Did a New York Daily New reporter's tongue in cheek question start a reported rumor that beset Secretary of Defense nominee former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel may have taken "Friends of Hamas" money? It sure sounds that way, although the website that was reporting this (alleged) revelation is still standing by its story. Talking Points Memo has this (and look below since … [Read more...] about Did a New York Daily News’ Reporter’s Tongue in Cheek Question Start Reported Hagel “Friends of Hamas”Rumor?
Great Scott! For Legendary PA Pol, Not At Winning Votes
With Ted Kennedy (Washington Post photo) Historic Fact: In 1865, there was a Michigan Congressman who voted for 13th Amendment named Charles Upson, who represented Kalamazoo. One of his successors has an eerily similarly sounding name Fred Upton. He holds a descendant of the Upson seat that also encompasses Kalamazoo. Of course, Michigan had just six House seats in the … [Read more...] about Great Scott! For Legendary PA Pol, Not At Winning Votes
Why Pay Wages To Workers When Work Itself Is A Wage?
You listen to debates these days about why we should or shouldn't raise the federal minimum wage and you might get the idea that this argument is about the economic benefits or drawbacks of doing so. That's not actually the case on the Republicans' side of the argument. Yes, Republicans describe the negative economic consequences they claim might come about if the federal … [Read more...] about Why Pay Wages To Workers When Work Itself Is A Wage?
US, China Trade Charges on Cyberattacks
US, China trade charges on cyberattacks (via AFP) The United States and China traded charges over cyberattacks after a security firm alleged that Beijing controled hackers who have penetrated the US government, companies and media. The US firm Mandiant said cyberattacks had been traced back to a non-descript, 12-story building on the outskirts of… … [Read more...] about US, China Trade Charges on Cyberattacks
Confronting My Own Sexism: Up In The Air
Again, my weekly blog is here. … Back when I was at University, there was this TV show my best friend introduced me to - The Dead Zone. It was about a teacher who got into a car accident and was comatose for X amount of years. When he regained his consciousness, he finds out that he has superpowers – when he touches people, he can see past/future events. There was … [Read more...] about Confronting My Own Sexism: Up In The Air
The Blame Game
Probably the latest dumbest thing Congressional Republicans have done was to a) blame Obama for the sequester, b) pronounce the sequester a disaster, and c) leave town while refusing to do anything about the sequester. Already defeated at the polls on November, Republican numbers are sinking. The general public has caught on: the Republicans are largely responsible for the … [Read more...] about The Blame Game
America’s Poop Deck Politics
It's the ultimate stomach turner: how Carnival's 893-foot long cruise ship Triumph, along with its 4,200 passengers, was stranded due to a fuel engine leak for five days with no food, little water and few working bathrooms. Passenger cell phone photos showed slews of plastic bags brimming with human waste, and lumpy, raw sewage floating in big puddles. It gave a new meaning … [Read more...] about America’s Poop Deck Politics
GOP, Obama and the Sequester (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 GOP, Obama and the Sequester (Cartoon)
Hackers Hit Apple in Wake of Facebook Attack
Hackers hit Apple in wake of Facebook attack (via AFP) Apple on Tuesday said it suffered a cyber attack similar to the one recently carried out against Facebook, but that it repelled the invaders before its data was plundered. The maker of iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Macintosh computers said it is working with law enforcement officials to hunt down the… … [Read more...] about Hackers Hit Apple in Wake of Facebook Attack
A Sobering Look At Work-Life Balance In The U.S.
Ostensibly about gender roles and the 50th anniversary of The Feminine Mystique, this NYT essay is, at its core, an indictment of boomer leadership, political institutions and corporations in 21st century America. During the 1920s, hours worked (for pay) in the U.S. had "stabilized at about 49 hours a week." ]The "new economic gospel of consumption"] proclaimed that new … [Read more...] about A Sobering Look At Work-Life Balance In The U.S.
Johanns Departure A Cornhusker Shocker, But GOP Favored
Thought you were immune to shock? So did I. But the announcement by Nebraska Republican Senator Mike Johanns that he would not seek re-election came as a major surprise. Johnanns is an immensely popular Senator. While his voting record rarely departed from his Republican colleagues (he most recently joined 21 other Rs in opposing the Violence Against Women Act), Johanns … [Read more...] about Johanns Departure A Cornhusker Shocker, But GOP Favored
Maureen O’Connor, Gambling Self-Sabotage vs Personal Success
by Dr. Kevin Purcell There can be a fine line between self-sabotage and personal success. What comes to your mind when you hear Maureen O'Connor, the former Mayor of San Diego, admit that she gambled billions of dollars between 2000 and 2009? Is it disgust, sadness, jaw dropping or a bit of all three? What about alcoholism? How do you view Obsessive Compulsive … [Read more...] about Maureen O’Connor, Gambling Self-Sabotage vs Personal Success
Droning on About Drones
Drones, both the military kind and the “civilian” kind, have been a lot in the news lately, so much that one could say -- as one of our readers lamented -- that we are droning about drones. I have droned myself about this controversial subject, here and here, including droning about a new medal to be awarded to the pilots of these drones -- all with innumerable, droning … [Read more...] about Droning on About Drones
“Downton Abbey’s” Killer Season [Spoiler Alert]
The makers of Downton Abbey have already moved to console devastated viewers about the "untimely and tragic death" of character Matthew Crawley, after an outpouring of furious complaints about the Christmas special. Viewers complained it was "travasty", a "tragedy" and an "outrage", with some saying the ending had "ruined their Christmas". The makers of the programme yesterday … [Read more...] about “Downton Abbey’s” Killer Season [Spoiler Alert]
(UPDATES) DOD Announces the Distinguished Warfare Medal
Front of Distinguished Warfare Medal, designed to recognize service members directly affecting combat operations who may not even be on the same continent as the action. DOD graphic UPDATE VII: Notwithstanding the public outcry -- including from military and veterans organizations -- over the order of precedence of the new Distinguished Warfare Medal (DWM), the Pentagon … [Read more...] about (UPDATES) DOD Announces the Distinguished Warfare Medal
GOP Hope: Jeb Bush’s Great Society?
After Marco Rubio runs second to a Carnival cruise ship in last week’s watery mishaps, a fellow Floridian bobs to the surface hugging a fifty-year-old life preserver. In a speech, Jeb Bush asserts that a neo-Lyndon Johnson is the answer to refloating the sinking GOP: “He went and he cajoled, he begged, he threatened, he loved, he hugged, he did what leaders do, which is … [Read more...] about GOP Hope: Jeb Bush’s Great Society?
A Painless Tax to Cut the Budget Deficit
No tax can be completely painless, but there is one thatcomes pretty close. Income taxes, estate taxes, sales taxes all have a direct impact on citizens. However, if a tax does not obviously affect you from a financial standpoint, it may have an indirect impact that costs you money. As an example, if you do not drive, you don’t pay the gasoline tax. However, the vehicles that … [Read more...] about A Painless Tax to Cut the Budget Deficit
Beijing Must Punish Pyongyang, But Never Join Anti-North Alliance (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
With North Korea's third nuclear test, one of the world's most vexing problems has taken a turn that presents Chinese diplomacy with perhaps its greatest challenge in a generation. This editorial from China's state-run Huanqiu offers a glimpse into the debate in Beijing about how to 'penalize' Pyongyang, and whether now is the time to take part in sanctions being imposed on … [Read more...] about Beijing Must Punish Pyongyang, But Never Join Anti-North Alliance (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
This Decoy Could Deliver a Winner
WASHINGTON -- Republicans spent the weekend trumpeting shock and outrage over President Obama's leaked "backup plan" on immigration. In dysfunctional Washington, this means that prospects for comprehensive reform -- including what amounts to an amnesty for the undocumented -- are getting brighter. "Dead on arrival" was the verdict from Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who has … [Read more...] about This Decoy Could Deliver a Winner
Nestle Finds Horsemeat in Pasta Dishes in Italy, Spain
Nestle finds horsemeat in pasta dishes in Italy, Spain (via AFP) Swiss food giant Nestle has become the latest retailer hit by Europe's horsemeat scandal, announcing it is removing pasta meals from supermarket shelves in Italy and Spain due to contamination. "Our tests have found traces of horse DNA in two products," the world's biggest food company said in its… … [Read more...] about Nestle Finds Horsemeat in Pasta Dishes in Italy, Spain