An attendee's sign reading "Vote" is pictured during a campaign event for Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and US Senator Catherine Cortez Masto with former US President Barack Obama, ahead of the US midterm elections in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 1, 2022. (Photo by Ronda Churchill / AFP) (Photo by RONDA CHURCHILL/AFP via Getty Images)[/caption]Overall, Republican dominated … [Read more...] about Voting on Cultural Issues Instead of Economic needs
FIRING DEMOCRACY (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
I still think the most important issue in this election is saving democracy. I try not to be a one-issue voter as I am concerned about inflation, high gas prices, crime, the economy, the budget, climate change, human and civil rights, etc, etc. But will any of that matter when we lose the power to choose our leaders? What happens when legislators choose legislators? What … [Read more...] about FIRING DEMOCRACY (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Why some people think fascism is the greatest expression of democracy ever invented
Donald Trump is one of many political leaders through history who has claimed he embodies the voice of ‘the people’ – but which people he means matters quite a lot. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Mark R Reiff, University of California, Davis Warnings that leaders like Donald Trump hold a dagger at the throat of democracy have evoked a sense of befuddlement … [Read more...] about Why some people think fascism is the greatest expression of democracy ever invented
If Democrats prevail during the midterms, TV advertising might have something to do with it
A vote sign appears at a campaign event for Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Mastro in Las Vegas on Nov. 1, 2022. Ronda Churchill/AFP via Getty Images John M. Sides, Vanderbilt University The neck-and-neck race for control of the U.S. Senate is particularly unwelcome news for Democrats. Not long ago, it looked as if they could … [Read more...] about If Democrats prevail during the midterms, TV advertising might have something to do with it
Biden, Trump clash on eve of midterms set to upend Washington
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - Republicans and Democrats traded final blows Monday ahead of midterm elections that could upend Joe Biden's presidency, weaken Western support for Ukraine and even open the door to a comeback bid by Donald Trump. More than 40 million ballots have been cast through early voting options, meaning the outcome was already taking shape before polls … [Read more...] about Biden, Trump clash on eve of midterms set to upend Washington
DEPRESSION
by Don Hermann Scary thought. There are two sides to this. Economic. And Psychological. If you’re a voting Republican, they apply to you. You’re in the driver’s seat. That’s quite a lot of control you have. In Trump’s four years he and the Republicans started a campaign that alienated many of our close allies and business partners. Dropping out of NATO was on the table … [Read more...] about DEPRESSION
What’s at stake this Election Day – 7 essential reads
People volunteer at a Native Alaskan voting station on Nov. 2, 2022 in Anchorage. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Amy Lieberman, The Conversation As Election Day closes in, uncertainty and concern about potential chaos – from violence at polling sites to candidates refusing to accept defeat – continue to rise. Problems that have historically plagued … [Read more...] about What’s at stake this Election Day – 7 essential reads
ARE YOU NUTS?
by Don Hermann Masochistic? Shortsighted? Wear blinders? Overcome with fear? Can’t see beyond your nose? I know you, You’re a Republican. Or voting Republican. What’s your complaint? Apparently you like pain. You want to suffer. You want to lose your Social Security. You don’t want to have the benefits of Medicare. Or Medicaid. You’d rather do without all your … [Read more...] about ARE YOU NUTS?
THANKS TO ELON (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
If you tweet, then you know about the verification thing. In case you don’t know, it’s a blue check mark that means you’re authentic, important, and probably smell really nice. It’s given to individuals, corporations, charities, etc, etc. I don’t have one, but I did instruct a cartoonist, who doesn’t have any national awards, on how to submit an application for it…and they gave … [Read more...] about THANKS TO ELON (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Political violence in America isn’t going away anytime soon
A member of the National Guard patrols the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2021. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County A warning about the threat of political violence heading into the 2022 midterm elections was issued to state and local law enforcement officials by the U.S. Department of Homeland … [Read more...] about Political violence in America isn’t going away anytime soon
THE BIG GOP LIE
Examining Different Notions About the Afterlife
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin Journeys to Heaven and Hell by Bart D. Ehrman, a highly respected New Testament scholar, tells some of the different notions various nations and people had about the afterlife in ancient times. He describes a wide variety of katabases and anabases, but not all. Katabasis means going down, a descent. It is used to describe a journey to the … [Read more...] about Examining Different Notions About the Afterlife
MUSK’S TWITTER HELLSCAPE
A ROADMAP TO REPUBLICAN GRIEVANCE IN 2022
by John L. Micek A new poll provides an eye-opening glimpse into the values and motivations of the modern Republican Party, and the cultural and political forces that will drive the party faithful to the polls on Nov. 8. The latest American Values poll by the Public Religion Research Institute also zooms in on the views of white evangelical Protestants who backed former … [Read more...] about A ROADMAP TO REPUBLICAN GRIEVANCE IN 2022
A new wave of celebrity politicians breaks the rules on acceptable behavior, inspired by Trump
Kari Lake, the GOP candidate for Arizona governor, campaigns at a rally on Oct. 9, 2022. Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images Donna M Goldstein, University of Colorado Boulder and Kristen Drybread, University of Colorado Boulder After two former girlfriends accused Herschel Walker, the Georgia Republican Senate nominee and former football … [Read more...] about A new wave of celebrity politicians breaks the rules on acceptable behavior, inspired by Trump
An Election Paradox
When is an election not an election? When one of the candidates refuses to accept the results of the election even before it is held. There are currently a host of Republican candidates for federal, state and local offices who deny that the results of the 2020 presidential election were valid and state that Donald Trump actually won the election. Some of these so-called … [Read more...] about An Election Paradox
Conservative US Supreme Court reconsidering affirmative action, leaving the use of race in college admissions on the brink of extinction
The U.S. Supreme Court in its official portrait on Oct. 7, 2022. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images Travis Knoll, University of North Carolina – Charlotte The U.S. military learned a valuable lesson about race during the Vietnam War: Diversity does not happen without affirmative action. That helps explain why a distinguished group of 35 military … [Read more...] about Conservative US Supreme Court reconsidering affirmative action, leaving the use of race in college admissions on the brink of extinction
FREE HAMMERS
Abortion is not influencing most voters as the midterms approach – economic issues are predominating in new survey
Amy Cox, a Democratic candidate running to be an Ohio state representative, speaks with a potential voter on Oct. 23, 2022. Megan Jelinger/AFP via Getty Images Matthew A Baum, Harvard Kennedy School; Alauna Safarpour, Harvard Kennedy School; Jonathan Schulman, Northwestern University, and Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Harvard Kennedy School Since the Supreme … [Read more...] about Abortion is not influencing most voters as the midterms approach – economic issues are predominating in new survey
How dubious ‘local news’ sites are feeding US misinformation
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - When Elon Musk amplified a conspiracy theory about the hammer attack on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, he joined the growing ranks of Americans routinely sharing misinformation published by dubious websites presenting themselves as local news outlets. The new Twitter owner eventually deleted his tweet linking to the false article by … [Read more...] about How dubious ‘local news’ sites are feeding US misinformation