President Lincoln visiting the battlefield at Antietam, Md., October 3, 1862. (National Archives) Throughout history commanders in chief have visited our troops at war, especially during holidays. A Thanksgiving column at the Washington Post outlines “two centuries of presidents visiting fields of battle,” starting with President Madison visiting the troops defending … [Read more...] about On Presidential Visits to Our Troops in Combat
Thanksgiving’s moral heart
WASHINGTON -- Giving thanks implies renouncing claims that our blessings and achievements are entirely our own doing. The act of gratitude is a declaration that we owe a great deal to others -- to our families and friends, to our communities and our country, and, for believers, to the Almighty above all. Thanksgiving is thus, at once, the most traditional of holidays and the … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving’s moral heart
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
I am an avid fan of the Harry Potter series. When the holidays come around, there are few things more familiar and comfortable than to settle in to watch some Harry Potter at home, and I've read the book series cover-to-cover a couple of times. And, with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, we were introduced to a new, earlier era in this cinematic universe of magic and … [Read more...] about Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
America At Its Best
They're narrowing down the dark money: Anna Massoglia / OpenSecrets.org Tax returns reveal one six-figure donor accounts for entirety of “dark money” funding Whitaker's nonprofit — A single six-figure donor accounted for 100 percent of funding raised by a nonprofit run by acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker before he became Jeff Sessions' chief of staff last year … [Read more...] about America At Its Best
Nancy Pelosi is the best person to lead the House Democrats. That’s why she should retire.
WASHINGTON -- Nancy Pelosi had an exceptional 2018 midterm election cycle. Her prodigious fundraising and the message discipline she helped impose propelled House Democrats to their biggest gains since 1974. She has proved herself to be a skilled legislative whip, and she is -- by far -- the best person to lead House Democrats in 2019. This is why she should announce her … [Read more...] about Nancy Pelosi is the best person to lead the House Democrats. That’s why she should retire.
Saudi Killer
A Thanksgiving wish: Slow it down
By David Ignatius Washington Post Writers Group Columnist MENLO PARK, Calif. -- Here's a simple four-word wish for Thanksgiving 2018 -- a day when most of us take a break from the blurring, dizzying speed of our internet world: Let's slow things down. I don't just mean stopping to smell the roses, or taking a hike in the woods, or hiding our screens for a few hours. I … [Read more...] about A Thanksgiving wish: Slow it down
Rock ‘n’ roll is dying in Bangladesh
‘It’s really difficult to live as a rock musician in Bangladesh,“ says Samir Hafiz, a guitarist in the heavy metal band Warfaze. Facebook Mubashar Hasan, University of Oslo The seeds of rock ‘n’ roll culture were planted in Bangladesh during the birth of the country in 1971, after a war for liberation separated this majority-Muslim territory from … [Read more...] about Rock ‘n’ roll is dying in Bangladesh
This is what happens when a stable genius leads a stupid country
WASHINGTON -- President Trump is surrounded by fools. There's that fool William H. McRaven, Special Operations commander of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, and the other fools in the U.S. military, who should have brought down bin Laden "a lot sooner," because "everybody in Pakistan" -- all 208 million of them -- knew the terrorist leader was living in "a nice … [Read more...] about This is what happens when a stable genius leads a stupid country
Presidential Statement on the Fifth Avenue Shooting
Statement from President Donald J. Trump on the Fifth Avenue Shooting America First! The world is a very dangerous place! I have created millions of jobs, raked in trillions of dollars since I became the supreme leader. So, maybe I shot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and maybe I didn’t. It could also be lots of other people. It also could be … [Read more...] about Presidential Statement on the Fifth Avenue Shooting
Cartoon: Trump’s Thanksgiving Pardon
Amazon’s move will gentrify neighborhoods – at what social cost?
The largest public housing complex in the country, Queensbridge Houses, is located near the spot where Amazon plans to put a new headquarters. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan Alexandra Staub, Pennsylvania State University When large companies move into an area, politicians often proclaim how the new business will create jobs, increase tax revenues, and thus … [Read more...] about Amazon’s move will gentrify neighborhoods – at what social cost?
KHASHOGGI, CLINTON, COMEY (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Donald Trump wants to send Hillary Clinton and James Comey to prison for being his political enemies while defending a man accused of ordering a murder because it’s good for business. In one day, Trump betrayed American values. The New York Times reported that last spring, Trump told White House Counsel Don McGahn that he wanted to order the Justice Department to prosecute … [Read more...] about KHASHOGGI, CLINTON, COMEY (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Trump Plays P.R. Person for Saudi Arabia: Discounts Crown Prince’s Role in Khashoggi Murder
Buffeted by international criticism and condemnation for its Crown Prince's alleged but increasingly believed role in the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudia Arabia has a new public relations person in Washington. President Donald Trump. In yet another virtual attack on America's traditional norms, Trump is discounting the … [Read more...] about Trump Plays P.R. Person for Saudi Arabia: Discounts Crown Prince’s Role in Khashoggi Murder
Congressional Democrats To Tackle Climate Change
Congressional Democrats are vowing to tackle the issue of climate change once the next session of Congress begins. States The Hill, "Many of the incoming Democrats, including Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), are pushing progressive climate policies like transitioning the country completely to renewable energy and are clashing with current Democratic lawmakers over … [Read more...] about Congressional Democrats To Tackle Climate Change
The Rather than lick his wounds, Trump ramps up his bluster
WASHINGTON -- Like a television show that has jumped the shark, President Trump's frantic act grows more desperate and pathetic by the day. Asked by Chris Wallace of "Fox News Sunday" to grade his presidency, Trump absurdly replied: "Look, I hate to do it, but I will do it, I would give myself an A-plus. Is that enough? Can I go higher than that?" Much closer to the mark … [Read more...] about The Rather than lick his wounds, Trump ramps up his bluster
Rick Scott- Corruption Rewarded
How can a man who was blatantly corrupt in his business life, though he never went to prison, be elected to three major positions in government by the voters of Florida. The only possible answers are that they didn’t know or didn’t care. He used his own wealth that was corruptly obtained propagandizing and advertising to extol his own virtues and denigrate his opponents. But … [Read more...] about Rick Scott- Corruption Rewarded
Donald Trump: AWOL for Our Veterans
On November 11, this past Veteran’s Day, people and politicians across the nation turned out to show their respect for those who have served our country. Donald Trump was not among them. He was AWOL then as he has been so many times in the past when it comes to demonstrating a genuine commitment to and respect for those who have served in the military. Trump’s being … [Read more...] about Donald Trump: AWOL for Our Veterans
Finland Takes Trump’s Forest Management Advice Very Seriously
CODA: We are living in an era when satire seems to be imitating life so much, that it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell what's what. Caveat emptor. The Nordic nation of Finland lies partly within the Arctic Circle, has much lower year-round temperatures, receives more rain- and snow fall than the state of California and does not have the powerful, dry, hot Santa Ana … [Read more...] about Finland Takes Trump’s Forest Management Advice Very Seriously
The Link Between Feminism and Animal Welfare
Recently, I wrote a piece here asking the question, “is sustainable meat production possible?” I’d like to muse today on another reason why changing our meat production model is so important to me. I believe the objectification of any being is wrong — be it a human or an animal. That’s why for many, the intersectionality of feminism and animal welfare is becoming clearer and … [Read more...] about The Link Between Feminism and Animal Welfare