Too little too late? As some pundits and political types considered thoughtful (and not so thoughtful) continue to warn that Trump has fascist tendencies, new poll finds that Trump's support has peaked within the Republican Party and in no way does he have close tofull support of the GOP. It also notes that his critics back a convention fight to deny him the … [Read more...] about Poll: Trump Hits a Wall Within the GOP; His Critics Back a Convention Fight (POLL)
Dignity’s Future
There is ample evidence of "Man's Inhumanity to Man."Horrors--war, torture, starvation, trafficking, slavery, mass migration, exploitation, poverty, homelessness, bullying, sexual abuse--fill the headlines. The awful litany confirms our cynicism and numbs our senses. Far from things getting better, they seem to be getting worse. It's easy to make the case that Homo Sapiens … [Read more...] about Dignity’s Future
Trump’s flirtation with fascism
WASHINGTON -- So it has come to this: The front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, at a campaign rally Saturday in Orlando, leading supporters in what looked very much like a fascist salute. "Can I have a pledge? A swearing?" Trump asked, raising his right hand and directing his followers to do the same. He then led them in pledging allegiance -- not to … [Read more...] about Trump’s flirtation with fascism
Clinton Again Uses Debate In Flint To Distort Sanders’ Record
The Democratic debate in Flint was typical of the Democratic debates this year. Sanders came wanting to discuss the issues. Clinton came with plans to again distort Sanders’ views. She not only repeated her lies about Sanders’ position on guns (when it was Clinton who ran as a self-described “pro-gun church goer” in 2008), but also greatly distorted Sanders position on the … [Read more...] about Clinton Again Uses Debate In Flint To Distort Sanders’ Record
Kasich’s Michigan poll numbers are all over the map
While John Kasich criss-crosses the map of Michigan in a flurry of last-minute campaigning, the Ohio governor must find it maddening that his standing in the polls also is all over the map. Kasich awoke this morning to learn that a new Monmouth poll put his support in the state at 23 percent, trailing second-place Sen. Ted Cruz by just two points. More importantly, the … [Read more...] about Kasich’s Michigan poll numbers are all over the map
Media bias writ large in two charts
UPDATED. If you're supporting any candidate for President other than Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, here's a chart from The Economist you can show your friends to support your claim of TV news bias. Because it's real, not imaginary. The big three networks have given Trump more than eight times as much exposure on evening TV newscasts (not counting FOX; just ABC, NBC and … [Read more...] about Media bias writ large in two charts
What’s creativity got to do with it? (Guest Voice)
What’s creativity got to do with it? by Ruby Seastone I’m forever fascinated and startled by how we, as cultures, create versions of “reality” then insist on cementing them into entrenched dogmas. We wouldn’t know who we are, in any of the ways we’ve long been used to figuring that out, if we embraced more fluid, open-ended ways of recognizing the world and each other. I … [Read more...] about What’s creativity got to do with it? (Guest Voice)
Pressed for Specifics, Sanders Fumbles
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is very good at detailing what he is against -- income inequality, Wall Street greed and money in politics, to start. But the dark horse Democratic candidate still struggles with how he will counteract those problems, as skeptical Michigan voters laid bare on Monday night. At a Fox News town hall in… … [Read more...] about Pressed for Specifics, Sanders Fumbles
Why This Conservative Won’t Back Trump (Guest Voice)
Why This Conservative Won't Back Trump By Susan Stamper Brown While pro-Trump pundits do their best to rationalize the sewer talk flowing from the stage after the most recent GOP debate, please understand that the problem is really not that complicated. We do not need psychologists, campaign analysts or even cable and radio show hosts to defend the reprehensible, puerile … [Read more...] about Why This Conservative Won’t Back Trump (Guest Voice)
Race politics: Clinton vs. Trump being written in black and white
FLINT, Mich. — The 2016 presidential election is unfolding in black and white, in arguably the most racially polarized fashion in at least a generation. Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton is making the most relentless pitch for African-American votes perhaps in decades. Barack Obama, the first black nominee for a major party ticket, didn't have to campaign… … [Read more...] about Race politics: Clinton vs. Trump being written in black and white
‘Star Wars’: Is Disney Planning Five New Movies?
Star Wars awoke the Force last year, breaking box office records in the process, and Disney plans to keep milking its sci-fi cash cow with an additional five new movies in development, according to The Sun. The planned films would bring the franchise’s count to a total of 10 new additions, including last year’s Episode VII.… … [Read more...] about ‘Star Wars’: Is Disney Planning Five New Movies?
Cartoons: An intelligent debate?
An intelligent debate? by Clay Jones I watched the Democratic Debate last night. The candidates didn’t create nicknames for each other. No one was called a “liar.” There was talk about the Flint water crisis, student debt, trade, bailouts, the auto industry. There wasn’t a penis reference. There wasn’t a booger. It was so boring. The lowest jab might have been when … [Read more...] about Cartoons: An intelligent debate?
Michael Bloomberg Won’t Run for President
Former New York Mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg, in a column on Bloomberg News, has said he won't run for President. This isn't the first time he seemed poised to run and didn't but this year there seemed a bigger market for him. Except he concluded he could not win. He explains: But when I look at the data, it’s clear to me that if I entered the race, I could … [Read more...] about Michael Bloomberg Won’t Run for President
Reporters converge on Flint — and then run away
When I was a young reporter, just two years out of college, working for a small weekly newspaper, a portion of the community I covered was shaken by the news that their drinking water could be poisonous. The G&H Landfill, located about 15 miles north of Detroit, was declared an EPA Superfund site, contaminated with a long list of toxics that were seeping deep into the soil … [Read more...] about Reporters converge on Flint — and then run away
The GOP vulgarians
WASHINGTON -- It was William Bennett, education secretary in the Reagan years and the Republican Party's premier moralist, who embedded a phrase in the American consciousness when he bemoaned the fact that "our elites presided over an unprecedented coarsening of our culture." Well, to borrow another famous phrase, it is Bennett's party and two of its presidential … [Read more...] about The GOP vulgarians
Reaction to the CNN Clinton Sanders Democratic Presidential Debate (ROUNDUP)
So who "won" CNN's Democratic Party Presidential nomination debate from Michigan. Let's guess without visiting the website or look at names: supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will insist he won and obliterated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. And supports of Clinton will say she obliterated Sanders. Each side will cherry pick their tribe's side's best moment … [Read more...] about Reaction to the CNN Clinton Sanders Democratic Presidential Debate (ROUNDUP)
Cartoons: Trump the Unifier
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 Cartoons: Trump the Unifier
Clinton, Sanders clash over trade, auto bailout in Michigan CNN Democratic debate
By John Whitesides FLINT, Mich. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contenders Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton clashed angrily over trade, the auto industry bailout and Wall Street in a Michigan debate on Sunday, with Sanders accusing Clinton of backing trade deals that robbed the state of jobs. In a debate in Flint, Michigan, Sanders said Clinton supported … [Read more...] about Clinton, Sanders clash over trade, auto bailout in Michigan CNN Democratic debate
SciFi Weekend: Major Twists On The 100, Star Trek Adds Rod Roddenberry
The past week included a major episode of The 100, the season finale of Agent Carter, and more news including another addition to the upcoming Star Trek series. Between traveling this week and a tremendous amount of political news, I have limited time and will leave everything beyond The 100 and Star Trek for next week. Along with many reviewers, I had been dissatisfied with … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Major Twists On The 100, Star Trek Adds Rod Roddenberry
Pitts on GOP Self-immolation
Leonard Pitts wonders if the Republican Party's self-destruction will poison the country's political discourse in the Baltimore Sun. The GOP is an incoherent mess. Republican-on-Republican rhetorical violence has become commonplace. Party members find themselves mulling whether to break away and form a third party or unite behind a coarse, blustering bigot whose scapegoating … [Read more...] about Pitts on GOP Self-immolation