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
Democrats: Harness your rage at Kavanaugh hearings to get out the vote
WASHINGTON -- Pay attention, Democrats. Watch what Republicans are doing. You'll see what raw power looks like -- and understand why winning in November is so vital for the nation's future. President Trump, aware that the country is passionately divided on many critical issues, could have nominated a moderate jurist to replace retiring Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy, … [Read more...] about Democrats: Harness your rage at Kavanaugh hearings to get out the vote
Self-Made Conman (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Like he does about most things, Donald Trump has ALWAYS lied about his wealth. Hey, don’t take my word for it. Take his. During the presidential campaign, he claimed he was worth $10 billion, but on his financial disclosure form, he claimed he was worth $1.4 billion. The truth is probably somewhere in between those numbers, but whatever it is, Trump is lying. He’s also lied … [Read more...] about Self-Made Conman (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Sexism, racism drive more black women to run for office in both Brazil and US
Black women in Brazil protest presidential frontrunner Jair Bolsonaro, who is known for his disparaging remarks about women, on Sept. 29, 2018. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo Kia Lilly Caldwell, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Motivated in part by President Donald Trump’s disparaging remarks about women and the numerous claims that he committed … [Read more...] about Sexism, racism drive more black women to run for office in both Brazil and US
Cartoon: Attacking Dr. Ford
Fix the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is broken. Or, more accurately: the other two branches of the federal government broke it. Before the sexual assault allegations against nominee Brett Kavanaugh were made public, I considered long and hard whether to oppose him. The matter would have been academic, as I do not live in a state where my senators’ votes were in question, but it still merited … [Read more...] about Fix the Supreme Court
Kavanaugh sexual assault hearing evokes early Soviet mock trials
Across the world, allegations of sexual assault have hinged on women’s credibility. Michael Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP Erica Stone Drennan, Columbia University Before last week’s Senate judiciary hearing into sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was scheduled, Republican Senator John Cornyn complained that the … [Read more...] about Kavanaugh sexual assault hearing evokes early Soviet mock trials
Trump’s despicable (but instructive) smear
When a leader can hold power only by dividing his country, stoking its anxieties and hostilities, ridiculing his opponents, and disrespecting every norm of decency, the result is a broken democracy and a demoralized nation. The fight over Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to a seat on the Supreme Court has caused predictable handwringing about partisan division, tribalism and … [Read more...] about Trump’s despicable (but instructive) smear
Trump’s anarchical new weapons and new warfare
Donald Trump has already engineered a profound change in the foreign policy connotations of warfare by weaponizing new instruments, regardless of whether he rises to greater political strength after the mid-term elections or is dethroned by impeachment. Trump has weaponized trade, finance and currency as instruments of coercion to impose behavior change on foreign … [Read more...] about Trump’s anarchical new weapons and new warfare
PSA: do not give @resistbot your personally identifiable info
An hour ago, 11:20 am Pacific, @resistbot asked me (via SMS) if I was registered to vote. I do not usually interact with it, but this time, I replied "yes." That seemed innocuous. I thought the group might be looking for data about percentage of users who are registered. But no. They wanted ALL of my personally identifiable information: real first and last name, … [Read more...] about PSA: do not give @resistbot your personally identifiable info
A look at alternative strategies for preventing concussions in athletes
Concussions are one of the most common types of injury among young athletes, and they can be devastating not just to the child's athletic career but also to their quality of life. At both the professional and scholastic levels, experts are recognizing the importance of improving football helmets to ward off potentially serious injuries. However, concussions can occur in nearly … [Read more...] about A look at alternative strategies for preventing concussions in athletes
The Kavanaugh Chronicles
There wasn’t enough chaos in Washington or throughout the country, so President Trump decided to choose Bret Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. He looked like a justice to Trump, big, tough, and masculine, which are apparently the characteristics the president most admires in those he selects for his top positions. However, these same characteristics flourished during Kavanaugh’s … [Read more...] about The Kavanaugh Chronicles
I Like Beer ( Cartoon, Column and Video)
Did you know Brett Kavanaugh likes beer? You would be forgiven if you didn’t catch Kavanaugh’s like for beer during last Thursday’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judicial Committee because he only said “I like beer” about 87 times. Kavanaugh likes beer. He doesn’t like being questioned about liking beer, but when it does happen, he’ll answer, “I like beer.” He’ll … [Read more...] about I Like Beer ( Cartoon, Column and Video)
Great Music – Chapter 34
For this week’s Great Music, I am returning to probably my favorite composer – Chopin. Since I written about Chopin before, I’ll just remind you that he was born in Poland and loved the country more than life itself. However, because of the various wars Poland was engaged in during Chopin’s life, he spent most of his time in Paris. He lived only 39 years from 1810 to 1849 and … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 34
How the mafia uses violence to control politics
Gianmarco Daniele, Bocconi University Italy is not the only country with an organized crime problem. But movies and TV shows like “Scarface,” “The Godfather” and “Gomorrah” have made the Italian mobs – in both their southern Italian and American incarnations – world-famous. Such pop culture portrayals tend to romanticize a dangerous phenomenon that’s all too real for … [Read more...] about How the mafia uses violence to control politics