Too often today we hear stories about politicians who run on lofty agendas but quickly sacrifice them to political expediency. I thought it would be nice to have a post about a politician who stuck to his principles even when doing so cost him greatly. The man was named Charles Weltner from Atlanta, Georgia. He was a successful attorney and in 1962 he decided to run for … [Read more...] about Charles Weltner: A Man Of Principle
Has Trumpcare Collapsed?
With two more Republican Senators announcing that they will not support taking up the bill that is to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the New York Times is, in this writer’s opinion, sticking its neck out with the following (e-mailed) headline: The health bill has collapsed with two more G.O.P. senators opposed. For now, President Trump's effort to … [Read more...] about Has Trumpcare Collapsed?
UN reports rise in Afghan civilian casualties as Trump tries more troops
A record 1,662 civilians were killed and 3,581 injured in Afghanistan mainly because of Taliban attacks during the first six months of this year, according to the latest United Nations figures. “Extreme civilian harm continued amid a worsening toll of suicide attacks, and a greater impact on women and children,” a report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) … [Read more...] about UN reports rise in Afghan civilian casualties as Trump tries more troops
The U.S. is losing its moral authority
WASHINGTON -- I traveled with my family in Australia for three weeks as a guest of the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne, invited to explain what's happening in President Trump's America. As if there were an explanation. Of more interest was what I learned from the Australians. To visit this stalwart ally and talk with its people was to see how the United States, in … [Read more...] about The U.S. is losing its moral authority
Cartoon: GOP Can’t Hear You
Are you looking forward to screaming at your Republican representative at his or her town hall about their stripping health care from millions of Americans? Too bad. Congress will have a month-long August recess, but don’t expect there to be many Republican members willing to hear you out. There won’t be very many opportunities for you to unleash your verbal Kraken at your … [Read more...] about Cartoon: GOP Can’t Hear You
Revealed: Donald Trump’s Network Of Russian Sleaze & Mob Money Launderers
1987: Trump and wife Ivana at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg on an all-expense-paid trip to the Soviet Union Donald Trump has sworn innumerable times since the Russia Scandal reared its hydra head that he has no connection to Russia, now or ever. In fact, Trump is one big Russia connection. Beginning in 1984, over 30 years before he ran for president, Trump … [Read more...] about Revealed: Donald Trump’s Network Of Russian Sleaze & Mob Money Launderers
Happy Birthday Disneyland
Today is the 62nd anniversary of the opening of Disneyland and I thought it might be a nice change of pace for us to have a non-political post to discuss. So chime in with your favorite Disneyland memory, tip or story. For myself I remember my first trip to Disneyland as a child because we arrived at the hotel to see the headlines about the death of Elvis Presley. As a … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday Disneyland
What Will it Take for Republicans to Say Enough is Enough?
Kudos to Reed Galen - a lifelong Republican, veteran of three presidential campaigns, son of former Republican operative Rich Galen - for articulating the obvious truths that his cowardly party breathren loath to admit. After hearing the bombshell news that dim princeling Donald Trump Jr. gleefully emailed "I love it" at the prospect of getting Russian intel about Hillary, … [Read more...] about What Will it Take for Republicans to Say Enough is Enough?
Lawyer on Trump Payroll Before Don Jr. Meeting News
New York City attorney Alan Futerfas was announced Monday to be the lawyer representing first son Donald Trump Jr. in the still-developing investigation into whether the Trump campaign had any contact with Russian officials who interfered in the U.S. presidential election. But he started getting paid last month. Federal Election Commission documents filed Saturday showed that… … [Read more...] about Lawyer on Trump Payroll Before Don Jr. Meeting News
UN envoy sees hopeful signs for Intra-Syrian peace talks
President Donald Trump’s meetings with France’s Emmanuel Macron and Russia’s Vladimir Putin underscored an emerging focus on “some priorities and the idea of having some type of common urgency” about peace in Syria. Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, who is conducting an intra-Syrian peace process said their focus “is certainly helping the … [Read more...] about UN envoy sees hopeful signs for Intra-Syrian peace talks
Cartoon: Benedict Donald
Trump’s ‘Golden couple’ losing their luster
Kushner, already reported to be a "person of interest" in the Justice Department probe of the Trump campaign, is arguably the individual with the most to lose from the revelation that the campaign did, after all, at least attempt to collude with the Russian government to boost Donald Trump's chances of winning the election. The president's hapless eldest son, Donald Trump … [Read more...] about Trump’s ‘Golden couple’ losing their luster
What has changed in Turkey since the coup attemp
On July 15 2016, Turkey underwent an attempted coup against its government. The coup was prevented but repercussions are felt in every quarter of life in the county. The abortive coup paved the way for a number of radical changes and caused far-reaching social, economic and political consequences in Turkey. So what has changed in Turkey… … [Read more...] about What has changed in Turkey since the coup attemp
Cartoon: Kollege is Sthoopid
Shortly after the invasion of Iraq, Vice-President Dick Cheney was asked about opinion polls reflecting that a majority of Republicans believed Iraq was behind 9/11. Cheney said he could understand why people believe that, but he wouldn’t state that Iraq didn’t have any involvement with that terrorist attack. Why not? It’s because his agenda fed off of an ignorant base. … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Kollege is Sthoopid
A 21st Century Immigration Policy (Guest Voice)
by Anthony Stahelski Perhaps the most controversial of President Trump’s executive orders was the ban against travelers from six Muslim countries. This ban reflected Trump’s anti-Muslim immigrant campaign rhetoric. The massive outcry and backlash against Trump’s order and rhetoric make a fundamentally important point: The potential antisocial acts of a few cannot be … [Read more...] about A 21st Century Immigration Policy (Guest Voice)
(UPDATE) American Troops to Lead Bastille Day Parade in Paris
Update: One of our readers mentioned that it would be neat to see some of our troops march in the Bastille Day parade in World War I uniforms. As so happens, the American soldiers of the U.S. contingent's flag detail carried vintage 1903 Springfield rifles and were dressed in the uniform worn by World War I troops, with flat helmets, wool uniforms with choker necks and … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) American Troops to Lead Bastille Day Parade in Paris
Former Russian military intelligence officer attended Trump Tower meeting
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer aimed at obtaining derogatory information about Hillary Clinton last June had another, previously undisclosed participant — a former Soviet military counter-intelligence officer. Rinat Akhmetshin, who received U.S. citizenship and became a Washington lobbyist after emigrating from Russia more than a decade ago, … [Read more...] about Former Russian military intelligence officer attended Trump Tower meeting
Cartoon: Trump’s daughter fill in
Mike Slosberg is a cartoonist and novelist. He lives with his wife and hundreds of drawing pens on the Upper Westside of Manhattan, New York. You can see more of his cartoons and learn about his books by going to: mikeslosbergbooks.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Trump’s daughter fill in
(Update) Marine Corps Aircraft Crashes, Killing 16
Update: The U.S. Marine Corps has, "with great regret," announced the names of and other information on the those who perished in the KC-130T Hercules crash in Mississippi July 10. Out of respect for those killed and for their families and loved ones, the unabridged announcement is provided here: Full name: Ryan M. Lohrey Pay entry base date: Sept. 26, … [Read more...] about (Update) Marine Corps Aircraft Crashes, Killing 16
GOP puts Party before Country
Andrew Sullivan gets to the heart of the Russia scandal in New York Magazine: when will Republicans put the good of our country before the political interests of their party? My mind keeps traveling back to that moment in the second presidential debate when both candidates were asked what they admired about each other. I have to say, sitting at home, the question stumped me. … [Read more...] about GOP puts Party before Country