by Blair Bess Now is the time to politicize gun violence. In the wake of the recent mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, how can we not? It's tiresome to hear Republican lawmakers say it's inappropriate to politicize this tragedy. Their responses are numbingly repetitive and rote. These lawmakers loathe the suggestion that assault weapons like AR-15's be banned … [Read more...] about Now Is The Time To Politicize Gun Violence
(UPDATE III) Another Shoe Drops As Mueller Charges 13 Russians With Election Meddling
Prigozhin (left), one of those indicted, serving dinner to Putin In the first charges directly related to election meddling, Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Friday indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian organizations for illegally using social media to sow political discord in the 2016 presidential election, including actions that supported Donald Trump's … [Read more...] about (UPDATE III) Another Shoe Drops As Mueller Charges 13 Russians With Election Meddling
WATCH VIDEO: Parkland high school student makes demand to lawmakers
If a picture is worth a thousand words, this video of Cameron Kasky, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, demanding lawmakers take action on guns is worth a more than 400 or 4000 words in articles or blog posts. WATCH: This is another video of his interview, this one not professionally taken, that gives a longer take by him on this … [Read more...] about WATCH VIDEO: Parkland high school student makes demand to lawmakers
Borneo orangutans dying off as forests are lost: study
The population of orangutans in Borneo has plummeted by more than half since 1999 -- nearly 150,000 of the apes -- largely due to chopping down forests for logging, paper, palm oil and mining, researchers said Thursday. Illegal hunting of the critically endangered apes is also a leading factor in their disappearance, said the study published… … [Read more...] about Borneo orangutans dying off as forests are lost: study
Cartoons: Sacrifice to the Gun Gods
The issue is not mental health. It’s guns.
WASHINGTON -- Don't tell me the issue is mental health. Save the nonsense about "good guys" with weapons somehow being the answer. The truth is this: There would have been no tragic shooting Wednesday in Parkland, Florida, if a troubled young man had not gotten his hands on a military-style assault rifle and as much ammunition as he wanted. Many people knew that Nikolas Cruz … [Read more...] about The issue is not mental health. It’s guns.
House of Thugs
“Lock Them Up,” the chant rises up. The tall dark-suited, white-shirted men, with monochrome neckties and spray-top haircuts will exit in the same kind of black SUV which had brought them to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and with the force as if they’ve been belched from a furnace, which, in a way, they have An estimated 130 White House staffers all in need of security clearances … [Read more...] about House of Thugs
Rising tensions between Taiwan and China are too risky to neglect
With American eyes riveted on North Korea’s enmity, rising tensions between China and Taiwan are slipping through the cracks and could cause much bigger problems for the region. Although China and Taiwan have always been cautious, new tensions and military preparations can make mistakes easier, especially if the North Korean crisis worsens. Neglecting Taiwan may become … [Read more...] about Rising tensions between Taiwan and China are too risky to neglect
“Me Too” of a different kind
Another mass shooting tragedy in America. We are all too emotional right now; this is thus not the time to talk gun control is what we are told. In a week or so when the pain lessens for most of us, so does the passion for change, so why talk gun control then? Weeks later, the last incident forgotten, wiped off our memories, greed in full control, gun control, what gun … [Read more...] about “Me Too” of a different kind
Trump may owe his 2016 victory to ‘fake news,’ new study suggests
By Erik C. Nisbet, Associate Professor of Communication, Political Science, and Environmental Policy and Faculty Associate with the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, The Ohio State University, Paul Beck, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, The Ohio State University, and Richard Gunther, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, The Ohio State University. … [Read more...] about Trump may owe his 2016 victory to ‘fake news,’ new study suggests
A quiet revolution for decency
WOOSTER, Ohio -- The split in American politics we may be missing is not left vs. right or pro-Trump vs. anti-Trump but normality vs. the Trump-inspired Washington circus. If the doings in the nation's capital seem strange when you are there, they look positively lunatic at any distance from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. First, the entire White House is seized by vicious … [Read more...] about A quiet revolution for decency
Cartoon: Mass shooting insanity
Alleged School Gunman Linked to White Supremacist Group
Nikolas Cruz, the man charged with killing 17 students during a deadly shooting at a Florida high school on Wednesday, trained with the white supremacist group the Republic of Florida (ROF), according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). A spokesman for the ROF, Jordan Jereb, told the ADL Thursday that Cruz had been a member of his… … [Read more...] about Alleged School Gunman Linked to White Supremacist Group
Cartoon: Florida Shooting
Don Lemon: Gun violence is a sickness (VIDEO)
A must watch, perceptive and blunt commentary by CNN's Don Lemon on gun violence, the Florida school shootings and its meaning: … [Read more...] about Don Lemon: Gun violence is a sickness (VIDEO)
Cartoon: School shooting
For global water crisis, climate may be the last straw
Before man-made climate change kicked in -- and well before "Day Zero" in Cape Town, where taps may run dry in early May -- the global water crisis was upon us. Freshwater resources were already badly stressed before heat-trapping carbon emissions from fossil fuels began to warm Earth's surface and affect rainfall. In some countries, major… … [Read more...] about For global water crisis, climate may be the last straw
Trump won’t stop trying to keep America white
WASHINGTON -- The efforts by President Trump to keep America white are getting increasingly dark. Make no mistake: What's happening on Capitol Hill this week, at Trump's behest, is nothing other than an attempt by Republicans to slow the inexorable march toward that point at midcentury when the United States becomes a majority-minority nation. In the long run, they are … [Read more...] about Trump won’t stop trying to keep America white
America Is DISGUSTED With NRA ‘Valentine’ Tweet After Horrific School Shooting In Florida
A small firearms shop in Florida must have been pretty happy when the gun manufacturing lobbyist wing, the NRA, retweeted their "Valentine's Day" message encouraging lovers to purchase something for their significant other that they would "appreciate": That tweet has since been deleted, but it was a perfect example of what's wrong with gun culture in… … [Read more...] about America Is DISGUSTED With NRA ‘Valentine’ Tweet After Horrific School Shooting In Florida
Cartoon: And another school shooting
I’m too exasperated over this happening again and again to columnize about it today. What else is there to say about it anyway? You know the drill. Brown guy, we gotta change policy with something racist. White guy, thoughts and prayers. The thoughts-and-prayers people are totally thoughtless. Email Clay Jones at [email protected] … [Read more...] about Cartoon: And another school shooting