If the global swoon in stock prices were to turn into something more serious, which candidates would benefit? Could it give a boost to the billionaire developer who has a degree -- as he constantly reminds us -- from the prestigious Wharton School? Or would his four corporate bankruptcies and "ready, shoot, aim" approach to life make Donald Trump's supporters think twice? … [Read more...] about How would market chaos affect the 2016 race?
Feel the Moment
A couple days ago a very good friend shared with me that he was about ready to leave the house with his wife and drive their son off to college. After congratulations to them I shared some remembrances as well. It was a bittersweet mix for me; mostly good all the way around. The next day I read Matthew Berry who writes for ESPN. He was giggling about … [Read more...] about Feel the Moment
Can the GOP Survive Trump?
Molly Ball mulls the question of the campaign so far in The Atlantic. As Trump evinces surprising staying power atop the Republican field, nervous party members increasingly fret that he is hurting the image of the GOP and damaging its eventual nominee—who most assume will not be Trump. The most obvious problem is Trump’s outspoken opposition to immigration and immigrants, … [Read more...] about Can the GOP Survive Trump?
Jeb Bush needs some razzle-dazzle (Guest Voice)
A plan to energize Jeb Bush's presidential campaign: —1. Add another exclamation mark to your posters and bumper stickers, so that they look like this: "Jeb!!" This will put you ahead on the charisma meter, because most other candidates don't even use one exclamation point on their campaign signs! —2. Provide unlimited Starbucks at all town-hall… … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush needs some razzle-dazzle (Guest Voice)
‘Been There, Done That’ Congressman Supports the Iran Nuclear Deal
Seth Moulton is a Democrat representing the people of Massachusetts in Congress. But he is also a veteran -- a combat veteran that is -- who served his country as a Marine Corps infantry officer during four tours of duty in Iraq over five years, although he was firmly against the Iraq War. He left the Marines in 2008 with the rank of Captain and was elected to Congress … [Read more...] about ‘Been There, Done That’ Congressman Supports the Iran Nuclear Deal
When The Crude Oil Runs Out
Mankind is using crude oil faster than Mother Nature can replenish it. What are the implications of that fact? Crude-oil optimists and crude-oil pessimists disagree on when the peak of the world's oil production will take place, but they agree on one thing: The world's supply of crude oil is finite. It isn't a matter of if the world will run out of crude oil but a … [Read more...] about When The Crude Oil Runs Out
SciFi Weekend: Mr Robot; Hannibal; Yvonne Craig; Luke Cage; Manhattan; Mockingbird Spin-Off; Hugo Awards Controversy (And A Win For Orphan Black)
Mr. Robot continued with the revelations started last week. Once again, there are major spoilers for anyone who might be behind on the series. At the start of Mirroring, it was revealed that Elliot's father did work as Mr. Robot, repairing 1990's era computers. In a flashback to 1994, Elliot stole money from a customer. His father decided against punishing him saying, “Even … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Mr Robot; Hannibal; Yvonne Craig; Luke Cage; Manhattan; Mockingbird Spin-Off; Hugo Awards Controversy (And A Win For Orphan Black)
Wall Street in free fall; all three indexes in correction
By Tanya Agrawal(Reuters) - Wall Street opened sharply lower on Monday with the Dow Jones industrial average losing more than a 1,000 points following a more-than 8 percent drop in Chinese shares and a selloff in oil and other commodities.The Dow has never lost more than 800 points in a day.Futures on the Nasdaq, S&P and Dow indexes were halted briefly before the market … [Read more...] about Wall Street in free fall; all three indexes in correction
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump and the 14th Amendment
Donald Trump and the 14th Amendment by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --George F. Will: Trump defines down the GOP --A Good Chunk Of GOP Field Wants To Repeal The 14th Amendment --GOP Candidates Take Knife To Messican-Loving Parts Of Constitution (satire) --Is Donald Trump a useful idiot or a dangerous one? --Q&A: Explaining ‘Birthright Citizenship’ Mike … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump and the 14th Amendment
Clinton At Risk Of Losing Front-Runner Status As Support For Sanders And Biden Increase
Things sure aren't working out as a lot of Democratic leaders had anticipated. The whole point in an "establishment candidate" is to have a candidate who is well vetted and safe, not one embroiled in scandal and whose activities are under investigation by the Justice Department, is distrusted by a solid majority of voters, and is running a terrible campaign. This is leading to … [Read more...] about Clinton At Risk Of Losing Front-Runner Status As Support For Sanders And Biden Increase
Scotland Is Banning GMOs, but Is It the Right Move?
The Scottish government has announced that it will ban the growing of genetically modified (GM) crops. The move is in response to new rules by the European Union (EU) that allow countries to opt out of growing EU-approved GM crops, including corn and six other crops that are expected to be authorized shortly. Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead described the move as one … [Read more...] about Scotland Is Banning GMOs, but Is It the Right Move?
Politix Update: Scott Walker Is Against Big Government. Unless He’s For It.
“It is a time when one is filled with vague longings. When one dreams of flight to peaceful islands in the remote solitudes of the sea, or folds his hands and says, ‘What is the use of struggling, and toiling and worrying anymore? Let us give it all up.' " ~ MARK TWAIN One of the abiding ironies of the conservative Republican politicians who regularly rail against … [Read more...] about Politix Update: Scott Walker Is Against Big Government. Unless He’s For It.
Donald Trump is NO Ronald Reagan, close former advisors say
Donald Trump is trying to wrap himself in the imagery of Ronald Reagan. But some who knew Reagan are making it clear they do not agree and that much of what Trump says, the tone he uses, and how he politically operates would be anathema to the Republican Party's Greatest Generation icon. Trump is increasingly saying he knew Reagan: "And he liked me. And I worked with him … [Read more...] about Donald Trump is NO Ronald Reagan, close former advisors say
The Faces of the Heroes in Train Attack in France
The U.S. Air Force has released a set of photos of the three American heroes who, through their actions, saved “countless” lives during what the Air Force describes as "a terrorist attack aboard a train headed toward Paris Aug. 21." Read more here and here. Lead photo: Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone along with Jane D. Hartly, the U.S. ambassador to France, and his two … [Read more...] about The Faces of the Heroes in Train Attack in France
(Updates) Two U.S. Troops, ‘Heroes’ in Train Attack, Named
Update III: In continuing updates, the U.K. Telegraph is providing additional details about the foiled attack on the Amsterdam to Paris train on Friday evening. The Telegraph has identified the passenger who was first to attempt to grab the gunman’s AK-47 as Mark Mooligan, an American-born professor at the Sorbonne. The Telegraph: [Mr.Mooligan] tackled the … [Read more...] about (Updates) Two U.S. Troops, ‘Heroes’ in Train Attack, Named
Occupy Argues Clinton Unfit To Run For President; Also Critical Of O’Malley & Of Multiple Republicans
The rise of Bernie Sanders has sometimes called a progression from the Occupy Wall Street movement which drew attention to the dangers of income inequality. Occupy.com recently looked at presidential candidates they consider Unfit To Lead. Their arguments against Hillary Clinton: As the junior U.S. Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton voted for not only the USA PATRIOT Act … [Read more...] about Occupy Argues Clinton Unfit To Run For President; Also Critical Of O’Malley & Of Multiple Republicans
Military Weekend: ‘Patriotism’
TMV author Patricia Smith posted an excellent essay on “patriotism,” and readers waded in with equally excellent thoughts on this concept. In my opinion, we saw a good example of patriotism -- and heroism -- in the brave actions by two American servicemen and an American civilian when all hell broke loose on a high-speed train on its way from Amsterdam to Paris. To … [Read more...] about Military Weekend: ‘Patriotism’
Germany vows to fight xenophobia after attacks on refugee home
By Madeline ChambersBERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's interior minister led calls on Sunday for a crackdown on right-wing militants and racists after a second night of scuffles between protesters and police outside a refugee shelter in an eastern German town near Dresden.Just a day after 31 police officers were hurt in violent protests against the asylum seekers, a Reuters … [Read more...] about Germany vows to fight xenophobia after attacks on refugee home
Stop digging the hole, Secretary Clinton (Guest Voice)
Stop digging the hole, Secretary Clinton Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- Dear Secretary Clinton: Your email problem has mushroomed from a self-inflicted nuisance to a self-inflicted wound. The reason is simple: At every decision point, you and your staff have made the wrong choice about how to proceed, erring on the side of … [Read more...] about Stop digging the hole, Secretary Clinton (Guest Voice)
Fact-checking Trump’s immigration plan
TRENTON -- How much of Donald Trump's recently released policy paper about combatting unauthorized immigration is accurate? FactCheck.org has posted a lengthy examination of the claims made by Trump, the billionaire businessman turned Republican presidential frontrunner. Some of the key findings: * In the nearly 1,900-word paper released Sunday, Trump's campaign calls for an … [Read more...] about Fact-checking Trump’s immigration plan