It never seems to end in Afghanistan -- now the longest war in our nation’s history. It never ceases to amaze us -- the twists and turns, the corruption, the backstabbing, the incompetence in, by and of that country’s leaders. It never ceases to sadden us -- the 2,000 plus lives we have already lost there, and continue to sacrifice. We continue to see the violation … [Read more...] about Marine General on Karzai’s ‘Collusion’ Accusation: ‘We Have Shed too Much Blood over the Past 12 Years’
Thrilled by Francis’ Call to Mission
Words spoken by the new Roman Catholic leader, Pope Francis 1, in an informal homily delivered to the College of Cardinals today, thrilled me. (Thrilled is not one of my usual verbs. But that's exactly how I felt.) From The Los Angeles Times account of the Mass at which Francis preached: Stressing the power of prayer, Francis told the cardinals, "He who does not pray to … [Read more...] about Thrilled by Francis’ Call to Mission
Jorel Hoffert’s Greatest You Tube Bar Mitzvah Video Ever (VIDEO)
WOW. And my family just sent out lousy invitations. Just watch Jorel Hoffert, a 12-year-old Toronto resident, in his bar mitzvah invitation on You Tube. The Week has more details here on other glitzy bar mitzvah videos. It's no longer "today I am a man." It's "today I am a You Tube rock star." … [Read more...] about Jorel Hoffert’s Greatest You Tube Bar Mitzvah Video Ever (VIDEO)
N. Korea Causes China, S. Korea, Japan 2 B Bedmates
North Korea's 'beloved leader' has done the near impossible with his threats to pulverize, vaporize and otherwise unwisely follow in the steps of sad Saddam who also promised to vaporize, pulverize in the 'mother of all wars' against all and any who dared to breathe against him. Just some facts about North Korea there are nearly 24.5 million people in North Korea There … [Read more...] about N. Korea Causes China, S. Korea, Japan 2 B Bedmates
Paul at CPAC: GOP Establishment ‘Stale and Moss-Covered’ GOP Establishment
The big questions about the speech and political-red-meat-hurling event known as CPAC are always a)will a rock star emerge? b)who (if anyone) will separate themselves from the pack? c)who can define themselves as the leader of the future versus steward of the Republican status quo? Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who developed a large number of Republican groupies for his talking … [Read more...] about Paul at CPAC: GOP Establishment ‘Stale and Moss-Covered’ GOP Establishment
Immigrants to Spain Push Back on Evictions
Immigrants to Spain push back on evictions (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View Elizabeth Marquez, from Ecuador, reacts before her eviction in Barcelona, Spain, last December. Spain's immigrant community was among the first suffer evictions amid the economic crisis, and it is now one of the key voices pushing for reform in the country's eviction … [Read more...] about Immigrants to Spain Push Back on Evictions
Globalization and the failing economy
Paul Craig Roberts has a PhD in Economics and a conservative background. As the Assistant Secretary of the US Treasury in the Reagan administration he was a big believer in supply side economics. He was a very establishment economist who was editor of the Wall Street Journal, Senior Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and holder of the William E. … [Read more...] about Globalization and the failing economy
Paul Ryan’s Fantasy Yearnings (Guest Voice)
Paul Ryan's Fantasy Yearnings byy Dick Polman It speaks volumes about the Republican fantasy world that alleged deep thinker Paul Ryan foresees a balanced budget in 10 years - thanks to the repeal of Obamacare. Will somebody please stage an intervention and tell this guy that Obamacare is here to stay, and that therefore his new budget blueprint is delusional? When … [Read more...] about Paul Ryan’s Fantasy Yearnings (Guest Voice)
Diane Feinstein Squelches Sen. Ted Cruz in Gun Control Hearing (Video)
California Sen. Diane Feinstein squelched Texas. Sen. Ted Cruz on gun control: … [Read more...] about Diane Feinstein Squelches Sen. Ted Cruz in Gun Control Hearing (Video)
Don’t Ban Telecommuting, Subsidize it
The recent bans on telecommuting indicates a market failure: a ban on telecommuting may or may not be a good policy for the company, but it's definitely bad for the environment. Telecommuting is a classic positive externality and should be subsidized. In economics, an externality is a spillover effect, a consequence of a transaction between two parties that is not translated … [Read more...] about Don’t Ban Telecommuting, Subsidize it
A spiritual Pope Francis could spark a “Catholic Spring”
The sudden leap of Pope Francis to the geopolitical stage as supreme leader of one of the world’s oldest episcopal jurisdictions covering over 1.2 billion people could spark a “Catholic Spring”, if he bridges the growing schism between liberal and conservative Catholics. But the challenges may be too convoluted for a kindly 76-year-old whose experiences of administration … [Read more...] about A spiritual Pope Francis could spark a “Catholic Spring”
Election of First Latin American Pope Stuns Analysts
Election of first Latin American pope stuns analysts (via AFP) The election Wednesday of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Latin America's first pope stunned analysts who expected a more conservative choice. The self-effacing archbishop of his native Buenos Aires -- also the first Jesuit pope -- was nowhere near the top of the list of frontrunners to replace the retired… … [Read more...] about Election of First Latin American Pope Stuns Analysts
Pope Francis: A New Center of Gravity
WASHINGTON -- In winning election as Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio defied the papal pundits, even though they should have seen him coming. His rise marks the decisive shift within Roman Catholicism toward Latin America and the developing world. In theological terms, he represents continuity, yet he is the first non-European pope in more than 1,000 years, and also the … [Read more...] about Pope Francis: A New Center of Gravity
The New Pope Speaks to Vatican Crowd (VIDEO)
Here a video of Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio, delivering his first words as the new Pope -- as the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church: Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames. Watch More News Videos at ABC | Technology News | Celebrity News … [Read more...] about The New Pope Speaks to Vatican Crowd (VIDEO)
New Pope (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 New Pope (Cartoon)
Bergoglio, Age 76, A New Pope
UPDATE: Only 10 years younger than Benedict, an elderly and health challenged man for pope. Having had his share of very troubled Bishops and priests in Argentina. And a veil of accusation made more apparent recently in a court filing in Argentina making allegations of involvement re the complex and potentially life-threatening to some, interweaving of RC hierarchy in Argentina … [Read more...] about Bergoglio, Age 76, A New Pope
(Updated, in English) El Nuevo Papa Es de la América Latina
Note: I must admit that I did not know anything about the new Pope when I posted my enthusiastic, Spanish-English post below. I was just happy to see the first Pope come from the New World. The New York Times has just published a more in-depth column on who the new Pope is and what we may expect of him. I have posted a few excerpts and summaries at the end of this … [Read more...] about (Updated, in English) El Nuevo Papa Es de la América Latina
Live Streaming Video Coverage: The New Pope
Here's live streaming video coverage of the new Pope: Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy … [Read more...] about Live Streaming Video Coverage: The New Pope
Argentine Pope Elected
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina has been elected Pope Francis I (the first Pope with that name) He is from Buenos Aries and is the first Pope from the new world. He is a Jesuit who has a fairly conservative theology … [Read more...] about Argentine Pope Elected
New Pope Elected: Live Blogging (AFP)
New pope elected: Live Report (via AFP) Alberto Pizzoli/AFPWhite smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel meaning that cardinals elected a new pope on the second day of their secret conclave on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican.WELCOME TO AFP'S LIVE REPORT on the election of a new pope after white smoke appears from the… … [Read more...] about New Pope Elected: Live Blogging (AFP)