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)
Bernie Sanders’ weekend wins symbolic of how this election is changing U.S. politics
A full revolution may not be occuring now in U.S. politics -- but change most assuredly is. The venerable Christian Science Monitor (a great paper I wrote extensively for from India and Spain in the mid to late 1970s) notes in a must-read-in-full-piece by Mark Sappenfield that this election has brought some changes. And it's easy to say no matter what the nomination and … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders’ weekend wins symbolic of how this election is changing U.S. politics
“Close to crossing that line.” Perhaps…
One of my cousins, "Cousin A", sharing a brief quote from Hillary Clinton about Islam and Muslims on Facebook after the terror attack in Brussels. The quote expressed Hillary's support for Muslims. Since the quote was originally posted in an "anti-Hillary" group, the intent of the original poster was obvious: to show that Hillary Clinton was not anti-Muslim. The reason for … [Read more...] about “Close to crossing that line.” Perhaps…
Are these the words of a president?
WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump's ignorance of government policy, both foreign and domestic, is breathtaking. The Republican Party is likely to nominate for president a man who appears to know next to nothing about the issues that would confront him in the job. Such a sweeping condemnation may sound unfair. I wouldn't be surprised if Trump were already busy tweeting that I'm … [Read more...] about Are these the words of a president?
Is the GOP ashamed of itself?
Frank Bruni, writing in the Times today, makes no bones about how Republicans may be feeling about themselves (= ought to feel about themselves!) It’s hate worn down into resignation, disgust repurposed as calculation. Stopping a ludicrous billionaire means submitting to a loathsome senator. And so they submit, one chastened and aghast Republican leader after another, … [Read more...] about Is the GOP ashamed of itself?
Vulgarians Against Trump (Guest Voice)
Vulgarians Against Trump By Tina Dupuy As an F-bomb enthusiast, I take great exception to Republican front-runner Donald Trump being derisively called a vulgarian. First, it's offensive to vulgarians to be associated with someone as tacky as Trump. Second, the Donald talking about his junk nearly nonstop for the last two weeks is like the 10th or 11th thing with him that … [Read more...] about Vulgarians Against Trump (Guest Voice)
Uber is expanding in Africa — and so are anti-Uber protests
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Uber is expanding in Africa. The ride-hailing app launched in the cities of Abuja, Nigeria and Mombasa, Kenya on Wednesday. These are the 399th and 400th world cities where the service operates. Uber Mombasa But just as Uber has butted heads with traditional taxis in Paris, London, Toronto, Sao Paulo and many… … [Read more...] about Uber is expanding in Africa — and so are anti-Uber protests
Preparing to eat my words about Trump
WASHINGTON -- Here's some food for thought. Or, rather, here are some thoughts for food. Six months ago, I made a reckless vow. With Donald Trump dominating in the polls, I said I'd eat a column -- 18 column inches of toxic newsprint, wood-pulp, ink and all -- if he won the Republican presidential nomination. My rationale: "Americans are better than Trump," and … [Read more...] about Preparing to eat my words about Trump
Cartoons: THE SEDUCTION OF TED CRUZ
I don’t know what’s less believable. Five women slept with Ted Cruz or that you can find five women who would admit it. Yeah, I know. I already drew a cartoon this week on the icky bed lovin’ of Ted Cruz but that was before the National Enquirer came out with their story that Teddy Bear has been getting a whole bunch of action on the side. Did you just raise one eyebrow in … [Read more...] about Cartoons: THE SEDUCTION OF TED CRUZ
Sanders beats Clinton in Washington and Alaska: boosts delegate count
Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton Saturday in the Washington State caucuses. It was Sanders' second victory against Clinton in the same day, as the pair of Democrats march toward the party convention this summer in Philadelphia. After earlier trouncing Clinton in Alaska, Sanders was declared the winner in Washington state about 6:30 p.m. EST, according to… … [Read more...] about Sanders beats Clinton in Washington and Alaska: boosts delegate count
March Madness
What is it about the month of March that brings out the whackadoodle in otherwise competent creatures? "Mad as a March hare” refers to the frenzied mating antics of lusty lagomorphs as spring rolls around. But apparently the madness isn't confined to the rabbit tribe. Maybe our collective emergence from the doldrums of winter overheats our brain circuitry. In the U.S. at … [Read more...] about March Madness