By Phil Stewart and Steve Holland WASHINGTON/PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - U.S President Donald Trump said on Thursday he ordered missile strikes against a Syrian airfield from which a deadly chemical weapons attack was launched, declaring he acted in America's "national security interest" against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. U.S. officials said the military fired … [Read more...] about Trump orders airstrikes against Assad airbase in Syria
Nuclear Option Tragic But Inevitable – For Whichever Party Controlled The Senate
To paraphrase the saying, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” when it comes to the matter of Senate Republicans nuking the filibuster of Supreme Court nominees, it shouldn’t have been done, but it had to be done. It was inevitable and, given the hyper-partisanship in Congress, that would have held true for whichever party held control. West Virginia … [Read more...] about Nuclear Option Tragic But Inevitable – For Whichever Party Controlled The Senate
Dear Democrats: What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Dear Democrats: What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. That is the lesson to be learned from the decision by Senate Republicans to "go nuclear" when it comes to the confirmation of nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court. From CBS News: "Senate Republicans successfully invoked the so-called “nuclear option” Thursday, eliminating the filibuster for Supreme Court … [Read more...] about Dear Democrats: What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Brazil: A Corrupt State
With the focus on Trump and his associates in the American press, there is a democracy even more corrupt that receives little attention. In fact, Brazil makes the U.S. seem clean by comparison. A relatively young democracy that emerged from a military dictatorship in 1985, it is the world’s fifth largest nation in population and land mass. Corruption is endemic here, involving … [Read more...] about Brazil: A Corrupt State
Trump axes Bannon from National Security Countil
By Steve Holland and John Walcott WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump removed his chief strategist Steve Bannon from the National Security Council on Wednesday, reversing his controversial decision early this year to give a political adviser an unprecedented role in security discussions. Trump's overhaul of the NSC, confirmed by a White House official, also … [Read more...] about Trump axes Bannon from National Security Countil
Why the president lies (Guest Editorial)
The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, April 4: ——— Donald Trump did not invent the lie and is not even its master. Lies have oozed out of the White House for more than two centuries and out of politicians' mouths — out of all people's mouths — likely as long as… … [Read more...] about Why the president lies (Guest Editorial)
A Young Muslim American Woman’s Success Story in the Time of Trump
A few days after Donald Trump was elected to be the 45th U.S. president, I wrote an article titled “What Parents Are Telling Their Daughters after the Election.” The article described how so many fathers and mothers were racking their brains and digging “deep into their psyche trying to explain to their sons and daughters ‘How America selected a racist, sexist bully’ as our … [Read more...] about A Young Muslim American Woman’s Success Story in the Time of Trump
Senators mourn traditions they are blowing up
WASHINGTON -- It was half past noon Monday when Chuck Grassley, the genial chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked for a show of hands: Did senators debating the Neil Gorsuch nomination to the Supreme Court want to break for lunch? Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., interjected with a parliamentary inquiry: “Could the majority cater this lunch?” Sen. John … [Read more...] about Senators mourn traditions they are blowing up
Cartoon: Smells like O’Reilly
Now that Roger Ailes is out of the Fox News building, the chief pervo on staff has gotta be cable news ratings king Bill O’Reilly. Many people are saying (see what I did there?) when he’s not making covert racist comments about women he’s lusting after them. An investigation by The New York Times reveals that a total of five women who have received payouts from either Mr. … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Smells like O’Reilly
Scores reported killed in Syrian gas attack on rebel area
By Ellen Francis BEIRUT (Reuters) - A suspected Syrian government chemical attack killed scores of people, including children, in the northwestern province of Idlib on Tuesday, a monitoring group, medics and rescue workers in the rebel-held area said. The Syrian military denied responsibility and said it would never use chemical weapons. The head of the health … [Read more...] about Scores reported killed in Syrian gas attack on rebel area
When Martin Luther King directed his own funeral and taught us about life
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated 49 years ago today, April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. He was standing on the balcony just outside Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel. It was 6:01 PM and he had just leaned over the railing and was speaking to a gospel choir leader named Ben Branch—who was going to perform later that evening at a civil rights rally. “Ben, you know Precious … [Read more...] about When Martin Luther King directed his own funeral and taught us about life
(Update) A Change in Tactics, or a Shift in Values?
UPDATE: While Americans anguish over the mounting toll of (unintended) civilian casualties as a result of allied air strikes in the Middle East (below) and the investigations continue, a monstrous regime -- or its Russian ally -- is suspected to have launched a deliberate chemical air attack on a Syrian city that “caused at least 58 people to choke to death, with responders … [Read more...] about (Update) A Change in Tactics, or a Shift in Values?
(UPDATED) Russia Scandal Bombshell: Trump Used Prince of Darkness To Enhance Putin Ties
It is a match made in hell: An ultra-conservative Christianist entrepreneur and Donald Trump fanatic who specializes in death and destruction and the autocratic leader of America's greatest adversary, who is no stranger to death and destruction himself, and has played the president like a cheap violin while sabotaging the Hillary Clinton campaign and promoting Russia's global … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) Russia Scandal Bombshell: Trump Used Prince of Darkness To Enhance Putin Ties
Trump falls from great media candidate to inept media president
A lot of things puzzle me about the presidency of Donald Trump. But none quite so much as how he went from being one of the most effective media candidates in modern history to one of the most inept media presidents. We are talking about someone who was in a league the last two years with… … [Read more...] about Trump falls from great media candidate to inept media president
Conspiracies, Conspiracy Theories, and Conspiracy Theorists
Everybody has secrets. We all have aspects of our lives that we don’t want others to know about. The problem with secrets is that they are only secret when they are kept secret, and there is sometimes a temptation to share the secret with someone. When we tell our secrets to someone, we ask that person to become part of a conspiracy and not share the secrets with anyone else. … [Read more...] about Conspiracies, Conspiracy Theories, and Conspiracy Theorists
Reports: Blackwater founder held secret Seychelles meeting to establish Trump-Putin back channel
More reports are coming out -- now seemingly at breakneck pace -- about Trump associates meeting with Russians. And the stories build on each other, even as the Trump administration (and Fox News) say the real issue is leaking and (discredited) charges that the Obama administration was spying on them. One new report asserts that a former Trump official met with a Russian spy … [Read more...] about Reports: Blackwater founder held secret Seychelles meeting to establish Trump-Putin back channel
Cartoons: Bill O’Reilly scandals
Theatres to screen Orwell’s 1984 to protest Trump
Toronto, Canada – Nearly 200 theatres worldwide will simultaneously screen the film version of George Orwell's dystopian classic, 1984, on Tuesday to protest US President Donald Trump. The idea, which is being called "National Screening Day", is the brainchild of Dylan Skolnick, co-director of the Cinema Arts Centre on Long Island, New York, and Adam Birnbaum,… … [Read more...] about Theatres to screen Orwell’s 1984 to protest Trump
Cartoon: Is Trump a spoiled brat?
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: Is Trump a spoiled brat?
(Update) Today’s Ecuador Elections May Decide if Julian Assange Finally Gets to Go ‘Home’
UPDATE: Although most of the exit polls were showing conservative candidate Guillermo Lasso winning in Ecuador’s presidential elections, Ecuador’s National Electoral Council has released preliminary figures giving his opponent, Lenín Moreno, 51.1% of the votes cast, and Lasso 48.9%, with 96.22% of the votes counted. Lasso is challenging the results and it is reported … [Read more...] about (Update) Today’s Ecuador Elections May Decide if Julian Assange Finally Gets to Go ‘Home’