[This is the 9th in the series Religion and Science: A Beautiful Friendship.] Not infrequently we sense our own mistakes at about the same time others do. Why is it so difficult to acknowledge errors publicly? It’s because we fear that admitting to imperfection will expose us to indignity, if not outright rejection. But, the most successful modelers have usually found … [Read more...] about To Use Beliefs or Be Used by Them: THAT Is the Question
Obama Email Warns Donors He Could Be Seriously Outspent
First there was Vice President Joe Biden in an email to supporters urging them to donate because of a fear that Team Obama would be upset. He even promised a lucky donor a cup of coffee and a flight out to Washington to enjoy the coffee with him. Now President Barack Obama has issued a wake up call to Democrats. Here's the email in full: Friend -- We're getting … [Read more...] about Obama Email Warns Donors He Could Be Seriously Outspent
How The Law Is Supposed To Work
With the Supreme Court’s recent rulings on Arizona’s SB 1070 and the ACA, the Montana case challenging Citizens United got little coverage. The Montana Supreme Court decided 5-2 to ignore Citizens United and uphold a Montana statute restricting corporate expenditures in elections. Accusing the Montana Supreme Court of ignoring Citizens United may be hyperbole, but that’s … [Read more...] about How The Law Is Supposed To Work
Liberalism, Marriage Equality and Barney Frank
WASHINGTON - Liberalism made Barney Frank's marriage to Jim Ready possible, because the politics of conservatism turned nature into something other. Mr. Frank, famous for his tirades, appeared close to tears as his sister, Ann Lewis, walked him down the aisle. He was trailed by a few hired photographers and by Ms. Kucinich, who leapt with joy as the bridegrooms appeared and … [Read more...] about Liberalism, Marriage Equality and Barney Frank
Afghanistan: Atrocity ‘Right Under Our Noses’
It is the kind of occurrence that is absolutely exasperating about Afghanistan and our continued presence there. According to Ben Arnoldy of the Christian Science Monitor, an Afghan woman accused of adultery was publicly executed -- by shooting her nine times -- in Parwan Province “directly under the noses of the Afghan government and the international community,” and just … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: Atrocity ‘Right Under Our Noses’
Obama Campaign Aims to Swift Boat Mitt Romney Over Offshore Bank Accounts & Tax Returns
The Democrats are on a mission to "swift boat" GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, in similar fashion as the Republicans did to John Kerry. The Obama campaign continues to pound away at Romney's "secret" investments in a newly released video. There's nothing wrong with being wealthy, but when you are running for the highest office in the country, then it looks pretty bad … [Read more...] about Obama Campaign Aims to Swift Boat Mitt Romney Over Offshore Bank Accounts & Tax Returns
Perry Fires Off ‘Gun to the Head’ Letter to Sebelius (UPDATED)
UPDATE: Not surprising, Texas Democratic and community health care organizations expressed outrage at Perry’s decision. Among these, according to the New York Times: The Texas Medical Association: Twenty five percent of the state’s population lacks health insurance — 6.2 million people, including 1.2 million children — the highest rate of any state. In Houston, … [Read more...] about Perry Fires Off ‘Gun to the Head’ Letter to Sebelius (UPDATED)
How Much More Perverted Can Pennsylvania Get?
GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT IS A VERY BAD MAN The Keystone State is out as a motto for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A suitable replacement would be the Perverted State given the serial raping of the state's young and vulnerable at the hands of members of supposedly hallowed institutions who believe themselves to be above the law, as well as the environment and now … [Read more...] about How Much More Perverted Can Pennsylvania Get?
The GOP’s Crime Against Voters
WASHINGTON -- Spare us any more hooey about "preventing fraud" and "protecting the integrity of the ballot box." The Republican-led crusade for voter ID laws is revealed as a cynical ploy to disenfranchise as many likely Democratic voters as possible, with poor people and minorities the main targets. Recent developments in Pennsylvania -- one of more than a dozen … [Read more...] about The GOP’s Crime Against Voters
1 Spilt Milk
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about 1 Spilt Milk
Quote of the Day: Those Poor People Just Don’t Get It
Our political Quote of the Day actually hit the Internet yesterday, but yours truly was offline. And it is quite an interesting quote, indeed, from a Romney donor at the Romney fundraiser in the Hamptons: A New York City donor a few cars back, who also would not give her name, said Romney needed to do a better job connecting. "I don't think the common person is getting … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Those Poor People Just Don’t Get It
Syrian Military Defections Continue — and Grow
The exodus of civilians fleeing the terror and tyranny in Syria has been massive and relentless. An estimated 35,000 displaced Syrians have fled the fighting and the massacre in their country and have sought refuge in camps in Turkey along the border with Syria. But recently, more military, including high-ranking officers and pilots -- at least one with his fighter jet -- … [Read more...] about Syrian Military Defections Continue — and Grow
The Negro Motorist
More history from an all but forgotten era. I find it fascinating that it was inspired by similar publications for Jews, given the generations of sometimes friendly, sometimes strained relationships between those communities but their shared experience of routine discrimination in that era. (This item cross-posted to Dean's World.) … [Read more...] about The Negro Motorist
Political Positioning: Obama Obama Calls for Bush Tax Cut Extensions for Those Making Less Than $250,000
A lot of what is going on in Congress and the White House is political positioning. For instance, do House Republicans REALLY think they can repeal Obama care (as Dan Quayle would say "No. N-o-e: No."). And does President Barack Obama REALLY think GOPers will go along with extend tax cuts to those making less than $250,000 but not to those making more money? President … [Read more...] about Political Positioning: Obama Obama Calls for Bush Tax Cut Extensions for Those Making Less Than $250,000
Obamacare And Republican Tax Ranting
Most Americans don't understand the tax aspects of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). And a good thing, too. At least from the Republican electioneering standpoint. If people understood that almost all the tax increases in this Act are targeted, that they take the form of a bigger Medicare tax (of less than one percent) that only applies to people making more than … [Read more...] about Obamacare And Republican Tax Ranting
The End of Democracy in a Democratic State
When did the Democratic Party stop believing in Democracy? The political party that is supposed to be for the common man, the political party who litigated the hand count in Florida during the 2000 presidential election cycle, has morphed into a Chesapeake Bay version of a Latin American dictatorship where having political self-determination lasts only as long as they allow … [Read more...] about The End of Democracy in a Democratic State
Will Pennsylvania go for Romney or Obama this fall?
Pennsylvania Republicans have plotted to turn PA totally red this November. One of the key steps in their scheme is the new Pennsylvania Voter ID law. There has been much fanfare from Republicans since the law was passed about how they were nobly protecting voters from fraud. That's been the usual public rap. One important Pennsylvania House Republican, however, gave away … [Read more...] about Will Pennsylvania go for Romney or Obama this fall?
Defense Update. Our Troops: They Fight, and Die, Too…
Previous Defense Updates have focused on the “gentle” side of our fighting men and women: Their love for family and children; their love and affinity for sports and athletics -- even after they have been badly injured in combat; their compassion for others during national disasters; their “human moments.” But lest we forget, our troops are first and foremost fighters who … [Read more...] about Defense Update. Our Troops: They Fight, and Die, Too…
Two Recent–and Related?–Internet Bullying Incidents
A storm started a few weeks ago in the video gaming community when a woman named Anita Sarkeesian posted this video: A virtual tidal wave ensued, with a bunch of trolls attacking her, most of it very angry, totally inappropriate and some downright sick. Now, having been the target of a lot of internet venom in my time, including out-of-context quotations of my work, … [Read more...] about Two Recent–and Related?–Internet Bullying Incidents
Here We Go Again
Could the recent revelation that Countrywide Financial bought influence in Washington by providing VIP loans to officials have surprised anyone? A report by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee last week described VIP loans to lawmakers, staffers and other powerful people in government given in the hope of blocking measures that would have curtailed … [Read more...] about Here We Go Again