Scalia Dies, Unions Win By Dick Polman When Senate Republicans hatched their scheme to stonewall President Obama's Supreme Court nominee - whoever it might be, regardless of merit - they overlooked the ramifications of a year of 4-4 decisions. Whenever the high court is stalemated, the lower-court rulings prevail. And it just so happens that the lower courts are … [Read more...] about Scalia Dies, Unions Win (Guest Voice)
1.4 million wasted votes raise questions about early voting
Early voting is widely viewed as an advance in ballot access that provides a fairer election process for those who have trouble getting to the polls on Election Day. But the ups and downs of the 2016 primary season certainly raise questions about employing an early voting system during a volatile nominating process in which candidates abruptly drop out, leaving their … [Read more...] about 1.4 million wasted votes raise questions about early voting
The GOP Blame Game
Kirsten Powers on the Republican establishment's attempt to blame Trump's rise on President Obama in USA Today. Who is to blame for the unraveling of the Republican Party? If you listen to establishment gurus, you'd be led to believe that the Republican primary voter revolt was birthed by the governance of President Obama, creating fertile ground for the emergence of one … [Read more...] about The GOP Blame Game
Democracies and Demographics
Demographic changes occurring in developed nations presage a different future for these states. In relation to these changes, two elements must be considered in these countries. One is the current age distribution of the population and how it is expected to evolve, including the birth rate and life expectancy. The second is how the revamped racial, ethnic and religious make-up … [Read more...] about Democracies and Demographics
Dan Rather Speaks Truths About Media Carrying Water for Trump
Says the Press owners have forgotten or dont know that their main feature is supposed to be holding public trust, meaning reporting truths to them, not platitudes, old saws, shrugs. That the run for money has destroyed the public trust that Les Moonves, head of CBS, whom Rather said is a good man... yet Moonves said the equiv of 'Donald Trump is bad for the nation, but good … [Read more...] about Dan Rather Speaks Truths About Media Carrying Water for Trump
Yes, HRC’s supporters might actually be enthusiastic
No great surprise that a new Gallup poll shows Donald Trump's Republican supporters significantly more enthusiastic than his Republican rivals' supporters. What does surprise, perhaps even shock, is that the same poll shows Hillary Clinton with an "enthusiasm advantage" over Bernie Sanders among Democratic voters. To be clear, what this shows is that, according to Gallup, of … [Read more...] about Yes, HRC’s supporters might actually be enthusiastic
Republicans, if you aren’t embarrassed, you aren’t paying attention (Guest Voice)
A new poll shows 60 percent of Republicans are embarrassed by their party's race for the White House. I have a question about that. What's wrong with the other 40 percent? They aren't embarrassed? Or aren't they paying attention? Maybe they're too busy watching something with more substance, like "The Bachelor." The garbage race keeps getting… … [Read more...] about Republicans, if you aren’t embarrassed, you aren’t paying attention (Guest Voice)
A foreshadow? Trump’s campaign manager Lewandowski charged with battery of reporter puts Trump camp in full defense mode
Republican businessman Donald Trump's campaign is proving to be an infected zit on the face of an already blemished American political system. The headlines are dominated by his name calling, feuds, foul-mouth, demonizing and divisive rhetoric clearly aimed to push the emotional buttons of many voters disgusted over being played by professional politicians. Forget givens, … [Read more...] about A foreshadow? Trump’s campaign manager Lewandowski charged with battery of reporter puts Trump camp in full defense mode
Big Union victory: Supreme Court’s tie vote upholds public employee union fees
The Supreme Court announced a tie vote today in what labor law experts had called a "life-or-death" case for public employee unions. The split decision preserves a long-standing rule that requires about half of the nation's teachers, transit workers and other public employees to pay a "fair share fee" to support their union. The tie vote… … [Read more...] about Big Union victory: Supreme Court’s tie vote upholds public employee union fees
Physician Aid in Dying/Physician Assisted Suicide: You say tomato I say tomahto
You say Tomato I say Tomahto by Kim Mooney It’s called Physician Aid in Dying if you support it. Physician Assisted Suicide if you don’t. The arguments start right there, with the name. All of the words around this issue are loaded. Both ‘sides’ have claimed to understand what dignity means for every one of us, even though no one called me. There are at least 15 … [Read more...] about Physician Aid in Dying/Physician Assisted Suicide: You say tomato I say tomahto
Media ‘R’ Trump
Media 'R' Trump By Peter Funt Is the media to blame for Donald Trump? With each of his victories and headline grabbing public events the question is asked anew. The answer is complicated because the media is more than journalism. Trump is a product of the entertainment and marketing sides, and he's enabled by the social media sector. Journalistically, Trump was … [Read more...] about Media ‘R’ Trump
Grape Juice: Older family members preferred new Welch’s brand
Grape Juice: Older family members preferred new brand by Donald Harrison SAN DIEGO – After the blessings over the candles, grape juice, and bread, my wife, two of my grandsons, and I carefully sipped another glass of Welch’s Calcium 100% Grape Juice. In imitation of wine connoisseurs, we then cleansed our palates with water and availed ourselves of the new Welch’s … [Read more...] about Grape Juice: Older family members preferred new Welch’s brand
The Republican Party’s Slow Motion Suicide
When the Democratic party falls into pieces, there's a certain political logic to the split: Right vs. Left. But not the GOP. Republicans, Jonathan Chait argues, do it their own way. Or so would seem given the current crack-up. Oddly enough, the polarizing candidate occupies the center of the remaining presidential field, with one opponent on his right (Ted Cruz) and … [Read more...] about The Republican Party’s Slow Motion Suicide
Cartoons: Angry Birds
Angry Birds by Clay Jones Are Angry Birds still a thing? Is the game still popular? Are you still receiving annoying invites to play on Facebook? During a speech in Portland Friday a bird flew into the auditorium and landed on Bernie Sanders’ podium. No pun intended, but Twitter went crazy and #BirdieSanders is still trending. Talk about an opposite dialogue. People … [Read more...] about Cartoons: Angry Birds
Beef Up Conventional Forces; Don’t Worry About A Tactical Nuke Gap
Russian Iskander tactical nukes in Kaliningrad Credit: militaryphotos.net At the end of this week, thousands of experts in one of humanity’s most terrible possibilities — nuclear war — will meet here in Washington to discuss how to avoid what they have spent their careers planning to do, in hopes they never will. Michael Krepon, one of… … [Read more...] about Beef Up Conventional Forces; Don’t Worry About A Tactical Nuke Gap
Trump gets no easy Hannity treatment from Wisconsin conservative talker Sykes
Well. It has finally happened: someone in the conservative talk radio culture and even in the media besides Megyn Kelly interviewed Donald Trump and didn't seem to be falling all over himself/herself (attention Morning Joe, which when it comes to Donald Trump more often than not seems to be living up to the conservative talker Mark Levin's nickname "Morning Shmo") afraid to … [Read more...] about Trump gets no easy Hannity treatment from Wisconsin conservative talker Sykes
Trump and Cruz: Stop Helping Terrorists
Former CIA counter-terrorism analyst Susan Hasler calls out demagogue politicians for playing into terrorists' hands on CNN.com Leaving the agency in 2004 and getting my information through the media (traditional and social) has been the intellectual equivalent of running out of a sauna and rolling in the snow. People make the most incendiary, irresponsible claims as if … [Read more...] about Trump and Cruz: Stop Helping Terrorists
Meantime, Back in RealityLand™
The tempest in a teacup (a Japanese teacup at that) continues, unfazed by facts, proportionality and subject to Santayana's Curse.* 147 FBI agents involved in Clinton email probe Jesse Byrnes / The Hill A new report says 147 FBI agents are involved in the investigation surrounding Hillary Clinton — 's private email server and handling of classified material. — The … [Read more...] about Meantime, Back in RealityLand™
Arizona’s voting rights fire bell
WASHINGTON -- It's bad enough that an outrage was perpetrated last week against the voters of Maricopa County, Arizona. It would be far worse if we ignore the warning that the disenfranchisement of thousands of its citizens offers our nation. In November, one of the most contentious campaigns in our history could end in a catastrophe for our democracy. A major culprit … [Read more...] about Arizona’s voting rights fire bell
Children will be Children (Poetic Commentary)
Children will be Children Peshawar, Thar, Newtown (Originally posted December 2014, I can now add the city I grew up in, Lahore, to this list. Hurting children it appears is fair game now. How, Why?) How do we tell children apart? Our children from those less privileged? Our children from those of a terrorist? Hungry children from sick children? Pretending to play … [Read more...] about Children will be Children (Poetic Commentary)