by Elwood Watson Donald Trump kept telling us he’d be a threat to democracy if re-elected president. Now he’s showing us. Several months ago on his Truth Social website, Trump threatened to “expel” and “cast out” government workers who oppose his radical views, describing them as a “sick political class” that hates the country. The 2024 election, he wrote, “is our final … [Read more...] about Landslide? Trump’s ultimate goal is minority rule.
The Ultimate Conceptual Duct Tape Art (Updates)
UPDATE II: The Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur who bought the duct-taped banana from Sotheby's for $6.2 million (including auction costs) wants to thank and support the sidewalk vendor who sold the banana to Sotheby’s for 35 or 25 cents. However, there are vagaries, complications and “the realities of a New York City street vendor’s life,” involved. Read more … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Conceptual Duct Tape Art (Updates)
A Wyoming voter carries four times the influence of a Michigan voter in this Presidential election
Because the U.S. president is elected by the Electoral College, this year a voter in Wyoming carries four times the influence of a voter in Michigan. Voters in 25 states have about one-third to one-quarter the influence of Wyoming voters. Voters in 29 states plus the District of Columbia (DC) have less influence than voters in the other 21 states.* The Electoral College … [Read more...] about A Wyoming voter carries four times the influence of a Michigan voter in this Presidential election
To some ancient Romans, gladiators were the embodiment of tyranny
Paul Mescal as Lucius in ‘Gladiator II.’ Paramount John M. Oksanish, Wake Forest University Neither “Gladiator” nor its cinematic sequel is particularly concerned with historical fact. For one thing, the emperor Marcus Aurelius had no intention of restoring the republic. Gladiatorial contests were abhorrent displays of cruelty, but they … [Read more...] about To some ancient Romans, gladiators were the embodiment of tyranny
USA PLUTOCRACY CONSTITUTION (CARTOON)
Morning Joe Gets Antsy
Deep Space Homer is the 15th episode of the fifth season of The Simpsons in which Homer goes to space. At some point during the adventure, Homer accidentally releases some ants that were aboard for a space study or something like that. Unfortunately, this happens rightbefore Kent Brockman, Springfield’s news anchor, conducts a live stream interview with the astronauts and … [Read more...] about Morning Joe Gets Antsy
Presidents often claim mandates – especially when they want to expand their power or are on the defensive
Donald Trump at an election night celebration early on Nov. 6, 2024, when he claimed “an unprecedented and powerful mandate” from voters. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Julia R. Azari, Marquette University Shortly after the 2024 election was called in Donald Trump’s favor, he declared that voters had given him “an unprecedented and powerful … [Read more...] about Presidents often claim mandates – especially when they want to expand their power or are on the defensive
WHERE I WAS WHEN JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS SHOT
November 22, 1963 had started out as a typical day at Amity Junior High School in Orange, CT for me - and an exciting and scary one for me since I was schedule to do something at the end of the school day that I had never done before. I was running for Vice President of the student council, which meant I had to do a speech. . I really had zero chance: I was not well-known, I … [Read more...] about WHERE I WAS WHEN JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS SHOT
TRUMP AG DRAMA: GAETZ WITH DRAWS, PAM BONDI IS NAMED
In a day of heightened political drama, scandal-tinged former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from being President-Elect Donald Trump's pick for Attorney General - which was quickly followed by the news that Trump is naming his former defense attorney, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Next to Gaetz, Bondi looks like Mother Teresa. The Bulwark offers these details on ow … [Read more...] about TRUMP AG DRAMA: GAETZ WITH DRAWS, PAM BONDI IS NAMED
Putting the Fox in the Henhouse
Donald Trump has made some bad choices for cabinet positions in his administration, placing America’s future in jeopardy with unqualified personnel to run government agencies. However, two of them stand out as particularly unfortunate- Matt Gaetz for Attorney General and Robert Kennedy, Jr as head of health and human services. That means that Kennedy will control the Food and … [Read more...] about Putting the Fox in the Henhouse
What mandate? Trump has now received less than 50% of the votes cast
News media pundits are still crowing about Donald Trump's "decisive" victory based on a lot of states showing up as red in the Electoral College tally. Actual votes counted? A different picture, but don't expect to see it in traditional news. As of 6 pm Pacific on Monday, the University of Florida Election Lab reports 155,803,701 ballots cast. CNN reports Trump has … [Read more...] about What mandate? Trump has now received less than 50% of the votes cast
UN health body sounds alarm on burgeoning diabetes epidemic
Diabetes, a potentially debilitating, painful and fatal disease, is burgeoning worldwide affecting more than 800 million adults and has quadrupled in the past 30 years, reaching new heights as an epidemic. “We have seen an alarming rise in diabetes over the past three decades, which reflects the increase in obesity, compounded by the impacts of the marketing of unhealthy … [Read more...] about UN health body sounds alarm on burgeoning diabetes epidemic
Have ‘Morning Joe’ Hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski destroyed their credibility with Trump reset?
For more than five years years MSNBC's "Morning Joe" hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski have been at the forefront of those who've warned about "normalizing" Donald Trump. They've made ringing statements condemning Trump comments that were divisive, racial, anti-democratic or misogynistic . They were media outrage machines on an often thoughtful show where they presented … [Read more...] about Have ‘Morning Joe’ Hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski destroyed their credibility with Trump reset?
A Fortnight after November 5
On the eve of the 2024 election, I asked the question, "Does character still matter?" Quite early into the evening of November 5, America would learn the answer: A resounding, ghastly “No!” The following day, lacking the words to express my own sadness and disappointment, I quoted the words of several Americans (and one Canadian) from their Letters to the Editor of the … [Read more...] about A Fortnight after November 5
MATT GAETZ AS ATTORNEY GENERAL (CARTOON)
A NATO Turning Point
The American Revolution would have failed without French help. Their assistance allowed us to form an independent country that would become the world’s first modern democracy. Since the 1770s the situation has reversed: The United States has helped preserve and spread freedom in Europe many times. One hundred and forty years later we enter WWI to save France from German … [Read more...] about A NATO Turning Point
My So-Called “Disorder”
What some call a disability may be your greatest asset by Dan Piraro “Danny has a problem paying attention and following instructions,” read the damning note scrawled across my report card. My parents lectured me, but…I wasn’t paying attention. Being different has always been stigmatized. Most of us outside the norm strive to “fit in.” But should we? When kids … [Read more...] about My So-Called “Disorder”
TRUMP ADVISORS (CARTOON)
One election victory does not make a new era in American politics: here’s what history shows
New York supporters of Kamala Harris look on as candidate Donald Trump surpassed the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the 2024 election. Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images Philip Klinkner, Hamilton College According to The New York Times, “… a newly triumphant Republican president” is “once again in the headlines.” What will … [Read more...] about One election victory does not make a new era in American politics: here’s what history shows
