That’s a lot of potential voters behind Swift at her Denver concert on July 14, 2023. Tom Cooper/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management Matt Harris, Park University Even before Taylor Swift was named “Person Of The Year” by Time magazine, politicians courted Swiftie voters. Call me a Swiftie, too. Like any millennial pop music fan active on … [Read more...] about Taylor Swift: Person of the year and political influencer
Norman Lear, sitcom king who changed TV — and America
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - Norman Lear was television's prolific genius whose trailblazing sitcoms in the 1970s and 1980s not only revolutionized US entertainment -- they helped change the way a nation saw itself. With boundary-breaking shows like "All In the Family" and "The Jeffersons," Lear -- who has died aged 101 -- helped millions of viewers confront their deepest … [Read more...] about Norman Lear, sitcom king who changed TV — and America
Why Franklin, Washington and Lincoln considered American democracy an ‘experiment’ – and were unsure if it would survive
Voters in a county election, 1854. Etching by John Sartain after painting by George Caleb Bingham; National Gallery of Art Thomas Coens, University of Tennessee From the time of the founding era to the present day, one of the more common things said about American democracy is that it is an “experiment.” Most people can readily intuit what the … [Read more...] about Why Franklin, Washington and Lincoln considered American democracy an ‘experiment’ – and were unsure if it would survive
Hate crimes are on the rise ? but the narrow legal definition makes it hard to charge and convict
A Hasidic man walks past a police patrol car in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images Jeannine Bell, Loyola University Chicago With hate crimes, context is everything, and events outside of the United States – like the war between Israel and Hamas – can have far-reaching and potentially tragic … [Read more...] about Hate crimes are on the rise ? but the narrow legal definition makes it hard to charge and convict
THE END OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
by Elwood Watson Waterloo. The apocalypse. The Titanic. These are just some of the terms observers are employing to describe the current state of the Republican party. For many, there is a deep-seated sentiment the party of Abraham Lincoln is coming apart at the seams and imploding at Armageddon-like speed. Talk of political parties facing impending doom is nothing … [Read more...] about THE END OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
BIBI’S BULLSEYE (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
What did Benjamin Netanyahu know and when did he know it? The Israeli government obtained Hamas’ plan to attack more than a year before it happened on October 7 but dismissed it, claiming it was merely “aspirational,” like Elon Musk believing he can put human beings on Mars next year. The 40-page document code named “Jericho Wall” outlined Hama’s attack inside Israel’s … [Read more...] about BIBI’S BULLSEYE (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Disguised Healing Angels
It is impossible to see the angel unless you first have a notion of it. ~ James Hillman I believe angels show up in our lives when we are in need. Two such disguised angels appeared in my life this week. One was masquerading as a smallish white dog with large brown spots and short legs. I had symptoms of an infection, so I had gone to Urgent Care. I stood in line to pick … [Read more...] about Disguised Healing Angels
WATCH YOUR STEP (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
The Fox News debate between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and California Governor Gavin Newsom was a red state versus a blue state. The deck was stacked for DeSantis as it was on Fox News and hosted by Sean Hannity who asked questions based on Republican tropes, like asking DeSantis if President Biden is in “significant cognitive decline.” The debate was mostly for pure … [Read more...] about WATCH YOUR STEP (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
‘Wonka’ movie holds remnants of novel’s racist past
A storyline in the forthcoming ‘Wonka’ movie is that the central character can change a dutiful young girl’s life. Warner Bros. Meisha Lohmann, Binghamton University, State University of New York Several years ago, I made a visit to a local book sale and came across a rare 1964 edition of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Popular in … [Read more...] about ‘Wonka’ movie holds remnants of novel’s racist past
Santos expulsion vote reflects the diseased heart of the GOP
Over on Facebook, there's a bit of gloating and laughter about the historic expulsion of a Congressman. I understand the humor, kinda sorta ... it’s Facebook, after all. But we should not be laughing. George Santos personifies the decay at the heart of today’s Republican party: Election denial. Extremism. Form over function (failure to govern). … [Read more...] about Santos expulsion vote reflects the diseased heart of the GOP
George Santos’ Expulsion Sets New Precedent
With a resounding bipartisan vote of 311-114, the U.S. House of Representatives expelled one of its members, setting a modern-day precedent. However, not the “bad precedent” the spineless House GOP leadership had warned members the expulsion of George Santos would set. It set a precedent that no one is above the law. It set a precedent that principles and conscience … [Read more...] about George Santos’ Expulsion Sets New Precedent
Santos expelled from House not because of what he said but how he said it
Rep. George Santos in the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 7, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images David E. Clementson, University of Georgia U.S. Rep. George Santos, a Republican from New York, was expelled on Dec. 1, 2023 from Congress for doing what most people think all politicians do all the time: lying. Santos lied about his religion, … [Read more...] about Santos expelled from House not because of what he said but how he said it
Someday There Will Be A Good War – Who Will Get Credit For It?
by Thomas Hoffman Following the withdrawal of Afghanistan and the death of Al-Qaeda's new leader - Ayman al-Zawahiri, the public was starting to lose interest in Middle East affairs. Unfortunately, organizations like Hamas were not losing interest. The U.S. and Israel both underestimated what Hamas was capable of. On RealTime with Bill Maher, Maher recently cautioned … [Read more...] about Someday There Will Be A Good War – Who Will Get Credit For It?
Henry Kissinger’s bombing campaign likely killed hundreds of thousands of Cambodians — and set path for the ravages of the Khmer Rouge
The aftermath of U.S. bombs in Neak Luong, Cambodia, on Aug. 7, 1973. AP Photo Sophal Ear, Arizona State University Henry Kissinger, who died on Nov. 29, 2023 at the age of 100, stood as a colossus of U.S. foreign policy. His influence on American politics lasted long beyond his eight-year stint guiding the Nixon and Ford administrations as national … [Read more...] about Henry Kissinger’s bombing campaign likely killed hundreds of thousands of Cambodians — and set path for the ravages of the Khmer Rouge
Joaquin Phoenix’s lips are not like Napoleon’s ? here’s what everyone should know about cleft lip
Joaquin Phoenix won the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for ‘Joker’ at the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Jordan Strauss/Invision via AP Mary L. Marazita, University of Pittsburgh; Bernard J. Costello, University of Pittsburgh, and Seth M. Weinberg, University of Pittsburgh Starring in the November 2023 … [Read more...] about Joaquin Phoenix’s lips are not like Napoleon’s ? here’s what everyone should know about cleft lip
WANTED BIDEN 2.0
by Thomas Hoffman Real Time host Bill Maher recently joined the chorus of those calling for President Biden to not run for re-election. Maher compared President Biden to the Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsberg who “did damage to their party and country.” Maher may have a point. There is no question, President Biden’s age is a factor and hindrance. When trying to decide if … [Read more...] about WANTED BIDEN 2.0
A Right Turn
Why are so many democracies electing right-wing parties or coalitions to power? Nations that were previously centrist or leftist are suddenly giving the right governmental control. Is it because of local issues or is it a global phenomenon? Does it have any implications for the 2024 national election in America? Even where the right has not attained power, it is gaining more … [Read more...] about A Right Turn
AIDS takes a life every minute despite a 70 percent fall since 2004, UNAIDS reports.
AIDS still takes a life every minute although AIDS-related deaths have fallen by almost 70 per cent since their peak in 2004 and new HIV infections are at the lowest point since the 1980s. Heading into World AIDS Day on December 1, the United Nations agency combatting AIDS (UNAIDS), reported that 630,000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2022, 1.3 million people were … [Read more...] about AIDS takes a life every minute despite a 70 percent fall since 2004, UNAIDS reports.
The election of Javier Milei and the challenges of an impoverished Argentina
The election of Javier Milei and the challenges of an impoverished Argentina Matheus de Oliveira Pereira, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) In December 2001, Argentina experienced one of the most dramatic moments in its history. The collapse of convertibility – the monetary stabilisation plan that established parity between the dollar and the peso – brought tens of … [Read more...] about The election of Javier Milei and the challenges of an impoverished Argentina
Shooting in Vermont of 3 Palestinian Students is Reprehensible
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Just as we Jews hope that people will speak in support of those in our community who have been victimized by antisemitic terror, so too do we have an obligation to support members of other communities who are victimized by other kinds of hate, including Islamophobia. Three Palestinian young men, all 20 years of age, were shot by an … [Read more...] about Shooting in Vermont of 3 Palestinian Students is Reprehensible