President Obama is visiting Mexico today, and this editorial from Mexico's El Universal wonders what Obama wants from Mexico City, with a large number of U.S. states legalizing marijuana, gun legislation in the U.S. Congress looking 'dead', and immigration reform appearing to stall. The El Universal editorial says in part: With respect to the United States, for … [Read more...] about Guns, Drugs and Money Laundering: What Does Obama Want from Mexico? (El Universal, Mexico)
US immigration debate hits home in Mexican village
US immigration debate hits home in Mexican village (via AFP) Most of the local men have already trekked down the mountain and left the rural hamlet of Los Huesos in central Mexico in search of a better life in United States. So for the elderly, the women and the children who remain in this village of around 60 families, the debate over an immigration reform… … [Read more...] about US immigration debate hits home in Mexican village
US reconsidering whether to arm Syria rebels
US reconsidering whether to arm Syria rebels (via AFP) The United States said Thursday it was taking a fresh look at whether to arm Syria's rebels as the Damascus regime pressed an assault on opposition forces in the embattled city of Homs. After having rejected the idea previously, President Barack Obama's deputies were weighing the option of providing… … [Read more...] about US reconsidering whether to arm Syria rebels
The Daily Beast and Howard Kurtz Have “Parted”
Until this week the former Washington Post media reporter, CNN "Reliable Sources" host and The Daily Beast's Washington Bureau Chief Howard Kurtz had an almost pristine reputation, except for people on the left and right who'd blast them if he said something critical to their political sports team (and of course praise him if he criticized the other side) But this wasn't a good … [Read more...] about The Daily Beast and Howard Kurtz Have “Parted”
Meet GROVER: NASA’s New Ice-Loving, Roving Robot
Meet GROVER: NASA’s New Ice-Loving, Roving Robot (via Climate Central) By Andrew Freedman Follow @afreedma First, there was the Mars Rover, made famous by its spectacular landing on the Red Planet on August 6, 2012. Now, climate science has its own robot, only this one is designed to probe the surface of Greenland. Starting Friday, NASA plans to test the remote … [Read more...] about Meet GROVER: NASA’s New Ice-Loving, Roving Robot
The U-2 Dragon Lady: Two May First Anniversaries
The First of May, or May Day, has been an important day of celebration or other action for many countries, organizations and peoples throughout the world, for hundreds of years and for many reasons: Nationalistic, religious, pagan, political, cultural, romantic, whatever. It is also a day of numerous anniversaries. Two May First events -- at first glance totally unrelated … [Read more...] about The U-2 Dragon Lady: Two May First Anniversaries
The Gosnell Murder Trial and the Liberal ‘Conspiracy’ (Guest Voice)
The Gosnell Murder Trial and the Liberal 'Conspiracy' By Dick Polman Now that Dr. Kermit Gosnell's Philadelphia murder trial has finally gone to the jury, we should take a moment to debunk, once and for all, the delusional right-wing claim that "the liberal media" supposedly refused to cover the story because they supposedly didn't want to publicize the dark side of … [Read more...] about The Gosnell Murder Trial and the Liberal ‘Conspiracy’ (Guest Voice)
US citizen gets 15 years’ hard labour in N. Korea
US citizen gets 15 years' hard labour in N. Korea (via AFP) North Korea said Thursday it had sentenced a Korean-American tour operator to 15 years' hard labour for "hostile acts", stoking tensions with the United States which had pleaded for his release. Kim Jong-Un's isolated regime is likely to use the detainee as a bargaining chip, experts said, as it seeks… … [Read more...] about US citizen gets 15 years’ hard labour in N. Korea
Made in Bangladesh (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 Made in Bangladesh (Cartoon)
Ds Should Be Concerned About Massachusetts,But Needn’t Lose Sleep Yet
Massachusetts held it's long awaited Senate primary Tuesday in the race to succeed John Kerry, who resigned to become Secretary of State in early February. Contrary to expectations, it was the Democratic race that had appeared to wrap up pretty early in the campaign, as veteran Congressman Ed Markey beat his House colleague, Steve Lynch, 57-43%. What didn't end early on … [Read more...] about Ds Should Be Concerned About Massachusetts,But Needn’t Lose Sleep Yet
Quote of the Day: Partisanship Trumps Policy Preferences and Unity
Our political Quote of the Day comes from NBC's First Read, which nicely summarizes two tidbits that prove how America is now in an era where partisanship and personal political hatred trump policy preferences and the concept of the good of consensus and national unity. Read it and weep: ** It takes two: For all the questions and scrutiny President Obama has recently … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Partisanship Trumps Policy Preferences and Unity
Obama needs to hope again
WASHINGTON -- If a president finds himself in the role of a political scientist, he has a problem -- even when his political science lesson is 100 percent accurate. When President Obama was asked by Jonathan Karl of ABC News at his Tuesday news conference whether he still had "the juice" to get his agenda through Congress, I wish he had replied, "Lighten up. This is the … [Read more...] about Obama needs to hope again
UN groups censure US over Gitmo hunger strike
Even as the Obama administration presses Russia and China to end human rights violations, it received a broadside from several United Nations human rights bodies about its treatment of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners currently on hunger strike. In an opinion published today, six UN groups said detaining people beyond a reasonable period of time even in extraordinary … [Read more...] about UN groups censure US over Gitmo hunger strike
Toomey Confirms It: GOP Anti-Obama Hate Sunk Background Checks
Now we have confirmation of what many analysts and President Barack Obama have long contended: Republicans will vote against something simply because Obama wants it. And in this case it was background checks -- the one part of gun control that SEEMED as if it was a slam-dunk after Newtown. But in the end, Obama' hatred (plus not wanting to lose the NRA campaign cash cow) … [Read more...] about Toomey Confirms It: GOP Anti-Obama Hate Sunk Background Checks
Business is Booming in Perry’s Potemkin Village (Guest Voice)
Business is Booming in Perry's Potemkin Village By Jason Stanford You can't change the facts of an explosion. A large fertilizer factory operated next to homes, a middle school and a nursing home. The factory blew, and 14 people died. We can't change those facts, but it's up to us to decide what they mean. Gov. Rick Perry disagrees with those who see the fatal explosion … [Read more...] about Business is Booming in Perry’s Potemkin Village (Guest Voice)
550 feared dead in Bangladesh as pope slams ‘slave labour’
550 feared dead in Bangladesh as pope slams 'slave labour' (via AFP) Bangladesh rescuers said Wednesday at least 550 people likely died in the collapse of a garment factory complex last week as the pope condemned the use of "slave labour" in the local clothing industry. As bulldozers and cranes worked to remove the rubble of the eight-storey building on the outskirts… … [Read more...] about 550 feared dead in Bangladesh as pope slams ‘slave labour’
A New Orleans Robbery Victim Fights Back (Video)
Yes, there are indeed times when life imitates art. Not all of the people you see in movies who fight back even though they're at risk and turn the tables on the bad guys are the stuff of fiction. Sometimes criminals do pick on the wrong person who won't be physically or even psychologically intimidated. Look what happens when a robber with a rifle picks on the wrong … [Read more...] about A New Orleans Robbery Victim Fights Back (Video)
US police arrest three suspects in Boston bombing
US police arrest three suspects in Boston bombing (via AFP) US police announced on Wednesday that they had arrested three more suspects as part of their investigation into a bomb attack on the Boston marathon that left three dead and more than 260 wounded. "Three additional suspects taken into custody in Marathon bombing case. Details to follow," the Boston… … [Read more...] about US police arrest three suspects in Boston bombing
Poli-Takes: The Rattling of the Cages
Last night’s primary in Massachusetts set the stage for Ed Markey to face Gabriel Gomez for the seat vacated by John Kerry. My accompanying post later today will dissect that. My latest installment of Poli-Takes: The Rattling of the Cages focuses on recent developments in upcoming races, one of which is fast upon us, though not fast enough for state and local Republicans. … [Read more...] about Poli-Takes: The Rattling of the Cages
It’s May Day. Time To Take Another Look At Socialism?
Socialism had some serious failings as an economic system. It politicized economic decisions, often allocating capital in ways that were unproductive and even counter-productive. It didn't allow enough outlets for entrepreneurship. In its more extreme forms, it devolved into tyranny. However... It did provide a great mechanism for protest, and was a proven means of … [Read more...] about It’s May Day. Time To Take Another Look At Socialism?