This week our troops and Defense personnel continued to fight the wildfires in California and, on the other side of the Pacific, they sprang into action to help those struck hard by devastating Typhoon Soudelor. Will Hock, left, 9th Civil Engineer Squadron fire captain, assists Justin Devorss, Linda Fire Protection District engineer, with extinguishing a fire, Aug. 6, … [Read more...] about Military Weekend: Helping Out on Both Sides of the Pacific
After 54 Years, the Stars and Stripes Fly over U.S. Embassy in Cuba Once Again
On July 1, President Obama announced that the United States had agreed to formally re-establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cuba and re-open embassies in our respective countries. Today, more than 54 years after the flag came down, “[w]atched over by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Marines raised the American flag at the embassy in Cuba… symbolically … [Read more...] about After 54 Years, the Stars and Stripes Fly over U.S. Embassy in Cuba Once Again
Book Review: Thomas Kunkel’s ‘Man in Profile: Joseph Mitchell of The New Yorker’
WHEN THE NEW JOURNALISTS CAME ASHORE, JOE MITCHELL WAS THERE TO GREET THEM. ~ JOHN McPHEE Sadly, upon his death in 1996 at age 87, Joseph Quincy Mitchell was less known for his extraordinarily elegant writing in The New Yorker than his decades-long case of writers block. Mitchell, who died in 1996 at age 87 after a 48-year career at The New Yorker, is arguably … [Read more...] about Book Review: Thomas Kunkel’s ‘Man in Profile: Joseph Mitchell of The New Yorker’
Chris Christie’s Tunnel Tango (Guest Voice)
When we wrote in April about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s budget “sins,” one of the biggest was the money shuffle he engineered after his 2010 decision to kill an $8.7 billion commuter rail tunnel from New Jersey to New York City. That decision, which boosted him to national prominence, was a major bragging point for… … [Read more...] about Chris Christie’s Tunnel Tango (Guest Voice)
Cartoonists: Hillary’s Following
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 Cartoonists: Hillary’s Following
Jeb Bush’s familiar approach to foreign policy
WASHINGTON -- Jeb Bush has firmly established himself as the Republican to vote for if you wish his brother were still president. Best of luck with that. In what was billed as a major foreign policy speech Tuesday, Bush proposed inching back into Iraq, wading into the Syrian civil war and engaging in much the same kind of geopolitical engineering and nation-building … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush’s familiar approach to foreign policy
Cartoon: Trump
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: Trump
Trump, Trumpies & RINOs Trouble the GOP (Guest Voice)
Trump, Trumpies & RINOs Trouble the GOP by Michael Reagan Donald Trump did wonders for Fox News' ratings and Megyn Kelly's star power last week. But "The Donald" didn't do himself, the Republican Party or the conservative cause any favors. Millions of viewers saw clear evidence that Trump is not a serious Republican candidate or really a conservative. He espoused … [Read more...] about Trump, Trumpies & RINOs Trouble the GOP (Guest Voice)
Sanders Takes Lead Over Clinton In New Hampshire, Email Scandal Gets Far Worse For Clinton, & Democrats Starting To Panic
If Hillary Clinton fails to be elected president, there is a strong chance that books about the 2016 campaign will note today as a major day in the crumbling of Clinton's previously "inevitable" path to victory. Prior to this week Sanders was behind but in a statistical tie with Clinton in New Hampshire. The latest poll shows Sanders with the lead. This represents tremendous … [Read more...] about Sanders Takes Lead Over Clinton In New Hampshire, Email Scandal Gets Far Worse For Clinton, & Democrats Starting To Panic
Appendicitis and Cable News (Guest Voice)
Appendicitis and Cable News by Slamfu So I haven’t actually sat down and watched much cable news these last 10-15 years, but from many sources such as The Daily Show I have been able to infer that as far as being sources of actual journalism they’ve gone downhill during the last two administrations. To put it mildly. I couldn’t bring myself to actually watch them because … [Read more...] about Appendicitis and Cable News (Guest Voice)
We Have the Money, the Tech, and the Obligation to Educate Our Inmates
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 2.2 million Americans are locked up—a figure that translates into roughly one whole percent of the country’s adult population, and is higher than the incarceration rate of just about any other developed country. To make matters worse, nearly 1 million American prisoners are African Americans, which means that blacks are … [Read more...] about We Have the Money, the Tech, and the Obligation to Educate Our Inmates
What One Debate Can Do (Guest Voice)
What One Debate Can Do by P.J. Sullivan The first Republican presidential debate was dominated by the boorish reality show star who has been leading the polls, and in the aftermath, coverage has focused on whether he later made reference to a basic cable journalist’s menstrual cycle. A bigger story has been overlooked. Candidate Carly Fiorina swept the NIT Tournament … [Read more...] about What One Debate Can Do (Guest Voice)
Here’s why Israelis aren’t getting too worked up about the Iran deal
JERUSALEM — While their politicians rant and rave, most Israelis just can’t seem to get worked up about the pending deal with Iran. To date, the most energized response to the deal outside of political circles has been a deliberately inane TV advertisement, promoting a new “smart home” temperature control service. In the ad, popular Israeli… … [Read more...] about Here’s why Israelis aren’t getting too worked up about the Iran deal
Bernie Sanders: Not My Political Cup of Tea, But a Good Man
While independent Senator Bernie Sanders is not my political cup of tea, I do believe that he is an honest, decent man. In his satirical pieces at the New Yorker, Andy Borowitz is generally right on target capturing the essence of politics and the qualities of politicians -- good or bad. He does so again today with a piece on how presidential candidate Bernie … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders: Not My Political Cup of Tea, But a Good Man
Jeb Bush’s brotherly wager
WASHINGTON -- Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton have a shared interest: Each wants to act as if the primaries are over and that the general-election campaign -- between, each hopes, the two of them -- is already underway. Bush, who has been flat in the polls, has a particular need: to shift a Trump-saturated discussion of who is the most flamboyant personality toward a … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush’s brotherly wager
Cartoon: This Little Trumpy
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: This Little Trumpy
Could Trump actually win the GOP nomination?
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump could win the Republican presidential nomination. Really. The wealthy real estate mogul remains a long shot. But the brash Republican front-runner is primed to remain strong for the foreseeable future. No matter how offensive his remarks, polls confirm he retains a dedicated and growing corps of supporters. Campaign funding certainly won't be… … [Read more...] about Could Trump actually win the GOP nomination?
Breaking News: President Carter Has Cancer that Is Spreading
Very sad news. The New York Times has just reported that former President Jimmy Carter has been diagnosed with cancer that is spreading. The Times: “Recent liver surgery revealed that I have cancer that is now in other parts of my body,” Mr. Carter, 90, said in a statement. . The Carter Center said on Aug. 3 that doctors at Emory University Hospital had … [Read more...] about Breaking News: President Carter Has Cancer that Is Spreading
Political Attack Dogs
Hillary Clinton flounders while anti-Republican attack dogs go after the GOP presidential candidates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Welcome to this edition of … [Read more...] about Political Attack Dogs
Lawrence Lessig–Long Time Critic Of Clinton’s Ethics–May Run For Democratic Nomination
Lawrence Lessig, director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University and prominent government reform activist, has stated he plans to run for the Democratic nomination, provided he can raise one million dollars by Labor Day. He says that if elected he would only remain in office long enough to enact government reforms, and then turn over the job to his vice … [Read more...] about Lawrence Lessig–Long Time Critic Of Clinton’s Ethics–May Run For Democratic Nomination