US drone kills Pakistani Taliban deputy: officials (via AFP) A US drone strike killed the deputy chief of the Pakistani Taliban Wednesday in the country's lawless tribal northwest, officials said, dealing a major blow to the militant network. Waliur Rehman, the number two in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction, died along with at least five others when… … [Read more...] about US drone kills Pakistani Taliban deputy: officials
The Wish of a 103-Year-Old World War II Veteran
When asked in a 2012 interview what she would like to accomplish that year, Ms. Cohen answered "...to collect clean, white socks for homeless veterans, and to meet First Lady Michelle Obama." Thousands -- perhaps millions -- of women would love to meet the First Lady. So what? Bea Cohen, a World War II veteran and California's oldest living female veteran, was 102 when … [Read more...] about The Wish of a 103-Year-Old World War II Veteran
Court Date for Michele Bachmann’s Iowa Lawsuit Set for May 2014
If you are wondering about the timing of Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) announcement that she won't seek reelection, it's worth noting that the court date in her Iowa lawsuit was also disclosed today. It is set for May 14, 2014. Yep, right in heart of the election season. The lawsuit, Heki vs. Bachmann, alleges she stole and misused an e-mail distribution list maintained by an … [Read more...] about Court Date for Michele Bachmann’s Iowa Lawsuit Set for May 2014
Michele Bachmann Did Nothing – Literally
Joe has a great summary of the varied reactions to Bachmann's departure. This article from the Economist blog disuses what she actually did (hint: nothing): But hollowness, alas, is Mrs Bachmann's legacy. Her brief seven-year tenure in Congress has been heat without light. She has chaired neither a committee nor a subcommittee. Of the 58 bills she sponsored or co-sponsored, … [Read more...] about Michele Bachmann Did Nothing – Literally
‘World’s oldest’ Torah scroll found in Italian archive
'World's oldest' Torah scroll found in Italian archive (via AFP) The world's oldest complete Torah scroll has been found in a university archive in Bologna, according to an Italian professor who said the text could be from the 12th century. The precious lambskin scroll had been classified by the university library as being from the 17th century and was named simply… … [Read more...] about ‘World’s oldest’ Torah scroll found in Italian archive
Newsweek May Be Up For Sale
Wanna buy a newsmagazine (one that is only online, that is)? Newsweek CEO Baba Shetty and editor-in-chief Tina Brown have sent a memo to staff confirming earlier reports that parent-company IAC is exploring a sale of the now online-only magazine. In the memo, Shetty and Brown attributed the exploration of a sale to a desire to focus their full attention on The Daily … [Read more...] about Newsweek May Be Up For Sale
Reactions to Michele Bachmann Not Running for Re-Election
The ever-quotable, news-generating Rep. Michele Bachmann rocked the political and new and old media worlds with the announcement that she will not be running for re-election. Here's just a cross section of reaction to her announcement: --The Daily Beast's John Avlon has (as usual) a post that needs to be read in full. A small chunk: Our long national nightmare is … [Read more...] about Reactions to Michele Bachmann Not Running for Re-Election
Papa John’s racist voicemail rant gets employees fired
Papa John’s racist voicemail rant gets employees fired (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View Papa John's Founder, Chairman and CEO John Schnatter takes to the streets of New York's Times Square, last year. Schnatter issued a public apology Monday for a racist voicemail accidentally sent to a customer in Sanford, Fla., by a Papa John's employee, … [Read more...] about Papa John’s racist voicemail rant gets employees fired
Rush Limbaugh: President Obama and NJ Gov. Chris Christie Have “Master-Servant Relationship”
Rush Limbaugh is attacking New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for doing his job. I will continue to echo the sentiments of former GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole who said the RNC needs to hang a "closed for repairs" sign on its doors because the party is in total disarray. Limbaugh claims Obama-Christie have a "master-servant relationship." Unbelievable. This is the kind of … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh: President Obama and NJ Gov. Chris Christie Have “Master-Servant Relationship”
How to Spin a Genocide
The Rios Montt trial set back a month and will now likely collapse, a sad day for international justice. But for neoconservatives, the decision is good news, because Reagan’s shady connections with Montt have been exposed (for the few willing to discover them). And yet some on the right are still trying to protect Montt and Reagan – here’s how you spin a genocide. J. Michael … [Read more...] about How to Spin a Genocide
Michele Bachman Says She Won’t Try to Be Re-Elected
Says it's not because she thinks she cant get re-elected Not because of anything, sorta, really really. And that she will spend her time left in office fighting hard for 'constitutional conservatism.' It occurs to many of us that the trope-code amongst politicians is as weird as the code at the Vatican, words meaning not what they mean or more than they mean, or not … [Read more...] about Michele Bachman Says She Won’t Try to Be Re-Elected
Terrorist Attacks Not Just Failing to Connect the Dots
There's good news and bad news in the twin terrorist outrages of the horrific running over and hacking to death of a British soldier and the Boston Marathon bombings. The good: intelligence agencies had some of these young terrorists on their radar. The bad news: having them on the radar did little good since the murderers still successfully completed their planned … [Read more...] about Terrorist Attacks Not Just Failing to Connect the Dots
Remembering storm, Obama, Christie again the odd couple
Remembering storm, Obama, Christie again the odd couple (via AFP) US President Barack Obama on Tuesday rekindled his odd couple relationship with Republican rising star Chris Christie, as they high-fived on a New Jersey boardwalk hit by Hurricane Sandy. Christie, the state governor, welcomed Obama to New Jersey on a trip meant to highlight coastal areas rebuilding… … [Read more...] about Remembering storm, Obama, Christie again the odd couple
Does Struggling J.C. Penny’s Tea Kettle Look Like Adolf Hitler?
Poor J.C. Penny, one of my favorite stores (yes I go there a lot and have a store credit card.) In April, the corporation's CEO Ron Johnson, whose change in marketing strategy many believe chased customers away, resigned under pressure. Earlier this month the retail giant reported bigger loses than expected. And now it's being accused of marketing a tea kettle that looks like … [Read more...] about Does Struggling J.C. Penny’s Tea Kettle Look Like Adolf Hitler?
Dow hits new record on strong economic data
Dow hits new record on strong economic data (via AFP) The Dow closed at a new all-time high Tuesday after strong gains in US home prices and consumer confidence boosted stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 106.29 (0.69 percent) at 15,409.39, a new all-time high. The S&P 500 put on 10.46 (0.63 percent) at 1,660.06, while the Nasdaq Composite… … [Read more...] about Dow hits new record on strong economic data
To Win Congressional Elections in 2014, Run AGAINST Money
In post-Citizens United America, political wisdom says the country has become a mammonocracy, that a candidate with the most money wins, or only loses when the other candidate has almost as much money. Is this true? Maybe now it is. Need it always be true? Maybe not. Suppose a candidate instead of depending on raising money to win, uses the fact he/she is running … [Read more...] about To Win Congressional Elections in 2014, Run AGAINST Money
A Sharp Turn in the War on Terror
As the President eulogizes those who fought past and present wars, he also reminds us that a few days ago “I outlined the future of our fight against terrorism--the threats we face, and the way in which we will meet them.” Amid Memorial Day parades, speeches and war movies on TV, Barack Obama declares that Americans’ post-9/11 mindset has to change: “Our systematic effort to … [Read more...] about A Sharp Turn in the War on Terror
Can Social Conservatives Change?
Though limiting the size and power of the government and fiscal policy have recently been the issues galvanizing conservatives, social concerns are still the major factors motivating many conservatives. These invariably have a basis in religious beliefs, most prominently in evangelical Protestant churches and the Catholic Church, though also a hallmark of Orthodox Judaism. The … [Read more...] about Can Social Conservatives Change?
Understanding The Greatness Of Obama’s Historic End-To-Perpetual-War Speech
Barack Obama's speech last week calling for an end to perpetual war was, bar done, the greatest given by an American president in my lifetime. This is because the speech articulated fundamental truths about the times in which we live long overdue in the telling, chief among them that our democracy demands that while we must continue to fight terrorism, the perpetual war … [Read more...] about Understanding The Greatness Of Obama’s Historic End-To-Perpetual-War Speech
Report: British Officials Knew Suspect in Soldier’s Death Had Ties to Al Qaeda
This serious stuff. It isn't just a matter of "not connecting the dots" -- but not noticing the lines. The New York Times: Britain’s security agencies appeared headed for a period of deeply uncomfortable scrutiny after the government said Sunday that it had been aware for more than two years that one of the two men suspected of hacking an off-duty British soldier to death … [Read more...] about Report: British Officials Knew Suspect in Soldier’s Death Had Ties to Al Qaeda