Bringing Syria’s Bashar Assad to the negotiating table has become harder following a widened rift between Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a meeting in London today. Kerry is moving towards providing military aid to the Syrian opposition, including body armor and night vision gear but excluding weapons, while Russia adamantly … [Read more...] about Rift widens over Syria while UN warns of breaking point over refugees
When Conscience Trumps Party:Sherman-Cooper&Kerr
When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Kentucky because it is 20 years behind the rest of the world." Mark Twain By Scott Crass Early in his Senate career, Senate Majority Leader Robert Taft presented his fellow Republican from Kentucky, John Sherman Cooper with a question? "Are you a Republican," Taft asked, "or a Democrat? When are you going to start voting … [Read more...] about When Conscience Trumps Party:Sherman-Cooper&Kerr
Send a Message of Support to Our Troops in South Korea
As tensions on the Korean peninsula rise, with the next “milestone” and possibly key event being the imminent launch of a medium range (2,100 miles) missile -- possibly multiple missiles is now being reported -- by North Korea, and while we are hoping for the best, we should not forget the more than 28,000 US troops based throughout South Korea. We should also keep in our … [Read more...] about Send a Message of Support to Our Troops in South Korea
The White House Looks for Serious Cuts
The White House released the full budget about 30 minutes ago. Obviously, it will take a few days for a full processing of the nitty gritty, but here's a conversation starting point. I compare the CBO current law debt projections from February to the projections in the White House's FY 2014 budget. We can see that the President is certainly making headway on cutting the debt. … [Read more...] about The White House Looks for Serious Cuts
Michele Bachmann Runs Away From Press Again
The REAL question of the hour is: is Rep. Michele Bachmann trying to make physically running away from reporters an Olympic sport? The latest 100 yard dash: At a joint press conference Tuesday with a Republican state senator from Minnesota, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) was rushed out of the room by aides and shielded from reporters as soon as she was questioned about … [Read more...] about Michele Bachmann Runs Away From Press Again
FiliBLUSTER McConnell (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized use of this cartoon without licensing from Cagle Cartoon is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about FiliBLUSTER McConnell (Cartoon)
Report: Bipartisan Deal Reached on Background Checks
CNN reports that a bipartisan deal has been reached on background checks: - Sens. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, plan to announce a bipartisan deal on background checks for gun shows and Internet sales at an 11 a.m. press conference today, CNN's Dana Bash has learned. A Democratic leadership source says the compromise will … [Read more...] about Report: Bipartisan Deal Reached on Background Checks
Keep Porn Legal!
The European Union recently voted down an ill-advised ban on pornography (but maintained the rest of the bill (to improve the portrayal of women in media); here in the United States, the question has been raised quite a few times, most recently by Rick Santorum. Banning pornography is popular with some feminists on the left and fringe fundamentalists on the right, but it would … [Read more...] about Keep Porn Legal!
Why Mike Rice Had to Go
Retired professional basketball coach and former basketball player Phil Jackson once said: "Not only is there more to life than basketball, there's a lot more to basketball than basketball." Someone should have told that to Mike Rice, Rutgers's retired-by-being-fired former basketball coach. Rice was fired after ESPN aired video showing him yelling at players on his … [Read more...] about Why Mike Rice Had to Go
McConnell campaign on Ashley Judd: Was secret recording legal?
McConnell campaign on Ashley Judd: Was secret recording legal? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of K.Y. answers questions from reporters, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, following a Republican strategy session. The FBI is investigating allegations that McConnell's re-election campaign office was … [Read more...] about McConnell campaign on Ashley Judd: Was secret recording legal?
Jim Inhofe, Senator “No No”
Jim Inhofe, from Oklahoma, a Republican senator, is going to probably have to wear thick makeup to cover his embarrassment at using the grieving souls from the Newtown massacre, as his own personal political fodder. It is likely ever ill-advised to use freshly grieving parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands, fiancee, friends.... to make your political … [Read more...] about Jim Inhofe, Senator “No No”
Republican Senator James Inhofe Insults Newtown Victim Families
What you are about to read in this news report is indicative of how partisanship, lock-step ideology, and political hatred so skewers a politician's view and his assertions that he not just loses credibility but is a liability to his party, since his comments will get played and run in newspapers and in cyberspace for a long time to come. Just read how Sen. James Inhofe … [Read more...] about Republican Senator James Inhofe Insults Newtown Victim Families
GOP Being Damned Silly On Gun Control
I really think the GOP hardliners are being stupid on the gun control bill. Setting aside the debate over gun control (too heavy a topic for me and my allergy ridden head) they are fighting a dumb battle. For one thing the bill seems to be increasingly minor, mostly background checks and similar items, not any real gun control. The bill is no better than an even bet to … [Read more...] about GOP Being Damned Silly On Gun Control
Landrieu’s Gay Marriage Conundrum Gore Sr’s On Civil Rights
Historic Tidbit via Paul Boller's Congressional Anectdotes: U.S. Department of Transportation Photo Historic Tidbit: Gerald Ford came to Congress the same year as Hubert Humphrey. Ford recalled the first time he heard "his dear friend" talk. "He was in the second hour of a five minute speech. I didn't have a program so I asked the fellow next to me what followed Senator … [Read more...] about Landrieu’s Gay Marriage Conundrum Gore Sr’s On Civil Rights
Big money is out to destroy the NRA’s power
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is angry. Bloomberg, the billionaire mayor, has said he would tap his personal fortune to finance television ad campaigns defending lawmakers who vote for gun-control measures and attacking those who do not. Earlier this year, Bloomberg spent more than $2 million on an ad blitz for a special primary election in an Illinois congressional … [Read more...] about Big money is out to destroy the NRA’s power
False God (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 False God (Cartoon)
A Post for Dummies
not a big fan of the “For Dummies” publishing empire. Let’s just say if “Home Repair for Dummies” put on a concert, I wouldn’t buy a ticket. For those of you unfamiliar with the “For Dummies” genre, these books exist to educate the ignorant and easily confused masses. Therefore, these mentoring manuscripts cover almost every topic within the spectrum of human existence. … [Read more...] about A Post for Dummies
Nietzsche on Parties
"In every party there is one member who, by his all-too-devout pronouncement of the party principles, provokes the other to apostasy." - Human, All-to-Human … [Read more...] about Nietzsche on Parties
Cheney vs. Clinton in 20xx?
One is 46, the other one is 33. One is a Republican, the other one is a Democrat. One is the daughter of a vice president, the other one is the daughter of a president. One is seriously considering running for political office, the other one is open to running for political office one day. If both women decide to pursue political careers and if both of them … [Read more...] about Cheney vs. Clinton in 20xx?
Satchmo On Jazz: ‘Man, If You Have To Ask What It is, You’ll Never Know’
THE MOST FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPH IN JAZZ HISTORY Writer and essayist Gerald Early once wrote that when American civilization is studied two thousand years from now, there there will only be three things that Americans will be known for -- the Constitution, baseball and jazz. "They're the three most beautiful things Americans have ever created," Early said, and I could … [Read more...] about Satchmo On Jazz: ‘Man, If You Have To Ask What It is, You’ll Never Know’