Israelis protest the new government – the most far-right, religiously conservative in history – on Dec. 29, 2022, outside the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Eyal Warshavsky/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Boaz Atzili, American University School of International Service Democracy is not just about holding elections. It is a set of … [Read more...] about Four ways Netanyahu’s new far-right government threatens Israeli democracy
PACHYDERM PROBLEMS (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Republicans have made a lot of promises about how they’ll use their House majority. They’re going to close the border, go after “unelected” bureaucrats, they’re going to cut spending, they’re gonna conduct multiple investigations after more investigations, blah, blah, blah. Legislate and govern? They can’t even get through the door. Earlier this week, two members of the Goon … [Read more...] about PACHYDERM PROBLEMS (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Republican Party vs. Reality
Dear Republican Party: Reality called. It wants you to get in touch. It has what you're lacking: A clue. By that, I don't mean the board game. By browsing what Republicans are saying on Twitter, one sees that these space cases are in need of a reality check. For example, this is what one such critter tweeted at the start of the New Year: Oh, wait, wrong … [Read more...] about Republican Party vs. Reality
How a Brave Ukrainian Woman Went from Teaching How to Prepare Tea to Learning How to Fight for her Country
During the sacred days of Christmas and into New Year’s Eve and Day, the residents of Kyiv endured some of the cruelest missile and drone attacks of the year-long ruthless Russian aggression against Ukraine. A so-called “special military operation” that has already claimed more than 6,800 Ukrainian civilian lives, 428 of them children. Neither hospitals – not even a … [Read more...] about How a Brave Ukrainian Woman Went from Teaching How to Prepare Tea to Learning How to Fight for her Country
Is Kevin McCarthy a sinking political Titanic?
Is Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) the equivilent of a sinking political Titanic? The third time wasn't the charm for McCarthy, who shocked many when he went to Mar-A-Largo after January 6 to get a photo of himself with a smiling Donald Trump. Many pundits contend that if McCarthy had stuck witih his original strong criticism of Trump's role in the January 6 coup attempt … [Read more...] about Is Kevin McCarthy a sinking political Titanic?
Speaker of the House faces political peril from member deaths and resignations – especially with a narrow majority
GOP House leader Kevin McCarthy wants to be speaker of the House. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Charles R. Hunt, Boise State University The arm-twisting, dealmaking and vote hunting around Kevin McCarthy’s quest to be named House speaker have put on full display the fact that razor-thin majorities in both the House and the Senate are becoming a fact of … [Read more...] about Speaker of the House faces political peril from member deaths and resignations – especially with a narrow majority
Why The Bills and Bengals, Grown Men So Shocked: Protected, Wept and Prayed for Damar Hamlin
Embed from Getty Images You've heard it by now: Buffalo Bills, Safety: Damar Hamlin, after making a tackle on the field, during Monday Night Football-- rose up, then suddenly fell backward, prone and unmoving on the turf. The NFL players are men who are paid millions to trade off, to hope to fulfill their dream, yet to risk their lives every game, for the NFL owners' … [Read more...] about Why The Bills and Bengals, Grown Men So Shocked: Protected, Wept and Prayed for Damar Hamlin
Pope Benedict XVI: A man at odds with the modern world who leaves a legacy of intellectual brilliance and controversy
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he is driven through a crowd during his weekly general audience, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on June 2, 2010. AP Photo/Andrew Medichini Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross Benedict XVI leaves behind a complex legacy as a Pope and theologian. To many observers, Benedict, who died on Dec. 31, 2022 at the … [Read more...] about Pope Benedict XVI: A man at odds with the modern world who leaves a legacy of intellectual brilliance and controversy
Year in review 2022
All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti https://toons.to/go/daviddonar … [Read more...] about Year in review 2022
ABBOTT IN HELL (CARTOON)
Teddy Roosevelt’s failed Bull Moose campaign may portend the future of the GOP and Donald Trump
A bold and brash Teddy Roosevelt during a visit to the Badlands in 1885. MPI/Getty Images Jerald Podair, Lawrence University What happens when a former president decides he wants his old job back, regardless of what stands in his way? As Donald Trump launches his third run for the White House, it is useful to look back at another ex-president, … [Read more...] about Teddy Roosevelt’s failed Bull Moose campaign may portend the future of the GOP and Donald Trump
GEORGE SANTOS AND THE NORMALIZATION OF BALD-FACED LIES
Decades ago, Holocaust scholar Hannah Arendt warned: “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, i.e. the reality of experience and the distinction between true and false, i.e., the standards of thought, no longer exist.” With that quote in mind, it’s oh so … [Read more...] about GEORGE SANTOS AND THE NORMALIZATION OF BALD-FACED LIES
Russian Lawmaker Pavel Antov, Friend Die In Odisha Hotel: What We Know So Far
Published by BOOM LiveBy BOOM Team A Russian businessman and lawmaker, and his friend died at a hotel in Odisha within a span of two days. The duo were staying at a hotel in Rayagada district where Vladimir Bidenov, 61, was found dead in his room on December 22, PTI reported. His friend Pavel Antov, a lawmaker and business tycoon died on December 24 after allegedly falling from … [Read more...] about Russian Lawmaker Pavel Antov, Friend Die In Odisha Hotel: What We Know So Far
Nosy Republicans (Cartoon and Column)
This should not come as a surprise to anyone but a brand new lie has been discovered from Republican congressman-elect, George Santos. You remember this Republican idiot. He won a Long Island congressional district that includes parts of Queens, and then we learned last week that basically everything he claimed about his past is a lie. He lied about his education, … [Read more...] about Nosy Republicans (Cartoon and Column)
Southwest’s Winter Meltdown Blamed on Outdated Crew Scheduling Technology
by Chris Jennewein The departure board for San Diego International Airport makes it clear than almost all of the air travel problems now are due to Southwest Airlines‘ operational meltdown. At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the departure board showed Alaska, American, Delta and Spirit with on-time departures over the next two hours. But every Southwest flight was canceled or … [Read more...] about Southwest’s Winter Meltdown Blamed on Outdated Crew Scheduling Technology
LiDAR Scanning Offers Big Benefits to Completing Construction Projects
The construction industry is ripe for innovation. New technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and predictive analytics help modern construction firms operate more efficiently and effectively. One technological innovation making waves in the construction industry is LiDAR (also written as lidar) scanning. LiDAR is expected to transform the way … [Read more...] about LiDAR Scanning Offers Big Benefits to Completing Construction Projects
Greg Abbott’s Happy Birthday Jesus (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Another thing I find revolting about Republicans is that they spend the entire year being as vile as humanly possible, and then on Christmas and Easter, they’re all about Jesus. I scrolled through Twitter and saw posts from the most despicable, like Lauren Boebert, Ted Cruz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Matt Gaetz praising Jesus and celebrating Christmas, after spending an … [Read more...] about Greg Abbott’s Happy Birthday Jesus (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Republican US lawmaker-elect admits fabricating resume
Published by AFPNew York (AFP) - A Republican elected to Congress in November was facing a growing clamor for his resignation Tuesday after admitting that he made up large parts of his biography -- but refusing to give up his seat. George Santos's victory in a New York district helped his party secure a narrow majority in the House of Representatives -- Congress's lower … [Read more...] about Republican US lawmaker-elect admits fabricating resume
5 elections to watch in 2023 – what’s at stake as millions head to the ballot box around the globe
Votes aplenty in 2023. smartboy10 via Getty Images Blessing-Miles Tendi, University of Oxford; Ahmet T. Kuru, San Diego State University; Ayesha Jalal, Tufts University; Carl LeVan, American University, and Eduardo Gamarra, Florida International University Predicting the outcome of national elections can be a mug’s game. Polls are often wrong, and … [Read more...] about 5 elections to watch in 2023 – what’s at stake as millions head to the ballot box around the globe
NATO and Democracy
In 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed to defend democratic countries in Europe from Soviet aggression. All twelve of the initial NATO members, including the United States, were democracies, and they all agreed to the five membership principles: 1) to uphold democracy, including tolerating diversity; 2) to have or to progress toward a market economy; … [Read more...] about NATO and Democracy