Update Tues April 11,2017 4:33 pm: Mr Munoz, CEO of UNITED AIRLINES has issued a statement that is most assuredly carved by a damage control consultant. It says what should have been said to begin with, apology, no one should be treated like this, and paraphrased from here: we will examine rights of passengers, and employee perks etc. Whether Munoz believes the corporate … [Read more...] about Cultures Collide: Asian Man Assaulted by United Airlines: Tell Us Your Airline Abuse Story
Cartoon: O’Reilly Factor
(UPDATED) James Comey Helped Elect Donald Trump, But Could He Now Be His Greatest Foe?
There is little doubt that American intelligence agencies have long believed that Donald Trump's inner circle and perhaps the man himself aided and abetted Russian efforts to throw the 2016 presidential election. How long they have believed that is germane because it helps explain why the Russia scandal that now engulfs the White House has taken so long to come to a boil. … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) James Comey Helped Elect Donald Trump, But Could He Now Be His Greatest Foe?
WH Staff Isn’t the Problem
Matthew Yglesias explains why a White House staff shake up won't solve this administration's problems on vox.com. In keeping with his background as a showman, publicity maven, and entertainer, Trump has been a consistently fascinating story, starting from the moment he descended the escalators at Trump Tower to denounce Mexican immigrants as murderers and rapists and … [Read more...] about WH Staff Isn’t the Problem
Well regulated
Game hunting is regulated to be inherently sporting, fair and ethical. Turkeys, for example, can only be killed by arrows and shotguns and never by rifles. Human killing is similarly regulated to be fair and ethical. They can be killed by bombs and missiles and never by chemical weapons. … [Read more...] about Well regulated
(Updated) U.S. Military Developments Amid Rising Tensions
Update: For statement by Secretary of State Tillerson at Lucca, Italy, conference on Syria attack, scroll down to bottom. Original post: There have been several significant military developments in the last few days: The U.S. retaliation against Syria’s heinous chemical weapons attack; the deployment of the Carl Vinson Strike Group towards waters off the Korean … [Read more...] about (Updated) U.S. Military Developments Amid Rising Tensions
Bentley Poised To Bow To Reality By Resigning But Ivey No Sure Thing For Full Term
The tawdry saga of Alabama Governor Bob Bentley and his wife (center) are likely to impact the political fate of his successor, Kay Ivey (left) and the Attorney General he named a U.S. Senator, Luther Strange (far right) Photo via Alabama.com Later this week, long-embattled Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, is expected to resign his office. The departure would culminate … [Read more...] about Bentley Poised To Bow To Reality By Resigning But Ivey No Sure Thing For Full Term
Syria and the obligations of Trump’s critics
WASHINGTON -- On Aug. 20, 1998, American Tomahawk cruise missiles hit sites in Afghanistan and Sudan in retaliation for attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The targets of the assault, ordered by President Bill Clinton, were Osama bin Laden and his band of terrorists. In light of what would happen three years later, on Sept. 11, 2001, Madeleine Albright, … [Read more...] about Syria and the obligations of Trump’s critics
Wrecking Foreign Policy
Wrecking Foreign Policy By David Anderson, J.D. Spare a thought for thousands of our diplomats abroad who, despite danger, hardship, and middling pay represent our values and promote our companies abroad so effectively. To defund the State Department and USAID by 37%+ is the dummy’s play, ethically and commercially. Having such a “Great Businessman!” as president, this … [Read more...] about Wrecking Foreign Policy
My departed father still leads the Seder
I remember: only weeks after my father died in 1976, our family convened at the house for the annual Seder—the festive banquet of Passover. My father had always proudly led and meticulously directed the ceremonial meal, holding, reading, and chanting from the Haggadah –the book of blessings and folk-songs that also includes the grand narrative of the exodus of the Hebrew … [Read more...] about My departed father still leads the Seder
The GOP Can’t Govern
The GOP Can’t Govern by Stephen Earl Bennett There’s one important lesson to be learned from the Republican Party’s failure – after seven years of promising to do so – to repeal and replace Obamacare. That lesson could also be learned by paying attention to some Republican legislators’ reactions to the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts to programs such as the … [Read more...] about The GOP Can’t Govern
Cartoon: Bill O’Reilly
Moral Consistency & Military Action in Syria
An act of war against a nation that is not threatening us has unpredictable consequences, almost all on the downside. Supporters of US military action in Syria (and elsewhere) must therefore have certainty that the good done and the lives saved by the action exceed any harm done, most of which is unpredictable and all of which is uncontrollable. They must also be sure that … [Read more...] about Moral Consistency & Military Action in Syria
Book Review: “Untethered The True Children of Cyrus”
There is a moment in 1974's Godfather 2 when Michael Corleone sees the determination of Fidel Castro-led rebel forces. The scene is quick and later Michael notes it to the ill-fated crime bigwig Hyman Roth: "I saw an interesting thing today. A rebel was being arrested, and rather than be taken alive, he pulled the pin on a grenade he had hidden in his jacket. He killed himself … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Untethered The True Children of Cyrus”
Mitch McConnell, the man who broke America
WASHINGTON -- "No majority leader wants written on his tombstone that he presided over the end of the Senate," the minority leader said. He continued: "Breaking the rules to change the rules is un-American. I just hope the majority leader thinks about his legacy, the future of his party and, most importantly, the future of our country before he acts." Are these the words … [Read more...] about Mitch McConnell, the man who broke America
Alec Baldwin times two: Baldwin plays O’Reilly interviewing Trump on SNL (Video)
Alec Baldwin played displayed his considerable skills as an actor comedian on SNL last night: playing both Fox News' Bill O'Reilly (noting the sexual harassment scandals swirling around O'Reilly) and President Donald Trump. It'll be a segment that'll go viral due to the political humor and caricatures, but it is also fascinating to study it as an actor displaying his incredible … [Read more...] about Alec Baldwin times two: Baldwin plays O’Reilly interviewing Trump on SNL (Video)
Trump’s wiretapping claims, other lies, have autocratic twist (Guest Voice)
Trump’s wiretapping claims, other lies, have autocratic twist Christopher F. Arndt First there was the birther theory, which Trump continued to champion in 2011 even after President Obama’s long-form birth certificate was shown to the world. Then we heard statements like “Nobody really knows if climate change is real;” and, more recently, “In addition to winning the … [Read more...] about Trump’s wiretapping claims, other lies, have autocratic twist (Guest Voice)
Authoritarians to the Right of Me. Authoritarians to the Left
Authoritarians to the Right of Me Trump’s election caused a spike in sales of George Orwell’s famous novel, 1984 – apparently to people who believe that his becoming president may be a harbinger of an Orwellian dystopia across our country. Last year, my first book was published. It concerns why Americans have let the principles of liberty on which our nation is founded … [Read more...] about Authoritarians to the Right of Me. Authoritarians to the Left
Nepal’s air pollution threatens humans and glaciers
At one of the busiest intersections in Kathmandu, business is good for 64-year-old Nucche Khadka. He says he’s been working this spot for 40 years, selling crackers, candy and cigarettes. A steady stream of customers buy cigarette boxes decorated with grotesque pictures of cancerous lungs, meant to warn customers of the danger of their contents. But… … [Read more...] about Nepal’s air pollution threatens humans and glaciers
Thoughts on Florida’s first congressman of Arab descent (Guest Voice)
Thoughts on Florida's first congressman of Arab descent by Jordon Cooper Charlie Crist is the first congressman of Arab descent in Florida history. He was one of my inspirations to go to law school and practice law. He is one of the handful of Wake Forest Demon Deacon football players to go to law school and I’m one of the few South Carolina Gamecock football players to … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Florida’s first congressman of Arab descent (Guest Voice)