Donald Trump's longtime campaign adviser and friend Roger Stone has been sentenced by a judge to spend three years and four months in prison. Now the only question is: so exactly when will Trump pardon him? NBC News: "Roger Stone, a friend of President Donald Trump and longtime Republican campaign adviser, was sentenced to three years, four months in federal prison … [Read more...] about Roger Stone sentenced to 3 years 4 months in prison
So, will Roger Stone actually wear prison orange?
So, will Roger Stone actually wear prison orange? From Politico: "Roger Stone was sentenced Thursday to just more than three years in prison, a decision that raises immediate questions about whether President Donald Trump will pardon his longtime political confidant for what the president has decried as a miscarriage of justice. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman … [Read more...] about So, will Roger Stone actually wear prison orange?
Trump ignores outcry and tweets on ally’s court sentencing
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump on Thursday brazenly ignored his attorney general's plea to stop tweeting about ongoing court cases, again expressing displeasure with how his longtime ally Roger Stone is being treated in court.The president questioned the "fairness" in a tweet to his nearly 73 million followers, right as a Washington, DC, federal judge was opening … [Read more...] about Trump ignores outcry and tweets on ally’s court sentencing
Why Trump’s post-impeachment actions are about vengeance, not retribution
President Trump fired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman for testifying in his impeachment trial. AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File Austin Sarat, Amherst College Since the end of his Senate impeachment trial, President Donald Trump has carried out a concerted campaign against his Democratic political opponents as well as members of his administration who … [Read more...] about Why Trump’s post-impeachment actions are about vengeance, not retribution
Democrats bare fangs at Bloomberg in fiery debate
Las Vegas (AFP) - Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg got hit Wednesday with a barrage of attacks from rivals during his debut Democratic presidential debate who savaged him for parachuting in late and throwing astronomical amounts of money at the race.The Las Vegas showdown marked one of the most contentious debates so far.During opening salvos, the US media magnate found … [Read more...] about Democrats bare fangs at Bloomberg in fiery debate
Trump ‘offered pardon’ to Assange if he denied Russia leak, court hears
London (AFP) - US President Donald Trump promised to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he denied Russia leaked emails of his 2016 election rival's campaign, a London court was told on Wednesday.Assange's lawyer Jennifer Robinson said in a document that Trump relayed the offer through former US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, the UK's domestic Press Association news … [Read more...] about Trump ‘offered pardon’ to Assange if he denied Russia leak, court hears
Houston Astros have targets on their backs.
The Houston Astros have targets on their backs. Perhaps not literally, but they are going to be targeted if not already. From Evan Bleier at Inside Hook: "Oddsmakers expect Houston Astros batters are going to have a problem with getting hit by pitches in 2020. London-based sportsbook William Hill has set the over/under on the number of Houston batters to get hit … [Read more...] about Houston Astros have targets on their backs.
Acid Test: LSD vs. LDS is a conversion tale of Mormonism, punk rock
Review by Doug Gibson "Acid Test LSD vs. LDS," 2020, Zarahemla Books, is a long-awaited memoir from Mormon writer, editor and publisher, Christopher Bigelow. At its foundation, it's a re-conversion tale. The author chucks away his Mormon faith -- proclaiming it bland and conformist -- after graduating high school, and re-converts after a short spell of trying to acclimate … [Read more...] about Acid Test: LSD vs. LDS is a conversion tale of Mormonism, punk rock
Something Democrats and Republicans have in common: Exaggerated stereotypes about both parties
Misconceptions abound on both sides of the aisle. Victor Moussa/Shutterstock.com Douglas J. Ahler, Florida State University With animosity between party supporters already at an all-time high, buckle up for what promises to be one of the most contentious elections in modern U.S. history. It’s becoming increasingly possible that the nation will … [Read more...] about Something Democrats and Republicans have in common: Exaggerated stereotypes about both parties
Germany to tighten screws on online hate speech
Berlin (AFP) - With the danger growing from far-right extremists and torrents of threats against politicians, Germany plans to toughen online speech laws and tighten the screws on social networks.Ministers in Chancellor Angela Merkel's government approved a new package of measures on Wednesday, days after 12 men were arrested for planning deadly attacks on mosques, … [Read more...] about Germany to tighten screws on online hate speech
BERNIE VS TRUMP (Cartoon)
Has Attorney General William Barr seriously threatened to resign over Trump’s tweets?
Is Attorney General William Barr thinking of resigning if Donald Trump doesn't stop interfering in legal matters with his tweets? Several respected info sources (AP, Washington Post, ABC News) are reporting that he is. If you believe that, let me tell you about a cute, furry rabbit who'll come into your house on Easter Day and hide eggs. Here's ABC's report: Just hours … [Read more...] about Has Attorney General William Barr seriously threatened to resign over Trump’s tweets?
The Soviet Republic of America
Many citizens saw it coming for a while, but every day it seems as if we are getting closer. The president is working hard to make it a reality, backed by the Republican Party’s members. America is evolving into a Soviet-like system with every aspect of art, culture and justice controlled by the whims of our dear leader. The transformation taking place was brought home when … [Read more...] about The Soviet Republic of America
The Medal of Freedom Is for American Heroes; Rush Limbaugh Isn’t One
By Steve Rodriguez As a high school English literature teacher, I often reminded my students that a hero is admired because he or she embodies the ideals of a society’s culture. President Donald Trump’s awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to controversial conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh recently caused me to seriously reflect upon that old adage. … [Read more...] about The Medal of Freedom Is for American Heroes; Rush Limbaugh Isn’t One
Trump commutes Rod Blagojevich’s sentence — among others
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday commuted the sentence of a former Illinois governor jailed for corruption, as well as pardoning a New York City police chief imprisoned for tax fraud.Pardons were also handed out to Edward DeBartolo Jr, a former owner of the San Francisco 49ers football team, and Michael Milken, a well-known financier who pleaded guilty in … [Read more...] about Trump commutes Rod Blagojevich’s sentence — among others
Bloomberg vs. Trump would mean America has already amused itself to death
Maybe this wasn’t exactly the way Neil Postman wrote it up in 1985. After all, Instagram and Twitter were unfathomable in a world where the internet was still a closely held secret among computer-science geeks. Yet that was the world in which the late New York University media critic wrote a book called “Amusing Ourselves to Death” that essentially predicted Donald Trump, the … [Read more...] about Bloomberg vs. Trump would mean America has already amused itself to death
‘He acts like a caudillo.’ New anti-Trump ads compare him to authoritarian leaders
MIAMI — The largest Democratic super PAC in the U.S. is launching a new series of attack ads starring a group of Florida Latinos who’ve fled oppressive governments in their home countries, featuring footage of President Donald Trump alongside images of Fidel Castro, Nicolás Maduro and Augusto Pinochet.Priorities USA, which teased this recent slate of ads last November, is using … [Read more...] about ‘He acts like a caudillo.’ New anti-Trump ads compare him to authoritarian leaders
Creating Commonalities
The United States has an increasingly diverse culture, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. It is a good thing because it indicates that we are still a culture that welcomes newcomers, and it is a bad thing because this increasing diversity is occurring at a time when tribalism is rising and national collective experiences that all Americans participate in are few and … [Read more...] about Creating Commonalities
STEPHEN MILLER MONSTER (Cartoon)
Pakistan’s draconian rules on social media take activists by surprise
Image via Pxfuel. CC0On January 28, the Pakistan federal cabinet approved the “Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020,%20Rules%2c%202020.pdf)” without consulting other stakeholders or informing the public as The News International, an English-language daily, reportedon February 12, 2020. The rules and regulations have been inserted in the Prevention of Electronic … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s draconian rules on social media take activists by surprise