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)
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’