A piece in the Washington Post caught my attention not only because of the subject, but also because of who penned it. In “Trump’s Shallowness Runs Deep,” the author recalls the 1870s period, the days of Boss Tweed’s Tammany Hall, and the 1950s and 1960s, “when Chicago’s Democratic machine was especially rampant…” [During those years], there was a phenomenon that … [Read more...] about On Trump’s ‘Shallowness’
The Crossing
Trump clamored into the mid-ships of the small, sleek scow. He stood stiff-legged once the boat stopped bobbing. "Please sit," said the ferryman. Trump dropped heavily onto the plank seat, grabbing the gunwales. The ferryman swept the stern line off the cleat and stepped lightly into the boat with one leg. He pushed off with the other leg and settled in the stern, … [Read more...] about The Crossing
The party that lost its soul
WASHINGTON -- "What does this say about your party that this is your standard bearer?" The headlines from President Obama's excoriation of Donald Trump on Tuesday rightly highlighted his flat declaration that the Republican nominee is "unfit to serve as president." But the challenge to Republican leaders who fell in line behind Trump was even more devastating. … [Read more...] about The party that lost its soul
Clinton extends lead over Trump to 8 points: Reuters/Ipsos poll
By Grant Smith NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton extended her lead over Republican rival Donald Trump to eight percentage points, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, from six points on Friday. The bump for Clinton followed the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week at which Clinton and her supporters … [Read more...] about Clinton extends lead over Trump to 8 points: Reuters/Ipsos poll
Interview with Naomi Paik on Guantanamo and other U.S. prison camps
Interview with Naomi Paik A. Naomi Paik is Assistant Professor of Asian American studies at the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana. Professor Paik holds a B.A. from Columbia, and an M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Yale University, She is the author of "Rightlessness: Testimony and Redress in US Prison Camps since World War II." On July 15, 2016, I had the privilege … [Read more...] about Interview with Naomi Paik on Guantanamo and other U.S. prison camps
Cartoons: Hillary’s House of Lies
Hillary's House of Lies by Clay Jones I wouldn’t say Hillary Clinton is a liar. But I would say she’s not entirely truthful. She, like her husband, has a penchant for using legalese to get around the truth. Remember the “definition of is” speech? People don’t like lawyers as it is. When she gave an interview to Chris Wallace and claimed FBI director James Comey said her … [Read more...] about Cartoons: Hillary’s House of Lies
Reaching a Tipping Point?
Are we reaching a tipping point in the 2016 Presidential election (with the implosion of the Trump campaign) or is this just a combination of a Clinton post-convention bounce and 24/7 media meme of the day? Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo has had as good a finger on the pulse of this cycle as anyone. Here is a sampling from today: We've had Judge Curiel, Megyn Kelly, … [Read more...] about Reaching a Tipping Point?
Is A Trump Dropout Inconceivable
Why are Republicans crossing the road? To get to the other side. You’ve got to hand it to Donald Trump – he knows how to get a convention bounce. The problem is it went – and continues to go, to Hillary Clinton. Trump’s self-inflicted wounds and horrible joke of a campaign have made his viability as a candidate nearly non-existent. This is increasing the odds that he won’t … [Read more...] about Is A Trump Dropout Inconceivable
Politix Update: Outrage Fatigue & The Perils Of Dismissing Trump’s Demagoguery
For wherever ruthless men conspired together for their own ends, wherever the rule of dog-eat-dog was dominant, there it bred. And wherever one found it, one also found that its roots sank down into something primitive in man's ugly past. ~ THOMAS WOLFE, "You Can't Go Home Again" Say what you will about Donald Trump. I've said plenty and will have plenty more to say, but … [Read more...] about Politix Update: Outrage Fatigue & The Perils Of Dismissing Trump’s Demagoguery
Trump’s act is wearing thin
ASHBURN, Va. -- Maybe this is how it ends for Donald Trump: not with a bang but with a child's whimper. The Republican presidential nominee, rallying supporters in a high school auditorium here, was talking about Chinese currency manipulation when an infant began to cry. "Don't worry about that baby. I love babies," he said. "Don't worry. The mom's running … [Read more...] about Trump’s act is wearing thin
The Purple Heart Is Not a Trading Card, Mr. Trump
The Purple Heart is the oldest U.S. military decoration. The medal originated during the Revolutionary War, thanks to the personal efforts of Gen. George Washington who established the Badge of Military Merit to be awarded to Continental Army troops who displayed unusual acts of “gallantry, extraordinary fidelity and essential service” during combat. During its 220-year … [Read more...] about The Purple Heart Is Not a Trading Card, Mr. Trump
McDonald’s ditching preservatives, antibiotics in move to appeal to customers
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 McDonald's is scrapping preservatives in its meats, corn syrup in its hamburger buns - sugar will now be the sweetener of choice - and antibiotics in its chicken, Reuters reported Tuesday. "McDonald's had previously … [Read more...] about McDonald’s ditching preservatives, antibiotics in move to appeal to customers
Cartoon: Khan versus Trump
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: Khan versus Trump
Is There Something ‘Very Wrong’ with Donald Trump?
At first, he was called a bully, a charlatan, a narcissist, an egomaniac...thin-skinned, arrogant. At first, some were beguiled by Donald Trump’s behavior. As the campaign intensified, so did the attributes ascribed to Trump: Racist, bigot, xenophobe, vindictive, misogynist and so on. Many were no longer bemused by his chicanery, his antics and his circus act. As … [Read more...] about Is There Something ‘Very Wrong’ with Donald Trump?
Alabama revisits racist past this week
If we are to be serious about the war on terror, we have to acknowledge that it began long before September 11, 2001. ~ G. Douglas Jones, former U.S. Attorney [Update: Parole denied] The Alabama parole board meets Wednesday August 3 to determine if convicted child murderer -- and domestic terrorist in act but not label -- Thomas Blanton is eligible for early parole … [Read more...] about Alabama revisits racist past this week
Battling the New Jim Crow
North Dakota joined the walk of shame. It became the latest state to have its 2013 voter I. D. law overturned. Native Americans successfully pressed the case that North Dakota did not have a voter fraud problem that needed fixing. Its mandatory I.D. law was intended to put a damper on Native American suffrage. In rural Georgia, police deputies were dispatched with orders to … [Read more...] about Battling the New Jim Crow
How Hillary Can Win (Guest Voice)
How Hillary Can Win by David Anderson Hillary Clinton is fighting an old style campaign. She needs a new dynamic, one obsessed with greater turnout partly by targeting neglected demographics, a task which thanks to technology is much easier now. Just as Obama's use of social media was so successful in 2012, ferreting out specific demographics and tailoring outreaches to … [Read more...] about How Hillary Can Win (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: Trump and Sacrifice
Trump and Sacrifice by Clay Jones On the last night of the Democratic National Convention Khizr Khan, his wife Ghazala by his side, recounted to the crowd how his son was killed in 2004 by a car bomb in Iraq. Khan also criticized Donald Trump for his proposed ban on Muslims (which would have prevented his son from serving), that the billionaire had never read the … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Trump and Sacrifice
Khizr Khan also illuminated the Hebrew Scripture
When Khizr Khan, the brave and dignified Muslim father whose son, Capt. Humayun Khan, gave his life fighting for this country in Iraq, Mr. Khan challenged Donald Trump: “Have you ever even read the Constitution of the United States?” Khan said more in his grieving and passionate words than most of the flatulent political opportunists who occupied the daises of both party … [Read more...] about Khizr Khan also illuminated the Hebrew Scripture
Trump’s supreme lack of presidential fitness
WASHINGTON -- During the primary season, as Donald Trump's bizarre outbursts helped him crush the competition, I thought he was being crazy like a fox. Now I am increasingly convinced that he's just plain crazy. I'm serious about that. Leave aside for the moment Trump's policies, which in my opinion range from the unconstitutional to the un-American to the potentially … [Read more...] about Trump’s supreme lack of presidential fitness