In 2010, Andrew Breitbart released a short video of Shirley Sherrod - who was then the Georgia State Director of Rural Development for the Department of Agriculture -- which showed her making seemingly racist remarks at an NAACP event about how she refused to help a poor farmer because he was white. I was one of the first people to contact Breitbart on Twitter and email asking … [Read more...] about Remembering Andrew Breitbart
NYPD Spying on Muslim Community Damages Trust, Relationships
Guest post by Rabia Chaudry Rabia Chaudry is an associate fellow of the Truman National Security Project and the president of the Safe Nation Collaborative. A few years ago I joined about twenty other Muslim community leaders gathered to meet a regional outreach officer from a law enforcement agency. Many present had been living in the area for decades and were pillars of … [Read more...] about NYPD Spying on Muslim Community Damages Trust, Relationships
Andrew Breitbart, 1969-2012
Andrew Breitbart died suddenly last night. http://www.forward.com/articles/152273/ http://www.breitbart.tv/in-memoriam-andrew-breitbart-1969-2012/ With a terrible feeling of pain and loss we announce the passing of Andrew Breitbart. Andrew passed away unexpectedly from natural causes shortly after midnight this morning in Los Angeles. We have lost a husband, a … [Read more...] about Andrew Breitbart, 1969-2012
Plutocracy 2, Theocracy 0
You have to take good news where you find it, and the uplift from Michigan and Arizona is that simple greed has prevailed over religious zealotry as Mitt Romney wins with the help of older, better-educated and high-income voters who think the economy and the budget deficit are the major issues this year. Looking ahead to Super Tuesday, this bodes better for the electorate as … [Read more...] about Plutocracy 2, Theocracy 0
Quote of the Day: The Perils for the GOP In Its “Cage Grudge Match”
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Beast's John Avlon, who in his must-read-in-full post on the Republican Michigan primary and what the results mean going foward says this: By eking out a win in Michigan, Mitt Romney has avoided the outright revolt of Republican leaders looking for a winner in November. The most inspired argument even some supporters have been … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The Perils for the GOP In Its “Cage Grudge Match”
Ex-Senators Graham and Kerrey Suggest Saudi Arabian Government Tied to 9/11
A lingering question over the years has been whether the Saudi Arabian government was tied to 9/11. Two former Senators are suggesting it was and are calling for more scrutiny of the Saudi's role: Now, in sworn statements that seem likely to reignite the debate, two former senators who were privy to top secret information on the Saudis’ activities say they believe that the … [Read more...] about Ex-Senators Graham and Kerrey Suggest Saudi Arabian Government Tied to 9/11
The Day James “Tony Soprano” Gandolfini Gave Out Big Bucks to the Cast’s Actors
As someone who worked in the news media fulltime, I can usually tell when celebrities are liked and disliked by those who cover them. Actors and comedians may not be who you see on the screen. And sometimes they are, or better. Years ago, when the Three Stooges got a star on Hollywood Boulevard and I did a story for my then-employer the San Diego Union, Milton Berle was … [Read more...] about The Day James “Tony Soprano” Gandolfini Gave Out Big Bucks to the Cast’s Actors
Tonight Is the Night at the White House (UPDATES)
UPDATE: While I am sure some contrarians will be able to find some obscure (or “opposition”) sources that claim otherwise, judging from last night’s and this morning’s media coverage, last night’s “A Nation’s Gratitude” Dinner has been well received by the press -- and by Americans. Here is a sampling. For Iraq Vets, A Thanksgiving Dinner Obama Salutes Iraq War Vets … [Read more...] about Tonight Is the Night at the White House (UPDATES)
‘Russia’s Place in a Changing World,’ By Vladimir Putin (Moskovskiye Novosti, Russia)
With Russia's presidential election this Sunday, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin wrote this 7,500 word opus in Moscow newspaper Moskovskiye Novosti, outlining what the once and apparently future Russian president thinks of the United States and NATO, the use of NGOs in foreign lands (like Egypt), Afghanistan and drug trafficking, the civil conflict in Syria, human rights … [Read more...] about ‘Russia’s Place in a Changing World,’ By Vladimir Putin (Moskovskiye Novosti, Russia)
Headline of the Day on Romney and the GOP: “Is This What An Arranged Marriage Feels Like?”
The Headline of the Day comes from David Frum, on The Daily Beast. It refers to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and the GOP: "Is This What An Arranged Marriage Feels Like?" I lived in India from January 1972-May 1976 during my senior year in college, and from September 1973 through May 1975, as a freelance journalist. Many marriages in India were (and are) arranged … [Read more...] about Headline of the Day on Romney and the GOP: “Is This What An Arranged Marriage Feels Like?”
Stop Comparing Your Foes to Hitler
As America hurtles towards the November 2012 elections can you please stop comparing people with whom you disagree to Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin? If you consider my plea irrelevant, then just close our eyes and you might hear men, women, and innocent children butchered by the two regimes plead with you not to make light of those who caused their horrific deaths. The … [Read more...] about Stop Comparing Your Foes to Hitler
The Two Cadillacs Fallacy
WASHINGTON -- Maybe Rick Santorum is helping Mitt Romney after all: Santorum's wacky statements about college and snobbery, along with his upset stomach over a 52-year-old John F. Kennedy speech, are distracting attention from Romney's extremist economic ideas. Yes, Romney needs Santorum to keep doing his exotic fan dance on social issues because the stage act diverts … [Read more...] about The Two Cadillacs Fallacy
The Cartoonist’s View from Abroad: U.S. Primaries
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about The Cartoonist’s View from Abroad: U.S. Primaries
Santorum Primary Night Speech a Mea Culpa to Women?
Last night, in the Republican contest to be that party's presidential nominee, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney looked relaxed as he addressed supporters in Michigan (one of his multiple home states; New Hampshire and Massachusetts most often cited as the others). He sounded it, too.Then again, on Tuesday evening, Romney was in the needed winning position, having … [Read more...] about Santorum Primary Night Speech a Mea Culpa to Women?
Google’s Privacy Consolidation Starts March 1
Despite President Obama's call for a privacy bill of rights, attorneys general expressing their displeasure (pdf) and the fact that it doesn't meet EU standards, Google's consolidated privacy policy goes into effect Thursday, March 1. There are three things you need to do before midnight, if you haven't done so already. Log into every one of your Google account dashboards … [Read more...] about Google’s Privacy Consolidation Starts March 1
The Congress of the Forest
A parable for Leap Day, with apologies to Aesop or whomever. One momentous day, the Forest Congress assembled to debate the burning issue of the hour: a bill had been offered declaring every acorn a tree, and, thus, all criminal penalties should accrue to anyone disturbing an acorn just as they would to anyone cutting down a tree. The Animal Caucus The beaver delegation … [Read more...] about The Congress of the Forest
India’s Government Grudgingly Releases Report on Nuclear Power’s Effect on Human Health (Guest Voice)
India's Government Grudgingly Releases Report on Nuclear Power's Effect on Human Health by John C.K. Daly India is betting heavily on nuclear power to meet its surging energy needs. While India currently has six nuclear power plants (NPPs) with 20 reactors generating 4,780 megawatts, seven other reactors are under construction and are expected to generate an additional … [Read more...] about India’s Government Grudgingly Releases Report on Nuclear Power’s Effect on Human Health (Guest Voice)
Murdered Reporter Daniel Pearl Baptized by Mormons
I'm Jewish and a Reform Jew, not as devout as someone who is a Conservative Jew or an Orthodox Jew. But when I read this story, it heats up my blood like a bubbling pot of chicken soup: Members of the Mormon Church last year posthumously baptized Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was captured and killed by terrorists in Pakistan shortly after the Sept. 11, … [Read more...] about Murdered Reporter Daniel Pearl Baptized by Mormons
Santorum Swipes at Snobs
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Santorum Swipes at Snobs
Davy Jones Dead At 66
The last train has left the station for singer/songwriter Davy Jones. By all accounts a real class act. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU615FaODCg … [Read more...] about Davy Jones Dead At 66