Protest music in Santiago, Chile, Nov. 12, 2019. AP Photo/Esteban Felix Paul W. Posner, Clark University After weeks of intense, sometimes violent nationwide protests, Chilean President Sebastian Piñera has relented to demands to rewrite the Chilean Constitution. The protesters say they want a new constitution to address Chile’s severe social and … [Read more...] about Chile’s political crisis is another brutal legacy of long-dead dictator Pinochet
U.S. Now Considers Israeli Settlements to be Legal
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an announcement that it is now official U.S. policy that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are no longer illegal and that Israel is free to build wherever it wants in the West Bank. Pompeo said this does not mean that Israel owns the West Bank and this new policy does not preclude a peace settlement. As you can imagine this policy … [Read more...] about U.S. Now Considers Israeli Settlements to be Legal
Trump’s assent to Israeli settlements could lead to apartheid, UN expert
President Donald Trump’s decision to no longer treat Israeli settlements as being inconsistent with international law could lead to an apartheid situation, a UN human rights expert warned today. It could be the “very last nail in the coffin” of a two-state solution and has undermined the rules-based international order. “This will only confirm a one state reality … [Read more...] about Trump’s assent to Israeli settlements could lead to apartheid, UN expert
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Mr. Rogers did testify before the United States Senate. In 1969, President Richard Nixon was being tricky and tried to cut funding to the Public Broadcasting Network (in case you’re a Republican, PBS) from $20 million to $10 million. Fred Rogers only spoke for six minutes. He used that time tell the Senate Subcommittee on Communication what he thought his job entailed, … [Read more...] about A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Is there hope for a Hong Kong revolution?
Hong Kong protesters shelter behind a thin barrier – and umbrellas – as police fire tear gas and encircle a group of demonstrators. AP Photo/Vincent Yu Paul Monod, Middlebury Hong Kong may seem like an unlikely place for a revolution. In this relatively affluent and privileged city, young people might be expected to be more concerned with making money … [Read more...] about Is there hope for a Hong Kong revolution?
Colin Kaepernick wants to be a circus star.
P.T. Barnum would have loved Colin Kaepernick. The Greatest Showman valued anyone who could attract attention to his circus, and Kaepernick would have fit the bill. That much was revealed on 16 November 2019 when Kaepernick chose to not participate in a private work-out session arranged by the NFL. Here is ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith's description of what … [Read more...] about Colin Kaepernick wants to be a circus star.
Least Surprising Crime in History, Alleged
In perhaps the least surprising scandal in human history, House investigating whether Trump lied to Mueller Katelyn Polantz / CNN Washington (CNN) The House of Representatives is now investigating whether President Donald Trump lied to special counsel Robert Mueller in written answers he provided in the Russia investigation, the House's general counsel said in federal … [Read more...] about Least Surprising Crime in History, Alleged
Tacking Early to the Middle
Another wild week in American politics, and that’s not counting the impeachment inquiry. It’s doubtful that any Democratic strategist follows Revolted Colonies. Yet, a few must’ve have figured out themselves that Warren and Sanders are too scary for American prime-time. Biden is not a strong enough candidate, no matter what the polls say (rather, said; we’ll get back to that). … [Read more...] about Tacking Early to the Middle
Socrates and the Barbarians
Or, Use The Mace (If Needs Be) The food fight continues to clatter off the rails: Rishika Dugyala / Politico: Trump labels top Pence aide a ‘Never Trumper’ — President Donald Trump on Sunday labeled one of his vice president's top national security aides a “Never Trumper,” a day after it was disclosed that she had said the president's July call with Ukraine was “unusual … [Read more...] about Socrates and the Barbarians
Impeachment is gaining credibility but also making Ukraine more vulnerable
With the public hearings so far, a more convincing case has emerged to believe that President Donald Trump deliberately abused his position of power to intimidate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into taking actions that could favor Trump’s reelection in 2020. So, the fast-moving attempt by House Democrats to impeach Trump is starting to look a little bit less like … [Read more...] about Impeachment is gaining credibility but also making Ukraine more vulnerable
SINKING LIKE A STONE (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Yesterday was historic. We got to witness a public hearing in only the third impeachment inquiry in our nation’s history. We got to watch a president intimidate a witness while she was testifying. We may have seen a new article of impeachment created in real-time. And finally, a federal court found Trump confidant and partner-in-crime Roger Stone guilty on seven counts of … [Read more...] about SINKING LIKE A STONE (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Haiti protests summon spirit of the Haitian Revolution to condemn a president tainted by scandal
Jean Marcellis Destine, dressed as Haitian independence hero Jean-Jacques Dessalines, heads to a protest against President Jovenel Moïse in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Oct. 4, 2019. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell Julia Gaffield, Georgia State University A radical, unlikely figure has emerged as the icon of Haiti’s months-long protests against President Jovenel … [Read more...] about Haiti protests summon spirit of the Haitian Revolution to condemn a president tainted by scandal
Impeachment Defense (Cartoon)
Marie Yovanovitch, a Watershed in the Impeachment Hearings
An article by Phineas Rueckert during Women’s History Month 2018 is about “12 Badass Women Who Changed the Course of Human History.” Among them: Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie, Sandra Day O’Connor and Madeleine Albright. On the second day of the House’s public impeachment hearings on Donald J. Trump, I was spellbound by the gripping testimony of the former U.S. Ambassador … [Read more...] about Marie Yovanovitch, a Watershed in the Impeachment Hearings
Trump needs to go.
On 20 January 2021, Donald J. Trump needs to be moving out of the White House. Impeachment or no impeachment, Trump has clearly demonstrated that he doesn't deserve another term as POTUS. As a blogger, I am trying to stay out of politics, but Trump's Twitter attack on former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was the last straw for me. In short, Trump is the … [Read more...] about Trump needs to go.
Indiana Jones got lucky with a refrigerator.
Indiana Jones got lucky with a refrigerator. The movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull contains what has to be the most harrowing escape scene in cinematic history. Here is the scene: Cutting to the chase: Although Dr. Jones took a wild ride, he was still better off than the real American soldiers who took part in the 1957 war games that … [Read more...] about Indiana Jones got lucky with a refrigerator.
Roger Stone Guilty On All Counts In 2016 Election Wikileaks Related Case
Trump political associate Roger Stone, known as a master of the dirty trick, has just been found guilty of lying to Congress in a case related to the stolen Democratic emails. Longtime Trump associate Roger Stone was found guilty of lying to Congress and other charges in a case that has shed new light on President Donald Trump's anticipation of the release of stolen … [Read more...] about Roger Stone Guilty On All Counts In 2016 Election Wikileaks Related Case
Republicans Question the Impeachment Witnesses (Cartoon)
Evidence Mounts E-Cigarettes Not Healthy Alternative
Eric Galatas, Public News Service - NE LINCOLN, Neb. – In the wake of recent reports of fatal lung illness connected with the use of e-cigarettes, including a Douglas County resident in September, new research seems to confirm concerns about the health impacts of vaping. A study by Boston University researchers found that e-cigarettes altered cholesterol levels, and Dr. … [Read more...] about Evidence Mounts E-Cigarettes Not Healthy Alternative
POO-FLINGING REPUBLICANS (Cartoon and Column)
Jim Jordan has a law degree but he never took the bar examination. It’s a good thing, too, because, there are some legal details he doesn’t understand, like corroborating witnesses. Jordan pointed out that neither William B. Taylor Jr., the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, nor George Kent, a deputy assistant secretary of State specializing in Ukrainian matters, had never spoken … [Read more...] about POO-FLINGING REPUBLICANS (Cartoon and Column)