Senator Al Franken (DFL-Minnesota) has just announced that he will resign from the US Senate but he did not specify a date. The announcement had been expected in recent days and is the result of multiple allegations of sexual harassment by Franken both before and after he entered the Senate. During his announcement he contended that he was not guilty of the charges and … [Read more...] about Franken Announces Resignation
Moore Is Less: Alabama, the Senate and the Nation Will Suffer
Embed from Getty Images by Thomas Winship Amid all the craziness surrounding Roy Moore’s race for the US Senate and the seeming willingness of Alabama’s likely voters to send a man of such dubious merit and morality to Capitol Hill (where, admittedly, the bar already is pretty damned low), I keep thinking of a line from the Randy Newman song “Rednecks.” It’s the lead … [Read more...] about Moore Is Less: Alabama, the Senate and the Nation Will Suffer
Creeper’s Endorsement (Cartoon and Column)
Many Republicans couldn’t stand to see President Barack Obama in the White House and fly in Air Force One. It insulted their senses. I can relate somewhat because I am disgusted by Donald Trump occupying the Oval Office and using the first plane. The difference between my repulsion and theirs is that mine isn’t based on race. I don’t care that Trump is orange. The other … [Read more...] about Creeper’s Endorsement (Cartoon and Column)
Palm oil deforestation is slowly killing the Sumatran Tiger
Future generations may live in a world without the majestic Sumatran Tiger, as only two viable populations remain in the world, a new study reveals. Deforestation, especially for the palm oil industry, is the main culprit. Things aren't looking to good for the Sumatran Tiger. Image credits: Spencer Wright / Flickr. Things were bad enough for… … [Read more...] about Palm oil deforestation is slowly killing the Sumatran Tiger
Cartoon: Trump Endorses Roy Moore
The Supreme Court cake case has an easy answer
WASHINGTON -- There will come a time, hopefully before long, when it won't be legal to discriminate against gay people any more than it would be to deny goods or services to African-Americans, women or the disabled. But we're not at that point yet. Hence the need for Tuesday's food fight at the Supreme Court. On the justices' plates: whether a baker can refuse on First … [Read more...] about The Supreme Court cake case has an easy answer
Philippines a global hotspot for environmental murders
Environmental activists are being killed in record numbers around the world, with the corruption-plagued Philippines one of the most dangerous countries, according to watchdog Global Witness. At least 200 community activists, NGO workers and other civilians on the frontlines of protecting the environment were reported murdered worldwide last year, the highest on record, the … [Read more...] about Philippines a global hotspot for environmental murders
Cartoon: GOP High Moral Ground
Al Franken’s Final Bow
When Scott Fitzgerald said that there are no second acts in American lives, he could have been talking about Al Franken. The curtain is about to ring down on his second - and likely final - act as junior Senator for the State of Minnesota. Many of his Democratic colleagues and lots of his Republican adversaries have demanded his resignation over a growing number of sexual … [Read more...] about Al Franken’s Final Bow
Going Through The Russia Scandal Looking Glass With Trump’s Defense Lawyers
Back in 2008 at the ass end of the Dubya interregnum, which in retrospect was so much kinder and gentler than the living hell of Donald Trump, Attorney General Michael Mukasey came up with a rationale straight out of Alice in Wonderland to explain why neither the president nor his enablers in the Justice Department could be prosecuted for the myriad violations of constitutional … [Read more...] about Going Through The Russia Scandal Looking Glass With Trump’s Defense Lawyers
The World’s 50 Best Beaches© (Guest Voice)
Welcome to the most definitive list of beaches ever assembled — a diverse collection of off-the-beaten-path slices of paradise from every hidden corner of our planet. To create The World’s 50 Best Beaches©, FlightNetwork has consulted 600+ of world’s best travel journalists, editors, bloggers and agencies — the people who do this for a living — to gain insight from their … [Read more...] about The World’s 50 Best Beaches© (Guest Voice)
Report: Trump to recognize Jerusalem, embassy move to come later
US President Trump will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel in a speech tomorrow (Wednesday), The New York Times reported. According to the Times, Trump will also announce the beginning of the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but he is expected to sign the Security Waiver… … [Read more...] about Report: Trump to recognize Jerusalem, embassy move to come later
Stop this madness now: UN on Rohingya crisis
“Stop this madness now,” the UN human rights chief demanded at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council today on atrocities committed against the minority Rohingya Muslim population in northern Rakhine State of Myanmar, also known as Burma. Sympathetic delegates quickly agreed a resolution asked him to conduct urgent, time-bound and detailed inquiries into the … [Read more...] about Stop this madness now: UN on Rohingya crisis
Russian Stealth and American Acquiesence
America may have a fleet of stealth aircraft, but Russia’s stealth actions to dominate America and the West have been more effective, more lethal and less expensive. Through both covert and transparent activities, Russia has infiltrated and influenced United States’ politics and invested in various American strategic industries in spite of sanctions by the U.S. on top Russian … [Read more...] about Russian Stealth and American Acquiesence
‘Christmas Creep’? Bah Humbug, Merry Christmas to All
A couple of days before Thanksgiving, with temperatures still in the 80s here in Texas, I tuned the car radio to a local station and, lo and behold, Christmas music came out of the speakers, and it has continued ever since. Stores, it seems to me, have been decorated for Christmas since Halloween – even earlier. Some feel this “Christmas Creep” detracts from the real … [Read more...] about ‘Christmas Creep’? Bah Humbug, Merry Christmas to All
Utah Monuments (Cartoon)
Israel’s foreign relations improving, SWU gala told
by Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Amid growing indignation over aggressive Palestinian tactics at universities throughout the Diaspora, Dore Gold, former director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, provided a note of optimism at a StandWithUs banquet last Saturday night attended by over 500 Israel supporters. Interviewed on stage by Waxie Sanitary Supply Chairman and … [Read more...] about Israel’s foreign relations improving, SWU gala told
Furt those Tweets (Cartoon and Column)
After Trump fired his National Security Adviser Michael Flynn (after being on the job for only 24 days), he tweeted that he fired him for lying to Vice President Mike Pence. On Saturday, a tweet went out from Trump’s Twitter account stating he fired Flynn, not just for lying to Pence, but also for lying to the FBI. This is where it gets troublesome for the orange doofus. … [Read more...] about Furt those Tweets (Cartoon and Column)
Supreme Court allows full enforcement of Trump travel ban
The Supreme Court doled out a victory for the Trump administration Monday, ruling that the third version of the president's immigration travel ban can take effect while it is being challenged in the lower courts. The latest version of the extreme vetting order was introduced in September and sought to curtail the admission of visitors and… … [Read more...] about Supreme Court allows full enforcement of Trump travel ban
Did Miner Safety Improve Since Trump’s Inauguration?
In the wake of President Trump's inauguration, the mining industry is witnessing rollbacks in mining safety regulations at the state level aimed at revitalizing the declining coal industry. While these policies are intended to make the price of coal more competitive, they may carry the unintended consequence of reducing overall safety in mining. Increased Competitive … [Read more...] about Did Miner Safety Improve Since Trump’s Inauguration?