Historic Quote: "I don't care what kind of car I drive. Cadillacs are for Republicans." Iowa Governor Herschel Loveless (D), saying he would not accept additional funds the Legislature wanted to allocate for him to buy a nicer state car. Until the 1950?s, Iowa was a virtual one-party state. A Democratic Governor had only been elected three times since the Civil War and … [Read more...] about Herschel Loveless Revived Iowa Democratic Party
Venezuela offers ‘humanitarian asylum’ to Snowden
Venezuela offers 'humanitarian asylum' to Snowden (via AFP) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro offered Friday to grant asylum to US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, giving a possible escape route to the fugitive whose revelations rocked the American government and security establishment. Moments earlier… … [Read more...] about Venezuela offers ‘humanitarian asylum’ to Snowden
We can handle the truth
WASHINGTON -- I don't believe government officials when they say the National Security Agency's surveillance programs do not invade our privacy. The record suggests that you shouldn't believe them, either. It pains me to sound like some Rand Paul acolyte. I promise I'm not wearing a tinfoil hat or scanning the leaden sky for black helicopters. I just wish our government … [Read more...] about We can handle the truth
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Plays Jewish Card: Claims Egypt’s Interim President is Jewish
You've heard of the "race card?" Egypt's ousted Muslim Brotherhood is now playing the Jewish card -- claiming Egypt's interim President is Jewish: The Muslim Brotherhood claimed in a post on its official website that Egypt's new interim president Adli Mansour is Jewish, The Washington Post reported on Friday. The article on IkhwanOnline was subsequently … [Read more...] about Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Plays Jewish Card: Claims Egypt’s Interim President is Jewish
Chris Christie’s gay marriage dilemma
Chris Christie's gay marriage dilemma (via NewsWorks) National Interest July 5, 2013 By Dick Polman New Jersey is ground zero for the next epic battle over gay marriage. It's happening in the state legislature, and it's happening in the state courts; two days ago, marriage-equality lawyers asked a… … [Read more...] about Chris Christie’s gay marriage dilemma
Snowden has worn out welcome in Russia
It sounds as if mega-leaker/whistleblower (use the term that fits your political preference) is wearing out his welcome in Russia. Reuters: Edward Snowden should find another country to seek refuge in, a Russian official said on Thursday, signaling Moscow's growing impatience over the former U.S. spy agency contractor's stay at a Moscow airport. Deputy Foreign Minister … [Read more...] about Snowden has worn out welcome in Russia
Pope Francis’ saintly politics
WASHINGTON -- Pope Francis is proving himself to be a genuinely holy man, a brilliant politician and a leader who knows that reform requires a keen understanding of how creating a better future demands sophisticated invocations of the past. Nothing demonstrated all three traits better than Francis' announcement that he would make both Pope John Paul II and Pope John … [Read more...] about Pope Francis’ saintly politics
Three shot dead as Morsi backers march on Egypt army
Three shot dead as Morsi backers march on Egypt army (via AFP) A deadly gunfight erupted in Cairo on Friday as thousands of supporters of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi marched on the Republican Guard headquarters during mass rallies against the Islamist's ouster. An AFP correspondent said at least three… … [Read more...] about Three shot dead as Morsi backers march on Egypt army
Southern Fried Christian Sharia (Guest Voice)
Southern Fried Christian Sharia by Tina Dupuy North Carolina state legislators introduced what was described as an anti-Sharia law bill this week. The concern was a religion would trump our laws—threaten our constitution. This religion, they fear, would dictate our rights and punish dissent. It would blur the lines between church and state! Women would be subjugated! This … [Read more...] about Southern Fried Christian Sharia (Guest Voice)
(Video) Trayvon Martin’s Mother On Stand Identifies Her Son’s Screaming 911 Voice
Today will be one of the most emotional days in the trial of George Zimmermann for the shooting murder of teenager Trayvon Martin: Martin's mother and brother are taking the stand -- and both insist the screaming vote on the 911 tape is indeed the 17-year-old, Skittles-armed Martin: Prosecutors on Friday called Trayvon Martin's mother and brother to the stand in the trial … [Read more...] about (Video) Trayvon Martin’s Mother On Stand Identifies Her Son’s Screaming 911 Voice
After military ouster of Egypt’s Morsi, a chance to get it right (Guest Voice)
After military ouster of Egypt's Morsi, a chance to get it right (via The Christian Science Monitor) Any democracy should help define a people’s identity as well as reconcile their differences. Even established ones have difficulty with either purpose. For Egypt, its newly minted democracy failed on both. That is what triggered this week’s popular… … [Read more...] about After military ouster of Egypt’s Morsi, a chance to get it right (Guest Voice)
(Updates: Military Open Fire on Morsi Supporters) U.S. Marines in Europe Ready to ‘Respond’ to Egypt Chaos
(Updates below) The Stars and Stripes reports this morning that approximately 500 “crisis-response” Marines recently deployed to Italy and Spain are ready to respond to the brewing chaos in Egypt: Pentagon spokesman George Little wouldn’t speak about Egypt or the U.S. Embassy in Cairo specifically, but said the military was postured for response in that region in … [Read more...] about (Updates: Military Open Fire on Morsi Supporters) U.S. Marines in Europe Ready to ‘Respond’ to Egypt Chaos
Ben Franklin: “A Republic If You Can Keep It”
Fellow fans of the Crawleys, forgive me, but in middle age, I fell in love with my country all over again during a tour of England's stately homes. The sight of all that grandeur reserved for a hereditary few to live in mansions at the expense of miserable lives for so many was a reminder of what Jefferson, Adams and the rest resisted translating to America in 1776. Today, … [Read more...] about Ben Franklin: “A Republic If You Can Keep It”
Happy Indepdendence Day
One of the best versions of our anthem out there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDnqTe48lh0 … [Read more...] about Happy Indepdendence Day
COOL: The Great Gatsby before and after special effects were added
Chris Godfrey, VFX supervisor on the film "The Great Gatsby, has released an amazing before and after reel so you can see the insertion of special effects. He writes: Baz has graciously agreed to let us release this 'before and afters' reel to show our peer group the VFX work completed on his film 'The Great Gatsby'. While this specific reel was the work of Animal Logic … [Read more...] about COOL: The Great Gatsby before and after special effects were added
How do you stop an asteroid hitting Earth?
How do you stop an asteroid hitting Earth? (via The Economist) MOST asteroids in the solar system come nowhere near the Earth, and of those that do, most are so small that they burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere. But, as a report written by America's National Academy of Sciences points out, a big one is almost… … [Read more...] about How do you stop an asteroid hitting Earth?
Republicans and Women (Guest Cartoonist)
Republicans and Women by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Dem officials: GOP is targeting women [OHIO] --Texas GOP Unleashes Political Quackery on Women's Reproductive Rights --GOP launches programs to recruit more women --North Carolina readies new abortion limits as GOP war on women expands --While You Were Sleeping, North Carolina Decided to Pull a … [Read more...] about Republicans and Women (Guest Cartoonist)
Immigration Backers Sting Tea Party Foes
An old fable gets a new twist: House Tea Party diehards face retribution from the immigration tortoises they are trying to drown. Backers of reform will spend $1 million dollars in the districts of John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Darrell Issa and eight others to blast them for refusing to deal on the issue that Republicans only a few months ago recognized as crucial to their … [Read more...] about Immigration Backers Sting Tea Party Foes
James “Tony Soprano” Gandolfini left $50G in his will to pal with autistic son
The wealth of evidence -- when he was alive and when he passed away -- that actor James Gandolfini was truly special when it came to his fellow cast members and friends now has a new tidbit. Gandolfini left $50,000 to a friend with an autistic son. The New York Post: Family man James Gandolfini took care of his friends’ kids as well as his own. The benevolent … [Read more...] about James “Tony Soprano” Gandolfini left $50G in his will to pal with autistic son
Russia codifies extreme anti-gay bigotry
While I respect the position Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking on the whole Snowden saga, there's really nothing else I like about the guy, and more and more it looks like he and his ilk want to turn their country into a right-wing dictatorship resembing the fascist states of old. For example: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law [on Sunday] one of … [Read more...] about Russia codifies extreme anti-gay bigotry