The draconian tightening of punitive sanctions on Iran by the US alone starting today could not have come at a worse time for Middle East politics. They underline President Donald Trump’s determination to force the Iranian regime to return to the negotiating table for a new agreement that would make it impossible for Tehran to build nuclear weapons at any time in the … [Read more...] about Trump’s Iran sanctions – another destructive adventure
Cartoon: Red Meat for Trump Base
Unlike in 2016, there was no spike in misinformation this election cycle
Social media misinformation rose significantly before the 2016 presidential election. Georgejmclittle/shutterstock.com Paul Resnick, University of Michigan A newsy photo of a public figure shows up on your social media feed, with a clickbait-y headline and a provocative comment, all linking to a site with juicy political content. Did you share … [Read more...] about Unlike in 2016, there was no spike in misinformation this election cycle
Cartoon: Fox News
Could Tuesday’s elections end in a quirky, dangerous, controversial outcome? It is possible.
I'm not making predictions for Tuesday night. Like most people, I was burned in 2016. At the same time, I don't want to "over-learn" the lesson of that year. Each election season is different, though some patterns hold true over time. All I'll say is that I generally agree with the major House rating agencies (Cook, Sabato, 538, Inside Elections) that Dems will pick up the … [Read more...] about Could Tuesday’s elections end in a quirky, dangerous, controversial outcome? It is possible.
Polls Are Polls. Your Vote Is What Counts
Stories, quotes and jokes about election polls are numerous and legendary. Here are some: "Being a skeptical and thoughtful consumer of polls is essential." Kristen Soltis Anderson. "The polls and the pundits and the media seem to talk to each other. It's sort of like an echo chamber." Larry Hogan. "Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have … [Read more...] about Polls Are Polls. Your Vote Is What Counts
Brian Kemp’s Hail Mary disguises three years of security lapses
Update: current developments Georgia Secretary of State and Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp, locked in a virtual tie with Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams, appears to be a desperate man. On Sunday, two days before the election, Kemp "used his official position" to announce that the Georgia state Democratic Party was being investigated for allegedly trying … [Read more...] about Brian Kemp’s Hail Mary disguises three years of security lapses
Tuesday’s Election: It’s time to stand up for our right to say ‘we
WASHINGTON -- Let's use this year's elections to insist that there is still a "we" in our country. It is a "we" that crosses the lines of race and gender, country of origin and religion. "We" is the very first word of our Constitution. Declaring that it is still alive is essential to keeping our democratic republic. As a nation, we are not as divided as we seem to be. And we … [Read more...] about Tuesday’s Election: It’s time to stand up for our right to say ‘we
Cartoon: Trump Paul Revere
Ideologically motivated far-right extremists have killed close to 500 people since 1990 – and 10 percent were targeted based on religion
Jeff Gruenewald, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and William Parkin, Seattle University The mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh exemplifies an increasingly deadly form of domestic terrorism committed by far-right extremists: the targeting of institutions and individuals due to their religious affiliation. Unfortunately, it’s not … [Read more...] about Ideologically motivated far-right extremists have killed close to 500 people since 1990 – and 10 percent were targeted based on religion
Trump Toys with the Border
When Trump talks about the “caravan invasion,” he’s not trying to protect the nation. He’s only trying to get you to vote for a Republican. This has nothing to do with border security. This is an election trick. Since Trump and the Republicans don’t have any accomplishments to run on, they have to run on lies (Republicans will save pre-existing conditions coverage) and fear … [Read more...] about Trump Toys with the Border
This time our eyes are wide open
WASHINGTON -- This time, our eyes are wide open. Exactly two years ago, many Americans held their noses and voted for Donald Trump. Some were conservatives willing to tolerate his vulgar excesses in hopes of getting tax cuts, a repeal of Obamacare and a friendlier judiciary. Others had Clinton fatigue. Sure, they were concerned about Trump's words about Mexican "rapists" and … [Read more...] about This time our eyes are wide open
Crass Makes House Calls – Democrat To Make Watergate Era Gains: Near Or Above 40 Seats
From the moment it became clear that Donald Trump had captured the Presidency, one thing was certain; that the House of Representatives would be ground-zero for Democratic regrouping. With the Senate hosting contests featuring a number of Democrats in hard red states and the House Republican membership consisting of 24 districts that voted for Hillary Clinton, it wasn't hard to … [Read more...] about Crass Makes House Calls – Democrat To Make Watergate Era Gains: Near Or Above 40 Seats
On Tuesday, vote to take back the country you love
WASHINGTON -- The Republican Party's closing argument for the midterm election is a bit confusing: "It's all about President Trump -- unless he angers, appalls or disgusts you, in which case we've never heard of anyone named Trump. We've also never heard of policies we've voted for repeatedly, like eliminating the guarantee of health insurance for those with pre-existing … [Read more...] about On Tuesday, vote to take back the country you love
Mattis walks the Trump tightrope over sending U.S. troops to border
by David Ignatius Washington Post Writer Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- When President Trump issues an election-time order to send up to 15,000 troops to confront what many experts say is a non-existent threat on the U.S.-Mexico border, what should Defense Secretary Jim Mattis do about it? Mattis' answer, so far, has been to support the president and mostly keep his … [Read more...] about Mattis walks the Trump tightrope over sending U.S. troops to border
Ghostly anthology blends legends and the supernatural
Reviewed By Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite “Seven Ghostly Spins: A Brush with the Supernatural," by Patricia Bossano, is a collection of brushes with the supernatural. With their basis in truth and legend, these are your worst nightmares realized. A theater with a ghost; a moonlit walk that leads to a nightmare; the legend of Flo and an unsuspecting cheerleader; … [Read more...] about Ghostly anthology blends legends and the supernatural
On Hate, Fear and Greed (Breaking Update)
UPDATE: The president, who never served and at best “avoided” the draft when it was his time, has added another disgraceful destination to an already disturbing American roadmap. That destination is called “Shame.” On Thursday, standing in the historic Roosevelt Room of the White House, the so-called commander in chief gave his tacit, if not express approval for our … [Read more...] about On Hate, Fear and Greed (Breaking Update)
Defiance
THE CAMEL’S NOSE
"If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow." Arab proverb How did America get from Barack Obama to Donald Trump? How was that even possible? It’s a long journey from “Yes, we can” to “Kiss my ass”. We clutch our collective pearls at the moral hypocrisy of the Republican Party – from their Elmer Gantry style legislators, many … [Read more...] about THE CAMEL’S NOSE
Democracy In Decline
In addition to the horrific episodes that have occurred in America recently to tarnish our democracy, the democratic process appears to be in decline around the world. Under the aegis of Donald Trump, Americans have seen the murder of two black people shot by a white racist because they were black, explosive devices mailed to a number of Democratic officials by a crazed Trump … [Read more...] about Democracy In Decline