Russia has launched its first airstrike in Syria, which some analysts feel is a mixed bag since its help in battling ISIS is welcome but so far it doesn't appear to be going after ISIS but anti-Assad forces. CNN: Russia has conducted its first airstrike against ISIS in Syria, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said Wednesday. The airstrike targeted ISIS military … [Read more...] about Russia does first airstrike in Syria — but apparently not targeting ISIS areas
Boehner Gone
What does John Boehner’s resignation as House Speaker mean for Congress and for America? It ain’t good. Boehner was forced out by the Tea Party conservatives who are uninterested in having the federal government succeed in any of its endeavors. Boehner was a decent guy, conservative in outlook but willing to deal with opponents to help government to function. It might be said … [Read more...] about Boehner Gone
Psst! Trump Reveals His Top Secret Plan to Defeat ISIL
Back in May, when a run for the 2016 presidential nomination was still a twinkle in Donald Trump’s eye, he already had a beautiful but secret plan to “bring ISIS to the table or, beyond that, defeat ISIS very quickly.” When asked by a doting Greta Van Susteren at Fox News, Donald, oh please won’t you tell us, the military strategist and wannabe commander in chief coyly … [Read more...] about Psst! Trump Reveals His Top Secret Plan to Defeat ISIL
Fiorina is too mad to see straight
WASHINGTON -- How angry is Carly Fiorina? So angry she can't see straight. That's the only explanation for the yawning gulf between what she says and the plainly visible facts. Fiorina stands out among the Republican presidential candidates not just because she is a woman but also because she has adopted a strategy of breathing fire. She presents herself as mad about … [Read more...] about Fiorina is too mad to see straight
Violence against LGBTI violates international law, UN declares
Twelve United Nations agencies issued an unprecedented call today to end violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) adults, adolescents and children. A joint statement said cultural, religious and moral practices and beliefs and social attitudes “cannot be invoked to justify human rights violations against any group, … [Read more...] about Violence against LGBTI violates international law, UN declares
Poll: Clinton tops Trump in general election
A new poll finds that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would beat billionaire Donald Trump in a general election, Vice President Joe Biden is the most popular Democrat (if he enters the race) -- and that Trumps negatives are worse than Clinton's: Hillary Clinton would beat Donald Trump in a general election match-up if the election were held today, a new poll … [Read more...] about Poll: Clinton tops Trump in general election
CNN Allowing Biden To Wait Until Day Of Debate To Declare Candidacy
CNN has announced more specific debate criteria, and it comes out to be extremely Biden-friendly. The requirement is for “an average of 1% in three polls, recognized by CNN, released between Aug. 1 and Oct. 10.” Under this criteria, Clinton, Sanders, O’Malley, Webb, and Chafee already qualify. This leaves two other potential candidates. Joe Biden has been investigating the … [Read more...] about CNN Allowing Biden To Wait Until Day Of Debate To Declare Candidacy
Cartoon: What’s on Mars?
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: What’s on Mars?
P.J. O’Rourke Smacks Down Ann Coulter
The Weekly Standard website has published a commentary by P.J. O'Rourke in which he smacks down Ann Coulter. O'Rourke starts out by comparing her to his generation. Toward Ann Coulter I had always taken a “suffer little children to come unto me” attitude. Not that she ever came on to me or anything. It’s just that she’s a kid. She was born in 1961. I’ve got skinny … [Read more...] about P.J. O’Rourke Smacks Down Ann Coulter
Brown University revokes honorary degree from Bill Cosby: third university to strip comedian of degree
By Scott Malone(Reuters) - Brown University has revoked the honorary doctorate it awarded to Bill Cosby as the comedian and actor faces allegations that he sexually assaulted more than 40 women, the Ivy League school said on Tuesday.Brown becomes the third U.S. university in the past week to revoke honorary degrees to Cosby, best known for his role as Cliff Huxtable on "The … [Read more...] about Brown University revokes honorary degree from Bill Cosby: third university to strip comedian of degree
Gallup Poll: Hillary Clinton’s Image Improves Among Democrats
A new Gallup Poll shows that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's image has improved among Democrats, coming on the same day that a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll finds she'd beat billionaire Donald Trump in a general election (but that poll also shows Vice President Joe Biden would enter the race as a highly popular candidate): Democratic presidential … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Hillary Clinton’s Image Improves Among Democrats
Remember When Big Business Did the Right Thing Because It’s the Right Thing to Do?
Earlier this year, Walmart took its first baby steps away from starvation wages and implemented a higher minimum wage for its workers. The move seemed well-timed; the call for a national $15/hour minimum wage had just reached a fever pitch, and shows no signs of slowing down. But the truth is that Walmart—owned by a family with more wealth than 42% of Americans combined—made … [Read more...] about Remember When Big Business Did the Right Thing Because It’s the Right Thing to Do?
Boehner Leaving Good for Democrats
Josh Marshall thinks so on Talking Points Memo. If the right wing of the House GOP caucus really gets to run the show in the House and begins doing things that overwhelming majorities of the public are against, that's actually not a good thing for the GOP. That's especially so during a presidential race since presidential candidates will inevitably get drawn into bidding wars … [Read more...] about Boehner Leaving Good for Democrats
Politix Update: Before You Know It, Fiorina’s Pants Will Be Burning. Guaranteed.
There is a downside to suddenly catching fire in a presidential race. Before you know it, your pants are burning, and Carly Fiorina is about to find that out. The silver-tongued Fiorina has built her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination around her tenure as CEO of Hewlett-Packard from its outset. "I come from a world outside of politics, where track … [Read more...] about Politix Update: Before You Know It, Fiorina’s Pants Will Be Burning. Guaranteed.
Republicans Criticize Obama for Talking to Putin
President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged subtle barbs in speeches before the U.N. General Assembly ahead of a one-on-one meeting in New York Monday evening. Before sitting down with Putin, Obama was also being criticized by key GOP leaders, who accused him of playing into the Kremlin’s hands. Senator Marco Rubio told NPR… … [Read more...] about Republicans Criticize Obama for Talking to Putin
Putin says ‘differences can be resolved’ after meeting with Obama
The first face-to-face meeting in almost a year has taken place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama. It happened on the side lines of the UN’s General Assembly and had been billed by some as the main event. After the 90 minute talks President Putin told Russian journalists that the discussions had… … [Read more...] about Putin says ‘differences can be resolved’ after meeting with Obama
SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; SHIELD; The Flash; John Snow; Jessica Jones; Getting Hooked on Netflix; Black Mirror; Continuum
The Witch’s Familiar, the concluding episode of last week's episode of Doctor Who, The Magician’s Apprentice, works despite the weakness in its plot due to its dual match-ups. One was the Doctor and a supposedly dying Davro,s and the other pair was Clara and Missy. Pairing the Doctor and Davros was an idea which Steven Moffat has had since watching Genesis of the Daleks … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; SHIELD; The Flash; John Snow; Jessica Jones; Getting Hooked on Netflix; Black Mirror; Continuum
“You may not be interested in politics…”
Given the insanity so much in evidence in the Republican presidential nomination process, I doubt many progressives need to be convinced how vitally important it is that a Democrat occupy the White House come 2017. Richard L. Hasen, a professor of law and political science at UC-Irvine, writing at TPM, reminds us of one very good reason we should keep our eye on the … [Read more...] about “You may not be interested in politics…”
This Old House: It’s Having A 300th Birthday, But There Won’t Be A Celebration
On rare occasions, history bequeaths us an opportunity to live in an old house that speaks deeply of its rich past, an experience that is far more common in the U.K. and Europe than the comparatively young U.S. I had one such opportunity in the 1980s when I lived in the John Evans House, a gem of an architectural crazy quilt in a secluded valley north of Newark, Delaware … [Read more...] about This Old House: It’s Having A 300th Birthday, But There Won’t Be A Celebration
Whole Foods to cut jobs, in part to lower its prices
In an effort to reduce prices in its stores, Whole Foods announced Monday it will cut roughly 1,500 jobs over the next two months. "We believe this is an important step to evolve Whole Foods Market in a rapidly changing marketplace," said Walter Robb, the co-CEO of Whole Foods Market. The grocery store chain said in… … [Read more...] about Whole Foods to cut jobs, in part to lower its prices