'Undecided' About What? By Peter Funt Now that the political conventions have finished cementing allegiance among party faithful, the focus shifts to the most misguided group in presidential politics: "undecideds." Each quadrennial we are reminded that these voters, along with their partners in delusion, "independents," will determine the outcome. While that is … [Read more...] about ‘Undecided’ About What? (Guest Voice)
Due Your Best To Maintain Your Relative Honor (edited)
Edited. The image above is piece I paid big bucks for at an auction for cancer survivors when my daughter was in stage four of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Lance Armstrong was an inspiration to my family as a survivor. He won seven times at the Tour de France. But his career was plagued by accusations of cheating and criminal activity. He was never caught with a drug test … [Read more...] about Due Your Best To Maintain Your Relative Honor (edited)
Kaine Made Introduction To America – And Should Have Them At Hello
“Kaine is able.” – New Jersey Senator Corey Booker, himself a vice-presidential finalist, on the selection of his Senate colleague, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. Photo via The New York Times Exhilarating! That is the first word that comes to mind about the masterful speech of vice-presidential pick Tim Kaine’s to the Democratic National Convention last night. I use the … [Read more...] about Kaine Made Introduction To America – And Should Have Them At Hello
Trump Outsourcing American Jobs
It took almost no time for Donald Trump to show his hand on American jobs. He's against them. In the computer industry, in which Americans have expertise, if not greatness, he recruited overseas workers instead. Trump made his pitch directly to Vladimir Putin, asking him to put Russian computer hackers to work breaking into U.S. government and Democratic Party servers. … [Read more...] about Trump Outsourcing American Jobs
High Dem Ratings: DNC Beats RNC by Nearly 5 Million Viewers in Night 2 Final Numbers
In terms of ratings, the Democrats' convention TV "specials" are beating the Donald Trump produced ones. Variety reports: The final TV ratings are in for the second night of the Democratic National Convention, and once again the DNC attracted a larger audience than its Republican counterparts did last week. From 10-11:15 p.m. — a timeframe that included headline speaker … [Read more...] about High Dem Ratings: DNC Beats RNC by Nearly 5 Million Viewers in Night 2 Final Numbers
Obama: Continuity we can believe in (UPDATED)
PHILADELPHIA -- Barack Obama's mission on behalf of Hillary Clinton on Wednesday night was personal and political. He testified to her virtues as a would-be president in a way only a current president could. He insisted that the administration both of them helped fashion pulled the country from the economic abyss. And he sought to safeguard his legacy by ensuring his time in … [Read more...] about Obama: Continuity we can believe in (UPDATED)
Michael Bloomberg: Donald Trump a ‘con man’
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Wednesday night that Donald Trump is a "con man," telling Democrats "God help us" if the Republican nominee runs the U.S. government like he runs his business empire. "I'm a New Yorker, and I know a con when I see one," Mr. Bloomberg, an independent, said at the… … [Read more...] about Michael Bloomberg: Donald Trump a ‘con man’
The Audacity of Hope, Revisited
Andrew Sullivan and Josh Marshall report on the re-emergence of hope at the DNC, night 3. Sullivan:It’s been a long and entirely unexpected journey with this extraordinary figure. I’ve doubted and panicked, I’ve hyper-ventilated and wept, I’ve worried and persevered. We did a lot of that together, you and me. But I have one thing to say: he never let us down. He kept his cool, … [Read more...] about The Audacity of Hope, Revisited
Cartoon: Putin and Wikileaks
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: Putin and Wikileaks
(Updated) Media Reaction to Trump’s Encouragement of Putin to Cyber Spy on U.S
Update: Everyone can relax now. Trump’s comments about asking Russia to hack Hillary Clinton’s e-mails were only a joke. When asked on Thursday about it by Fox News' Brian Kilmeade, Trump said, "Of course I'm being sarcastic." It is not clear if Trump was jesting once more when Kilmeade asked him if he would respond to aggression by Putin with force. "I'm not … [Read more...] about (Updated) Media Reaction to Trump’s Encouragement of Putin to Cyber Spy on U.S
Just the Facts – US Gross Domestic Product
The Republican mantra last week was about change. I thought it would be beneficial to determine what actually needs to be changed by looking at hard economic data and comparing the presidency of President Obama to that of his four predecessors. I realize that all of these measures can be effected by things outside of the control or influence of the president, or even the … [Read more...] about Just the Facts – US Gross Domestic Product
Politix Update: The Story That Dangerous Donald Trump Insists On Keeping Alive
The news that state-sponsored hackers backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin stole 20,000 email messages from the Democratic National Committee's email server and handed them off to the obliging Wikileaks organization burst onto the scene over the weekend and within a day had taken on epic proportions as it became clear that the cyber theft was merely the tip of a big and … [Read more...] about Politix Update: The Story That Dangerous Donald Trump Insists On Keeping Alive
Trump urges Russian government to steal classified intelligence if necessary to help him beat Clinton
Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump is now cheering on and encouraging hacking by Russian hackers increasingly -- and strongly -- believed by experts to be working for the Russian government to undermine Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Trump's own running mate Sen. Mike Pence is distancing himself from Trump, but I'm betting Sean, Rush, and many … [Read more...] about Trump urges Russian government to steal classified intelligence if necessary to help him beat Clinton
Bill Clinton’s most important speech
PHILADELPHIA -- It was hard to imagine that Bill Clinton could make as powerful a speech on behalf of his wife as he did on behalf of Barack Obama four years ago. Advocating Obama's re-election required an extended argument about public policy, a persuasive mobilization of facts and figures, and a series of pokes at the Republican Party. Few politicians are better at … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton’s most important speech
Some Trump-style speculation on the GOP and Putin
PHILADELPHIA -- Donald Trump never met a conspiracy theory he didn't like -- until now. He has dabbled in, among other things, the notion that President Obama is a Muslim born in Kenya, that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was murdered and that Ted Cruz's father was involved in the JFK assassination. But on one topic, Trump is conspicuously incurious: the … [Read more...] about Some Trump-style speculation on the GOP and Putin
Bill’s Valedictory
Bill Clinton appeared as the featured speaker on the DNC's second night. He came after the official nomination and the ceremonial shattering of the glass ceiling (I involuntarily shouted, "Mazel Tov" at the screen). Bill is moving stiffly now, trembling slightly, his voice a bit hoarser and weaker than in his prime. He took us on Hillary and Bill Clinton's fabulous … [Read more...] about Bill’s Valedictory
Egyptian Christians Under Attack
Egyptian Christians are under attack. From the news: "The leader of Egypt's Coptic Christian church is warning of increased attacks on Christians, saying national unity is being "defaced." In a Monday meeting with lawmakers, Pope Tawadros II said that since 2013 there have been 37 sectarian attacks on Christians — nearly an incident a month." "The pope made his comments … [Read more...] about Egyptian Christians Under Attack
Sullivan, Marshall on DNC, Night 2
Andrew Sullivan and Josh Marshall on Bill Clinton's speech to the DNC. Sullivan: He’s so good. He’s slowly building the case for a woman who has worked her whole life in public service, interspersed with his dating tips. He speaks with brilliantly varying pace, weaving anecdote and argument together. He’s telling us a story. He’s reintroducing this woman to America. I … [Read more...] about Sullivan, Marshall on DNC, Night 2
Cartoon: A Sellout of Many Different Colors
A Sellout of Many Different Colors by Clay Jones I ran into a former coworker and fellow newspaper guy a couple days ago and he brought up how mean people are during this political season. I told him how a person who normally likes my work, and is a Bernie Sanders supporter, called me an imbecile a couple days ago (she’s accused me before of having her in mind when I wrote … [Read more...] about Cartoon: A Sellout of Many Different Colors
Can Hillary Convince Voters She’s the Optimistic Candidate?
Can Hillary Convince Voters She's the Optimistic Candidate? By John L. Micek PHILADELPHIA - After four days of doom and gloom in Donald Trump's America, Democrats have a deceptively simple task to accomplish with their convention this week: Namely, convincing broad swaths of voters that Hillary Clinton and her new running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, possess the … [Read more...] about Can Hillary Convince Voters She’s the Optimistic Candidate?