Trever Noah once said that many Daily Show viewers considered Jon Stewart their “political Dad.” Last month, our political Dad came home. Jon Stewart hit the ground running in a spectacular return to The Daily Show. As expected, he picked up right where he left off. His performance proves there is only one true Daily Show host. From his book The Daily Show with Jon Stewart … [Read more...] about Political Dad’s Homecoming
From Pilot Helmet to Beauty Crown: The First Military Miss America (UPDATE)
There is hardly an American tradition more “apple-pie” than the Miss America Pageant. Starting with the “Inter-City Beauty Contest” held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1921, the competition has been held – with a few exceptions during the Great Depression and a couple of other years – for more than one hundred years and has been one of the nation’s most popular annual … [Read more...] about From Pilot Helmet to Beauty Crown: The First Military Miss America (UPDATE)
Republican Party submission to Trump nearly complete: McConnell backs Trump
After years of enabling him, obliquely criticizing him, barely having contact with him, voting the way he wanted, directly criticizing him, resisting him etc. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has bowed down to presumptive GOP President nominee Donald Trump. He seems to have followed the old invitation: "Join the party." Yes there are still many Never Trumpers and former UN … [Read more...] about Republican Party submission to Trump nearly complete: McConnell backs Trump
Trump vows to defund public schools that require vaccines
Campaign 2024 series: the stakes, not the odds Imagine an illness that is so contagious that 9 out of 10 people who simply walk by an infected person will get sick if they have no immunity (vaccine or prior illness). An illness that causes permanent brain damage in one of every 1,000 infections. That kills more than 200,000 people around the world, mostly children, every … [Read more...] about Trump vows to defund public schools that require vaccines
Is It Worth Taking A Chance?
The collective and individual intelligence of humans is about to be surpassed or already has been exceeded by machines of human origin, whose workings and thought processes are not fully understood by those who devised this ingenious technology. This artificial or human-made intelligence learns by absorbing information that is fed into it or it is allowed to access. It is able … [Read more...] about Is It Worth Taking A Chance?
The Constitution sets some limits on the people’s choices for president – but the Supreme Court rules it’s unconstitutional for state governments to decide on Trump’s qualifications
A 1935 painting depicts the 1787 meeting that adopted the U.S. Constitution. John H. Froehlich via Wikimedia Commons Robert A. Strong, University of Virginia When the Supreme Court ruled on March 4, 2024, that former President Donald Trump could appear on state presidential ballots for the 2024 election, it did not address an idea that seemed simple … [Read more...] about The Constitution sets some limits on the people’s choices for president – but the Supreme Court rules it’s unconstitutional for state governments to decide on Trump’s qualifications
Supreme Court says only Congress can bar a candidate, like Trump, from the presidency for insurrection – 3 essential reads
Journalists set up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building on Feb. 8, 2024. Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua via Getty Images Jeff Inglis, The Conversation The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled, in a unanimous decision, that the state of Colorado cannot bar former President Donald Trump from appearing on Colorado’s presidential ballot under the provisions of … [Read more...] about Supreme Court says only Congress can bar a candidate, like Trump, from the presidency for insurrection – 3 essential reads
John Oliver on Boeing’s culture collapse: profits over safety post-McDonnell Douglas merger
The first plane that the FAA sidelined for safety issues was the McDonnell Douglas DC 10. It was May 25, 1979, and an engine detached from American Airlines 191 as it departed Chicago's O'Hare. The DC 10 crashed, seconds into take-off. All 271 people on board died, as did two people on the ground. On the most recent episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver followed up … [Read more...] about John Oliver on Boeing’s culture collapse: profits over safety post-McDonnell Douglas merger
LET HISTORY BE YOUR GUIDE
by Don Hermann Columnist You got some money and you want to invest. Maybe even make a fast buck. Here’s what going on in your mind. Trump is my man. He’s a businessman. He knows what he’s doing. He’s got a world of experience. He may be being mistreated by the powers to be. It’s a crime what’s happening to him. He looks out for guys like me. I could probably do … [Read more...] about LET HISTORY BE YOUR GUIDE
Is Mitch McConnell the arsonist who set the fire and ran away?
Is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell the arsonist who set a fire and ran away? Philadelphia Inquirer Columnist Will Bunch likens McConnell to a gambler who knows when to fold his hand and to an arsonist who sets a fire then runs away. These are apt comparisons. When McConnell announced he'd retire as Minority Leader in November you got the feeling that he was almost in … [Read more...] about Is Mitch McConnell the arsonist who set the fire and ran away?
Humanitarian Aid: By Land, by Sea, by Air and, When Necessary, by Airdrop
Whenever and wherever there is a humanitarian crisis caused by war, conflict, or brought about by natural disasters, the United States is there to deliver critical aid, by land, by sea and by air. Oftentimes, “by air” is the only way to deliver lifesaving supplies to those in need as was the case during the Soviet Union’s blockade of Berlin in 1948-1949. The historic and … [Read more...] about Humanitarian Aid: By Land, by Sea, by Air and, When Necessary, by Airdrop
Rep. Eric Swalwell Turns the Tables
Part of Republicans’ reluctance to question Hunter Biden in open hearings is – in addition to the fear of exposing the sheer lunacy of their impeachment inquiry -- the dread that, with Trump’s shady record in exactly the same areas of the Biden investigation, the tables could be turned on them. Well, during the closed-door hearings last week Republican nightmares … [Read more...] about Rep. Eric Swalwell Turns the Tables
Is the United States overestimating China’s power?
Made it, Mao! Top of the World? DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images Dan Murphy, Harvard Kennedy School Which country is the greatest threat to the United States? The answer, according to a large proportion of Americans, is clear: China. Half of all Americans responding to a mid-2023 survey from the Pew Research Center cited China as the biggest … [Read more...] about Is the United States overestimating China’s power?
Cognitive Boys (Cartoon, Column and Video)
You can’t diagnose a person’s mental capabilities based on political narratives yet, that’s what voters appear to be doing right now. It’s bad enough that poll respondents believe Trump is better capable of reducing crime than our current president when Trump himself is a criminal. It’s bad enough those same voters believe Trump is better at handling a crisis when his … [Read more...] about Cognitive Boys (Cartoon, Column and Video)
New Poll: Biden numbers falling, Trump numbers rising
A Siena College-conducted poll commissioned by the New York Times finds President Joe Biden's numbers falling and former President Donald Trump's rising. Joe Biden’s disapproval rating reaches new high, according to new poll. The president has a 47% disapproval rating, but it’s a mixed bag when accounting for ‘double haters’ – those who dislike Trump too Strong … [Read more...] about New Poll: Biden numbers falling, Trump numbers rising
Rescuing Jesus From Christendom
If one doesn't understand why Jesus needs to be rescued from Christendom, then one hasn't had much exposure to Christendom. Such is especially true about the American version of Christendom. Seriously, what some alleged "Christians" say in public forums is enough to make a person vomit. I am constantly reaching for a barf bag whenever I wade into the cesspool called Twitter. … [Read more...] about Rescuing Jesus From Christendom
About Your “Panama Hat”
Several years ago, a relative in Ecuador gave me a beautiful, white, straw hat (below). The hat is so finely and delicately hand woven that it can be rolled up tightly enough that it can almost pass through a wedding ring. Some say it can even hold water, although I have never put mine through that test. Already in 1869, an article in Scientific American Magazine … [Read more...] about About Your “Panama Hat”
THE DAMAGE MITCH MCCONNELL HAS DONE TO DEMOCRACY IS INDELIBLE
To best assess the execrable essence of Mitch McConnell, you just need to connect the dots. After the MAGA insurrection on Jan. 6, after the dead and the injured and the feces smeared on walls, McConnell tore into Donald Trump. He said, “The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president” who was guilty of “a disgraceful dereliction of duty.” But when the time came … [Read more...] about THE DAMAGE MITCH MCCONNELL HAS DONE TO DEMOCRACY IS INDELIBLE
BECOMING A SWIFTIE DAD, AND OTHER SKILLS I’VE LEARNED
by Jase Graves Having raised three daughters, I’ve gained, in the words of Liam Neeson, “a very particular set of skills.” Unfortunately, none of these skills would be useful in the event of an international kidnapping. Because two of our daughters (and some of our credit cards) are now in college and one is deep in the bowels of high school, I feel like an abandoned … [Read more...] about BECOMING A SWIFTIE DAD, AND OTHER SKILLS I’VE LEARNED
Donald Trump Is A Racist (Cartoon and Column)
I did not take this cartoon lightly. In fact, I wasn’t even considering it when I thought of it or when I roughed it out. But I decided to draw a rough of it and bounce it off a few people I respect. The first friend said go for it. She saw that I wasn’t the one being racist but instead, was calling Donald Trump out for his racism. She’s smart but also crazy, like me, so I … [Read more...] about Donald Trump Is A Racist (Cartoon and Column)