The nonpartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors has issued this statement on the defeat in the U.S. Senate of a bipartisan measure on background checks: STATEMENT BY U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS PRESIDENT PHILADELPHIA MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER ON THE SENATE’S REJECTION OF FEINSTEIN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN, TOOMEY-MANCHIN BACKGROUND CHECK, AND OTHER AMENDMENTS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE … [Read more...] about Statement from the U.S. Conference of Mayors on the Defeat of Background Checks Gun Control in U.S. Senate
After Boston, Washington’s Next Moves will be Telling (La Jornada, Mexico)
Given the U.S. response to the September 11 attacks, which was considered destructive and self-defeating by large numbers of people around the world, there is a good deal of concern that something similar could happen in the wake of the Boston bombings. This editorial from Mexico's La Jornada recalls what it perceives as the misplaced aggression of the Bush Administration, and … [Read more...] about After Boston, Washington’s Next Moves will be Telling (La Jornada, Mexico)
For Success, GOP Must Be Smylie and Love
A tale of note. A few years before John Love became Governor of Colorado, one of his colleagues was named Loveless. His first name was Herschel and he was Iowa's Chief Executive from 1955-'61. He was a Democrat and rural unrest over Ike's agriculture policies swept him in and he maintained high ratings among Iowans. So we have Love and Loveless. But they were both public … [Read more...] about For Success, GOP Must Be Smylie and Love
How the NRA Won
EDITOR's NOTE: This post ran on TMV on April 9 and offered part of my column on The Week Online. It is timelier than ever and is being reposted. So much for real, substantive gun control. My latest take in The Week Online: There's no denying it: The National Rifle Association has won — again. Even though more than 3,000 Americans have died via gun violence since 20 … [Read more...] about How the NRA Won
Obama slams US Senate ‘minority’ for blocking gun reform
Obama slams US Senate 'minority' for blocking gun reform (via AFP) An defiant and angry President Barack Obama Wednesday said the defeat of gun reforms in the US Senate was "shameful," accused senators of caving to the gun lobby, and promised to fight on. A deeply emotional Obama -- in unusually direct language, and surrounded by relatives of gun victims including… … [Read more...] about Obama slams US Senate ‘minority’ for blocking gun reform
NRA Hails Death of Bipartisan Background Check Vote
They'll be popping the corks on the champagne at the NRA tonight. The NRA is hailing the death of a bipartisan proposal on background checks. In reality, this was not unexpected given the realities. … [Read more...] about NRA Hails Death of Bipartisan Background Check Vote
Senate Rejects Background Check Compromise
The Senate has just rejected the Manchin/Toomey amendment on background checks by a vote of 54-46 (60 needed to pass amendment per the rules) This proves that the NRA can convince the Senate to reject a reasonable proposal supported by 90% of the population On the cowards side are those who caved. A prior version of the post named Senator Reid but it appears he originally … [Read more...] about Senate Rejects Background Check Compromise
Law Enforcement and Media not always on same page
In the fog surrounding disasters [disaster fog: hundreds if not thousands of clear reports, but also conflicting reportages by citizens, the press, law enforcement, health and hospital, and more], there has to be time for the smoke to clear to see what is truly so, about whom, what, where, how, and why. It is easy in that fog that comes from literally thousands of souls on … [Read more...] about Law Enforcement and Media not always on same page
When We Were Young We Used to Play Together
When I was a child, slip-n-slides were fastened to lawns with large boulders. Consequently, the definition of summer fun was sliding headfirst between 10 pound rocks, at breakneck speeds, on a moistened strip of plastic runway. Currently, this activity is more commonly categorized as child endangerment. The use of boulders built a natural time limit into our wet and wild … [Read more...] about When We Were Young We Used to Play Together
NRCC Pulls the Plug on Mark Sanford After Ex-Wife’s Trespassing Accusation
The Republicans are ready to pull the plug on South Carolina congressional candidate Mark Sanford after his ex-wife accused him of trespassing, violating their divorce agreement. According to the AP, Jenny Sanford’s attorney filed a lawsuit on Feb. 4 alleging that she confronted Mark Sanford at her home the previous day, where he had been using his cellphone as a light. … [Read more...] about NRCC Pulls the Plug on Mark Sanford After Ex-Wife’s Trespassing Accusation
Quote of the Day: On Gun Control’s Failure
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Andrew Sullivan on gun control's failure (again): Never under-estimate the power of the major lobby groups in DC: from the NRA to AIPAC and the AARP and the Cuba lobby, they are all designed prevent change. Even if that change is trivial. It’s enough to make the average voter a little cynical, don’t you think? And I find myself … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On Gun Control’s Failure
CNN Now Pulling Back Report that Suspect Arrested in Boston Marathon Terrorist Bombings
UPDATE: CNN is now reporting that sources tell them their earlier report was not correct: there has been no arrest. Several CNN reporters are now nixing earlier reports that they had a suspect in custody. CNN has removed the lower screen scrawl about an arrest to one now saying "conflicting reports." But most reports they are now getting is that their earlier report was wrong. … [Read more...] about CNN Now Pulling Back Report that Suspect Arrested in Boston Marathon Terrorist Bombings
Cartoonists Look at the Boston Marathon Terrorist Bombings
Here's a cross section of world cartoonists' takes on the Boston Marathon terrroist bombings: Boston Marathon: Boston Marathon Memeorial: Boston Tragedy: Boston Bombing: Good Wins in Boston: Boston: False Flag: Tears of Sorrow: … [Read more...] about Cartoonists Look at the Boston Marathon Terrorist Bombings
Poison Letter Sent to President Barack Obama
Clearly, terrorism (undetermined yet if it's domestic, foreign or now a mixture of both) has returned to centerstage in the United States: a poison letter has been sent to President Barack Obama: Authorities have intercepted a letter to the White House that tested positive for ricin poison, according to multiple media reports. The Secret Service has acknowledged the … [Read more...] about Poison Letter Sent to President Barack Obama
Manchin: Gun Control Background Check Vote Will Fail Today (UPDATE)
Just as victims murdered in mass shoots have seemingly become collateral damage in the issue of gun control, he highly-touted bipartisan compromise on background checks looks as if it will become political collateral damage -- due to immigration reform. The bipartisan effort to expand background checks will not have the votes to advance in the Senate today, according to … [Read more...] about Manchin: Gun Control Background Check Vote Will Fail Today (UPDATE)
Yes Alex Jones, You Are An Idiot
I was driving home today when I had the misfortune to listen to a few minutes of Alex Jones. For those who don't know Alex he is a far right whack job who thinks that everything that happens is a government conspiracy. Everything from 9/11 to the Boston Marathon attack is not real to him but a big secret government (or guvmint) conspiracy to trick us and turn the world over … [Read more...] about Yes Alex Jones, You Are An Idiot
Boston Marathon Bombings, Safe Havens and Evil
Once again it happens with sickening suddenness -- a jolting shock that alters and cruelly mocks our assumption of "normalcy." On a weekend when the news cycle focused on North Korea's rising threat, the struggle to enact gun control and a dumb written comment about the -murdered-by-the-Nazis Anne Frank by self-absorbed teen singer Justin Bieber, the venerable Boston … [Read more...] about Boston Marathon Bombings, Safe Havens and Evil
Deep in the reeds on genes
Deep in the Reeds by Dana Milbank Washington Post Writers Group WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney had it wrong. Corporations aren't people -- corporations own people. The Supreme Court on Monday took up the unusual question of whether corporations control our genetic material -- specifically, whether a Utah-based company called Myriad Genetics has valid patents on the … [Read more...] about Deep in the reeds on genes
Ricin found in letter to US Senator’s office
Ricin found in letter to US Senator's office (via AFP) US federal authorities intercepted a letter that contained the deadly poison ricin and was bound for the Washington office of Senator Roger Wicker, officials said. The letter was detected during a routine mail inspection at an off-site facility and did not reach the US Capitol or Wicker's office, a… … [Read more...] about Ricin found in letter to US Senator’s office
When the Interior West Was Won-By Democrats: Church,Moss,and McGee
Historic Tidbit: After it became clear that Frank Church would not be his party's presidential nominee in 1976, he began actively campaigning for the number two spot. When Carter ultimately picked Mondale, he told reporters that he had known he wouldn't be the pick because lightening had just stricken his Bethesda, Maryland home. And lightening, he said, "never strikes twice." … [Read more...] about When the Interior West Was Won-By Democrats: Church,Moss,and McGee