Researchers from the University of Southern California's Annenberg Center for Communication, Annenberg School for Communication, and School of Cinematic Arts have unveiled The ReDistricting Game, a free online tool which "exposes how redistricting works, how it is abused, and how it adversely affects our democracy. It provides hands-on understanding of the real redistricting … [Read more...] about Redistricting Watch: Play the Game
The Immigration Issue: It’s Really Very Simple
Jackie Mason and Raoul Felder explain that conservatives and centrists are, essentially, inventing problems, in this case an immigration problem: We have a simple solution to the immigration debate. But first, why do we talk about the immigration problem? We have an immigration problem when people fight to get out of a country, not to get into a country. What we have here is … [Read more...] about The Immigration Issue: It’s Really Very Simple
Hamas Overruns Gaza
I support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but are these jokers ready to manage their own state? Haaretz: Hamas attacks key Fatah security positions across Gaza Strip Hamas, stepping up a rapidly expanding power struggle, Tuesday afternoon attacked installations of security forces allied to the rival Fatah movement across the Gaza Strip. The … [Read more...] about Hamas Overruns Gaza
Iraq I: The War’s Dirty Little Secret
Lost in the cacophony over when the drawdown of U.S. troops should or will commence is that the U.S. has no intention of altogether leaving Iraq. It always has been a long-term objective of the Bush administration to have permanent bases in Iraq because of their strategic location between Syria and Jordan to the west, Turkey to the north, Saudia Arabia to the south, and the … [Read more...] about Iraq I: The War’s Dirty Little Secret
Iraq II: Don’t Forget Byron and Alex
Byron R. Fouty (top) and Alex Jimenez disappeared in the Triangle of Death in Iraq one month ago today. More here. … [Read more...] about Iraq II: Don’t Forget Byron and Alex
Sopranos Finale
Mike Lester, The Rome News-Tribune … [Read more...] about Sopranos Finale
Albania: Protect Your Land Like the Eagle Protects its Nest*
The news is full of Albanians being ‘unanimously’ in agreement with George Bush’s War in Iraq. Really? I don’t doubt that some Albanians might agree, for Albanians are fierce; they come from ancient tribal people. They have been in constant war or resistance since the time the Romans came to crush them. Then the Turks, then Italy and Germany. Then the Russians. … [Read more...] about Albania: Protect Your Land Like the Eagle Protects its Nest*
Paris Hilton: A.D.D. & Sympathy?
Hard to muster much sympathy, eh? For the first time in the Paris Hilton saga, I now a have glimmer of understanding about the demons lurking deep within this wackadoodle of a celebrity poodle whom we seem to so loath and adore. I maybe even have some sympathy for her. Maybe. This is because of the news that the Heiress Paris apparently suffers from "extreme" Attention … [Read more...] about Paris Hilton: A.D.D. & Sympathy?
Capitalism and Moral Depravity
Does capitalism cause moral depravity? What role does the media play? What about popular culture? I wrote a post about this subject at my blog. The conclusion: It is not capitalism that causes moral depravity; it is the idea that moral values are of no importance and only relative. The media actively encourage this kind of thinking. Read the entire post here. … [Read more...] about Capitalism and Moral Depravity
Voting One’s Conscience (Not)
The notion of voting one's conscience has become a hoary concept for the members of The Greatest Deliberative Body in the World, so a no-confidence vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales would have been a signal opportunity to resurrect the concept -- at least for Republican senators who claim to have more going on between their ears than slush fund calculators. It was a … [Read more...] about Voting One’s Conscience (Not)
Dan Rather Blasts Katie Couric / Evening News
It seems that Dan Rather attacked Katie Couric / the "Evening News." After saying that he 'likes' Couric, Rather went on to say: You know, she tried to change networks, which is always difficult and change the programs at the same time. They've done all of the usual things. They changed the set. They changed the executive producers. They changed the graphics person, lately, … [Read more...] about Dan Rather Blasts Katie Couric / Evening News
Sopranos Final Episode
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Sopranos Final Episode
Gonzales’ No-Confidence Vote Blocked By Republicans
Once again, Republican Party loyalty has held for President George W. Bush: a no-confidence vote on beset Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has fizzled after Senate Republicans blocked it. This is despite indications (see below) that many Republicans are reportedly either holding their noses or seething since they'd like to see Gonzales go. But this became another of those … [Read more...] about Gonzales’ No-Confidence Vote Blocked By Republicans
Finkelstein’s Tenure Denial
The controversial Norman Finkelstein has been denied tenure by DePaul University. … [Read more...] about Finkelstein’s Tenure Denial
Genarlow Wilson To Be Freed?
A judge in Georgia has granted Genarlow Wilson's habeas plea, holding that his sentence was a violation of cruel and unusual punishment. For those of you who don't know, Wilson was sentenced to 10 years in prison for having consensual oral sex as a 17-year old with a 15-year old girl. He had no criminal record, good grades, and, lets face it, teenagers two years apart in age … [Read more...] about Genarlow Wilson To Be Freed?
NATIVE AMERICANS SEEK CHANGES TO IMMIGRATION BILL
TO DEPORT MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS There is one element that winds through most everyone of Native American blood, including Mayas, Nahua and Inka, Mestizos, and our Native people within the boundaries of the USA... The people carry a kind of humor that is often gentle on the surface, but ironic, carrying serious dual and triplicate meanings right beneath the … [Read more...] about NATIVE AMERICANS SEEK CHANGES TO IMMIGRATION BILL
Hypocrisy On The March
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about Hypocrisy On The March
The Month of Stinging Rebukes
The Bush administration is now Zero-for-June in stinging rebukes over its extralegal efforts to circumvent the American legal system in order to try so-called enemy combatants. The bottom line is that despite its chest thumping, the administration has yet to complete a single trial involving this detritus from the Global War on Terror. The latest rebuke, the third of the … [Read more...] about The Month of Stinging Rebukes
Say Hello to a New Blog
Kevin Sullivan, who is an assistant editor at the Real Clear Blog now has a moderate / centrist blog of his own. I strongly urge all of you to check his blog out. For a sample of his work, I'd say go read this post about John Edwards. … [Read more...] about Say Hello to a New Blog
Huckabee: ‘Most’ Prisoners In The U.S. ‘Would Love’ To Be In Guantanamo
Mike Huckabee is one of my favorite Republican candidates: sure, I do not agree with him on everything, he's too socially conservative for my taste, but he sounds like a reasonable man, who knows what he is talking about. Now, however, he said something quite stupid: I know it’s become a symbol of what’s wrong. I visited Guantanamo just about a year ago. My sense was, … [Read more...] about Huckabee: ‘Most’ Prisoners In The U.S. ‘Would Love’ To Be In Guantanamo