Embed from Getty Images Can the stakes get any higher in the Brett Kavanaugh nomination melodrama? Christine Blasey Ford, who credibly says that a drunken Kavanaugh tried to rape her at a suburban Washington high school pool party in 1983, is insisting that the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee do what it should have done in the first place when it learned of her … [Read more...] about The End Game Comes Into Sight In The Brett Kavanaugh Nomination Melodrama
Thank You, American Women, For Putting (Mostly) Republican Pols In Their Place (UPDATED)
In the 24 hours since I went out on a limb and predicted that Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court was dead, events have moved quickly and dramatically. That does not necessarily mean that my position has been validated, but we have gone from a sure thing to a televised showdown next Monday between a practiced liar and the woman he tried to rape with powerful … [Read more...] about Thank You, American Women, For Putting (Mostly) Republican Pols In Their Place (UPDATED)
California Farm Workers
This is where I grew up. Carpinteria, California. We called it Carpas Califas, just south of Santa Bruto (Santa Barbara). Three miles inland in the Tri-Valley is part of the bread basket. The next time you have a radish or a lemon, recall who is bringing it to market. I have done this kind of work. Lemon picking is the hardest thing I have ever done. The faster you do it the … [Read more...] about California Farm Workers
Myth Busting: Does Cannabis Really Increase Your Metabolism?
As cannabis has slowly started being legalized in the United States for both medical and recreational purposes, it seems that more and more people are getting excited about this “wonder drug.” People use medical marijuana to help treat chronic pain, anxiety disorders and a slew of other ailments, so it’s clear that, when used correctly, cannabis can have positive health … [Read more...] about Myth Busting: Does Cannabis Really Increase Your Metabolism?
Yom Kippur: A time for feasting as well as fasting
Yom Kippur break fast. danbruell, CC BY-NC-SA Ted Merwin, Dickinson College It was the bag of Fritos that gave me away. As a secular Jewish kid whose family did not belong to a synagogue, I did not think twice about riding my bike to the convenience store around the corner during the afternoon of Yom Kippur. I knew that it was a solemn holiday … [Read more...] about Yom Kippur: A time for feasting as well as fasting
Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas
Are today’s white kids less racist than their grandparents?
Do we have any reason to believe that each new generation of white people will be more open-minded and tolerant than previous ones? Elvira Koneva Margaret Hagerman, Mississippi State University In America’s children, we often see hope for a better future, especially when it comes to reducing racism. Each new generation of white people, the thinking … [Read more...] about Are today’s white kids less racist than their grandparents?
Cartoon: Golden Boy
Hold Onto Your Hat, America: The Kavanaugh Supreme Court Nomination Is Dead
Embed from Getty Images It may take days or even weeks, but Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court is dead, a welcome casualty of converging political and social trends. The nomination of the man who would be the pivotal fifth conservative high court justice suddenly went on life support on Sunday morning when The Washington Post identified Christine Blasey … [Read more...] about Hold Onto Your Hat, America: The Kavanaugh Supreme Court Nomination Is Dead
The U.S. Mid-Term Elections in Perspective
by Frank Islam and Ed Crego “I just hope there won’t be any violence.” That was Donald Trump’s comment on August 29 about what to expect from the mid-term elections. He made these remarks after warning his supporters earlier to beware of violence from the left if the Republicans won the mid-terms. This observation might be viewed as sincere, ironic given the violence … [Read more...] about The U.S. Mid-Term Elections in Perspective
Which Witch Hunt? Manafort Folds
Donald Trump’s presidency is like life itself. It will end but you wonder when and how it will happen. My guess on the When is sooner than we think. The How came into clearer focus this week, when the Paul Manafort piece dropped from the three-dimensional chessboard. Manafort, the former Trump Campaign Manager, agreed to cooperate with the Special Counsel, without … [Read more...] about Which Witch Hunt? Manafort Folds
The Underbelly of America
This week I have the privilege of hosting a half dozen former employees of what used to be the Prudential Service Bureau of Louisville, Kentucky. They are visiting New York City and I’m in effect their free hotel. The Service Bureau was an outsourcing company I started a few decades ago to handle mundane tasks for large employers as well as for some Prudential functions. One of … [Read more...] about The Underbelly of America
The ominous decline of social democracy
The rise of Donald Trump was shocking but it was not a one-off. The forces that brought him to power have parallels across democracies as fears about immigration, inward-looking nationalism and discontent over economic globalization push an ever-larger share of voters to the far right. For American progressives, it is especially disturbing that social democracy, one of the … [Read more...] about The ominous decline of social democracy
For centuries, anonymous insider accounts have chipped away at ruling regimes – and sometimes toppled them
Copies of Bob Woodward’s ‘Fear: Trump in the White House’ are displayed for sale at a Costco in Virginia. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais Rachel Carnell, Cleveland State University Bob Woodward’s new book, “Fear: Trump in the White House,” seems to contain scant new information. Like Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” … [Read more...] about For centuries, anonymous insider accounts have chipped away at ruling regimes – and sometimes toppled them
In Texas, a Democratic template for national victory in 2020
by George Will Washington Post Writers Group Columnist HOUSTON -- Nationally, the Democratic Party, which gave indispensable assistance ("Basket of deplorables"!) to the election of today's president, seems intent ("Impeach!"; "Abolish ICE!"; "Free stuff!", "I am Spartacus!") on a repeat performance. Here, however, in the 7th Congressional District, in what might turn … [Read more...] about In Texas, a Democratic template for national victory in 2020
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump and Puerto Rico
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Trump says Puerto Rico death toll rose 'like magic' and was in 'no way' possible --Trump Tweet Jeopardizes Bipartisan Puerto Rico Bill Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political and comic strip cartoonist. His favorite expression “WHAT A HOOT” certainly sums up his … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump and Puerto Rico
Why the Russians might hack the Boy Scouts next
Civic groups like the Boy Scouts are likely under attack by Russian agents – and likely don’t know it. Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock.com Susan Landau, Tufts University In the two years since Russia made headlines for targeting an American political organization – the Democratic National Committee – and undermining Hillary Clinton’s race for the presidency, … [Read more...] about Why the Russians might hack the Boy Scouts next
Beto VS Creepo (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic candidate for the Texas U.S. Senate seat is being accused of pretending to be Latino by supporters of Senator Ted Cruz, a guy many accuse of pretending to be Caucasian. O’Rourke is currently representing Texas in Congress. His first name is Robert, which is where the nickname “Beto” came from, as it’s often short for “Roberto” in Mexico. It was … [Read more...] about Beto VS Creepo (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Manafort Flips on Trump: Total Cooperation Agreement With Mueller
President Donald Trump has had not had a stellar few weeks -- in fact, to call them lousy would be an understatement. Today, things got a lot worse with what many pundits are calling the "stunning" development that hia former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has "flipped" and will now be cooperating extensively with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. President Trump’s former … [Read more...] about Manafort Flips on Trump: Total Cooperation Agreement With Mueller
Death count debates overshadow the real story: Hurricane Maria was partly a human-made disaster
Morten Wendelbo, American University Last September, President Donald Trump told Puerto Ricans they should be grateful Hurricane Maria had not caused a “real catastrophe like Katrina.” However, mounting evidence now reveals the death toll for Maria far surpasses initial estimates. New research puts the number close to 3,000, adjusted up from just a few dozen when the … [Read more...] about Death count debates overshadow the real story: Hurricane Maria was partly a human-made disaster