WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump's presidency is melting down into a noxious stew of racism, failure and farce. With breathtaking cynicism, the Republican Party pretends not to notice. Trump had to know there would be outrage and uproar over his Sunday tweet admonishing four progressive members of Congress, all of them women of color, that they should stop "telling the people of … [Read more...] about Republicans treat Trump’s racism with staggering silence
Brazil and Other Recent Hellscapes: Behind Populist Authoritarianism
Brazil is a country whose citizenry rarely enjoy good governance. They were doing well in recent years despite the fact their politicians seemed to be regularly impeached, locked up or otherwise disgraced, a fact which exasperated many Brazilians but in reality is proof of a system working. In the old days, and in other places (ahem) even now law breakers, narcissists and … [Read more...] about Brazil and Other Recent Hellscapes: Behind Populist Authoritarianism
GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM (Clay Jones column and cartoon)
Perhaps the dumbest question in the Trump era is, what has Donald Trump said or done that proves he’s a racist? For Trump supporters, a racist isn’t a racist unless he’s burning a cross while wearing a hood and robe. Yet, if Donald Trump were to ignite a cross on the front lawn of the White House while wearing a sheet, they’d quibble that he was honoring southern heritage or … [Read more...] about GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM (Clay Jones column and cartoon)
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump, ICE and Migrants
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Trump Tells Freshman Congresswomen to ‘Go Back’ to the Countries They Came From --Trump Fans the Flames of a Racial Fire --House report: At least 18 migrant children under the age of 2 were separated from parents for 20 days to 6 months --Trump Is Poised to Sign a Radical Agreement to Send Future Asylum Seekers to Guatemala Mike Peters is … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump, ICE and Migrants
The Gates of Texas
“The West is everything we want it to be: it is our potential for love and success, it is possibility and imagination. And the fence that defines the boundaries contains us, keeps us from getting lost in all of that possibility, saves us from straying too far from ourselves. I drive through the open gate, into the landscape within.” -- The Secret Life of Cowboys by Tom … [Read more...] about The Gates of Texas
The tragedy of stunted and wasted children: a UN appeal
Shockingly, children wasted and stunted by malnutrition before age five have become an urgent global crisis, although every dollar spent on preventing child malnutrition brings a $16 return in reduced health costs and increased productivity. A distressed joint statement unusually signed by six United Nations agencies said today: “As principals of the United Nations … [Read more...] about The tragedy of stunted and wasted children: a UN appeal
GREAT MUSIC – Chapter 44
In this Great Music series, I’ve kind of bounced around different music genres. This week is no exception. I offer a musician who only needs one name, and everyone knows exactly who I am writing about, this week being about the world famous Eithne Padraigin Ni Bhraonain or as she is better known – Enya. Since I first heard her sing I have been captured by the ethereal … [Read more...] about GREAT MUSIC – Chapter 44
Speak Your Truth. Then Stand Back.
I have read several interpretations of Tao Te Ching. My favorite version of what Lao Tzu shares is Ursula K. Le Guin's. Her translation is a woman’s and it is legend. Highly recommended. My favorite takeaway from her interpretation of Lao Tzu is to “speak your truth, then stand back”. Stand back means when you speak the truth, let what you have said stand. If you discover … [Read more...] about Speak Your Truth. Then Stand Back.
Congress has the power, and the duty, to check a president run amok
ASHINGTON -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi believes opening an impeachment inquiry into President Trump's misdeeds would be risky. She needs to realize that not doing so is beginning to look riskier. Next week, after special counsel Robert Mueller testifies before Congress, the impeachment question will demand an answer. Even if Mueller manages not to stray beyond the … [Read more...] about Congress has the power, and the duty, to check a president run amok
To Infinity and Further Notice
By Thomas Hoffman Toy Story 3 contained an unusual amount of darkness for a kids film. Toy Story 4 has been preceded by a number of signs more darkness is in store for the toys (and their viewers). There is a poster that displays Woody posing in a “good-bye-cowboy style” pose. The poster is a darker, “un-toy story” like background, almost like a sunset. Tom Hanks and Tim … [Read more...] about To Infinity and Further Notice
When Coffee Was Feared
From today's perspective, it appears silly that anyone would ever fear coffee. Yet, the historical record shows that coffee was once a controversial drink. From writer and comedian Emmy Blotnick: "Coffee was banned in Mecca in 1511, as it was believed to stimulate radical thinking and hanging out — the governor thought it might unite his opposition. Java also got a bad rap … [Read more...] about When Coffee Was Feared
PERILOUS TIMES FOR POLITICAL CARTOONISTS (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Donald Trump hosted a “social media summit” Wednesday at the White House. That morning, he tweeted, “A big subject today at the White House Social Media Summit will be the tremendous dishonesty, bias, discrimination and suppression practiced by certain companies. We will not let them get away with it much longer. The Fake News Media will also be there, but for a limited … [Read more...] about PERILOUS TIMES FOR POLITICAL CARTOONISTS (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The Entitled
It did not start with the current generation of Kushners and Trumps. Their parents and perhaps grandparents by their actions instilled the belief that they were special and entitled. Maybe it began with The Donald who was able to transfer from Fordham to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Whether or not his father made monetary donations to the University to … [Read more...] about The Entitled
AMERICAN PSYCHO
“Lover?" she asks, her voice reminding me of someone human.” - American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis And here we thought it would be Russia, or international money laundering, or rampant corruption, or electoral fraud, or tax evasion, or pussy grabbing, or world class incompetence, or nepotism, or ignoring subpoenas, or obstructing justice, or calling the Supreme Court … [Read more...] about AMERICAN PSYCHO
If you are going to be a criminal, then don’t eat beans.
If you are going to be a criminal, then don't eat beans. From news station WCYB in Bristol, Virginia: "Police in Liberty, Missouri, were able to 'sniff out' a hiding suspect after authorities say the suspect passed gas so loudly, it gave away their hiding spot." If a sequel to the movie Blazing Saddles is ever made, then perhaps the suspect can get a role in it. … [Read more...] about If you are going to be a criminal, then don’t eat beans.
Holocaust Comparisons. Inappropriate?
A Cagle cartoon at The Moderate Voice (above) uses images of Nazi concentration camps to bring attention to the plight of detained illegal immigrants and asylum seekers and their children – many separated from their parents – languishing at barbed-wire-enclosed, cage like detention centers. The final image in the multi-image cartoon depicts a young child, almost a baby, in … [Read more...] about Holocaust Comparisons. Inappropriate?
Native Alaskans Finally Get Their Due
In August 2015, a great wrong was corrected by the U.S. government. It was then that the U.S. Secretary of the Interior announced that North America's highest mountain would be officially named Denali. Granted, the mountain has been named that for thousands of years, but it took the Obama Administration to respect Native Alaskans and their culture by making that name … [Read more...] about Native Alaskans Finally Get Their Due
Democrats need to focus on ridding the nation of Trump
by RICHARD COHEN Washington Post Columnist The bevy of Democrats running for president seems determined to test my silent vow never to vote Republican, especially for Donald Trump. The truth is that I cannot imagine that happening, but I can imagine entering the voting booth with about a colonoscopy level of enthusiasm. Please, can we get this over with? At the … [Read more...] about Democrats need to focus on ridding the nation of Trump
Trumpian History Lesson (Cartoon, Column and Video)
You know when an eight-year-old reads from a prepared text and it’s cute yet kinda painful? You grin through it and think to yourself, “Just get to the end of the sentence for the love of God so we can applaud and move on with our lives….AAARRGGHHH!!!” Well, when Donald Trump reads from a prepared statement, subtract the cute and multiply the pain by 25. That’s what we got as … [Read more...] about Trumpian History Lesson (Cartoon, Column and Video)
50 Years of Marriage
This is a large banner that hangs from the front gate to our house to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary. Yes, I know the date had passed a couple months ago, but we are currently celebrating because this is the first opportunity we have had to gather everyone from around the world to allow concurrent travel arrangements. It was kind of a logistical nightmare for everyone … [Read more...] about 50 Years of Marriage