Iowa residents soon will kick off the official 2016 presidential candidate nominating process as they caucus for both parties later on Monday. At the caucuses, Iowa residents have the opportunity to offer their recommendations on their party’s nominee for president. This year, ahead of the November 8 general election, Iowans will suggest who they want to… … [Read more...] about How Do the Iowa Caucuses Work?
The long, painful road to Iowa
URBANDALE, Iowa -- Politics sometimes moves with lightning speed and in a clear direction. The rise of the New Deal coalition in the midst of the Great Depression is an example of how fast things can change. But often, currents of anxiety and rage swirl below the surface. Citizens, stunned by large events and torn by contradictory feelings, can't figure out immediately … [Read more...] about The long, painful road to Iowa
Cruz rally interrupted by yelling, vomiting man
It's caucus day in Iowa and all kinds of unusual things happen. Like this: Ted Cruz didn't get far into his speech at his Iowa caucus eve rally before he got an unwelcome interruption. "God bless Iowa," Cruz began. "God bless you!" someone in the audience shouted back. "Ted Cruz looks so weird," a man then began yelling toward the back of the venue. "Ted Cruz looks … [Read more...] about Cruz rally interrupted by yelling, vomiting man
Iowa Caucus Comes Down To Turnout & Peculiarities Of A Caucus Versus A Primary
The Democratic caucus in Iowa is too close to call and will come down to turnout, along with other factors seen in a caucus as opposed to a primary. The final Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Poll before the Iowa Caucus showed Hillary Clinton leading Bernie Sanders with 45 percent compared to 42 percent. The three point lead is within the poll’s margin of error at four percent. … [Read more...] about Iowa Caucus Comes Down To Turnout & Peculiarities Of A Caucus Versus A Primary
PTSD, Domestic Violence and Sarah Palin (Updates)
Update: Sarah Palin was asked on NBC’s TODAY about the controversial comments she made at a Trump rally on Jan. 20 when she appeared to suggest that president Obama’s lack of "respect" and "honor" for veterans had affected her son's PTSD condition. Veterans, veteran’s organizations and mental health experts who know the damaging effects of PTSD have strongly criticized … [Read more...] about PTSD, Domestic Violence and Sarah Palin (Updates)
(Update) The Zika Virus and the Defense Department
Update: In an action it has taken only three times before, the World Health Organization today designated the rapidly spreading Zika virus an international public health emergency -- “a rare move that signals the seriousness of the outbreak and gives countries powerful new tools to fight it,” says the New York Times. Read more here. Original Post: Some readers … [Read more...] about (Update) The Zika Virus and the Defense Department
Iowa: 2016 Begins Today
The day is finally here: The Iowa Caucuses. For those who don't know, the Iowa Caucuses are local meetings that will be taking place throughout the state tonight at 7PM (Central Standard Time). Families, friends, neighbors, local officials, and anybody who is anybody will be there. These meetings are hosted by their respective political parties and are intended to choose … [Read more...] about Iowa: 2016 Begins Today
Amateur Hour @ FOXNEWS.COM (Again)
Take a look at the following screenshot from the Fox News website, and see if you can spot the error. Here is the error underlined in red, with this writer's response written in red. Usually, when the Fox News website contains a written error, it is like the one depicted below. The screenshot from December 2015 shows the misspelling of Colombia in reference … [Read more...] about Amateur Hour @ FOXNEWS.COM (Again)
‘Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off The Wall’: A Shameless, Exhilarating Love Letter to the King of Pop (Sundance Film Festival 2016)
5/5 Spike Lee’s Michael Jackson’s Journey is an extraordinary immersion in the energy of one contemporary music’s most definitive icons. As an exposé, it challenges the audience to see beyond the spiral of its subject’s tragic life and into the heart of what made him a marvel of both the stage and the studio. If you don’t like it, you’ll have a hard time convincing me you like … [Read more...] about ‘Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off The Wall’: A Shameless, Exhilarating Love Letter to the King of Pop (Sundance Film Festival 2016)
SciFi Weekend: Legends of Tomorrow; The Flash; The 100; The Gilmore Girls Diet
We might have to wait until 2017 for another season of Doctor Who under a new show runner, but there is plenty of other time travel science fiction on television. A new time travel show, 11/22/63, begins on Hulu in about two weeks. One new time travel show, DC's Legends of Tomorrow just recently started, and other genre shows also deal with time travel. After seeing … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Legends of Tomorrow; The Flash; The 100; The Gilmore Girls Diet
Clinton: The candidate of finance and the establishment
This weekend's New York Times endorsement of Hillary Clinton should remind Iowa voters that Clinton is the candidate of the establishment. Being part of the establishment comes with entanglements, beholden-ments ... bindings to powerful institutions and the people who head them. It's the opposite of change, whether radical, transformative or disruptive. This is … [Read more...] about Clinton: The candidate of finance and the establishment
A Latino Running Mate for Hillary Clinton?
With the first of the nation’s caucuses scheduled to take place only tomorrow, it may be premature to talk about vice presidential running mates. Typically, presidential candidates announce who their vice presidential picks are in July and August, just prior to the national party conventions. During the most recent elections, Romney picked Ryan as his running mate on … [Read more...] about A Latino Running Mate for Hillary Clinton?
Some thoughts on the occupation of the Malheur Wild Life refuge in Oregon
I was born in Oregon and other than a few years in Germany and a year in Japan I have lived here most of my life. I was born and still live west of the Cascades in the Willamette Valley but I have spent a lot of time East of the mountains in Central and Eastern Oregon and that includes Harney County. South Eastern Oregon is a jewel in the crown of the United States from the … [Read more...] about Some thoughts on the occupation of the Malheur Wild Life refuge in Oregon
What if Hillary Clinton wins the democratic nomination?
If Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, what will Bernie Sanders supporters do? Will they unite behind the Democratic candidate despite their ideological differences with her? Or will they stay home on election day and ensure a Republican victory? If they do refuse to support Mrs. Clinton, how would that or could that ever be in the best interests of our country? … [Read more...] about What if Hillary Clinton wins the democratic nomination?
Donald Trump Field Organizer Elizabeth Davidson Accuses Campaign of Sex Discrimination
Elizabeth Mae Davidson, a paid field organizer for the Donald Trump, has sued the presidential campaign for sex discrimination. The NY Times reports, Davidson, who was a field organizer in Davenport, Iowa, said in a discrimination complaint that "men doing the same jobs were paid more and were allowed to plan and speak at rallies, while her requests to do so were … [Read more...] about Donald Trump Field Organizer Elizabeth Davidson Accuses Campaign of Sex Discrimination
You mean our future is in their hands? Good grief!
You mean our future is in their hands? Good grief! About one half of one per cent of all registered voters in the United States—ninety-six per cent of them likely to be white, a hundred per cent certain to live in Iowa or New Hampshire—will now exercise their inalienable, God-given, legally mandated right to choose the Presidential nominees of the two parties. … [Read more...] about You mean our future is in their hands? Good grief!
The threat of Zika: Q&A
What is Zika virus? Zika virus is a mosquito-transmitted infection related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile virus. Symptoms are mild and include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Just one in five people infected becomes ill. Hospitalisation is uncommon and deaths are rare. How does it spread? Zika is primarily spread through… … [Read more...] about The threat of Zika: Q&A
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump and the Fox News Republican Debate
Donald Trump and the Fox News Republican Debate by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Trump taps the right's anger against Fox --Donald Trump Declares Victory Over Fox News, Then Takes On Newspaper --Megyn Kelly Just Did Trump’s Dirty Work for Him --Sorry, Donald Trump. But Megyn Kelly is a fantastic debate moderator. --Fox Debate Moderator Chris Wallace Confronts … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump and the Fox News Republican Debate
Get ready for El Chapo-brand luggage, jewelry, toys and more
LIMA, Peru — Mexican authorities will be looking into how the daughter of captured druglord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was able to trademark his nickname. Local media reported this week that one of the Sinaloa cartel leader’s daughters, Alejandra Gisselle Guzman, had successfully registered the term “El Chapo” with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property. It… … [Read more...] about Get ready for El Chapo-brand luggage, jewelry, toys and more
Gallup: Trump would be most unpopular candidate in their polling history
A new Gallup poll finds businessman Donald Trump with skyhigh negatives -- negatives higher than any other candidate has had since the polling company began looking at favorability ratings in 1992. Gallup's Frank Newport: Most political and media commentators have at this point installed Donald Trump as the GOP front-runner on the eve of the first actual voting set to … [Read more...] about Gallup: Trump would be most unpopular candidate in their polling history