WASHINGTON -- One group was not surprised by the collapse of Kevin McCarthy's campaign for speaker: The ultra-conservatives inside and outside the House who have made clear since the rise of the tea party that they have no use for politics as usual. They have always been upfront: Anyone who believes that President Obama poses a grave threat to our constitutional rights … [Read more...] about How Kevin McCarthy predicted his own demise
Poll: Hillary Clinton still leads Democratic race
A just released CBS News poll shows Hillary Clinton still is head in the race for the 2016 Democratic Presidential nomination. Her lead has narrowed but she still is ahead with a sizeable margin, the poll finds: Just days before the first Democratic candidate debate, Hillary Clinton is ahead of Bernie Sanders by 19 points in the Democratic race for the nomination … [Read more...] about Poll: Hillary Clinton still leads Democratic race
House of Clowns (Guest Voice)
House of Clowns By Dick Polman It's well known that Kevin Spacey shadowed Kevin McCarthy before shooting "House of Cards." But if you're looking for cheap intrigue and craven dysfunction, skip Netflix and binge-watch the real thing: House of Clowns. Our popcorn runneth over. After their boffo victories in the 2012 congressional elections, Republicans were out to prove … [Read more...] about House of Clowns (Guest Voice)
DNC’s Delusional Leader
Democrats should be ashamed to have Debbie Wasserman Schultz as the Democratic National Committee leader. The DNC leader has a habit of projecting non-existing things into the GOP, but what she said on CNN this past Sunday goes beyond the pale. Here is an excerpt of her interview on CNN's State of the Union program. Look, between the fifteen Republican candidates who … [Read more...] about DNC’s Delusional Leader
SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; Jessica Jones; Fargo; Extant Canceled & Minority Report Unlikely To Survive; Blindspot; Limitless; Casual; The Flash; Arrow; Continuum
The conclusion to last week's episode of Doctor Who, Before the Flood, got more timey wimey. Under the Lake, possibly not trusting the audience to realize they were seeing a paradox, began with the Doctor speaking directly to the audience about the Bootstrap Paradox (named after the paradox in Robert A. Heinlein's classic story By His Bootstraps). The doctor told what he called … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; Jessica Jones; Fargo; Extant Canceled & Minority Report Unlikely To Survive; Blindspot; Limitless; Casual; The Flash; Arrow; Continuum
Cartoon: Hillary Cloud
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: Hillary Cloud
How much Defense spending is too much? Too little? (Guest Voice)
How much Defense spending is too much? Too little? by Slamfu Considering how much we spend on national defense, it really is surprising how little the specifics of it get discussed, or even the broadest aspects of it. Most arguments seem to just boil down to something along the lines of either “more” or “less” spending without really stating a reason why to go in either … [Read more...] about How much Defense spending is too much? Too little? (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: The Speaker Chair
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: The Speaker Chair
The Freshman Voter (Guest Voice)
The Freshman Voter By Dale Schlundt, M.A. The upcoming election is not simply about voters who are loyal to their party, who have followed politics for years, or even those who may be undecided on to whom they will give their support. This and all elections bring with them an entire new category: young voters that are now able to exercise their public right. Yes, those who … [Read more...] about The Freshman Voter (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: Republican House Speaker
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: Republican House Speaker
Star Wars Rumors: Michael B. Jordan Wanted for Boba Fett Spinoff Movie
Now that Disney has acquired Lucasfilm, we’re going to be seeing a lot of new Star Wars movies in the upcoming years. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens is slated to be the cinematic event of the year, and work is already underway on Episode 8. Those films aren’t even the tip of the… … [Read more...] about Star Wars Rumors: Michael B. Jordan Wanted for Boba Fett Spinoff Movie
Ex Benghazi investigator says Congress panel targeted Clinton: media reports
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former investigator for the House of Representatives Select Committee on Benghazi is accusing the Republican-led panel of targeting Democrat Hillary Clinton to scupper her presidential bid, the New York Times and CNN reported on Saturday.They said Major Bradley Podliska, an intelligence officer in the Air Force Reserve on active duty in Germany, alleged … [Read more...] about Ex Benghazi investigator says Congress panel targeted Clinton: media reports
Trade Deals and the new Fuedalisim
Over at Hullabaloo Tom Sullivan has a great post on the revolt against trade deals. Hundreds of thousands of people marched in Berlin on Saturday in protest against a planned free trade deal between Europe and the United States that they say is anti-democratic and will lower food safety, labor and environmental standards. The organizers — an alliance of environmental … [Read more...] about Trade Deals and the new Fuedalisim
Benghazi committee plays dirty
Why bother to report this, really, when it has been evident from the beginning that the Benghazi investigation has been -- and continues to be -- an exercise in political warfare paid for (as usual) you and me. Over 13 months the Benghazi Select Committee has spent more than $3,500,000, exceeding the budget of the entire House Intelligence Committee. This figure does … [Read more...] about Benghazi committee plays dirty
It’s Time Sane Republicans Realize That They No Longer Have a Political Party (Guest Voice)
It's Time Sane Republicans Realize That They No Longer Have a Political Party I’m not a fan of Republicans like John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Peter King or Lindsey Graham, but I’ll at least give them credit for being sane. Sure, I disagree with them on practically every major political issue we face in this country, but at least when it’s all said and done, when I hear those … [Read more...] about It’s Time Sane Republicans Realize That They No Longer Have a Political Party (Guest Voice)
Bombs Kill 86 at Pro-Kurdish Rally in Ankara, Turkey
By Ece Toksabay and Gulsen SolakerANKARA (Reuters) - At least 86 people were killed when two suspected suicide bombers struck a rally of pro-Kurdish and labor activists outside Ankara's main train station just weeks before elections, in the worst attack of its kind on Turkish soil.Bodies covered by flags and banners, including those of the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' … [Read more...] about Bombs Kill 86 at Pro-Kurdish Rally in Ankara, Turkey
Ezra Klein on “Dynamic Scoring” of Tax Cuts
Ezra Klein details how even conservative economists blow the whistle on "dynamic scoring" making tax cuts pay for themselves on vox.com. Conservative policymaking is caught in a trilemma: Conservatives want to lower taxes, they want to balance the budget, and big spending cuts are unpopular. But there's no way to balance the budget while cutting taxes and only cutting popular … [Read more...] about Ezra Klein on “Dynamic Scoring” of Tax Cuts
New Clue That Biden Might Run–And That DNC Is Keeping Lessig Out
Ryan Lizza wrote that A New Clue Suggests Biden May Run: Joe Biden has taken another step toward entering the Presidential race. Representatives of the Vice-President held a meeting this week with Democratic National Committee staffers. They briefed Biden’s aides on arcane but crucial rules that the Vice-President would need to understand if he decides to run, according to … [Read more...] about New Clue That Biden Might Run–And That DNC Is Keeping Lessig Out
Military Weekend: Those Magnificent Military Working Dogs
It is (military) weekend again. Lots of subjects to write about. This weekend, I will indulge myself and will write about one of my most favorite subjects, those magnificent, brave, loyal military working dogs (MWDs). But first, a little "refresher” from previous columns: A dog is man's best friend. Dogs have been so from the earliest times. They have … [Read more...] about Military Weekend: Those Magnificent Military Working Dogs
Republicans In Political Chaos, Clinton Covering Up Some Shaddy Things, And Sanders’ Unconventional Debate Preparation
Both political parties are facing a fight against the party establishment in their presidential campaigns, with the Republican battle extending to Congress. Unfortunately the insurgents on the Republican side are the extremists who, while right in finding fault in the establishment, seek to paralyze the political system rather than improve it. Kevin McCarthy dropped out of the … [Read more...] about Republicans In Political Chaos, Clinton Covering Up Some Shaddy Things, And Sanders’ Unconventional Debate Preparation