Initial polllng indicates the rammed-through Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh has not been more of a shot in the arm for the GOP than the Democrats: the way the nomination was pushed through (and perhaps President Donald Trump's rhetoric about it) seems to be a major motivator for more Democrats: Republicans are touting the confirmation of Supreme Court … [Read more...] about Poll: Kavanaugh confirmation energizes Democrats more than GOP
Why Are Tribalism and Irrational Behavior Flourishing?
Tribalism, nationalism and populism have exploded over the last several decades. The most important reason for this may be the need for people to belong to a group, often giving them a feeling of superiority to others. In their belonging, they often vote with their group, disregarding facts or ignorant of who stands for what in the contests. Bryan Caplan, an economist at George … [Read more...] about Why Are Tribalism and Irrational Behavior Flourishing?
America Is in a Sinkhole of Its Own Making
by Richard Cohen Washington Post Writers Group Columnist Mario Puzo begins "The Godfather" with a quote from Honore de Balzac: "Behind every great fortune there is a crime." That certainly seems to be true of Donald Trump's fortune, sneaked to him by his father, Fred, with accounting sleights of hand designed to fool the IRS and everyone else. That, though, is not the … [Read more...] about America Is in a Sinkhole of Its Own Making
Putting the entire military budget on the credit card
Think Progress: Last month, the Congressional Budget Office announced that the federal budget deficit had hit $895 billion and would rise to $1 trillion before the year ends — earlier than predicted. They attributed the growth to the tax cuts and spending bills. The military budget for FY2018 is only $717 billion, or, Why Military Spending Is More Than You Think It … [Read more...] about Putting the entire military budget on the credit card
The Ralph Club (Cartoon, Column and Video)
I wasn’t alone in feeling sick to my stomach Saturday with the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. There’s just something especially nauseating about an entitled, prep school, trust-fund baby with accusations of sexual assault being placed on the highest court in the land by another entitled, prep school, trust-fund baby with his own accusations of sexual … [Read more...] about The Ralph Club (Cartoon, Column and Video)
New climate report reveals planetary horror story
WASHINGTON -- Here is how to interpret the alarming new United Nations-sponsored report on global warming: We are living in a horror movie. The world needs statesmen to lead the way to safety. Instead we have President Trump, who essentially says, "Hey, let's all head to the dark, creepy basement where the chain saws and razor-sharp axes are kept. What could go wrong?" The … [Read more...] about New climate report reveals planetary horror story
‘Disillusioned’ Brazilians choose Bolsonaro, Haddad after a tense and violent campaign
Helder Ferreira do Vale, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies After a tense, violent and polarized campaign, Brazilians have voted to advance two candidates from opposite sides of the ideological spectrum to a presidential runoff on Oct. 28. Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right congressman who enjoys strong evangelical backing for his law-and-order stance on policing, support for … [Read more...] about ‘Disillusioned’ Brazilians choose Bolsonaro, Haddad after a tense and violent campaign
Fire will be met with flood (Cartoon)
Cartoon by 006.5 … [Read more...] about Fire will be met with flood (Cartoon)
Mankind is doomed!
Mankind is doomed! That is one way to interpret a report that the IPCC issued on 07 October 2018. Here is a headline from the CNN website: Now, here is a statement that the IPCC made at an earlier time: "In climate research and modelling, we should recognise that we are dealing with a coupled non-linear chaotic system, and therefore that the long-term prediction of … [Read more...] about Mankind is doomed!
Kavanaugh’s Resignation Speech
Jordan Peterson has broken the internet (again) with his Tweet that, “If confirmed, Kavanaugh should step down." Many Peterson-favoring commentators (of whom I am one) have expressed shock and disappointment at Peterson’s suggestion. And it must be said that it was only offered as a suggestion, as indicated by Peterson’s subsequent Tweet, “I’m not certain it’s the right … [Read more...] about Kavanaugh’s Resignation Speech
Pumpkin Spice
2018 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Pumpkin Spice
Susan Collins Stands by Her Man
On Friday, October 5, the day before she voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh as a justice to the Supreme Court, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) delivered a speech of over 40 minutes before the Senate. In her remarks, Collins tried to explain and defend her decision. Her argument was well structured, logical and presented in a passionless and objective manner. There was only one … [Read more...] about Susan Collins Stands by Her Man
Did Putin Troll The Kavanaugh Hearings: Meet Mr. Mayhem
Reports are surfacing that Russian operatives had been using Twitter to troll the Kavanaugh hearings and continuing through the confirmation vote. In a recent tracking graph dated September 28, 2018, of Russian trolling recorded by Hamilton 68 which purports to track such events, six of the top ten trolling subjects from Russia were: "Kavanaugh Hearings", "Kavanaugh", "Confirm … [Read more...] about Did Putin Troll The Kavanaugh Hearings: Meet Mr. Mayhem
New UN report outlines ‘urgent, transformational’ change needed to hold global warming to 1.5°C
National Renewable Energy Lab/Flickr, CC BY-NC Mark Howden, Australian National University and Rebecca Colvin, Australian National University A landmark report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, commissioned at the breakthrough 2015 summit that brokered the Paris climate agreement, outlines what’s at stake in the world’s bid to limit global … [Read more...] about New UN report outlines ‘urgent, transformational’ change needed to hold global warming to 1.5°C
How Facts Get Chosen and Minds Get Changed
One of my recent articles, “The Mistake You Make in Every Political Argument” (Mistake) made the claim that most political arguments that seem to turn on a disagreement over moral values actually hinge on a disagreement about empirical facts. Mistake was shared by thousands of people of all political persuasions because they saw power in its diagnosis of, and prescription … [Read more...] about How Facts Get Chosen and Minds Get Changed
The Importance of John McCain
John Sidney McCain died on August 25th. At his funeral ceremony in the Washington National Cathedral, he was honored by tributes from past Presidents of both parties, among many others. His passing is a great loss to the United States and the world, partly because there does not appear anyone on the national political scene that could replace him. McCain is the son and … [Read more...] about The Importance of John McCain
Brewing a great cup of coffee depends on chemistry and physics
What can you do to ensure a more perfect brew? Chris Hendon, CC BY-ND Christopher H. Hendon, University of Oregon Coffee is unique among artisanal beverages in that the brewer plays a significant role in its quality at the point of consumption. In contrast, drinkers buy draft beer and wine as finished products; their only consumer-controlled variable … [Read more...] about Brewing a great cup of coffee depends on chemistry and physics
Turn outrage over Kavanaugh into action
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court's legitimacy is in tatters. Conservative forces in the country, led by the Republican Party, have completed a judicial coup, decades in the making. Republicans rushed through Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to avoid the possible consequences of an election. They aborted a full investigation because they feared what it might find. They made … [Read more...] about Turn outrage over Kavanaugh into action
The Kavanaugh Aftermath: Lasting Resentment or Temporary Elation? (Update)
Memeorandum.com “is an auto-generated summary of the stories that US political commentators are discussing online right now…a media-monitoring tool for sophisticated news consumers.” Although “auto-generated,” it is a reasonably reliable monitor of our nation’s political pulse. During the past few weeks, the “Kavanaugh affair” has been the top-written-about subject at … [Read more...] about The Kavanaugh Aftermath: Lasting Resentment or Temporary Elation? (Update)
