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)
Cartoon: Shining Kavanaugh
Beto O’Rourke won’t beat Ted Cruz in Texas – here’s why
James Henson, University of Texas at Austin With Election Day now only a few weeks away, the race between incumbent Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke has attracted national and international attention. For Cruz, a star in national conservative politics, losing to O'Rourke would be a particularly bitter pill. Cruz rose to prominence during the … [Read more...] about Beto O’Rourke won’t beat Ted Cruz in Texas – here’s why
Susan Collins’s Declaration of Cowardice
WASHINGTON -- After Sen. Susan Collins announced on the Senate floor Friday that she would cast her deciding vote to confirm Brett M. Kavanaugh, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., rose to liken her to another Republican from Maine, Margaret Chase Smith, "the first member of the United States Senate to take on Joseph McCarthy … this demagogue and the tactics that he … [Read more...] about Susan Collins’s Declaration of Cowardice
Kavanaugh: an ugly American spectacle that dismays friends around the world
The ugly spectacle of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation process to the Supreme Court is likely to deal more damage to the respect foreign peoples have for Americans and their democracy than Donald Trump’s consistent bullying of their countries. Many Americans who loathe Trump may be underestimating the dismay of people in other democracies, including Europe, India and … [Read more...] about Kavanaugh: an ugly American spectacle that dismays friends around the world
Tyranny of the minority: the men on the Supreme Court
I bet you didn't know that only one of the six men sitting on the US Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas, was placed there by a president who won more than half the popular vote on his inaugural term. It's true. The divisiveness evident in the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh is a relatively recent phenomena, as is having the sitting president fail to win the popular vote. … [Read more...] about Tyranny of the minority: the men on the Supreme Court
Democratic Party = Mob
What is the difference between the Democratic Party and a mob? Answer: Nothing. The Democratic Party has entered the Twilight Zone, one in which everything is in reverse. In a just society, a person accused of wrong-doing is innocent until proven guilty, and the burden of proof is on the accuser. In contrast, in the Democratic Party, a person accused of wrong-doing … [Read more...] about Democratic Party = Mob
Cartoon: Polarization and anger at the Supreme Court
Kavanaugh will very soon be confirmed
Due to logistics, TMV may not have a post when the actual confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court happens today. Barring a truly unprecedented political turn of events ithappen. Here's the latest: In just a matter of hours, the Senate is poised to elevate Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, bringing an end to months of bitter partisan feuding marked by … [Read more...] about Kavanaugh will very soon be confirmed
Kavanaugh vote: tyranny of the minority
On Friday, the U.S. Senate voted 51-49 to send the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States to the floor of the Senate for a vote. The party-line vote* reflected a studied rejection of wide-ranging calls for delay and/or rejection of the nomination from religious leaders, lawyers and friends of the nominee as well as editorial boards. The … [Read more...] about Kavanaugh vote: tyranny of the minority
Massacres, disappearances and 1968: Mexicans remember the victims of a ‘perfect dictatorship’
Mexican soldiers killed up to 300 student protesters and arrested 1,000 more on Oct. 3, 1968, in an event that’s come to be known as the Tlatelolco massacre. AP Photo Luis Gómez Romero, University of Wollongong Ten days before the opening ceremony of the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, uniformed soldiers and rooftop snipers opened fire on student … [Read more...] about Massacres, disappearances and 1968: Mexicans remember the victims of a ‘perfect dictatorship’
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Supreme Court Restaurant
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Top Dem Super PAC Backs Away From Phil Bredesen for Backing Kavanaugh --Donors Are Organizing A Multimillion-Dollar Effort To Defeat Susan Collins In 2020 --House Democrat Promises Kavanaugh Investigation if Party Wins Control Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Supreme Court Restaurant
Is the Supreme Court’s legitimacy undermined in a polarized age? (UPDATED)
The U.S. Supreme Court. Shutterstock Kevin J. McMahon, Trinity College As the United States Senate readies to vote on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be the next Supreme Court justice, I am reminded of its recent confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch. The Gorsuch vote was unprecedented in the history of the country. Never before had a … [Read more...] about Is the Supreme Court’s legitimacy undermined in a polarized age? (UPDATED)
A Polar Oasis
An oasis isn't just a place where Bugs Bunny finds water in the Sahara Desert. An oasis can also be in the coldest region of planet Earth. From the University of Plymouth (UK): "An oasis in the hostile Arctic Ocean sustained marine life and ocean circulation during the last Ice Age, according to a new study. In the research, published in Nature Communications, … [Read more...] about A Polar Oasis
Kavanaugh On the Verge of Confirmation
Brett M. Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination is now seemingly a day away from becoming a reality. To be sure, the drama and opinions swirling around this nomination continue to play out with breathless Tweets, big biz news cable stations are having a field day. But the odds after today's procedural vote and Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake's indications that he will vote yes on the … [Read more...] about Kavanaugh On the Verge of Confirmation
Controlling the Supreme Court is far too important to play fair
After throwing a temper tantrum, Kavenaugh takes to the pages of Rupert's Wall Street Journal to cry crocodile tears that he's really a GOOD judge, yes he is, and NEVER goes off on partisan tangents or cries or weeps or engages in temper tantrums ... on the court. But, understand, they were being MEAN to him. You see? The maraschino cherry atop a cow flop sundae of unfair … [Read more...] about Controlling the Supreme Court is far too important to play fair
There’s One Big Loser in the Kavanaugh Fight
As we sift the mounting wreckage of the Brett Kavanaugh nomination, what happened in 1992 seems quite pertinent. That year, when the U.S, Supreme Court upheld Roe v. Wade, three of the majority justices were candidly concerned that Americans angered by the ruling might lose faith in the nation's top judicial institution. They wrote that "the court's legitimacy depends on … [Read more...] about There’s One Big Loser in the Kavanaugh Fight