Traditionally it's the Hollywood celebrities with a cause who seem way out there, and the pundits discussing their verbal excesses who seem more thoughtful. Not so in the rage fest between Canadian-born star Jim Carrey and talk-show-model-born Fox News. The catalyst was a comedy-political video showing actor Jim Carrey in a "Hee Haw" satire portraying the late NRA bigwig and … [Read more...] about It’s Jim Carrey Versus Fox News
An Arab Summit Without Syria? … Ridiculous! (Thawra Al Wehda, Syria)
Is the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad so integral to the Arab world, that holding an Arab League Summit without it is absurd? According to columnist Dr. Issa al-Shummas of Syria's state-run Thawra Al Wehda, the League has given Syria's seat to 'the illegitimate child of Qatar and the CIA,' and blocking the Syrian regime's involvement would be like depriving a body of its … [Read more...] about An Arab Summit Without Syria? … Ridiculous! (Thawra Al Wehda, Syria)
Rutgers fires coach Mike Rice Amid Backlash Over Abuse of Players (Video)
Many an pro ball player -- or a middle-aged former athlete -- will talk fondly of the great coaches who helped nurture them, challenge them, and bring out the best in them. But you don't hear many stories of players who talk fondly about a coach who shoved them, threw a ball at their head or called them a name that would end a politician's career and lead a celebrity or star … [Read more...] about Rutgers fires coach Mike Rice Amid Backlash Over Abuse of Players (Video)
North Carolina Lays Groundwork To Establish State Religion
And you thought it couldn’t get any crazier. A group of legislators in North Carolina, disgruntled over a federal court ruling prohibiting expressly Christian prayer to open meetings of public bodies, have introduced legislation that would…oh, here it is; read it for yourself from House Bill 494: "The Constitution of the United States does not grant the federal … [Read more...] about North Carolina Lays Groundwork To Establish State Religion
Prime Minister Abe to Humiliate Okinawa with ‘Restoration of Sovereignty Day’ (Ryukyu Shimpo Shimbun, Japan)
Do the people of Okinawa, who host 75 percent of America's military presence in Japan, have a right to be angry that the central government wants to celebrate the day that all of Japan - except for Okinawa - had its sovereignty restored? With North Korea's nuclear misbehavior and a sovereignty dispute with China as a backdrop, this angry editorial from Okinawa's Ryukyu Shimpo … [Read more...] about Prime Minister Abe to Humiliate Okinawa with ‘Restoration of Sovereignty Day’ (Ryukyu Shimpo Shimbun, Japan)
Obstacles to a Centrist Third Party
Given the state of affairs in Washington, where the two parties are constantly stalemated and little gets accomplished, it seems surprising there has not been more impetus for the formation of a third party of the center to change the political dynamic. However, the obstacles placed in the way of establishing a third party makes it a daunting process that savvy citizens are … [Read more...] about Obstacles to a Centrist Third Party
Interview with Patricia Bronte (Guest Voice)
Interview with Patricia Bronte by The Talking Dog Patricia Bronte is a civil rights attorney in Chicago, and represents two Guantanamo detainees (Musa’ab al Madhwani and Saad al Qahtani). She is also one of the signatories to a recent letter by dozens of habeas lawyers to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, asking for his intervention concerning the recent events at … [Read more...] about Interview with Patricia Bronte (Guest Voice)
Research Finds Drier Climate Will Spread Diarrhea
Research Finds Drier Climate Will Spread Diarrhea (via Climate Central) By Alex Kirby, Climate News Network Diarrhea, which kills 1.5 million children annually, is likely to become more prevalent in many developing countries as the climate changes, a report says. But the authors found an unexpected twist in the way the climate is likely to affect the disease. Kathleen… … [Read more...] about Research Finds Drier Climate Will Spread Diarrhea
Obama Don’t Care (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 Obama Don’t Care (Cartoon)
US vows to defend itself, allies amid N. Korea crisis
US vows to defend itself, allies amid N. Korea crisis (via AFP) The United States vowed to defend itself and its regional allies Tuesday after North Korea again stepped up its warlike rhetoric and the UN warned that the crisis could spin out of control. Standing side-by-side with counterpart South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, US Secretary of State John… … [Read more...] about US vows to defend itself, allies amid N. Korea crisis
Blame (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 Blame (Cartoon)
Not a Good Legal Defense
Not a good legal defense. Most assuredly: Nope. … [Read more...] about Not a Good Legal Defense
The AP drops ‘illegal immigrant’
This is an issue that has troubled and raged in newsrooms for many years -- and now the AP has taken a (partial) stand on it. For years many Americans (and certainly partisans who are against immigration reform) have used the phrase "illegal immigrants" or, earlier, "illegal aliens." Each word is hotly debated so the AP has taken some action: The Associated Press on … [Read more...] about The AP drops ‘illegal immigrant’
This Week In Republicanland: Must Own a Gun In Georgia Town (Guest Voice)
This Week In Republicanland: Must Own a Gun In Georgia Town (via BlareShare) The extreme right-wing culture in America has more in common with the average North Korean than they do the average American. Sadly, the very thing that makes them similar to the North Korean culture of extreme fear and hatred is the very thing that makes them blind to the truth of similarity. … [Read more...] about This Week In Republicanland: Must Own a Gun In Georgia Town (Guest Voice)
Gun control? Nah. Probably not (UPDATED)
The Washington Post sums it up. First, a graphic showing NRA $influence$: Like, you need to know more than that? Well, okay. .. There has been virtually no progress since senators left Washington on March 23 for a two-week spring recess. And now, back home, senators are assessing the raw politics of their constituencies to determine which could cost them more in … [Read more...] about Gun control? Nah. Probably not (UPDATED)
Pat Robertson: “Simple and Humble” Foreigners More Ready to Accept Miracles Than “Too Educated” Americans
More right wing evangelical hogwash -- Pat Robertson was asked why miracles occur in Africa and not in the United States. His response was basically because we are overly educated. Um, really? “Well, we are so sophisticated, we think we’ve got everything figured out, we know about evolution, we know about Darwin, we know about all these things that says God isn’t real, we know … [Read more...] about Pat Robertson: “Simple and Humble” Foreigners More Ready to Accept Miracles Than “Too Educated” Americans
Mark Kirk Backs Marriage Equality
Another senator heard from … [Read more...] about Mark Kirk Backs Marriage Equality
Big Bill Taft An Underrated and Underappreciated President
Historic Tidbit: William Howard Taft was a compassionate man. When one of his chief aides, Archibald Butt, was despondent over breaking-up with his girlfriend, Taft encouraged him to take a vacation to Europe, which he did. How did he proceed to return home: on the Titanic. Butt was not among the survivors. One of my favorite Presidents, not in the area of accomplishments … [Read more...] about Big Bill Taft An Underrated and Underappreciated President
The War on Victoria’s Secret, A Rejoinder
My post yesterday received some constructive responses. I feel the need to clarify my position and crystallize my rebuttal of what I will call the "traditionalist" view of sexuality. To begin, I am no defender of Victoria's Secret; I don't hide my disdain for corporate advertising. Corporations aren't concerned with what's right, they want to make profits and therefore appeal … [Read more...] about The War on Victoria’s Secret, A Rejoinder
North Korea: US signals strength, but speaks softly
North Korea: US signals strength, but speaks softly (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (c.) uses binoculars to look at the South's territory from an observation post at the military unit on Jangjae islet, located in the southernmost part of the southwestern sector of North Korea's border with South Korea, last … [Read more...] about North Korea: US signals strength, but speaks softly