by Michael Winship I come to you more from sorrow than from anger, President Trump seemed to be trying to say when he addressed the nation Tuesday night. But he was lying, of course, and the effect was more like that of the Big Bad Wolf dressing up in grandma’s nightgown than a person truly concerned with the fate of anyone other than himself. The speech was to be his … [Read more...] about Trump’s Oval Office address was a sham and a disgrace
Cartoon: Trump’s Wall
Trump’s Address and the Democratic Reply
President Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office. Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer gave their replies immediately afterwards. Of course, people who are fanatical in their support of Trump decided ahead of time that Trump would make the better argument. Likewise, people who are fanatical in their support of the Democratic Party - as well as people who are … [Read more...] about Trump’s Address and the Democratic Reply
Take a Peek at The Bulwark: the new home for exiled The Weekly Standard writers
Good news for conservatives, moderates and liberals who wanted to read some serious conservatism commentary that doesn't consist of regurgitation of Trump administration talking points or conservative entertainment talk radio (which is often the same thing). For those who want to consider other ideas and takes on the news or society and who and fall into the class of … [Read more...] about Take a Peek at The Bulwark: the new home for exiled The Weekly Standard writers
Don Lemon on Trump’s “dirty little secret”: Border wall manufactured “crisis” (FULL VIDEO)
A must view take on Donald Trump's border wall "crisis" and suggestion he'll use emergency powers by CNN's Don Lemon.emon explores the history of President Trump's border wall claims, saying it's a manufactured crisis by Trump designed to distract. … [Read more...] about Don Lemon on Trump’s “dirty little secret”: Border wall manufactured “crisis” (FULL VIDEO)
Congress has the power and the duty to tell Trump: Enough
WASHINGTON -- "Our government may at some time be in the hands of a bad man. When in the hands of a good man it is all well enough. ... We ought to have our government so shaped that even when in the hands of a bad man we shall be safe." Frederick Douglass said that in 1866, as Andrew Johnson -- until now, clearly the worst president in U.S. history -- tried his best to undo … [Read more...] about Congress has the power and the duty to tell Trump: Enough
Proposed border wall is folly.
The proposed wall along the USA's entire southern border is folly, which is why congressional Democrats are refusing to roll over and give President Trump everything that he wants pertaining to the proposed wall. The reason that the proposed border wall is folly is two-fold. First, it isn't feasible to build and to maintain a wall that would actually prevent anyone from … [Read more...] about Proposed border wall is folly.
No, Trump is not like Obama on Middle East policy
President Donald Trump speaks at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik James L. Gelvin, University of California, Los Angeles On Jan. 6, National Security Advisor John Bolton walked back President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would quickly withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, saying that such a withdrawal might actually take months … [Read more...] about No, Trump is not like Obama on Middle East policy
The next two years are about democracy itself
WASHINGTON -- "This is what democracy looks like." It's the chant heard again and again at the women's marches the day after Donald Trump was inaugurated and echoed later in mobilizations on behalf of gun sanity and the Affordable Care Act, in defense of immigrants and refugees, and in support of democracy itself. Those determined gatherings were, indeed, part of what … [Read more...] about The next two years are about democracy itself
Shutdown: Much Ado About Nothing
The whole shutdown mess is much ado about nothing, except for the government employees who are not getting paid. Trump wants to waste billions on a southern border wall when the money could be spent much more productively. He also knows a wall is not the only answer to border security and that effective control of the border can be managed much less expensively. His initiation … [Read more...] about Shutdown: Much Ado About Nothing
IMPEACH THE MF’ER (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Yeah, if you have an issue with a congresswoman saying MF’er but you were silent the multiple times Trump used vulgarity, you’re an MF’ing hypocrite. This is a bonus cartoon I was going to save until tomorrow, but I’m kinda excited for you to see it. So, I’m not sitting on it for a day. However, you’re not getting a true blog with it because I’m tired and I want to go … [Read more...] about IMPEACH THE MF’ER (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Competitive elections are good for democracy – just not every democracy
Jessica Gottlieb, Texas A&M University and Katrina Kosec, Johns Hopkins University The 2018 U.S. midterm elections were fierce, expensive and full of upsets, with political newcomers ousting long-tenured incumbents and Democrats unseating Republicans to retake the House of Representatives. That makes them an exemplary democratic exercise from a political science … [Read more...] about Competitive elections are good for democracy – just not every democracy
Cartoon: Humpty Trumpty
The Rainbow Congress: Two Narratives
The composition of the 116th Congress has garnered a lot of attention. The singular event for the House Democrats was the swearing-in of its diverse caucus, a happy moment amid the gloom of the ongoing government shutdown. Among the new faces was Representative Rashida Tlaib, one of two Muslim women first to hold a seat in Congress. Two Native American women gained House seats … [Read more...] about The Rainbow Congress: Two Narratives
Elizabeth Warren admits to lying . . . sort of.
Elizabeth Warren has finally admitted that she lied . . . sort of. From The Hill, 5 January 2019: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Saturday faced questions related to the results of a DNA test she took last year while stumping in Iowa for her first trip since running for president. Warren, who announced on New Year's Eve that she is forming an exploratory committee … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Warren admits to lying . . . sort of.
The Post-Holiday Blues
by Kim Mooney Sometimes when the holidays are over, we experience a letdown kind of sadness and depression. Visiting friends and family have gone home, all of the gatherings are over, the decorations come down, and we are left with more time alone and more silence. In some ways, this may be a relief. In others, it may remind us that we are not being buffered from our … [Read more...] about The Post-Holiday Blues
How Religion Wrecks Our Democracy and Our Justice System.
Click open the newspaper and behold: stories of religion, the monotheisms born of desert honor culture particularly, messing something or someone up, often fatally. Click open the international section where conflict and war follow the bloody borders of faiths. Inter-faith and sectarian aggression have been the primary drivers of war throughout history. In the highly … [Read more...] about How Religion Wrecks Our Democracy and Our Justice System.
DIY RACIST POLITICAL CARTOON (Cartoon, Column and Video)
As soon as Elizabeth Warren’s name is mentioned, somewhere a political cartoonist starts drawing her with a tom-tom, tomahawk, smoke signal, war paint, etc. I’m surprised I haven’t seen one of her campaign HQ being a teepee (there’s a free one for ya’, boys). Don’t believe me? Do a Google image search for “Elizabeth Warren cartoon.” It’s embarrassing. I decided to save … [Read more...] about DIY RACIST POLITICAL CARTOON (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Will China’s moon landing launch a new space race?
What will China discover on the far side of the moon? BeeBright/Shutterstock.com Wendy Whitman Cobb, Cameron University China became the third country to land a probe on the Moon on Jan. 2. But, more importantly, it became the first to do so on the far side of the moon, often called the dark side. The ability to land on the far side of the moon is a … [Read more...] about Will China’s moon landing launch a new space race?
Now is the time for Democrats to be the grown-ups voters want
WASHINGTON -- I watched from the House gallery Thursday afternoon when the Democrats' socialist sensation, Rep. , in suffragist white, rose to announce her vote for speaker. "Nancy Pelosi," the 29-year-old firebrand declared. From the Republican backbenches came boos and derisive groans. Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., later complained about being singled out. "Over 200 members … [Read more...] about Now is the time for Democrats to be the grown-ups voters want