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
5 Trends Revolutionizing the Trucking Industry
Technology and innovation are finding their way into every sector, and trucking is no exception. Drivers require the most helpful and efficient tools they can get, and every year, experts release new ideas that can revolutionize the industry. Frequent replacements and updates may be too costly and impractical in trucking. Drivers need add-ons that are sustainable and have … [Read more...] about 5 Trends Revolutionizing the Trucking Industry
Topless Girls on Skates on Ice
I don't actually want to know any more THAN this: Topless protesters storm stage as Bernie Sanders campaigns in Nevada Shant Shahrigian / New York Daily News — A group of protesters blew their tops — literally — as Sen. Bernie Sanders was campaigning in Carson City, Nev., on Sunday. — The Democratic presidential hopeful had just finished introducing his wife Jane … [Read more...] about Topless Girls on Skates on Ice
Think the US is more polarized than ever? You don’t know history
Union dead at Gettysburg, July 1863. National Archives, Timothy H. O'Sullivan photographer Gary W. Gallagher, University of Virginia It has become common to say that the United States in 2020 is more divided politically and culturally than at any other point in our national past. As a historian who has written and taught about the Civil War era … [Read more...] about Think the US is more polarized than ever? You don’t know history
BOOTY JUDGE (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Maybe Rush Limbaugh is conducting a social experiment to see if the world can feel sorry for a lump of crap afflicted with cancer. During Donald Trump’s racist State of the Union address, he turned it into a game show by having his wife, Melania, place the Presidential Medal of Freedom around Rush Limbaugh’s neck. It had been recently announced that Limbaugh, a cigar smoker … [Read more...] about BOOTY JUDGE (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Armed gang steals toilet rolls in panic-buying hit Hong Kong
Hong Kong (AFP) - Armed robbers who stole hundreds of toilet rolls were being hunted by Hong Kong police on Monday, in a city wracked by shortages caused by coronavirus panic-buying.Toilet rolls have become hot property in the densely packed business hub, despite government assurances that supplies remain unaffected by the virus outbreak.Supermarkets have found themselves … [Read more...] about Armed gang steals toilet rolls in panic-buying hit Hong Kong
More than1,100 former DOJ officials call for Barr’s resignation
In an action that further underscores that Attorney General William Barr is shattering norms, 1,110 former Department of Justice federal prosecutors and former Department of Justice officials are calling for Barr to resign. This is part of a firestorm sparked by Barr last week after he intervened to significantly lower the Justice Department’s sentencing recommendation for … [Read more...] about More than1,100 former DOJ officials call for Barr’s resignation
EMPEROR DONALD (Cartoon)
On the state of the Democratic primary moving forward
Some thoughts about the state of the Democratic primary moving forward. 1) Remember that delegates are awarded proportionally. "Winning" a state helps media narrative and enthusiasm but is mostly meaningless in the end. Some states award delegates by Congressional district (or in Texas by State Senate District) and others just proportional statewide. Some have 15% minimum … [Read more...] about On the state of the Democratic primary moving forward
Sanders’ and Trump’ supporters have something in common | Opinion
By Carl GoldenThe national Democratic Party, with the New Hampshire primary all wrapped up, is in full panic now. Its leaders are in headlong flight like something from a 1950’s sci-fi flick depicting a terrorized townspeople fleeing a 10-story tall monster crushing cars and flattening buildings.It’s not some Godzilla-like creature risen from the ocean depths, though, just a … [Read more...] about Sanders’ and Trump’ supporters have something in common | Opinion
Dictatorships are facing problems, too
If you think that democracies are the only systems under stress, think again. In an article written in the non-partisan magazine Foreign Affairs, Thomas Caruthers, Senior Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, notes that dictators are facing major problems as well. The problem, he writes, is a global crisis in governance in … [Read more...] about Dictatorships are facing problems, too
A Review of the Musical Bliss at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre
Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre’s presentation of the new musical Bliss (book, music & lyrics by Emma Lively and Tyler Beattie) is well directed (Sheryl Kaller), staged and performed. However, Bliss misses the mark on many levels. The greatest flaw of the musical is the lack of character development and story arc. Bliss is the story of four princesses locked in a tower by … [Read more...] about A Review of the Musical Bliss at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre
Trump administration to deploy ‘tactical units’ to ‘sanctuary cities’
The Trump administration is deploying highly trained officers to boost arrests of unauthorized immigrants in cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, the latest move in a battle against localities that adopt "sanctuary" policies to protect them from deportation.Members of the US Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Border Patrol Tactical Unit will be among the … [Read more...] about Trump administration to deploy ‘tactical units’ to ‘sanctuary cities’