US lobby issues point-blank 'no' on gun control (via AFP) The NRA, the most powerful gun lobby in the United States, ruled out any support Sunday for greater regulation of firearms or ammunition magazines after the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre. Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, said planned legislation… … [Read more...] about NRA Says “NO!” on More Gun Control
Tagg Romney: My Father Never Really Wanted To Run For President Anyhow
Will this be perceived as the truth finally coming out -- or a nice, big batch of sour grapes? Read it, and you decide: Mitt Romney's son Tagg Romney, in a report in the Boston Globe, now says his Dad didn't really want to run for President anyway: Romney’s eldest son, Tagg, drew up a list of 12 people whose lives had been helped by his father in ways that were publicly … [Read more...] about Tagg Romney: My Father Never Really Wanted To Run For President Anyhow
USING THE WRONG NUMBERS TO DELUDE OURSELVES
In many political and economic discussions over the past decade and longer, when we try looking at facts instead of turning to reality-denying emotional responses, there are many studies available that objectively compare the U.S. to other advanced nations in Europe and Asia. Unfortunately this might be as pointless for Americans as comparing apples to Twinkies. Any … [Read more...] about USING THE WRONG NUMBERS TO DELUDE OURSELVES
Dedicated Public Servant (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 Dedicated Public Servant (Cartoon)
Where’s Mitch McConnell?
So far, the Senate minority leader has remained in the shadows. That has led some lawmakers to wonder if he will play the dealmaker this time. Democrats question whether McConnell’s 2014 reelection bid will impede his ability to support a deal. ...WaPo He's taking his reelection in Kentucky seriously, as he should. But how does he feel about the fall his party has taken … [Read more...] about Where’s Mitch McConnell?
And A Partridge In A Pear Tree (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 And A Partridge In A Pear Tree (Cartoon)
Conn. School Shooting: South Jersey Mental Health Experts Discuss Adam Lanza’s Possible Condition
Conn. school shooting: South Jersey mental health experts discuss Adam Lanza's possible condition (via NJ.com) As the nation searches for explanations and preventive measures following Adam Lanza’s shooting spree in a Connecticut elementary school, speculation abounds concerning the 20-year-old’s inner workings. Though there are little to no facts to … [Read more...] about Conn. School Shooting: South Jersey Mental Health Experts Discuss Adam Lanza’s Possible Condition
Syria Christians Face Black Christmas
Black Christmas faces Syria Christians (via AFP) Festive spirit is a distant memory for Syria's Christian minority as it faces a second Christmas in the grip of fear of daily violence and the spectre of rising Islamism. "We're in no mood to celebrate Christmas this year. Everyone around is me is so sad, and the situation is terrible," said George… … [Read more...] about Syria Christians Face Black Christmas
We All Died on December 21 (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 We All Died on December 21 (Cartoon)
What If the Newtown Shooter Had Been Black, Muslim, or Latino?
Would the reporting of the story have differed? The provocative thoughts of a young blogger have me thinking...and praying. … [Read more...] about What If the Newtown Shooter Had Been Black, Muslim, or Latino?
Who Cannot Legally Buy A Gun In The US?
I bet you answered "convicted felons". That's what I thought, too, along with minors and people deemed mentally disturbed. But you know what. We're wrong. Under federal law, people with felony convictions forfeit their right to bear arms. Yet every year, thousands of felons across the country have those rights reinstated, often with little or no review. In several … [Read more...] about Who Cannot Legally Buy A Gun In The US?
A Christmas Message to Our Troops (Still) in Harm’s Way (Updated)
UPDATE: I came across this video and poem. It brought tears to my eyes. I know that you will be moved by it, too. Merry Christmas. === Original Post: Soldiers pray during a candlelight prayer service in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, in celebration of Christmas 2010. It has become a bittersweet tradition every year to write a Christmas message to our … [Read more...] about A Christmas Message to Our Troops (Still) in Harm’s Way (Updated)
The Greatest Political Embarrassment
It was only a few months ago that we still saw the Republican party as a well-oiled machine, a machine that had delivered over and over against from 1980 on. Now it's back to Nixon. Worse. Because the whole party is involved, from funders like the Kochs and Scaife, flaks like Rove, numbnuts like George W. Bush, and barnicles like Wayne LaPierre, Michele Bachmann, Herman … [Read more...] about The Greatest Political Embarrassment
Quote of the Day: Republican Obstructionism and Opposition to Obama Due to Bitterness Over Election Loss
As I've noted in some other posts here -- to use a now trite phrase -- it is "deja vu all over again." Yes, we are now seemingly returning to 2009 when Barack Obama was sworn into office and Republicans soon dug in their heels in a seeming effort to check mate as many of his proposals as possible. And the New York Times attributes it this time to: bitterness over their loss to … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Republican Obstructionism and Opposition to Obama Due to Bitterness Over Election Loss
Unused School Offers Sandy Hook a New Home, and Path Forward
Unused school offers Sandy Hook a new home, and path forward (via The Christian Science Monitor) The sign is slated to go up Thursday afternoon making it official: Sandy Hook Elementary has a new home, where teachers are already beginning to set up classrooms and families have been touring in anticipation of starting back to school in early January. Police and … [Read more...] about Unused School Offers Sandy Hook a New Home, and Path Forward
Guns Don’t Die (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 Guns Don’t Die (Cartoon)
Guns, Guns and Guns (Guest Voice)
Guns, Guns and Guns Raging Moderate, by Will Durst It's only human nature to want to take action after such a harrowing traumatic event. To do something. Anything, to protect our kids. And make sure that Newtown never ever happens again. Here. There. Anywhere. But while the rest of the nation grieves, familiar opponents on The Gun Issue are focused more on making sure … [Read more...] about Guns, Guns and Guns (Guest Voice)
Mexico Drug War Leaves 20,000 Missing: Repo
Mexico drug war leaves 20,000 missing: report (via AFP) More than 20,000 people have disappeared in Mexico over the past six years of a brutal crackdown on drugs during the government of former president Felipe Calderon, a civic group said. Propuesta Civica (Civic Proposal) released a database on its website Thursday listing 20,851 people who went missing… … [Read more...] about Mexico Drug War Leaves 20,000 Missing: Repo
Obama Calls for Scaled-Back ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Package
Obama calls for scaled-back 'fiscal cliff' package (via AFP) Democrat and Republican lawmakers mulled their next move Saturday after leaving Washington for the Christmas holidays without an agreement on averting a year-end fiscal crisis that could lead to stiff tax hikes and drastic budget cuts. On Friday, US President Barack Obama urged lawmakers to pass … [Read more...] about Obama Calls for Scaled-Back ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Package
White House Christmas Message to Our Troops
In my humble Christmas message to our troops still in harm’s way, I said that it would probably be my last post before the holidays. But, then, along come the President of the United States and the First Lady with their Christmas Greetings, Best Wishes, and Thank You for our troops and their families -- and I thought you would like to know... In their message, the First … [Read more...] about White House Christmas Message to Our Troops