there from January 1980 - January 1982 as a staff reporter), billionaire Charles Koch talks about an ad campaign he's bankrolling -- and suggests a nice way to help the poor would be to eliminate the minimum wage: Charles Koch, who runs Koch Industries and contributes to political groups and campaigns, said he … [Read more...] about Charles Koch: Help the poor by eliminating the minimum wage