WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday will hear oral arguments in a case called Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. It's one of the most hotly contested disputes of the court's 2015-16 term, with serious stakes for law, politics and business. It raises lots of questions. Here are some of them: Q: Who is Friedrichs, and… … [Read more...] about Public service unions challenged in Supreme Court case: a Q&A
The World According to Koch
Kevin Drum comments on a recent interview with Charles Koch on Mother Jones. There are two interesting things going on here. First is Koch's disappointment that his money doesn't buy him more influence. It's easy to laugh at that, but he's probably right. He's raised a lot of money. But it's hard to see that Republican views have changed in his direction much. The entire party … [Read more...] about The World According to Koch
Trump shifts birther gaze to Cruz
WASHINGTON -- Who says Donald Trump lacks subtlety? The way he's raising "birther" questions about his chief rival for the nomination is worthy of Machiavelli. "I'd hate to see something like that get in his way," Trump said of the fact that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was born in Canada. Trump referred to the fact that the Constitution says "No Person except a natural born … [Read more...] about Trump shifts birther gaze to Cruz
Why great films don’t have to be flawless
Star Wars: The Force Awakens made movie history this week by beating Avatar’s record as the most-successful film ever in North America. On Wednesday, it flew past Avatar’s $750.5 million (U.S.) lifetime gross, doing so in a record 20 days. The Force Awakens now seems likely to reach $1 billion domestically before it slumbers. With its… … [Read more...] about Why great films don’t have to be flawless
Mexico nabs infamous drug lord “Capo” Guzman after shootout
By Veronica Gomez and Dave Graham MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico recaptured the world's top drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman with U.S. help after a pre-dawn shootout on Friday, six months after he humiliated the government with his second jaw-dropping escape from a maximum security prison. The head of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel was captured at a roadside motel after … [Read more...] about Mexico nabs infamous drug lord “Capo” Guzman after shootout
Daryl Cagle Cartoon: Trump and the GOP See Saw
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 Daryl Cagle Cartoon: Trump and the GOP See Saw
Jim Webb and Gary Johnson Taking Steps Towards Independent Runs For The Presidency
Jim Webb continues to talk about an independent run for the presidency, and has now hired former Draft Biden finance director Sam Jones to handle fund raising should he decide to run. It is doubtful that such a third party candidacy will receive any meaningful support nationally, but The Washington Post notes that “polling suggests he could have a significant effect on the … [Read more...] about Jim Webb and Gary Johnson Taking Steps Towards Independent Runs For The Presidency
Breaking News: Guns Now Allowed in Texas’ Psychiatric Hospitals
Before the commonsense open carry law went into effect in Texas, it had been the crackbrained idea that guns should not be brought into facilities where mental patients are being treated. The Austin American Statesman recalls the bygone, crazy era: No one — visitors, deliverymen and the like — could bring firearms anywhere on campus. Even local law enforcement officers, … [Read more...] about Breaking News: Guns Now Allowed in Texas’ Psychiatric Hospitals
Birther issue being used against Ted Cruz is latest political Looney Tunes episode
Twentieth century animated cartoon art morphed into 21st political hackery? No one has accused me of being a partisan or supporter of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, but he's now at the center of a political controversy which shows just how looney tunes our politics has become. And is becoming. But first: I apologize in advance to Warner Brothers and those wonderful animators who … [Read more...] about Birther issue being used against Ted Cruz is latest political Looney Tunes episode
An Honor Too Far, or Far Too Many Honors?
Should more of our heroes who have displayed “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” be awarded our nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor? This is a question that has been frequently raised, especially during the more intense periods of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. During a period when our troops … [Read more...] about An Honor Too Far, or Far Too Many Honors?
Sympathy for sedition
Sympathy for sedition by Dana Milbank Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- Republican lawmakers began the new year in Washington with new ideas about how to undermine the government in which they serve. On Wednesday, the first legislative day of the year, House conservatives gathered with reporters for their monthly "Conversations with Conservatives." When … [Read more...] about Sympathy for sedition
The best Superman film
I think it’s time we all admit it – Man of Steel is the best Superman film ever made. @biteschoco … [Read more...] about The best Superman film
Dear Parents: Read the TSA rules before flying.
The newest rant against government employees just doing their jobs comes from California resident Kevin Payne. He is upset because his 10-year-old daughter underwent a pat-down by a female TSA agent at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Let's get a few things straight before anyone gives a knee-jerk reaction to what happened. First, if terrorists are crazy enough to … [Read more...] about Dear Parents: Read the TSA rules before flying.
Sabato: The Common Political Wisdom of New Year’s Day is Often Wrong for President
The University of Virginia's Larry Sabato, in the latest edition of his must-read Crystal Ball, points out that tht common political wisdom of New Year's Day is often wrong when it comes for President: Jan. 1, 1960: If Democrats nominate the very young, Catholic John F. Kennedy, they will throw the election away. 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson, a “Southern … [Read more...] about Sabato: The Common Political Wisdom of New Year’s Day is Often Wrong for President
Ending the gun lobby’s con game
WASHINGTON -- The apologists for the weapons industry -- they pass themselves off as the gun rights movement -- demonstrate their intellectual bankruptcy by regularly contradicting themselves with a straight face. On the one hand, President Obama's modest initiatives to keep guns out of the wrong hands are denounced as an outlandish abuse of his executive powers. House … [Read more...] about Ending the gun lobby’s con game
Top 10 Movies to Watch in 2016: ‘X-Men’, ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Bourne 5’ Included in Fandango Survey, But Who Tops the List?
Another year is in the books, but 2015 did not depart without leaving us some great movies. Golden Globe nominees are already in the books, and the Academy is gearing up to crown some fine achievements in filmmaking. But alas, all good things must come to an end. And so with the new year, we turn… … [Read more...] about Top 10 Movies to Watch in 2016: ‘X-Men’, ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Bourne 5’ Included in Fandango Survey, But Who Tops the List?
How Trump Will Lose
Ezra Klein explains (well, sort of) on vox.com. Many people — myself included — thought it would look something like this: Trump says something truly beyond the pale. Media erupts. GOP elites erupt. Republican primary voters receive a strong signal that Trump lacks either the qualities necessary to win the presidency or the temperament necessary to be the president. Voters … [Read more...] about How Trump Will Lose
Kim Jong-Un Bomb tester
Copyright 2016 David Donar. All rights reserved.Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Kim Jong-Un Bomb tester
Bernie Sanders On The Nightly Show
Bernie Sanders was on The Nightly Show last night, coming out right after a brief segment on the skywriting about Donald Trump at the Rose Parade. Above is the extended version of Larry Wilmore's interview with Sanders. Above is the extended video of the panel, with Bernie Sanders included. The usual serious topics from interviews with Sanders came up on the show, … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders On The Nightly Show
Video: Full Speech of President Obama announcing executive action on gun control
In light of the comments of some on Fox News and conservative websites claiming President Barack Obama used onions to make himself cry or faked it (a further example of the toxic nature of partisanship in the United States), some TMV readers have asked us to post the COMPLETE speech by President Barack Obama on gun control so they can watch it unedited and comment on … [Read more...] about Video: Full Speech of President Obama announcing executive action on gun control