Are we now seeing the embryonic signs of a new political equation in America when it comes to guns? A major poll showed that some 90 percent of Americans favored background checks -- and a New Hampshire Senator now sees her poll numbers going south. The Huffington Post: A new poll has New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte down a total of 15 points from her previous approval … [Read more...] about Pro-NRA Backlash? New Hampshire’s Ayotte Down 15% After Anti-Background Check Vote
Bomb suspect influenced by mysterious radical
Bomb suspect influenced by mysterious radical - TimesRepublican.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community info (via Times-Republican) By ADAM GOLDMAN , THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON - In the years before the Boston Marathon bombings, Tamerlan Tsarnaev fell under the influence of a new friend, a Muslim convert who steered the religiously apathetic young man toward a strict strain … [Read more...] about Bomb suspect influenced by mysterious radical
GOP Establishment Strongly Backing Immigration Reform as Conservative Talkers Resist
It's clear that there's now a split in the Republican Party over immigration reform -- a split that some analysts including Republicans fear could prove toxic if either side is totally turned off by the outcome. In one corner, GOP establishment types. In the other, members of the party's dominant talk radio political culture (led by Rush Limbaugh) who feel immigration reform … [Read more...] about GOP Establishment Strongly Backing Immigration Reform as Conservative Talkers Resist
Pew Poll: Mixed Reactions to Senate Gun Vote and Democrats Mostly “Disappointed”
The gun issue, it's assumed, could be a vote-determiner come November due to the passionate feelings on both sides. But a new Pew Research Poll suggests a bit more nuance in the reactions to the failure of the latest attempt a gun control: reactions predictably according to partisan lines and Democrats more "disappointed" than actually outraged. Which suggests that the … [Read more...] about Pew Poll: Mixed Reactions to Senate Gun Vote and Democrats Mostly “Disappointed”
A Song Not Fit for a King?
The Netherlands is getting ready to celebrate the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander on April 30 with pomp and circumstance and, perhaps, with "Het Koningslied," the King’s Song. The King’s Song is, in my opinion, a delightful mix of musical genres -- including traditional Dutch music and (Dutch) rap -- lyrics and video contributed by Dutch artists and citizens alike and … [Read more...] about A Song Not Fit for a King?
Do We Really Want What We Think We Want?
I recently wrote a piece describing the band Tool, arguing that we often prefer our short-term desires at the cost of our true desires. This, of course, is widely known by theologians, psychologists and philosophers. But economists are just catching on, and politicians are far behind. The ultimate question is, do we really want what we want? The question influences public … [Read more...] about Do We Really Want What We Think We Want?
Is This Democracy?
Last week, the nation’s media focused its attention on the Boston bombings and to a lesser degree, the Texas explosion. But there was little dialogue about the outrageous action the week before by the Senate of voting down the expansion of background checks for gun buyers, a clear challenge to the democratic process. One hundred and fifty years ago, President Abraham … [Read more...] about Is This Democracy?
Boston Marathon Bombing: Was Twitter For the Birds or Revolutionary?
When James French became the last person to be executed in 1966 under Oklahoma's death penalty law, he uttered these famous last words (no joke) that quickly belong to the ages: "Hey fellas," he shouted to reporters there to witness his electrocution. "How about this for a headline for tomorrow's paper? 'French Fries!'" Shortly after that, French became toast. The way some … [Read more...] about Boston Marathon Bombing: Was Twitter For the Birds or Revolutionary?
Current Warming Trend Not In Seen In The Last 1400 Or More Years, Research Finds
Current Warming Trend Not In Seen In The Last 1400 Or More Years, Research Finds (via Planetsave) The rate at which the planet warmed between the years of 1971 and 2000 was faster than during any other 30-year-period in the last 1,400 years, new research has confirmed. The new work features the most complete regional temperature reconstructions of the last 2000 years yet … [Read more...] about Current Warming Trend Not In Seen In The Last 1400 Or More Years, Research Finds
Resolute, but with an asterisk
Washington Post Writers Group Resolute, but with an asterisk by Eugene Robinson Washington Post Writers Group WASHINGTON -- The nation demonstrated again last week how resolute it can be when threatened by murderous terrorists -- and how helpless when ordered to heel by smug lobbyists for the gun industry. Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's deadly rampage … [Read more...] about Resolute, but with an asterisk
After Baucus, Will Schweitzer Pick Up The Reins?
Tweet of the Day: "Can we please get back to the important business of finding out whether Scott Brown is ruling out running for US Senate in Montana?" Veteran Boston political reporter David Bernstein (twitter.com/dbernstein) By Scott Crass Now that Max Baucus is departing, what's next? Montana is the "Land of Gold and Silver," but for Democrats, it could only go so … [Read more...] about After Baucus, Will Schweitzer Pick Up The Reins?
What the Tsarnaev brothers have done to immigration reform
We badly want an outside cause -- some foreign malevolence -- to have been responsible for what happens to America. Some of us still look at the two Boston bombing suspects and see American. But a lot of us apparently see "foreign." We see "Muslim." Now, having learned the geography a bit, we latch onto "Chechnya." Even President Obama, when he addressed the nation … [Read more...] about What the Tsarnaev brothers have done to immigration reform
Baucus Longest Serving Montanan In DC
Historic Tidbit:Max Baucus served Montana in Washington longer than anyone from the state. He surpassed Mike Mansfield, the beloved Majority Leader in 2009, after the completion of his 34th year in Congress. Mansfield had served in the House for ten years and the Senate for 24. By Scott Crass The winds of change are upon Montana. In major jolt to the political scene, Max … [Read more...] about Baucus Longest Serving Montanan In DC
4 lessons from the Boston Marathon bombings
What are some of the lessons from the Boston Marathon bombing? I listed four in this column on The Week online: 1. Al Qaeda is not the only threat James R. Clapper, the director of national intelligence, told the House Intelligence Committee the week before the Boston bombings: "The threat from al Qaeda and the potential for a massive coordinated attack on the United … [Read more...] about 4 lessons from the Boston Marathon bombings
New poison-laced letter found as US suspect released
New poison-laced letter found as US suspect released (via AFP) A letter possibly laced with the deadly poison ricin was found at a US airbase Tuesday as a man charged with sending a similar letter to the White House was released on bond, officials said. The letter discovered at Bolling Air Force Base outside of Washington comes a week after three others were … [Read more...] about New poison-laced letter found as US suspect released
That KKK Scene: Django.
I remember coming out of the cinema after just watching Django Unchained spoiling for a fight; so naturally I logged onto Twitter and quickly found one. To be fair the following debate was heated but respectful. He had one point that I found difficult to accept and it’s a point that I’ve heard repeatedly elsewhere. As a black man, I should be offended/ disrespected by … [Read more...] about That KKK Scene: Django.
George W. Bush’s Legacy: The Debate Continues
In a Washington Post article last week, Stephen F. Knott lamented that George W. Bush is not getting a fair shake by those partisan, biased, fear-mongering academics, scholars, and historians who have “rushed to judgment” by declaring Bush’s presidency “a failure.” In all fairness, Knott does mention another group of folks -- those partisan, biased, rush-to-judgment, regular … [Read more...] about George W. Bush’s Legacy: The Debate Continues
Sen. Max Baucus Chooses Retirement Over Reelection in 2014
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) who dissed President Obama by voting against gun control amendments last week, has announced he won't seek reelection. Um, good riddance. One down, two to go -- Mark Pryor and Mark Begich. A February survey from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling found that Baucus was polling in the mid-40s and trailing both GOP Rep. Steve Daines and former … [Read more...] about Sen. Max Baucus Chooses Retirement Over Reelection in 2014
People Who Love the Second Amendment Hate the Constitution
It's almost axiomatic at this point that those who most loudly decry violations of the second amendment will gladly sacrifice nearly any other amendment for the sake of national security. The most recent example of this principle is the flurry of Republican congressman who have argued that Tsarnaev should be denied his Miranda rights. Now there are certain instances in which … [Read more...] about People Who Love the Second Amendment Hate the Constitution
Saudi Arabia: Coddled Terrorist State or Victim of Libel?
Is Saudi Arabia somehow or another behind the terrorist attack on Boston? Much of the world, despite the conclusions of U.S. investigators that the culprits were ethnic Chechens who acted independently, believe that like 9-11, behind the Marathon attack is Saudi Wahhabism. Two articles we posted yesterday address these continuing suspicions. One from from Iraq's Sotal Iraq … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia: Coddled Terrorist State or Victim of Libel?