(Reuters) - President Barack Obama knocked Republican presidential candidates for anti-Muslim rhetoric and accused critics on Tuesday of playing into the hands of Islamic State in a speech aimed at setting an optimistic tone for his last year in office. Obama, delivering his last State of the Union speech to Congress before leaving office next year, said it was fiction to … [Read more...] about President Obama’s Final State of the Union Address: before, during and after the speech
It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
Kevin Drum notes in Mother Jones that in a recent Gallup poll, Americans reported near all-time highs in personal satisfaction simultaneous with near all-time lows in satisfaction with the state of the nation. There is a story to be written about this massive disconnect. Normally, satisfaction with the country goes up as we recover from recessions. And we have recovered. … [Read more...] about It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
Quinnipiac poll: Sanders surges to retake lead in Iowa
More signs that the Democratic Party primary race is tightening. A new Quinnipiac poll finds Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders regaining lost ground against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Bernie Sanders leads Hillary Clinton in a major Iowa poll for the first time since September, the latest sign the Democratic primary race is tightening between the two … [Read more...] about Quinnipiac poll: Sanders surges to retake lead in Iowa
Cartoon: Sean and Chapo
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: Sean and Chapo
Trump rides a big wave of disgust
WASHINGTON -- For Democrats who might be rooting for Donald Trump, thinking he would be easy to beat in November, I have some advice: Be careful what you wish for. In his campaign, or rampage, Trump has done more than take a sledgehammer to the Republican Party. He almost seems to be reinventing politics in a way that makes both major parties seem hidebound, sluggish … [Read more...] about Trump rides a big wave of disgust
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: David Bowie
David Bowie by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST --David Bowie Allowed His Art to Deliver a Final Message --4 Ways David Bowie Influenced Musicians Today --David Bowie: 'Weirdo' Broke Down Barriers, Inspired Legions --David Bowie was 'a modern-day Leonardo Da Vinci' says his former tour director Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: David Bowie
The economy: critics WRONG
Wrong ... ...again! Paul Krugman makes a clear case for Obamanomics in the face of endless nagging from conservatives. He looks at the gap between the claims and criticisms coming from the political right and what actually happened. The "Bush boom" turned out to be the Bush Recession. Obama dug us out. So what should we say about the Obama job record? … [Read more...] about The economy: critics WRONG
(Breaking Update) ISIL- Hitting Them Where it Hurts
BREAKING UPDATE: As reported below, a few days after the Paris terror attacks, the United States started hitting ISIL “where it hurts”: targets associated with the Islamic State’s black market oil business worth annually about $500 million a year, or about half of the terror group’s fraudulent annual revenues. Strikes against such targets -- oil tankers, pump stations, … [Read more...] about (Breaking Update) ISIL- Hitting Them Where it Hurts
SciFi Weekend: New and Returning Shows For 2016, And Other Genre News
There has been a reduced television schedule so far this year, (giving me time to watch the second seasons of Catastrophe, Mozart In the Jungle, and Tranparent), but many shows are starting or coming back soon. Blastr has a list of nine science fiction shows premiering in January. I have already discussed Legends of Tomorrow and the revival of X-Files several times in the past. … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: New and Returning Shows For 2016, And Other Genre News
Rubio’s strategically gloomy detour
BEDFORD, N.H. -- This year's Republican presidential campaign is where hope and optimism go to die. Don't pretend that Donald Trump is an exotic outlier. His spirit haunts a party that can't get enough of gloom and fear. Among the GOP candidates, no one started out more optimistic about the United States than Marco Rubio. The Florida senator's campaign slogan still … [Read more...] about Rubio’s strategically gloomy detour
Cartoon: Oregon Bundy Occupiers Wish List
This cartoon by Clay Jones is from his website http://claytoonz.com/ is licensed to run on The Moderate Voice. … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Oregon Bundy Occupiers Wish List
Gallup Poll: Democrats hit historic party identification low, GOP not doing well either
A new Gallup poll shows that the number of voters identifying themselves as independents rremains firm and the number identifying themselves as Republicans and Democrats have fallen to new historic lows. In other words, both parties are failing to effectively woo those who don't happily wear the label partisans. But the Democrats are in worse shape: they've hit a new historic … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Democrats hit historic party identification low, GOP not doing well either
David Bowie Dies: Celebs React To Legendary British Rocker’s Death
Singer David Bowie has died at the age of 69, after a battle with cancer. It took only minutes for the music community, fans and celebs to take to social media to mourn and expressed their admiration toward the legendary rock star. “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month… … [Read more...] about David Bowie Dies: Celebs React To Legendary British Rocker’s Death
Poll: Neck-And-Neck 2016 Races in Iowa, New Hampshire
A real horse race in both parties? Not quite yet -- but two new polls are showing the ascension of Ted Cruz in Iowa, and some good news for Bernie Sanders: Three weeks until the first presidential nominating contest, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are running neck and neck in Iowa, while Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are also locked in a tight race in the Hawkeye … [Read more...] about Poll: Neck-And-Neck 2016 Races in Iowa, New Hampshire
In Show of Force and Alliance, Nuclear-Capable B-52 Flies over South Korea (Photo Update)
Think what you will of the B-52 Stratofortress as a weapon of war, it is one impressive and majestic aircraft. The B-52 has been around since 1954 when the “A” model came into service -- that is more than 60 years ago -- an amazing feat for a combat aircraft. Even more amazing, current engineering analyses show the B-52's life span to extend beyond the year 2040. A … [Read more...] about In Show of Force and Alliance, Nuclear-Capable B-52 Flies over South Korea (Photo Update)
Donald Trump Flip Flops On Neo-Nazis, Now Expressing Support For Pat Buchanan’s Views
Many pundits have compared Donald Trump's campaign to that of Patrick Buchanan in 1992, including both in the mainstream media and in this analysis at National Review. Xenophobia has been prominent in both campaigns. Donald Trump previously criticized Buchanan's views, even saying, "Clearly he has a love affair with Adolf Hitler, and that's sick." Now Buzzfeed reports that … [Read more...] about Donald Trump Flip Flops On Neo-Nazis, Now Expressing Support For Pat Buchanan’s Views
When Love Is Taken My Journey With Grief
This is the introduction and first chapter of a book I began writing in August 2005: Introduction Today is July 10, 2014. This is the eighth year I have celebrated my birthday without Karen. The first year was the most difficult because that day was also the four month anniversary of her death. I first began writing this book at the end of August, 2006, a little over … [Read more...] about When Love Is Taken My Journey With Grief
Blathering in Front of TV Cameras
By Walter Brasch Several TV networks covered the entire Rose Parade. ABC, NBC, RFD, the Hallmark network, and Univision had frequent interruptions to unleash commercials on us. The Home and Garden network ran the two hour parade uninterrupted—except for endless on-air self-promotion about HGTV and its programs. They had commentators who chatted with each other and … [Read more...] about Blathering in Front of TV Cameras
Obama Gun Reforms vs Republican Gun Servants
Obama Gun Reforms vs Republican Gun Servants By Dick Polman Why do Republicans nauseatingly refuse to address America's gun murder epidemic? Why are they so determined to sustain our well-earned reputation as the most violent nation in the civilized western world? Why are they jerking their knees in reflexive opposition to President Obama's modest attempts to defend our … [Read more...] about Obama Gun Reforms vs Republican Gun Servants
Is New ‘Mein Kampf’ publication ‘a slap in the face to Holocaust survivors’? (Guest Voice)
As Adolf Hitler’s last official residence, the German state of Bavaria has kept the copyright of the genocidal dictator’s “Mein Kampf” under lock and key since the end of World War II. Forced into the role of a taboo’s reluctant guardian and although most historians see it as an important source on the Nazi period, for… … [Read more...] about Is New ‘Mein Kampf’ publication ‘a slap in the face to Holocaust survivors’? (Guest Voice)