It was 2009 when an earthquake claimed 308 lives in and near L’Aquila, Italy. The quake registered 6.3 and had been preceded by months of tremors, leaving local residents wondering whether to evacuate. An Italian Court has now convicted seven prominent scientists of manslaughter for their failure to predict the fatal quake. Each of the convicted scientists faces six years in … [Read more...] about Manslaughter Verdict For Italian Experts Who Failed To Warn Of Earthquake
Quote of the Day: Mark Halperin on Barack Obama, the Third Debate and the Campaign (Video)
Our political Quote of the Day is actually a video clip of Time's Mark Halperin on "Morning Joe" discussing President Barack Obama at last night's debate: an incumbent to says he's ahead...a candidate still greatedly haunted by the first debate...a President who truly feels his opponent has disqualified himself as President due to his often contradictory assertions. Watch: … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Mark Halperin on Barack Obama, the Third Debate and the Campaign (Video)
Obama Outpoints Romney in Third Debate
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The "horses and bayonets" moment is probably the headline. But the larger story of the third and final presidential debate, ostensibly about foreign policy, is that Mitt Romney didn't really lay a glove on President Obama. For most of the evening, he didn't even try. Obama came ready to punch, Romney to counterpunch -- or, since we're torturing the … [Read more...] about Obama Outpoints Romney in Third Debate
Obama Romney Chase Swing Votes After Final Debate
US candidates chase swing votes after final debate (via AFP) Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were heading to key swing states Tuesday after a fiesty final presidential debate, as the battle for undecided voters heats up two weeks ahead of election day. The two were running neck and neck before Monday's foreign policy debate, in which a commanding Obama … [Read more...] about Obama Romney Chase Swing Votes After Final Debate
Final US presidential Debate: Much Ado about Very Little (Guest Voice)
Final US presidential debate: Much ado about very little (via GlobalPost) Foreign policy took a back seat to domestic issues as US President Barack Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney met for the last time before the election. Jean MacKenzie BOCA RATON, Fla. — The third and final presidential debate came to a close Monday night, bringing little clarity to a long and … [Read more...] about Final US presidential Debate: Much Ado about Very Little (Guest Voice)
Romney’s muddled Middle Eastern geography
Since at least last December, Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has insisted that Syria is Iran's "route to the sea." He has said this publicly at least seven times, the most recent being during Monday night's debate. Romney: "Syria is Iran's route to the sea." Groups this is news to: Syrians, Iranians, most humans.— Omar (@beirutwhat) October 23, … [Read more...] about Romney’s muddled Middle Eastern geography
Twitter titters over #horsesandbayonets
At the third presidential debate, Mitt Romney recycled an argument he made back in January when justifying his proposal to increase the defense budget: "Our Navy is smaller than it's been since 1917." In rebuttal, Barack Obama retorted: I think Governor Romney maybe hasn’t spent enough time looking at how our military works. You — you mentioned the Navy, for … [Read more...] about Twitter titters over #horsesandbayonets
Horses and Bayonets: Thoughts After the Third 2012 Presidential Debate
(For more commentary, see our extensive post-debate post over at my place.) I suppose this could down in history as the "horses and bayonet" debate of 2012 -- a great line by the president in response to Romney's stupid assertion that the military is somehow weaker than it was a hundred years ago. It was one of three major "zingers" from Obama -- and all worked really well. … [Read more...] about Horses and Bayonets: Thoughts After the Third 2012 Presidential Debate
Obama Slams Romney’s Navy Ships Comment Saying We Also Have Fewer Horses and Bayonets Than in 1916
Mitt Romney was clearly out of his league at the foreign policy debate at Lynn University. He claims that the Navy has less ships than in 1916. To that, President Obama slammed him saying we have "fewer horses and bayonettes." I also didn't realize that Syria is Iran's route to the sea. Um, this is in the vein of Big Bird and "binders full of women." Mitt Romney also agreed … [Read more...] about Obama Slams Romney’s Navy Ships Comment Saying We Also Have Fewer Horses and Bayonets Than in 1916
If You Want to Check Live Streaming of the Debate
Be sure to read Pat Edaburn's live blogging of the tonight's debate HERE. And if you want to watch parts of it live, or even keep two pages open on your screen, here's some live streaming of the debate: LIVE France 24 English by France 24 English … [Read more...] about If You Want to Check Live Streaming of the Debate
Live Blogging: the Third and Final Obama Romney Presidential Debate (Foreign Policy)
I feel much like I did after the VP debate and the second Presidential Debate, pretty much a draw on points with your point of view more based on who you support. Indeed I am struck by how much these debates seemed geared more towards boosting your base than appealing to the undecideds (which gives rise to the theory that there aren't many of them). I also am not sure how … [Read more...] about Live Blogging: the Third and Final Obama Romney Presidential Debate (Foreign Policy)
Will Romney Try to Score Big in Debate on Iran?
Is Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney going to try to score big on the Iran issue -- going after the Obama administration but also using this as yet another issue to leapfrog closer to the political center? The Huffington Post's Howard Fineman suggests it could happen: Lots of talk here that Mitt Romney's going to grab President Barack Obama's ankles and hold on … [Read more...] about Will Romney Try to Score Big in Debate on Iran?
Strong Leadership vs. Embarrassing Inexperience: Thoughts Before the Third 2012 Presidential Debate
(For additional comments, see the pre-debate post over at my place. We'll have a post-debate post up later as well.) So. It's 1-1 and tonight's the rubber match, right? The all-important tiebreaker. That's the way the media will treat it, and perhaps even a few of those all-important "undecideds" as well, and while it's easy to make fun of a political process treated like … [Read more...] about Strong Leadership vs. Embarrassing Inexperience: Thoughts Before the Third 2012 Presidential Debate
Beneath Contempt
REALLY. … [Read more...] about Beneath Contempt
The Moderate Voice Will Again Live Blog the Presidential Debate
TMV will again offer live blogging of tonight's Presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Refresh TMV often to see the latest on that post. TMV Assistant Editor Pat Edaburn will again offer readers his stand-back-and-analyze perspective. TMV will also likely offer a link to a live video stream feed as well (that will … [Read more...] about The Moderate Voice Will Again Live Blog the Presidential Debate
How the Obama-Romney Foreign-Policy Debate Could Determine the Election (Guest Voice)
How the Obama-Romney foreign-policy debate could determine the election (via The Christian Science Monitor) How important is Monday night’s foreign-policy debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney? The way things stand right now, it could determine the outcome on Election Day. Nobody would have predicted that just a few weeks ago. But with Mr. Romney’s … [Read more...] about How the Obama-Romney Foreign-Policy Debate Could Determine the Election (Guest Voice)
Obama Wins by a Landslide in “Nick News” Kid’s Poll
Obama wins by a landslide in US kid's poll (via AFP) The youngsters of the United States have voted, the results are in -- and it's a landslide victory for Barack Obama. Sixty-five percent picked the incumbent president, and 35 percent his Republican challenger Mitt Romney, in a bellwether online poll conducted by children's current affairs show "Nick… … [Read more...] about Obama Wins by a Landslide in “Nick News” Kid’s Poll
More Todd Akin Disrespect: Adviser Rick Tyler Tweets If Claire McCaskill Were a Dog, She’d Be a “Bullshitsu”
Another Republican trying how little regard he has for women. Rick Tyler, an adviser to Senate candidate Todd Akin, ("legitimate rape") tweeted that if Democratic "Sen. Claire McCaskill were a dog, she would be a "Bullshitsu." If Claire McCaskill were a dog, she'd be a "Bullshitsu",— Rick Tyler (@rickwtyler) October 22, 2012 The comment comes after Todd Akin said … [Read more...] about More Todd Akin Disrespect: Adviser Rick Tyler Tweets If Claire McCaskill Were a Dog, She’d Be a “Bullshitsu”
‘Obama’s Prototype’: Rome’s First Black Emperor, Septimius Severus (Corriere Della Sera, Italy)
For centuries, people have compared the United States with ancient Rome. America's founding fathers borrowed heavily from the Roman Republic in creating the American state, and many see modern America as an analogue of third century Rome in decline. But now there is yet another analogy just as compelling as anything that came before. For Italy's Corriere Della Sera, columnist … [Read more...] about ‘Obama’s Prototype’: Rome’s First Black Emperor, Septimius Severus (Corriere Della Sera, Italy)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz Said What?
WASHINGTON - It's the last debate night, this one on foreign policy. So, what to expect? If you put it through the prism of the DNC chairman's response on the question of Obama's "kill list," no one should expect much from the voters. That is, if you actually believe how Ms. Debbie Wasserman Schultz responded in the clip above. Congress is now a feckless chamber of … [Read more...] about Debbie Wasserman Schultz Said What?