Why Is Democracy So Messy and Unsatisfying? by Anthony Stahelski Introduction Many dissatisfied Americans complain about the ‘messiness’ of democracy, by which they mean either the partisan negativity of the electoral process, or the seeming inability of our current political system to get anything done and solve chronic problems. Rather than attempting to … [Read more...] about Why Is Democracy So Messy and Unsatisfying? (Guest Voice)
Is democracy dying?
With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, it was widely assumed that liberal democracy would inherit the Earth. As a system of government, it appeared to provide good governance and prosperity, as well as individual liberty. That was in stark contrast to the oppression, misery and bankruptcy of communist dictatorships and military strongmen. But… … [Read more...] about Is democracy dying?
Cartoon: Trumpy Troll
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Trumpy Troll
Top Trump campaign aide guilty on 10 counts of election fraud
Brandon Hall, the controversial west Michigan blogger who served as a key figure in the Donald Trump campaign’s organizing efforts across the state, was found guilty today on 10 felony counts of election fraud. In Ottawa County Circuit Court, a jury took less than an hour to find Hall guilty of forging signatures on nominating petitions for a circuit judge candidate who was … [Read more...] about Top Trump campaign aide guilty on 10 counts of election fraud
U.S. Air Force Band Once Again ‘Delights and Surprises’
My wife tells me that flash mobs are not in style so much anymore. Fortunately for us, the U.S. Air Force Band has not gotten the word yet as they have, for the fourth year in a row, kicked off the holiday season with one of their surprising and delightful holiday-themed "flash mobs." As they have done for the past three years -- here, here and here -- members of the … [Read more...] about U.S. Air Force Band Once Again ‘Delights and Surprises’
The election really was rigged
WASHINGTON -- A voting scandal of epic proportion tilted this election. The scam involved millions of people. No, I'm not talking about the recount the Clinton campaign joined in Wisconsin and may seek in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Hillary Clinton and her aides were correct before, when they said voting fraud is rare. The recounts won't change the election's outcome. … [Read more...] about The election really was rigged
Cartoon: Trump’s Twitter Tirades
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Trump’s Twitter Tirades
Trump says he will leave his business ‘in total to fully focus on running the country’
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday morning that he would "leave" his business operations "in total to fully focus on running the country." Trump's vast interests in real estate and other ventures have raised unprecedented concerns about the potential for conflict of interest, both at home and internationally. In one of a series of tweets,… … [Read more...] about Trump says he will leave his business ‘in total to fully focus on running the country’
My Friendly Skies
November 30, 2016 Note to readers: This is the latest entry in Baby DonDon’s diary. The series imagines that President-elect Donald Trump has the emotional make-up of a five-year-old and confides his deepest thoughts—such as they are—to Andrew Feinberg, and to readers, every day. In his private moments, he always thinks of himself as Baby DonDon. So one of Super Baby … [Read more...] about My Friendly Skies
Trump pledged to protect Medicare; his choice for health secretary has other ideas
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump reassured voters during his insurgent political campaign that he would protect Medicare, Social Security and other popular federal assistance programs. But in tapping Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to be his Health and Human Services secretary, he has elevated one of the most aggressive proponents of dramatically overhauling the government … [Read more...] about Trump pledged to protect Medicare; his choice for health secretary has other ideas
The Moderate Voice under DoS and hacking attack
Regular readers of The Moderate Voice have emailed us often the past two weeks to let us know that TMV was down. A lot. The reason? We have been under fierce, sustained hacking attempts and DoS attacks. If you're reading this, it means some security measures being taken are working. But this is not the first time some folks apparently have wanted this modest sized blog and the … [Read more...] about The Moderate Voice under DoS and hacking attack
Cartoon: Flying with Fanatics
Flying With Fanatics by Clay Jones It’s bad enough having to listen to Trump nuts at family dinners, your local tavern, on the internet, Fox News, etc. Imagine getting stuck next to one on an airplane. One such passenger seated next to a Trump fanatic whipped out her camera and made a video of the guy standing in the aisle shouting at the other passengers. Apparently Delta … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Flying with Fanatics
Butt Hurt @ Breitbart
If a story published by the Associated Press is accurate, then the management of the Breitbart website is experiencing a case of butt hurt. From The Hill: "Kellogg Co. says it is pulling its ads from Breitbart News, the conservative website whose former chairman Stephen Bannon will serve in Donald Trump’s White House." The Associated Press story quotes Breitbart … [Read more...] about Butt Hurt @ Breitbart
HIGH TIME FOR QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AS CALIFORNIA’S PROP 64 PASSAGE PLACES MARIJUANA IN LIMELIGHT
High Time for Questions, Answers as California's Prop 64 Passage Places Marijuana in Limelight by Thea Skinner SAN DIEGO - Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), approved by voters, legalizes recreational use of marijuana in California, where legal medical use continues for some two decades. Legalization of recreational pot is raising questions from cities, … [Read more...] about HIGH TIME FOR QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AS CALIFORNIA’S PROP 64 PASSAGE PLACES MARIJUANA IN LIMELIGHT
Guest post: ‘Sh! The Octopus’ — a fun 1930s’ comedy chiller
By Steve D. Stones This 1937 comedy-mystery feature produced by Warner Brothers is loosely based on a stage play known as The Gorilla, then later made as a 1930 talkie, and was then made into a comedy starring the Ritz brothers in 1939. In this version, an octopus is substituted for the gorilla role. The script has many miles on it from its various filmed versions. The film … [Read more...] about Guest post: ‘Sh! The Octopus’ — a fun 1930s’ comedy chiller
The ‘Candy Bombers’ Revisited
Two years ago , when ISIL was inflicting so many horrific crimes on the peoples of Iraq and Syria there were some glimmers of good news for the allied forces fighting the terrorists. Those glimmers came when allied forces rescued an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 Yazidis who had fled to Mount Sinjar, Iraq, where they languished for days in the heat without food, water or medicine. … [Read more...] about The ‘Candy Bombers’ Revisited
Anomalies or Realignment: This Year, Historical Partisan Voting Defied Norms
In 2008, there were Obamicans and this year, Trumpocrats. It was urban versus rural, rich versus poor, educated versus under-educated. Those demographics went head-to-head in the recently concluded Presidential election and the results were not on expected lines. Many metropolitan areas where economic comfort reins, – places that are beyond suburbia but not quite edge … [Read more...] about Anomalies or Realignment: This Year, Historical Partisan Voting Defied Norms
Trump’s ‘news’ source: Alien lizards, fluoride mind control and voter fraud
"Report: Three Million Votes in Presidential Election Cast by Illegal Aliens; Trump may have won popular vote." -- Infowars, website of leading conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, Nov. 14( "In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally." -- Donald Trump, president-elect … [Read more...] about Trump’s ‘news’ source: Alien lizards, fluoride mind control and voter fraud
Sucking Up Works for Only So Long
November 29, 2016 Note to readers: This is the latest entry in Baby DonDon’s diary. The series imagines that President-elect Donald Trump has the emotional make-up of a five-year-old and confides his deepest thoughts—such as they are—to Andrew Feinberg, and to readers, every day. In his private moments, he always thinks of himself as Baby DonDon. Hello, again, my friends! … [Read more...] about Sucking Up Works for Only So Long
News on Trump and the Old Post Office Building
It’s going to be amazing,” he said. “It’s a great thing for the country. It’s a great thing for Washington.” That was Donald Trump, March 21, 2016, speaking about the Old Post Office, which was built in 1899. The General Services Administration (GSA) awarded Trump the contract in 2012. Trump promised to employ the architect who had, over decades, championed the … [Read more...] about News on Trump and the Old Post Office Building