Earlier this week, The Daily Beast and Howard Kurtz "parted" ways in the wake of his erroneous report about NBA star Jason Collins and a correction that some felt fell short of the mark. Today on his "Reliable Sources" CNN show he formally apologized and definitively retraced the erroneous part of his on CNN, hoping his viewers and readers will give him a second … [Read more...] about Howard Kurtz Apologizes on CNN for Jason Collins Mistake
Major Stumble on Syria by Barack Obama?
Did President Barack Obama stumble bigtime in his comments about Syria, locking himself into a position he might not otherwise take? The New York Times reports: Confronted with evidence that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, President Obama now finds himself in a geopolitical box, his credibility at stake with frustratingly few good options. The origins of this … [Read more...] about Major Stumble on Syria by Barack Obama?
How To Reform The Democratic Party — A Primer
I had an opinion piece in today's Philadelphia Inquirer. Here's the link: http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20130505_A_tea_party_for_progressives.html Here's its basic idea. Economically, the Democratic Party has been taken over by Wall Street and other big buck interests. It's the Party of Charlie Schumer, Erskine Bowles, Robert Rubin. et. al. Its basic … [Read more...] about How To Reform The Democratic Party — A Primer
U.S. Suicide Rate Up Especially Among Baby Boomers
Is it the economy or what? America's suicide rate is up -- especially among Baby Boomers. And more people now die of suicide than car accidents: More people now die of suicide than in car accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which published the findings in Friday’s issue of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In 2010 there were … [Read more...] about U.S. Suicide Rate Up Especially Among Baby Boomers
BREAKING — Syria: Israeli Missiles Hit a Research Center near Damascus
The BBC reports that Syria is claiming that Israeli rockets have hit a research center near Damascus. The BBC: Witnesses heard huge explosions near the Jamraya facility, which Western officials have suggested is involved in chemical weapons research. Residents told the BBC that nearby military positions were also hit. Israel has not confirmed the strike, but … [Read more...] about BREAKING — Syria: Israeli Missiles Hit a Research Center near Damascus
Suffer The Little Children to Come To Me: Babies Aren’t “Anchors”
They are just children who carry great gifts, depending on what the culture and their families support them with or burden them with. One wonders where this idea of including some and excluding others really comes from. As a start, I'd offer... A very famous man writes about immigrants in America: They are, he says... "...generally of the most ignorant stupid sort of … [Read more...] about Suffer The Little Children to Come To Me: Babies Aren’t “Anchors”
Who killed the prosecutor investigating Benazir Bhutto’s assassination?
Who killed the prosecutor investigating Benazir Bhutto's assassination? The mystery widens , or does it? … [Read more...] about Who killed the prosecutor investigating Benazir Bhutto’s assassination?
Republican Group Pushes to Limit Citizenship to Babies of Illegal Immigrants Born in U.S.
If the Republican Party is serious about trying to win over more of Hispanic voters then it will face a major rebranding problem in coming months: a GOP group is seeking to stop giving U.S. citizenship to babies of illegal immigrants born in the U.S. One author of the proposed new law: a key author of the controversial Arizona immigration law. The Arizona … [Read more...] about Republican Group Pushes to Limit Citizenship to Babies of Illegal Immigrants Born in U.S.
Emotions Play a Major Role in the Course of History (Guest Voice)
Emotions Play a Major Role in the Course of History (Society’s Actions are Motivated through Emotions) By Dale Schlundt Humans are emotional beings, an aspect that we all can agree on, since most of us are aware of our feelings on a daily basis. However, do we realize how driven we are by them? While beginning discussing World War II with my students, with the highly … [Read more...] about Emotions Play a Major Role in the Course of History (Guest Voice)
Mr. Gun Nut Head (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 Mr. Gun Nut Head (Cartoon)
At least 62 bodies found in Syria’s Banias: watchdog
At least 62 bodies found in Syria's Banias: watchdog (via AFP) The bodies of at least 62 murdered residents have been found in a Sunni neighbourhood of the Syrian city of Banias, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday. The latest incident was condemned by the opposition Syrian National Coalition, which said reports of several mass killings in… … [Read more...] about At least 62 bodies found in Syria’s Banias: watchdog
Talk Show Host Advice (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 Talk Show Host Advice (Cartoon)
Boston Bomber Family Wants Second Autopsy
It's not over for dead Boston Bomber suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev yet: there's a problem in finding a resting place and the family wants a second autopsy: For nearly two weeks, Tamerlan Tsarnaev's body lay unclaimed at the Boston medical examiner's office. A funeral home now has the remains, and a quest is underway to find him a resting place in Massachusetts. But first, … [Read more...] about Boston Bomber Family Wants Second Autopsy
Reports: Israel Bombed Syria
Israel bombed Syria: US media (via AFP) Israel conducted an airstrike in Syria overnight targeting a weapons shipment headed for the militant movement group Hezbollah based in neighboring Lebanon, US media reported. CNN television said that US and Western intelligence agencies were reviewing information suggesting Israel likely conducted… … [Read more...] about Reports: Israel Bombed Syria
Cases of Mistaken Identities Can Be Dangerous
Over the years, although I'd love for someone to say I reminded them of Brad Pitt, I've been told I look remind people of Richard Dreyfuss, Jerry Springer and Harry Saslovsky (I have no idea who that is but it is not heartening). But there are cases where mistaken identity can be almost deadly. To wit: A woman who almost died after her boyfriend mistook her for a hog … [Read more...] about Cases of Mistaken Identities Can Be Dangerous
China-India spat signals Beijing’s tensions with generals
Fresh signs of tension between China’s military and the new Beijing regime are peering through a surprising backdoor. President Xi Jinping was thought to be closer to the generals than his predecessors but may now be involved in a backstage showdown with them over policy towards India, the other huge military power in Asia. To underline India’s importance for Xi’s foreign … [Read more...] about China-India spat signals Beijing’s tensions with generals
The Walt Disney Company pulls out of Bangladesh: Will that make workers safer?
The Walt Disney Company pulls out of Bangladesh: Will that make workers safer? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View A Bangladeshi woman looks at a wall filled with portraits of missing persons near the site of a garment factory that collapsed last week in Savar near Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday. Disney pulls out of Bangladesh and several other … [Read more...] about The Walt Disney Company pulls out of Bangladesh: Will that make workers safer?
Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island, and the fight for marriage equality
Yesterday, Rhode Island became the tenth state to legalize same-sex marriage. The state's governor, the man who signed the Marriage Equality Act into law, is Lincoln Chafee. Governor Chafee, now an independent, used to be a Republican, serving in the Senate from 1999 to 2007. He was defeated in 2006 by Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse and left the Republican Party for good in … [Read more...] about Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island, and the fight for marriage equality
The “Fall” of Howard Kurtz?
it's not good news when they in effect start writing even part of your professional obituary. We did this post yesterday about The up-and-coming, getting-better-and-better The Daily Beast "parting" ways with Howard Kurtz ostensibly due to an error he made in a story and the way he handled the correction and, reports suggest, for him putting a lot of work into another … [Read more...] about The “Fall” of Howard Kurtz?
Jobs wanted: Somali ex-pirates seek employment
Jobs wanted: Somali ex-pirates seek employment (via AFP) For a fearsome pirate, even one in self-declared retirement, there is a notable lack of what literature has led one to expect: cutlass, eye-patch, hook or even a parrot. Instead, Mohamed Abdi Hassan, one of Somalia's -- if not the world's -- most notorious pirate chiefs, appears far more businessman… … [Read more...] about Jobs wanted: Somali ex-pirates seek employment