It's been a tough summer for America's two leading family political dynasties. Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush were once seen as locks on their party's presidential nominations, but Clinton's campaign is encountering rough seas, while Bush's campaign has never left port, although in the end -- and with the 2016 election still a distant 15 months away -- these dog-day travails may … [Read more...] about Politix Update: For Jeb Bush, Money Can’t Buy Him Love — Or The Presidency
Drawing a Line In the Oil Sands (Guest Voice)
Drawing a Line In the Oil Sands by P.J. Sullivan Since President Bush signed an executive order in 2004 to require presidential approval of any oil pipeline crossing the U.S. border, eight applications have been processed, with an average review time of 478 days. The outlier is the still-pending Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas. TransCanada Corp. applied for … [Read more...] about Drawing a Line In the Oil Sands (Guest Voice)
Carson suggests Obama is ‘anti-Semitic’ with Iran deal
Did he REALLY say that? Yep. Is there no cliche, no trite phrase not cliche enough or not trite enough to be used in 21st century polemics? Note I won't say political "discussion." Gone are the days of actual ideas and debating policy points. We're in the era of the name-calling. It's all about defining those who dare to see things differently through their own political prism. … [Read more...] about Carson suggests Obama is ‘anti-Semitic’ with Iran deal
Trumpism and the center: when Yeats comes knocking
WASHINGTON -- W. B. Yeats' "The Second Coming," written in 1919, is my nominee for the most cited poem in political commentary. The line invoked most -- "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity" -- is irresistible. It's always tempting to assume that the side we oppose brings vast reservoirs of demonic energy to bear against our own sad … [Read more...] about Trumpism and the center: when Yeats comes knocking
Hunting for a miracle on global warming (Guest Voice)
TMV NOTE: Due to a technical issue that will soon be resolved, this column is run under a different byline above. It is a replacement column for a vacationing columnist. The byline issue will soon be fixed. Hunting for a miracle on global warming by Michael Gerson WASHINGTON -- In recognition that Internet questionnaires get more eyeballs than earnest … [Read more...] about Hunting for a miracle on global warming (Guest Voice)
SciFi Weekend: Hannibal; Mr Robot; Jessica Jones; Patrick Stewart; DC Television Universe; Star Wars Expansion at Disney; The Last Ship; Person of Interest; Homeland August 16, 2015 — Ron Chusid | Edit
...And The Beast From The Sea continued the portrayal of Red Dragon on Hannibal, and provided the first glimpse of Hannibal Lecter wearing the mask he is famous for in the movies. Hannibal remained in contact with the Tooth Fairy, and even joked about using personal ads or notes on toilet paper to facilitate this in a reference to the novel where this was a more substantial … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Hannibal; Mr Robot; Jessica Jones; Patrick Stewart; DC Television Universe; Star Wars Expansion at Disney; The Last Ship; Person of Interest; Homeland August 16, 2015 — Ron Chusid | Edit
Clinton Had A Good Joke, But Her Violations Of Government Policy Are No Laughing Matter
Someone on Hillary Clinton's writing staff has a sense of humor, and extra points to Clinton if she thought up this joke by herself: “You may have seen that I recently launched a Snapchat account. I love it. I love it. Those messages disappear all by themselves.” The joke is funny, but the email scandal is no laughing matter. Back when George W. Bush was in office, we … [Read more...] about Clinton Had A Good Joke, But Her Violations Of Government Policy Are No Laughing Matter
Fond memories of Julian Bond (Guest Voice)
Fond memories of Julian Bond By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Julian Bond, who has unexpectedly died at 75, did not think of civil rights as matter of color. With his distinguished baritone enunciation and meticulous choice of words, he fought for the human rights of black people, for gender equality, and like his mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he stood … [Read more...] about Fond memories of Julian Bond (Guest Voice)
Did Morton Downey, Jr set the tone for today’s politics? (with VIDEOS)
Did the late, loud and confrontational talk show host Morton Downey Jr. influence the tone of today's politics? I've long contended that American politics now resembles a combination of political sports team worship, professional wrestling -- and a talk show where anger and rage takes priority over thought and solutions. Downey most assuredly played a role in what we see (and … [Read more...] about Did Morton Downey, Jr set the tone for today’s politics? (with VIDEOS)
The seduction of ignorance
Within days of 9/11, latest documents show, the US government with partners ATT and Verizon, were engaged in deeply illegal monitoring of American voters. Keep in mind that the presidency had changed hands less than a year earlier in a way that severely challenged the authenticity of that general election. "Our pet goat" was in the White House and the system that … [Read more...] about The seduction of ignorance
Cartoon: Slim down with fast food and soda pop
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: Slim down with fast food and soda pop
Fox News Poll: Shakeup in GOP Presidential candidate choices after first debate, Sanders picks up steam
A new Fox News poll finds that since the first GOP debate on Fox News, Donald Trump has lost a point, and some support from women -- and the pecking order of the rest of the Republican field has shifted. Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, Senator Bernie Sanders continues to gain on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, although Clinton still enjoys a healthy … [Read more...] about Fox News Poll: Shakeup in GOP Presidential candidate choices after first debate, Sanders picks up steam
Sunday Picture
You can find the abstract in nature. This is from the Oregon coast: … [Read more...] about Sunday Picture
What happened to Nina Simone?
[This article was taken from my blog, Chocolate Films] I still remember the very first time I heard Feeling Good by Nina Simone – it was a very confusing experience. I was a teenager and being confused was my default setting, but Nina’s baritone-ish voice didn’t help matters. I didn’t like the song because she sounded... she didn’t even sound like a man. She sounded … [Read more...] about What happened to Nina Simone?
89% Sure Congress Won’t Reject Iran Deal (Guest Voice)
89% Sure Congress Won't Reject Iran Deal By Jason Stanford Want to know a secret? Congress isn't going to stop the Iran nuclear deal, and not because of the merits, popularity or the fact that despite what everyone's telling you, they can't really stop it (more on that later). I can say with near certainty that the Iran deal is a done deal because that's what an … [Read more...] about 89% Sure Congress Won’t Reject Iran Deal (Guest Voice)
Real-Life Vampires: Hollywood Has How We Drink Blood All Wrong
Drinking blood isn't what Hollywood makes it out to be, according to real-life vampires. First of all, there's no biting – that's neither safe nor sanitary – and with too many vital arteries, the neck isn't the favored spot. Transactions aren't carnages leaving the victim lifeless behind in a dark alley, and nor do vampires sleep… … [Read more...] about Real-Life Vampires: Hollywood Has How We Drink Blood All Wrong
Trump to NBC’s Chuck Todd: Undocumented Immigrants ‘Have to Go’
So much for even the idea of "self-deportion." The GOP's front runner -- who continues to gain stem and defy the predictions made by and political obituaries written by pundits -- is saying the U.S. must be cleared of all undocumented immigrants. Donald Trump made the blunt statement to Chuck Todd's in a "Meet the Press interview": Donald Trump would reverse President … [Read more...] about Trump to NBC’s Chuck Todd: Undocumented Immigrants ‘Have to Go’
Final Honors for Chattanooga Fallen
The Department of the Navy and the City of Chattanooga held a ceremony today at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga's, McKenzie Arena in memory of the Sailor and four Marines killed in the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) shooting on July 16: Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, Sgt. Carson Holmquist, Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, and Lance … [Read more...] about Final Honors for Chattanooga Fallen
I want us to be brave
Sara Barellie's song Brave inspired me to write this post. I want us to be brave enough to speak up and speak out. I want us to be brave enough to believe that we can make a difference if we stand together. I want us to be brave enough to say to the wealthy: "Your money may buy political ads filled with distortions. lies and negativity, but your money cannot cast a single … [Read more...] about I want us to be brave
Trump a Moderate?
Ezra Klein distinguishes between theoretical and actual moderates on vox.com. Moderates often aren't moderate at all. They're just inconsistent. And that lets them be more extreme. This makes them different than loyal Democrats and Republicans. Partisans tend to adopt the positions held by their parties, and parties tend to adopt positions that are popular, … [Read more...] about Trump a Moderate?