WASHINGTON - It's hard to not go back to what drove my brother from the Republican Party and caused his political troubles in Missouri when I look at the Todd Akin rape victim, spastic tubes, "legitimate" versus "forcible" versus "non-forcible" phenomenon, which stipulates that women are expected to be incubators for rapists, which by the way, is a view Paul Ryan shares. Ryan … [Read more...] about The Republican Establishment Go Rogue for Missouri
Why This Is No Split Ticket Year
Bracing for two weeks of convention goo, voters must face up to the hardest fact of 2012—-that every name on the ballot has become an ideological test. In that sense, Republicans and their Tea Party masters have succeeded in transforming American politics from rational choices among human beings into litmus tests for wall-to-wall prejudice. Those with old-fashioned … [Read more...] about Why This Is No Split Ticket Year
China Must Show ‘Courage of its Convictions’ in Face of Japan-U.S. Hostility (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
Is Japan preparing for an armed conflict with China over territories claimed by both nations? And is Tokyo attempting to lasso America into participating in such a conflict? This editorial from China's state-run Huanqiu argues that whatever the goals of Japan-U.S. war games that began today, if China has the 'courage of its convictions,' it will be able to 'smash the existing … [Read more...] about China Must Show ‘Courage of its Convictions’ in Face of Japan-U.S. Hostility (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
And Now A Word From Our Zygote …
Evidently the zeitgeist has a well-known liberal bias. Keeping identical language from 2004 and 2008 the GOP platform committee was in the wrong place with the wrong platform plank at the wrong moment ... GOP rejects rape exception in platform By JAMES HOHMANN | 8/21/12 1:20 PM EDT Updated: 8/21/12 11:08 PM EDT Politico TAMPA, Fla. — Even as Mitt Romney sought to quash … [Read more...] about And Now A Word From Our Zygote …
Elizabeth Warren vs. Mr. Personality
BOSTON -- Elizabeth Warren is the kind of person Massachusetts has always liked to send to the U.S. Senate. She would instantly become a national leader, which appeals in a state that has sent to Washington Democrats such as John and Edward Kennedy and Republicans such as Henry Cabot Lodge and Edward Brooke. The Harvard Law School professor who warned of abuses in the … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Warren vs. Mr. Personality
Poll: Obama Has Big Lead With Latinos But Enthusiasm is Tepid
A new NBC News-Wall Street Journal-Telemundo poll gives President Barack Obama a whopping lead over presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney among Latino voters -- but Latino voters enthusiasm isn't terrific: President Barack Obama continues to lead presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney by wide margins with Latinos, according to the latest NBC News-Wall … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama Has Big Lead With Latinos But Enthusiasm is Tepid
Akin (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 Akin (Cartoon)
Dr. E. Speaks on Evil: Coast to Coast AM Radio tonight with George Noory
From 1am - 3am MOUNTAIN TIME tonight, I will be on George Noory's show on Coast to Coast AM radio. [please go to this webpage to see times and radio stations in your area.] We will be discussing the phenomenon of 'evil' in our time and in ancient times. I'll be bring my usual perspective in three ways: psychological, religious and metaphysical ways we speak about evil. … [Read more...] about Dr. E. Speaks on Evil: Coast to Coast AM Radio tonight with George Noory
If Isaac Cometh, Whither Goest Republicans?
Tropical Storm Isaac, currently meandering westward in the Atlantic, may hit the east coast of the U.S. early next week during the Republican convention. There's even a chance (all this is guesswork at present) that it might make a direct hit on Tampa, where the convention is going to be held. In a worst case scenario, the 70,000 conventioneers and media hangers-on would … [Read more...] about If Isaac Cometh, Whither Goest Republicans?
Republican Storm Signals, Outside Not In
Where the Missouri mule leaves off, the Republican platform committee takes up the fight against America’s most pressing problem. In language that would not dismay Todd Akin, GOP sages call for a constitutional amendment outlawing abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest. “Faithful to the ‘self-evident’ truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert … [Read more...] about Republican Storm Signals, Outside Not In
Sexually Abused by a Woman in Childhood?
Via UK men's activists Glen Poole, I was recently put in contact with researcher Hannah Clements. Hannah is doing a study on people who, as minors aged 15 and under, were sexually abused by a woman or multiple women, and their experiences in telling (or not-telling) about it. I have corresponded with her extensively and, while I'm not normally so self-revealing in public about … [Read more...] about Sexually Abused by a Woman in Childhood?
Cartoonists React to Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin Controversy
Editor's Note: Cartoonists are having a field day with the controversy over Missouri Republican Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin's remarks about "legitimate rape," its impact on the GOP and what it means to the Republican Party. Here's a cross section of some of their work: LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOONS: These copyrighted cartoons are licensed to run on TMV. … [Read more...] about Cartoonists React to Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin Controversy
Paul Ryan Distances Himself from Buddy Todd Akin ‘Legitimate Rape’ Remark, Says Rape is Rape
Paul Ryan is distancing himself from right-to-life bill cosponsor Rep. Todd Akin, who said "legitimate rape rarely leads to pregnancy," but hasn't the damage already been done? Guilt by association? He's doing a Gregory Hines tap-dance around his record on women's rights. SMH. “His statements were outrageous, over the pail. I don’t know anybody who would agree with that. Rape … [Read more...] about Paul Ryan Distances Himself from Buddy Todd Akin ‘Legitimate Rape’ Remark, Says Rape is Rape
Ban These Obnoxious Media, Political and Cultural Phrases
If you're a political and media junkie, you know one truth: your head starts to spin after a while -- even more than the political spinners you see every day on MSNBC, Fox News and CNN -- due to obnoxious, trite and overused phrases that have invaded our culture. Here's an updated list of some phrases as welcome as chalk scraping on a blackboard. 1. "False equivalence." When … [Read more...] about Ban These Obnoxious Media, Political and Cultural Phrases
NBC/WSJ Poll: Romney Has Problems Including No Bounce From Ryan Pick (UPDATED)
A new NBC/WSJ poll has some bad news for presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney: Barack Obama still leads, Romney's pick of Rep. Paul Ryan has given him no bounce, and voters are uneasy with him due to his income tax questions and plans to overhaul Medicare. The poll is not good news for Romeny heading into a convention in an era where chances in communcation … [Read more...] about NBC/WSJ Poll: Romney Has Problems Including No Bounce From Ryan Pick (UPDATED)
Republicans And The Far Right – Can’t Live With ‘Em, Can’t Live Without ‘Em
The recent flap surrounding the mushy thinking – no he did not simply misspeak – of Todd Akin brings into view yet again the Republican Party’s dilemma with its right wing. They cannot win elections without the energy and turnout of their radical right wing. But, to energize that radical core means pandering to it, and pandering to it means that the Todd Akin’s of the world … [Read more...] about Republicans And The Far Right – Can’t Live With ‘Em, Can’t Live Without ‘Em
GOP Plays Trump Card for the Convention
Now that conventions are TV miniseries with no suspense, politicians desperately need big-name cameos for ratings. On opening night Republicans reach for the master of hype, the Donald himself. Trump promises to be “really amazing,” but may, as usual, just grab attention and embarrass his hosts. Ann Romney is the featured speaker of the evening, but can she compete with … [Read more...] about GOP Plays Trump Card for the Convention
WikiLeaks: From ‘Torch of Democracy’ to Anti-American ‘Cudgel’ (Die Presse, Austria)
Is anti-Americanism on the part of Julian Assange at the heart of WikiLeaks? For Austria's Die Presse, columnist Michael Laczynski asserts that what seemed to have begun as an effort to give whistle blowers a safe place to expose corruption and malfeasance, the behavior of Julian Assange shows that 'this development was not mere coincidence - but by design.' For Die Presse, … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks: From ‘Torch of Democracy’ to Anti-American ‘Cudgel’ (Die Presse, Austria)
TODD AKIN and ‘RAPE ME’ Kerfluffle about Intent
"Rape me, go ahead, rape me, beat me. You'll never kill me. I'll survive this and I'm gonna f/n rape you one of these days and you won't even know it." Todd Akin said what he said. He claimed that women who are "legitimately raped" [two words that in no way go together in any decent world whatsoever] have, you know, 'ways' that 'their bodies,' um shut down and … [Read more...] about TODD AKIN and ‘RAPE ME’ Kerfluffle about Intent
Afghanistan: Nothing But Grim Milestones and Ominous Trends
A U.S. paratrooper pulls security during a combat operation in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, June 2, 2012. Helicopters delivered fellow paratroopers and Afghan soldiers into the rugged mountain terrain. (Photo DOD) Milestones are significant events in our personal lives, in projects and in war and peace. Generally we celebrate those milestones but sometimes they come … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: Nothing But Grim Milestones and Ominous Trends