Obama: budget cuts send joke-writers packing (via AFP) Mandel Ngan/AFP/FileUS President Barack Obama returns on March 5, 2013 to the White House. Obama took a satirical swipe at the political drama over an $85 billion austerity drive clutching at the US economy, at a cozy dinner for the Washington establishment on Saturday.US President Barack Obama took… … [Read more...] about Obama at Gridiron Wows ‘Em With Jokes About Budget, Rubio, Kerry and More
Rodman Summit (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 Rodman Summit (Cartoon)
Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai Jumps the Shark: Accuses U.S. and Taliban of Collusion
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai jumped the shark with a new allegation that will be particularly shocking to American families who lost loved ones in Afghanistan: he's suggesting that the United States and the Taliban have been working in collusion. The AP lead is blunt: Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday accused the Taliban and the U.S. of working in concert … [Read more...] about Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai Jumps the Shark: Accuses U.S. and Taliban of Collusion
Stock Market Illusion (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 Stock Market Illusion (Cartoon)
Obama Moves from Confrontation to Wooing Republicans. Will it Work?
Obama moves from confrontation to wooing Republicans. Will it work? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View President Barack Obama speaks in Newport News, Va. Feb. 26. Turning from confrontation, Obama will meet this coming week with House and Senate Republicans.(Steve Helber/AP) President Obama’s charm offensive with congressional Republicans … [Read more...] about Obama Moves from Confrontation to Wooing Republicans. Will it Work?
The New York Times: ‘How a U.S. Citizen Came to Be in America’s Cross Hairs’
One morning in late September 2011, a group of American drones took off from an airstrip the C.I.A. had built in the remote southern expanse of Saudi Arabia. The drones crossed the border into Yemen, and were soon hovering over a group of trucks clustered in a desert patch of Jawf Province, a region of the impoverished country once renowned for breeding Arabian horses. A … [Read more...] about The New York Times: ‘How a U.S. Citizen Came to Be in America’s Cross Hairs’
Gun Legislation Getting Holstered on Capitol Hill
Gun legislation getting holstered on Capitol Hill (via AFP) Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP/FileSenate Judiciary Committee members (L-R) US Senators Orrin Hatch, ranking member Chuck Grassley, Chairman Patrick Leahy, Dianne Feinstein and Charles Schumer on Capitol Hill, January 30, 2013. The committee considered four pieces of gun control legislation on March… … [Read more...] about Gun Legislation Getting Holstered on Capitol Hill
‘Women’s History Month’: Women in the Air Force
I am sure readers have noticed the unusual number of stories about women during the past two weeks. One of the reasons -- in addition to women just meriting “equal coverage” -- is the fact that March is “Women’s History Month.” According to the Library of Congress: Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress...authorized … [Read more...] about ‘Women’s History Month’: Women in the Air Force
Why Not Arm The Students, Too?
South Dakota has just enacted a law that lets teachers carry guns in their classrooms. Not a bad idea. Sure, the chances of a crazed gunman coming to a school in the state and doing the horrible things done recently in Connecticut are...well...infinitesimal. And there are so many better and safer ways to protect students against such a happening than arming teachers. But … [Read more...] about Why Not Arm The Students, Too?
Paul Exploits Filibuster With Inaccurate Fund-raising Letter
Mother Jone's David Corn reports that Senator Rand Paul didn't waste one iota of time: he quickly exploited his political-star-turning use of the old time talking filibuster into a fundraising letter peppered with inaccuracies. Lest you have any doubt: Paul has his hat in the ring for 2016 -- and I'm betting he will find lots of response not just among libertarians others in … [Read more...] about Paul Exploits Filibuster With Inaccurate Fund-raising Letter
Ruthless Crime Gangs Global Wildlife Trade
Ruthless crime gangs driving global wildlife trade (via AFP) James Morgan/WWF/AFP/FileA veterinary team takes blood samples to trace the DNA of one of 16 tiger cubs seized from smugglers on October 26, 2012 in Thailand, in a photo obtained on December 12, 2012 from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).Ruthless and heavily armed "criminal syndicates" linked to drug… … [Read more...] about Ruthless Crime Gangs Global Wildlife Trade
(Update) Chuck Hagel in Afghanistan – Thanks Troops, ‘Assesses’ Operations
UPDATE: The American Forces Press Service reports that while Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was in a briefing at a NATO International Security Assistance Force facility in Kabul, Afghanistan, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb outside the Afghan Defense Ministry killing nine and injuring 14. Later in the day during a visit to Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan, … [Read more...] about (Update) Chuck Hagel in Afghanistan – Thanks Troops, ‘Assesses’ Operations
The Case Against “Inception”
Christopher Nolan – there isn’t a director out there that I'd single out for over hyped fan-boy praise more than this guy. I genuinely love him. He’s made films that I attribute to my raging love of cinema. The very first time I watched Memento, I was so shocked and inspired by what I had just seen that I instantly replayed the film. The Prestige, a criminally underrated … [Read more...] about The Case Against “Inception”
McCain Continues Blasting Conservative Tea Party Grassroots Favorites
The Huffington Post has a fascinating post about how Arizona Sen. John McCain seems now to be returning to his maverick roots. If you've been on Mars the past 15 years here's a quick primer: McCain once upon a time seemed a true "maverick," an independent thinker who'd veer towards both parties and be extremely critical of his own. He wasn't beloved by other GOPers when he … [Read more...] about McCain Continues Blasting Conservative Tea Party Grassroots Favorites
John Brennan Confirmed as CIA Director
John Brennan confirmed as CIA director (via AFP) Saul Loeb/AFP/FileJohn Brennan, US President Barack Obama's nominee to be director of the CIA, during his confirmation hearing on February 7, 2013 before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. The US Senate on Thursday confirmed counterterrorism expert Brennan to be the next… … [Read more...] about John Brennan Confirmed as CIA Director
Levin’s Retirement Means Opportunities For Both Sides
Historic Tidbit: 1958 was a very Democratic year nationwide. In fact, only one Democratic member of Congress lost her seat. It was Congresswoman Coya Knutson of Minnesota. Her husband had written a famous"Coya Come Home"letter to local newspapers asking her to make his breakfast again. Knutson,the first female Congressperson from Minnesota did go home,but managed to get the … [Read more...] about Levin’s Retirement Means Opportunities For Both Sides
North Korea Steps up Rhetoric: How Far Will it Push?
North Korea steps up rhetoric: How far will it push? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View South Korean armored vehicles move during an exercise near the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom in Jeokseong, South Korea, Friday. North Korea grabbed international headlines yesterday by threatening to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against both South Korea … [Read more...] about North Korea Steps up Rhetoric: How Far Will it Push?
Carl Levin: A Man of Soundness, Not Soundbites
The end of an era is upon us in Michigan. Carl Levin, the state's senior Senator who with his older brother Sandy made the Levin name a powerhouse on Capitol Hill (in squash and in policy) has announced his retirement. Levin's departure marks the end of a long career which was defined by decency and collegiality. If Senators had three year terms, Levin probably would've gone … [Read more...] about Carl Levin: A Man of Soundness, Not Soundbites
Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz. Let Freedom Ring In The GOP
Via Jim Geraghty Morning Jolt, Philip Klein gives us a concise explanation of why Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster was so effective: A lot of the outpouring of conservative support for Paul's filibuster on Obama's drone policy went beyond the libertarian and anti-interventionist blocs of the movement who were also deeply troubled by Bush era counter-terrorism policies. Even those … [Read more...] about Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz. Let Freedom Ring In The GOP
(UPDATE) Republicans Eating Their Own for Breakfast, Lunch — and Dinner
UPDATE: And the feeding frenzy continues, becoming almost “circular” now -- you know, the snake swallowing its own tail. Except that the snake now appears to have developed multiple heads, and multiple tails, all trying to swallow each other. The Washington Post refers to a Huffington Post interview where McCain refers to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Sen. Ted Cruz … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) Republicans Eating Their Own for Breakfast, Lunch — and Dinner