William Kristol describes the first night of the Republican convention in The Weekly Standard. It was always perhaps the stupider party, the clumsier party, and the stodgier party. But it was also the sounder party, the more constitutional party, and the more responsible party. Now, Donald Trump's Republican party is stupider than ever, but it is no longer sound or … [Read more...] about Kristol on GOP Convention, Night 1
Melania Trump’s RNC Speech Was Blatantly Plagiarized From Michelle Obama’s 2008 DNC Speech (Video)
The Melania Trump Tapes On the first day of the Republican National Convention there was plenty of drama and controversy to roil the Trump campaign. A vote on the convention rules blew up with many delegates disgusted by the Trump team's bullying tactics. Some early speakers took harsh and negative tones that were contrary to the… … [Read more...] about Melania Trump’s RNC Speech Was Blatantly Plagiarized From Michelle Obama’s 2008 DNC Speech (Video)
Cartoon: Blood Runs Rouge
Blood Runs Rouge by Clay Jones I’ve drawn too many cartoons and written too many columns on the violence sweeping our nation right now. Yesterday I wrote how I was surprised another terrorist attack didn’t occur before I could draw a cartoon about Nice, France. Today three policemen, one black, were killed in Baton Rouge, the capital of my home state. Someone else’s … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Blood Runs Rouge
Assembling the Worst Possible Candidate
Scientific Electoral Breakthrough! Scientists are euphoric. They believe they have finally created The Rottenest Major Party Candidate in United States History, or TRMPCUSH for short. Granted, they have made similar claims before (see the Buchanan Degradation and the Harding Humiliation). “With the aid of supercomputers, we think we found the Holy Grail this time,” said … [Read more...] about Assembling the Worst Possible Candidate
The coronation of a charlatan
WASHINGTON -- Years from now, bright-eyed children will look up at Grandma or Grandpa and ask, "Where were you when they nominated Donald Trump?" Far too many prominent Republicans will have to hang their heads in shame. As the garish imperial coronation in Cleveland reaches its climax, there will be much commentary -- some, no doubt, from me -- about fleeting events. … [Read more...] about The coronation of a charlatan
Sullivan on GOP Convention, Night #1
Andrew Sullivan sums up the first night of the Republican Convention for New York Magazine. Just mulling over the events tonight, there’s one obvious stand-out. I didn’t hear any specific policy proposals to tackle clearly stated public problems. It is almost as if governing, for the Republican right, is fundamentally about an attitude, rather than about experience or … [Read more...] about Sullivan on GOP Convention, Night #1
This Week in Press the Nation…in Review
Part I - Talking Heads Sonny, my Dachshund, was surprised during our Sunday morning walk. I bought three newspapers. He had not seen that much paper pulp since he was a puppy. I was girding myself for the morning political shows on the eve of the Republican National Convention. Devoted as I am to blogging about our nation, I am duty-bound at least to keep the TV on. … [Read more...] about This Week in Press the Nation…in Review
A 1964 Political Ad Finds a Home and Its Target Once More
Some of our younger readers may not remember or only have a very faint recollection of the 1964 presidential campaign. I, for one, remember. I especially remember a television ad released by the Lyndon B. Johnson campaign. The ad, referred to variously as “Daisy,” "Daisy Girl" or "Peace, Little Girl," depicts a lovely 3-year-old little girl “in a meadow with chirping … [Read more...] about A 1964 Political Ad Finds a Home and Its Target Once More
Politix Update: The Republican Convention Promises To Be A Paean To Intolerance
Embed from Getty Images The quadrennial national political gatherings lost their excitement many years ago as the smoke-filled backroom morphed into the prime-time infomercial, but the Republican National Convention opening on Monday evening in Cleveland promises to be different: It will be a four-day hostage video courtesy of Donald Trump interspersed with paeans to … [Read more...] about Politix Update: The Republican Convention Promises To Be A Paean To Intolerance
GOP, RIP?
The Republican Party came to life as the bastion of "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Free Men." It was a reformist party dedicated to stopping the spread of slavery and to fighting a "Slave Power" its founders saw as undermining free institutions. The new political organization grew out of the old Whigs and reflected the faith that Henry Clay and his admirer Abraham … [Read more...] about GOP, RIP?
Cartoon: Trump’s Platform
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 Platform
Obama helped us peer into the racial divide
WASHINGTON -- President Obama gave a majestic speech in Dallas, one of the best of his presidency, at once a soaring tribute to slain police officers and an affirmation of peaceful protest. But he was wrong about one thing: On race, sadly, we are as divided as we seem. This condition is not due to anything Obama has said or done. He bends so far backward to avoid giving … [Read more...] about Obama helped us peer into the racial divide
New Hillary Clinton ad: Role Models
I like this ad. It's the latest effort by the Hillary Clinton campaign to remind voters that boorish behaviour in a candidate aspiring to the presidency of the United States is not acceptable. The best part is that it relies almost entirely on comments made by the presumptive GOP candidate himself. Depicted also are children watching Trump say the kinds of things he cannot … [Read more...] about New Hillary Clinton ad: Role Models
Trump’s convention could revive the GOP ? or kill it
CLEVELAND — Will the idea of "President Donald Trump" seem plausible by Thursday night? Or will rioting and big-name no-shows take the spotlight off this week's Republican convention? The GOP opens its four-day convention Monday facing an uncommon amount of uncertainty. Such events long ago stopped being true party meetings where disagreements were aired and candidate… … [Read more...] about Trump’s convention could revive the GOP ? or kill it
3 police officers killed in Baton Rouge
Three police officers were shot to death Sunday in Baton Rouge, La. The gunman was killed by police, and authorities said no others were sought. "We do believe the person who shot and killed our officers, he is the person who is shot and killed. We don't believe we have any shooters holed up," said Col.… … [Read more...] about 3 police officers killed in Baton Rouge
Jaws 2 – The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel (Book Review)
Review by Steve D. Stones I'll never forget seeing a trailer for Jaws when I was about three years old. The images on the screen scared me so bad that I wanted to crawl under my seat and hide forever. When my family took a trip to Southern California in the late 1970s, I didn't want to get out of the car to go down to the beach for fear that a shark might get me. Movie goers … [Read more...] about Jaws 2 – The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel (Book Review)
For Trump, it’s (white) America First
WASHINGTON -- It was just another week in Donald Trump's (white) America First campaign. At least twice, Trump alleged that people have called for a "moment of silence" for the madman who killed five police officers in Dallas at a Black Lives Matter protest. It was an incendiary accusation, bound to stir racial hatred. Like Trump's accusation that New Jersey … [Read more...] about For Trump, it’s (white) America First
Book Review: Nguyen’s ‘Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam And The Memory Of War’
Every American generation, it seems, has its own war. My grandparents had the Great War, my parents had the Good War, and I had the Vietnam War, with the Forgotten War in between. My children had the Iraq War and, at the rate things are going, my grandchildren with inherit the War in Afghanistan, which at 15 years and counting, is far and away the U.S.'s longest overseas … [Read more...] about Book Review: Nguyen’s ‘Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam And The Memory Of War’
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: The Trump Pence Ticket
Trump Pence by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Trump's Pence pick may give Clinton more running mate options --Donald Trump Delivers a Long, Passionate Speech. He Introduces Mike Pence, Too. --Trump’s Pence introduction takes 2016 in even weirder direction --Two days, two campaign logos: Trump, Pence try, try again Mike Peters is recognized as one of our … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: The Trump Pence Ticket
Military Weekend – A Flurry of Visits
This past week saw several high level visits by the White House and the Department of Defense to Naval installations and ships around the world and to Afghanistan. After attending NATO and European Union meetings in Poland, President Obama visited U.S. Naval Station Rota in Spain and the USS Ross. Lead photo: U.S. and Spanish military leaders renders honors to President … [Read more...] about Military Weekend – A Flurry of Visits