Josh Marshall analyzes the Syria/ISIS conundrum on Talking Points Memo. I wanted to share a few thoughts on Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris and where this leaves the United States in terms of Syria, Iraq and the entirety of the Middle East where, with all our withdrawals, we still remain involved and at war in various ways. I do not believe we can properly assess what … [Read more...] about Josh Mashall on Syria and ISIS
SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; Jessica Jones; Supergirl; Limitless; Star Wars; Blindspot; Childhood’s End
I don't want to spend too much time on an episode of Doctor Who which I really did not like very much. Sleep No More did not have the usual intro sequence to the show but did start with a character giving this warning: “You must not watch this! I’m warning you. You can never unsee it.” Viewers should take his advice and apply it to the episode. It is hard to say exactly what … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; Jessica Jones; Supergirl; Limitless; Star Wars; Blindspot; Childhood’s End
Should India get its cows off the streets?
NEW DELHI, India — Animals hold a lot of social and political significance in India. Hindus consider the cow sacred, Muslims find the pig impure, and Parsis are put on towers of silence after death to be eaten by vultures. For most Indians, though, these creatures aren’t just religious symbols — they’re neighbors. The country’s biggest… … [Read more...] about Should India get its cows off the streets?
Republicans and Climate Change
Republicans shouldn't be letting Democrats control the conversation about climate change, but that is what the former have been doing. The current election season gives opportunity for Republicans to reverse course. With that in mind, this writer suggests the following commentary that GOP candidates can give during … [Read more...] about Republicans and Climate Change
Supreme Court To Decide On Texas Anti-Abortion Law–Updated
Republican efforts in recent years to restrict access to abortion have generally been at the state level (along with debunked attacks on Planned Parenthood), but now the Texas law will have national significance with the Supreme Court deciding to hear the case. The New York Times reports: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear its first major abortion case since 2007, one … [Read more...] about Supreme Court To Decide On Texas Anti-Abortion Law–Updated
The Logic of Violence
Kevin Drum attempts to distinguish between political posturing and real foreign policy in response to the Paris attacks on Mother Jones. On Sunday night, France launched a series of airstrikes against ISIS in retaliation for the Paris attacks. The Washington Post called it a "furious assault." The New York Times called it "aggressive," CNN said it was a "major bombardment," … [Read more...] about The Logic of Violence
UPDATES: France Launches ‘Massive Airstrikes’ Against ISIL in Syria.
Update: Not many details or damage assessment reports are available after the French airstrikes on ISIL targets in Raqqa over the weekend, except for reports that the strikes were launched from bases in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, and were conducted “in coordination with U.S. forces, which have compiled an extensive target list in Raqqa.” Reuters reports that … [Read more...] about UPDATES: France Launches ‘Massive Airstrikes’ Against ISIL in Syria.
Politix Update: Bernie Sanders’ Revolution Is Unrealistic, But You Gotta Love The Guy
Revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall. ~ CHE GUEVARA Bernie Sanders has been on the defensive and seems more like the also-ran many pundits predicted that he would be since the first Democratic presidential debate a month ago, and that didn't change in the debate on Saturday night. Overall, his poll numbers are receding, which … [Read more...] about Politix Update: Bernie Sanders’ Revolution Is Unrealistic, But You Gotta Love The Guy
A Paris moment for American politics?
WASHINGTON -- The 2016 presidential campaign has been peculiarly disconnected from the real world of problems, crises and governing. It took the catastrophe in Paris to narrow the gap -- and even a monstrous terrorist attack may not shake the trajectory of a contest that operates within a logic of its own. The inevitable distance between politicking and the business of … [Read more...] about A Paris moment for American politics?
Donald Trump seems like a Nazi in a suit
It actually takes your breath away—this noxious proclamation by Donald Trump, a front-running candidate for the Republican presidential nomination: he’s glibly committed to creating a “deportation force” that will systemically expel some eleven million alleged illegal immigrants from the United States. In the tone of a kind of brown-shirted television host, he also breezily … [Read more...] about Donald Trump seems like a Nazi in a suit
Time to ground Congress (Guest Voice)
Time to ground Congress by Dana Milbank Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- House Republican leaders recently did something that should outrage Americans of all parties and creeds: They declared that the people's representatives will be working an average of only two days a week next year. The House will be in session just 111 days in 2016. This means the … [Read more...] about Time to ground Congress (Guest Voice)
Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro Talk About ‘The 33’ Movie
Back in 2010 the whole world was paralyzed as we all watched in amazement the rescue of 33 Chilean miners who had been buried alive by the catastrophic collapse of a 100-year-old gold and copper mine. The men spent 69 days trapped, as an international team worked night and day in a desperate attempt to get… … [Read more...] about Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro Talk About ‘The 33’ Movie
Cartoon: Paris attacks
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: Paris attacks
Protesters, the universities and the police (Guest Voice)
There was an Emmanuel AME massacre where nine were left dead. There was a policeman that shot a fleeing unarmed suspect in North Charleston: that was the spitting image of police brutality. Then at Clemson University in S.C. this past year we have had racially bigoted off-campus entertainment that doesn't focus on our respective history but on the criminal character that some … [Read more...] about Protesters, the universities and the police (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: Attacking the French
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: Attacking the French
Would Trump’s ‘Deportation Force’ Become America’s Secret Police?
Would Trump’s ‘Deportation Force’ Become America’s Secret Police? by Chris Jennewein Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump‘s vow to establish a “deportation force” to remove 11 million undocumented immigrants should scare freedom-loving Americans. The real estate mogul turned Presidential front-runner said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Wednesday that he would build a … [Read more...] about Would Trump’s ‘Deportation Force’ Become America’s Secret Police?
PARIS ATTACKS – Global impact of Paris attacks revealed as victims named
Friday night’s attacks in Paris targeted concert-goers watching an American rock band as well as people eating and drinking in a part of the French capital popular with tourists, expats and locals, making their impact truly global. As the personal details of some of the 129 victims begin to emerge, it is clear that people from… … [Read more...] about PARIS ATTACKS – Global impact of Paris attacks revealed as victims named
Clinton on the defensive as debate turns to terrorism
DES MOINES, Iowa — Hillary Clinton talked tough and played defense Saturday at the second Democratic presidential debate, as rivals questioned her record and plans to fight the Islamic State. A day after a terrorist attack in Paris, terrorism and foreign policy took center stage in the two-hour debate with questions from the moderator and criticisms… … [Read more...] about Clinton on the defensive as debate turns to terrorism
Cartoon: Paris Attacks
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: Paris Attacks
Democratic debate in Iowa: How will the candidates respond to the Paris attacks?
Saturday night is the Democrats' second presidential debate set to take place in Iowa and will be hosted by CBS News and the Des Moines Register. After front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton's commanding performance in the first contest, the field has winnowed to three contestants: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. Here's a… … [Read more...] about Democratic debate in Iowa: How will the candidates respond to the Paris attacks?