The Boston Bombings left three dead and more than 100 injured and some have suggested circumventing the rule of law to prosecute the perpetrator. Yet, in Pakistan the unconstitutional drone war continues to kill innocents. On April 14, between 4 and 6 Pakistanis died in drone strike and numerous civilians were injured. Another strike three days later killed 5 more and injured … [Read more...] about People in Pakistan Live in Constant Fear of a Boston Bombing
Bush urges brother Jeb to run for White House
Bush urges brother Jeb to run for White House (via AFP) Former US president George W. Bush urged his younger brother Jeb to aim for the White House in a 2016 campaign that could enshrine his family as America's ultimate political dynasty. "He'd be a marvelous candidate if he chooses to do so," Bush said, when asked about Jeb's presidential prospects in… … [Read more...] about Bush urges brother Jeb to run for White House
Quote of the Day: the “Golden Age” of Crisis Coverage Never Existed
Our Quote of the Day comes from University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato, one of the country's most accurate political analysts (he's the flip side of Dick Morris) who notes the severe criticism the media is receiving for some of its Boston Marathon bombing coverage -- and notes that the golden age of crisis coverage never existed. He says the JFK assassination … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: the “Golden Age” of Crisis Coverage Never Existed
The culture of preconception
WASHINGTON -- The political response to the Boston Marathon bombings suggests that we live in an age of shrink-wrapped, prepackaged opinions. When something new comes along, we hasten to squeeze it into whatever frameworks we were carrying around with us a day, a month or a year before. When the ghastly news from Boylston Street first hit, there was an immediate … [Read more...] about The culture of preconception
Boston Bombing: A Lame Excuse to Halt Immigration Reform (Guest Voice)
Boston Bombing: A Lame Excuse to Halt Immigration Reform By Dick Polman Conservatives have been desperately trying to halt the bipartisan momentum for path-to-citizenship immigration reform, and, thanks to the Boston bombing, they think they've finally found the perfect (phony) argument: Fear of foreign terrorism. They contend that the bid to bring 11 million people out … [Read more...] about Boston Bombing: A Lame Excuse to Halt Immigration Reform (Guest Voice)
Major GOP Rebranding Setback for John Boehner
There are increasing signs that the goose is cooked on Republican rebranding. It ain't gonna happen. And the latest sign comes in a major setback for House Speaker John Boehner who earlier seemed poised to set a political trap for the White House -- enough of a trap that the White House had issued a statement about the plan. But the plan is now dead. And who killed it? Yes, … [Read more...] about Major GOP Rebranding Setback for John Boehner
CIA asked to add Boston suspect to terror list: official
CIA asked to add Boston suspect to terror list: official (via AFP) The CIA asked the top US counterterrorism agency to add the deceased Boston bombing suspect to a terror watchlist more than a year before the attacks, officials said Wednesday. The spy agency made the move after Russian officials contacted their CIA counterparts in September 2011 about concerns they… … [Read more...] about CIA asked to add Boston suspect to terror list: official
A Tale of Two Hickenloopers: Colorado Governor and ex-Iowa Senator Related
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper would be the first to concede that his name is unusual. In fact, quite unusual, and memorable for that reason. One might even say it brings some, jokeable moments. But there was another politician by the name of Hickenlooper back in the day, Bourke Blakemore Hickenlooper of Iowa. He was Iowa's governor in the 1940's, but was more prominent on … [Read more...] about A Tale of Two Hickenloopers: Colorado Governor and ex-Iowa Senator Related
Quote of the Day: Political Trash Talk Back After Boston Marathon Bombing Cease Fire
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Daily Beast's Howard Kurtz who sadly details all too well the return of "trash talk" to our politics after a brief cease-fire of a week due to the Boston Marathon bombings. Actually, some trash talk returned sooner as detailed by columnist Dick Polman but the political septic tank has returned to its usual overflowing status in … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Political Trash Talk Back After Boston Marathon Bombing Cease Fire
Confirming He’s a Boston Marathon Bombing Hero
Boston bombings victim Jeff Bauman the guy who helped police and the FBI identify one of the Boston Marathon bombers is seen here giving his 18 year birthday present to him to another victim -- the teen who was standing next to him. YES there ARE heroes in this world, but they're not all athletes, self-absorbed rock singers, or people in public life. The heroes walk … [Read more...] about Confirming He’s a Boston Marathon Bombing Hero
Failed Republican Branding Update # (Oh, I lose track)
I can't keep track of all these tidbits showing how Republican rebranding is failing -- or has utterly failed. But, no matter where this falls in the looooooooooooong list, here's the latest: A Republican called a 19-year-old female activist a "bitch.": Steve Kush, the chairman of Bernalillo County Republican Party in New Mexico, called a 19-year-old Working America … [Read more...] about Failed Republican Branding Update # (Oh, I lose track)
Pro-NRA Backlash? New Hampshire’s Ayotte Down 15% After Anti-Background Check Vote
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