"If you want truth to go around the world you must hire an express train to pull it; but if you want a lie to go around the world, it will fly; it is light as a feather and a breath will carry it." ~ JAMES COMEY, quoting an English Baptist sermon. James Comey is someone you either love or hate. Or in my case, some of both. As FBI director, he repeatedly stood down Donald … [Read more...] about Comey Gave Up His Integrity & Independence. His New Memoir Won’t Get Them Back.
Local media struggle to hold Sinclair accountable
By Andrea Hickerson, Director of the School of Communication and Associate Professor of Journalism, Rochester Institute of Technology. A screenshot from the Deadspin montage, which featured news anchors repeating the same script decrying 'fake news.' Deadspin Sinclair Broadcast Group’s stations are under renewed scrutiny following Deadspin’s release of a montage of anchors … [Read more...] about Local media struggle to hold Sinclair accountable
FBI raids offices of Trump’s personal lawyer
Federal agents on Monday raided the New York offices of President Donald Trump's longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who made a $130,000 payment to an adult film actress who says she had an affair with the former real estate magnate. Cohen's own attorney Stephen Ryan said agents seized "privileged communications" between Cohen and Cohen's own clients,… … [Read more...] about FBI raids offices of Trump’s personal lawyer
Why the extreme reaction to Obamacare could be the new normal in American politics
Why the extreme reaction to Obamacare could be the new normal in American politics House Speaker Paul Ryan’s attempt to replace the Affordable Care Act in March 2017 was just one of many to undo the health law. AP Photo/Susan Walsh Simon F. Haeder, West Virginia University and Philip Rocco, Marquette University It has been … [Read more...] about Why the extreme reaction to Obamacare could be the new normal in American politics
The futility of Trump’s politics of outrage
WASHINGTON -- President Trump doubled down last week on his repulsive charge that immigrants from south of our border are "rapists." It was another sign of what an appalling man he is, but also an indication of how much political trouble he faces. Trump is a demagogue who relies on the angry energy of his supporters. But he finds himself in an untenable position: No matter … [Read more...] about The futility of Trump’s politics of outrage
Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. ~George Orwell, Animal Farm Our latest visit to Room 101 (from Orwell's 1984) comes to us, courtesy of those fine folks at Sinclair Broadcasting: Sinclair allows critical ad to air, sandwiched between its defense Brian Stelter / CNNMoney Sinclair Broadcast Group has agreed to air a commercial from a … [Read more...] about Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others
Sullying the Office (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Donald Trump is stupid. An excellent example of this is his belief that submitting to an interview with Robert Mueller will clear his name and end the Russia Investigation. Stupid. Perhaps the only people dumber and more gullible than Trump are those who voted for him. While it’s fun to make light of Trump’s stupidity when he tells us what uranium is, or that healthcare is … [Read more...] about Sullying the Office (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Be Careful what you Wish For
I know a lot of conservatives and Red state residents would just wish for the Blue states to either disappear or form their own country so the Red State people would be left alone to do their own thing. I’m not sure Red state people realize what a financial hit their states would take. Lets take a group of Blue states that conservatives revile as Coastal Elites versus a group … [Read more...] about Be Careful what you Wish For
Syria ‘chemical attack’: what we know
An alleged chemical attack in Syria's rebel-held Douma has sparked international outrage, with Washington warning Sunday of possible military action, while Damascus and Moscow said the reports were mere "fabrications". - What happened? - Syria's White Helmets, who act as first responders in rebel-held areas of Syria, said the attack took place late on Saturday using… … [Read more...] about Syria ‘chemical attack’: what we know
Cartoon: Trump 2018 H
Trump’s PDB is a “deep dive” into worldwide security issues that lay out the most pressing information collected by U.S. intelligence agencies from hot spots around the world. It is widely known that Trump doesn’t read it. He prefers his information “Pre-chewed,” for easy digestion. Mike Slosberg is a cartoonist and novelist. He lives with his wife and hundreds of … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Trump 2018 H
Trump era ushers in the triumph of the bootlicker
WASHINGTON -- Last summer, when President Trump said there were "some very fine people" among the neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, he was standing in Trump Tower with two of his top economic advisers, Gary Cohn and Steven Mnuchin. In the days that followed, those two men, both Jewish, made very different choices. Cohn, after hesitating, spoke out about his "distress" and … [Read more...] about Trump era ushers in the triumph of the bootlicker
First They Came for the (‘Fake’) Media…
First, they came for the media, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a member of the media. Then they came for the journalists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a journalist. Then they came for the bloggers, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a blogger. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak, write or blog for … [Read more...] about First They Came for the (‘Fake’) Media…
Did The Kremlin Send In Paul Manafort To Insure The Trump Campaign Played Its Game?
It has been fascinating -- in the grotesque sort of way that a slow-motion train wreck is fascinating -- to watch the Russia scandal unfold. From the first intimations in late 2016 that the dark hand of Vladimir Putin was at work to elect Donald Trump to our dawning realization that the Trump campaign colluded in that effort to our astonishment at how enormous and successful … [Read more...] about Did The Kremlin Send In Paul Manafort To Insure The Trump Campaign Played Its Game?
DINOSAUR OF THE MONTH
From the Dino club: Spinosaurus was the biggest of _all_ carnivorous dinosaurs; larger than T-Rex and Giganotosaurus. It lived in the Cretaceous period, about one hundred million years ago. It hung out in the swamps of North Africa (no known political affiliation). Most of it's time was spent cruising the water rather than terrifying dry land. This quirky doode had a small … [Read more...] about DINOSAUR OF THE MONTH
America You Beauty
Father was in his eighties and more recently looking his age, and something else was not right. He was more short of breath, his ankles were getting swollen, and he was anemic. Being his only son and an ocean and a continent away, this was a nightmare in the works. What if something happens to him while he was away, how would he manage, what would I do, were the ever lingering … [Read more...] about America You Beauty
The Sara Memorial Cup
I just finished my initial order for trophies and other awards to present at our June Awards Recital and the first trophy in my shopping cart was the Sara Memorial Cup. We present this trophy to the year’s most dedicated piano student along with our check for $1,000 with the award presented to the deserving student by Sara’s parents in her honor. Thus I am going to digress … [Read more...] about The Sara Memorial Cup
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump’s Cabinet
OF RELATED INTEREST: --White House Chief of Staff Urges Trump to Remove EPA Chief Pruitt --The kiss of death in Trump's Cabinet is disagreeing with the boss --Week In Politics: Turnover In Trump's Cabinet Continues As Tensions With Russia Escalate 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: Donald Trump’s Cabinet
Military Weekend Images
This weekend’s military images include two sad ones. The first one, below, is the photo of Air Force Major Stephen Del Bagno who was killed on Wednesday when his F-16 Fighting Falcon, part of the famed Thunderbirds (above), crashed over the Nevada Test and Training Range during a routine aerial demonstration training flight. (Photo of Maj. Del Bagno is by U.S. Air Force … [Read more...] about Military Weekend Images
Cartoon: Ensnared by Sinclair
I might be biting the hand that feeds me a bit with this cartoon. Sinclair Broadcast Group made news a few months ago over the way it requires their stations to run opinion pieces in support of Donald Trump. Now, they’re under criticism for forcing their anchors to read scripted material. Deadspin published a video which has gone viral that shows a collection of anchors … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Ensnared by Sinclair
Andrew McCabe’s Pension Isn’t Gone, but It’s Probably Shrinking
Andrew McCabe isn’t part of president’ Trump’s cabinet, but he managed to get caught up in the latest firing flurry anyway. McCabe first became a household name when he stepped into the role of acting Director of the FBI following the dismissal of James Comey, which brought about its own maelstrom of questions, notably those about whether president Trump has obstructed … [Read more...] about Andrew McCabe’s Pension Isn’t Gone, but It’s Probably Shrinking