It may be the most unlikely pairing in the history of sports or diplomacy. According to this news item from China's state-run Xinhua, witnesses report seeing former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman taking in a basketball game with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. And according to the report, the two communicated jovially without an interpreter. The Xinhua news report … [Read more...] about Kim Jong-Un and Dennis Rodman ‘Sit Together, Talk and Laugh’ (Xinhua, People’s Republic of China)
VAWA Passes Despite Majority Republican Opposition
With only 87 Republican House members voting in favor, and 138 voting against, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act. Democrats, without a single no vote, joined a minority of Republicans to send the legislation to the President's desk by a final vote of 286 to 138. Before the Senate version came to a vote, a … [Read more...] about VAWA Passes Despite Majority Republican Opposition
Pope Benedict XVI’s Final Day: Live Report
Pope Benedict XVI's final day: Live Report (via AFP) 1845 GMT: In Castel Gandolfo, young pilgrims have taken up position, some carrying a banner reading: "Benedict, we'll be with you to the very end." People have gathered to pray in the local parish church on the square. Cries of "long live the pope" burst spontaneously around the square. .1830 GMT:… … [Read more...] about Pope Benedict XVI’s Final Day: Live Report
Democracy on the brink in Romania
Although many people are cynical about it, an enormous amount of political science data shows that it's in the US and the rest of the world's best interests to see more democracies around the globe. Democracies tend to be more stable, less warlike, less violent, and more economically stable (yes, believe it or not, even what Greece has been through recently to pales compared to … [Read more...] about Democracy on the brink in Romania
Earth To Stock Market. Earth To Stock Market. Are You There Stock Market?
Yesterday the Dow hit a five-year high. Today it opened just 89 ticks below its all-time high. What could cause such optimism? The sequester that takes effect Friday, which besides guaranteeing many thousand layoffs and reduction in some critical public health and research spending, illustrates in an undeniable fashion that our national government is dysfunctional. Could … [Read more...] about Earth To Stock Market. Earth To Stock Market. Are You There Stock Market?
Ending the permanent crisis
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune[/caption WASHINGTON -- This has to stop. Ever since they took control of the House of Representatives in 2011, Republicans have made journeys to the fiscal brink as commonplace as summertime visits to the beach or the ballpark. The country has been put through a series of destructive showdowns over budget issues we once resolved … [Read more...] about Ending the permanent crisis
How About A New American Dream Instead ?
As we continue with back and forth bickering in Washington with the left playing fear games and the right stubbornly digging in with an unreasonable agenda I can't help but reflect on a discussion we had last year, which I'd like to renew. When President Kennedy made the proposal that we land a man on the moon it was less than two months after the first man had gone into … [Read more...] about How About A New American Dream Instead ?
Woodward Says White House Threatened Him: Will Appear on Sean Hannity’s Fox Show
In 24 hours the Washington Post's Bob Woodward has become the focus of a major media and political story. He charged that a senior White House official threatened him. GO here for details. This then became a major story on weblogs and on ideological talk shows -- with often predictable reactions depending on the writer or talker's political party. GO here for details and to … [Read more...] about Woodward Says White House Threatened Him: Will Appear on Sean Hannity’s Fox Show
And the Scare Award Winner…is Sarah Palin
On the eve of sequester, both sides are outdoing themselves in terrifying Americans about catastrophic cuts, but the name in the award envelope is a golden oldie with a double feature of horrors. Sarah Palin returns to warn that government will not only break down but is hoarding bullets to deal with the enraged taxpayers. “If we are going to wet our proverbial pants over … [Read more...] about And the Scare Award Winner…is Sarah Palin
Losing Congressional Seniority Hurts, But Not As Much As Bickering
Historic Tidbit: Edith Nourse Rogers was among the first women to serve in Congress (her 35 plus years have only been surpassed by Barbara Mikulski). And Rogers, who served Massachusetts from 1925 until her death learned the disadvantages to being outnumbered by gender. One day, Rogers asked a male colleague to yield during debate and he replied, "Not now. It's not very often … [Read more...] about Losing Congressional Seniority Hurts, But Not As Much As Bickering
Once ‘Just a Sergeant,’ Today Leader of the Mightiest Military
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel addresses Pentagon employees and service members during an all-hands call on Hagel's first day at the Pentagon, Feb. 27, 2013. Photo DOD Proud of what had been disparaged by politicians and pundits alike, the new Secretary of Defense spoke about his enlisted military service and took pride in being introduced to an all-hands meeting at the … [Read more...] about Once ‘Just a Sergeant,’ Today Leader of the Mightiest Military
Voting Rights Act: Poised to be Gutted by the Supreme Court?
Is the Voting Rights Act poised to be gutted by a Supreme Court where the conservatives still wield considerable clout? It sounds that way: Conservative justices on the Supreme Court expressed skepticism Wednesday about whether the federal government should still be requiring preclearance of voting system changes in certain places with a history of racial discrimination in … [Read more...] about Voting Rights Act: Poised to be Gutted by the Supreme Court?
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s First Day in Words and Images
Chuck Hagel and his wife, Lilibet, arrive for Hagel's first day at the Pentagon, Feb. 27, 2013. After an unnecessarily bitter and partisan confirmation process, Chuck Hagel is now the 24th Secretary of Defense and the first enlisted combat veteran to lead the Department of Defense. After his swearing-in ceremony, the new Secretary of Defense had the following message … [Read more...] about Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s First Day in Words and Images
6% Unemployment 3 years away?
Ben Bernanke thinks so, and that's if Congress makes sure not to cut spending. Or so CNBC reports anyway. … [Read more...] about 6% Unemployment 3 years away?
Boehner’s Anatomy Lesson in Anarchy
The Speaker shoots himself in the foot urging that “the Senate gets off their ass and begins to do something” about sequester cuts. The Upper House fails to agree, leaving John Boehner and his Tea Party captors stuck in the slow-motion anarchy they have unleashed. GOP politicians these days are racing through thick mud of their own making, gasping for TV air, feet churning, … [Read more...] about Boehner’s Anatomy Lesson in Anarchy
About the New Republican Party
I have been wanting to write about this. About the New Republican Party playing the victim game. About the New Republican Party’s “wimpiness” and “wussiness“ About the New Republican Party’s, “Look Mom, they are being mean to me.” About the New Republican Party’s, “We can’t take it anymore,” after all its dishing-out. About the New Republican Party saying … [Read more...] about About the New Republican Party
Margin Call: What the hell happened in 2008?
Please go and watch Margin Call. I just wanted that to be the first thing people read, just in case they don’t bother reading the whole post. … Margin Call is this gem of a film I found late last year, from a director (J.C. Chandor) I’ve never heard of and a cast which is nothing short of stellar. The film is about the early stages of the 2008 financial breakdown and … [Read more...] about Margin Call: What the hell happened in 2008?
Seth, Shirley, Barbra, and Jane
WASHINGTON - Never has there been more caterwauling. Never mind that it was pure nonsense, because the 85th Oscars was packed from start to finish with females shown in their best light, taking focus at every turn from the men who still run the town. It's so odd that so many people are obsessing over the hilarious "We Saw Your Boobs," which was meant to nab a younger … [Read more...] about Seth, Shirley, Barbra, and Jane
A Year after Trayvon Martin Shooting, is America Much Changed? (Guest Voice)
A year after Trayvon Martin shooting, is America much changed? (via The Christian Science Monitor) A year ago Trayvon Martin made a fateful decision: to take a break from the NBA all-star game on TV and kick down to the corner convenience mart, where he bought a Snapple and a bag of Skittles. The lanky 17-year-old never returned to the home where his dad was staying in … [Read more...] about A Year after Trayvon Martin Shooting, is America Much Changed? (Guest Voice)
Not the Onion (Guest Voice)
Not The Onion by Jason Stanford Separating satire from real news requires an advanced degree these days. When Jon Stewart becomes the most trusted newsman for millennials, the line between the evening news and The Onion gets blurry, so perhaps we shouldn't laugh so loudly at old Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Senator who's up for re-election next year. But given the … [Read more...] about Not the Onion (Guest Voice)