WASHINGTON -- Republicans won't win the presidency in 2016 without making inroads in the Midwest. Happily for the GOP, two Midwestern governors are running for their party's nomination. Both won re-election in 2014. The one from the state with more electoral votes won with 64 percent of the vote with wide appeal to Democrats and independents. The one from the smaller … [Read more...] about The Kasich-Walker debate
Vietnam and the US: From enemies to lovers (Guest Voice)
Forty years after the end of Vietnam War, which claimed countless lives and bitterly divided American society, two former enemies have come closer than ever to a full-fledged strategic partnership. Recently, Vietnam's General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the country's ideological leader, embarked on a historic trip to the White House, where he was cordially received by… … [Read more...] about Vietnam and the US: From enemies to lovers (Guest Voice)
SciFi Weekend: Hannibal; San Diego Comic Con Highlights Including Doctor Who, Arrow, The Flash, SHIELD, Muppets, Star Wars, Orphan Black, Heroes Reborn, Superman v Batman, & More
This week's episode of Hannibal, Digestivo, involved a lesbian relationship between Margot and Alana, a pig-baby, and an escape from Muskrat Farms. We learned that Mason’s plan was to cut Will’s face off, place it onto his face, which had been destroyed, and then eat Hannibal piece by piece with Will's face. His butcher/surgeon, Cordero, is at least as sadistic as Mason, and … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Hannibal; San Diego Comic Con Highlights Including Doctor Who, Arrow, The Flash, SHIELD, Muppets, Star Wars, Orphan Black, Heroes Reborn, Superman v Batman, & More
Gaffes From Clinton and Trump Campaigns; Al Gore To The Rescue?
Members of both parties have good reason to worry about the candidates now leading in the polls. Hillary Clinton, along with other Democratic candidates, appeared in Iowa Friday night. Instead of receiving favorable coverage for what she said, the story out of Iowa is how the Clinton campaign told supporters not to speak to reporters. It is bad enough when Clinton avoids … [Read more...] about Gaffes From Clinton and Trump Campaigns; Al Gore To The Rescue?
A “grass” roots initiative seeks to legalize pot in California
A "grass" roots initiative seems to legalize pot in California in 2016 by East County News Service SACRAMENTO —Advocates of a ballot measure that would legalize recreational marijuana use in California announced Thursday that they have amassed an e-mail list of 70,000 supporters for the campaign. Once the initiative is filed with the California Attorney General, ReformCA … [Read more...] about A “grass” roots initiative seeks to legalize pot in California
Trump’s Fans Are Still Fans
We're being told that Donald Trump's candidacy just blew up. We're being informed that we've "probably reached an inflection point ... that will probably mark the moment when Trump's candidacy went from boom to bust." Maybe -- but the Trump fanboys and fangirls are still on his side. I'm looking at the comments to a Fox… … [Read more...] about Trump’s Fans Are Still Fans
Mexican drug kingpin’s hometown stunned by his “bad ass” prison escape
By Lizbeth Diaz and David Alire GarciaBADIRAGUATO, Mexico (Reuters) - In Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's home town, some thought they were dreaming and others shed tears of joy when they heard the drug lord had broken out of Mexico's top maximum security prison through a tunnel built into his cell.A picturesque, agricultural backwater in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains … [Read more...] about Mexican drug kingpin’s hometown stunned by his “bad ass” prison escape
Scott Walker panders: ‘I don’t know’ if being gay is a choice
One of the reasons why our politics now seems so sleazy, intellectually smelly, and excruciatingly tiresome and feels like undergoing a root canal to watch is that you see people blatantly pandering. And Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker gives us the quintessential example of a politician thirsting for support who won't do anything to alienate part of a voting bloc he seeks. To … [Read more...] about Scott Walker panders: ‘I don’t know’ if being gay is a choice
Is Donald Trump Dumb…Like A Fox? (Guest Voice)
Is Donald Trump Dumb…Like A Fox? By David Oates My first thought is…maybe. Here’s why. “The Donald” is really going out of his way to make a Grade A USDA Prime Jackass of himself, and he’s doing a marvelous job at it. As I was reading the news reports, watching the videos and following the tweets, I kept thinking to myself that it’s as if Trump’s going out of his way … [Read more...] about Is Donald Trump Dumb…Like A Fox? (Guest Voice)
Achtung! Merkel, Germany, Greece and the EU
Looks like Merkel (does not rhyme with "miracle") may be in trouble. ... With its handling of Greece’s bailout package, Germany is at risk of losing that trust, some European analysts say. By taking what sounded to many as an aggressive, punishing, contemptuous tone toward Greece, the German leadership may have undercut its moral authority, they say. And by floating the … [Read more...] about Achtung! Merkel, Germany, Greece and the EU
Cartoon: Donald Trump Tongue Noose
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: Donald Trump Tongue Noose
British tabloid defends release of Queen Nazi salute footage
It’s a home movie the British Royal Family would rather have kept under wraps. Shot in 1933, the reel shows Queen Elizabeth performing a Nazi Salute as a child. Buckingham Palace has blasted the release of the footage saying it was disappointed that a film shot eight decades ago was obtained and exploited in this fashion.… … [Read more...] about British tabloid defends release of Queen Nazi salute footage
The Donald Is Just Getting Started, Trust Me
Of Heroes and Anti-Heroes In Defense of Donald Trump View From the Virgin Islands By JOHN McCARTHY TMV Columnist You know you’re on the downside of your career when the AARP starts taking pot shots at you. AARP glibly tweeted about Tiger’s not-good-enough-to-make-the-cut golf play at St. Andrews in Scotland this way: “.@TigerWoods It's better to be over 50, than it … [Read more...] about The Donald Is Just Getting Started, Trust Me
Will Trump’s Smear of McCain Doom His Candidacy?
Donald Trump outdid the Donald when he told a religious audience in Iowa on Saturday that John McCain was “not a war hero,” that the Arizona senator receives accolades only because he was a prisoner: “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like soldiers who weren’t captured.” It’s hard to unpack the craziness of… … [Read more...] about Will Trump’s Smear of McCain Doom His Candidacy?
Donald Trump’s rise is not just entertainment
I find it interesting the Huffington Post has decided they will no longer cover the Trump candidacy as a political story but rather in their entertainment section. After watching and listening to Donald Trump since he announced his candidacy for president, we have decided we won’t report on Trump’s campaign as part of The Huffington Post‘s political coverage. Instead, we … [Read more...] about Donald Trump’s rise is not just entertainment
The Past Through Pictures XII
We will return to Balch Creek Canyon today but this time in color, The images below are both from scanned two and a quarter transparencies. The image below was enhanced using Photoshop. The background was given a warmer tone. Little Photoshop here: The list of links to past posts is getting a bit long so I will put up a link to the last post in the European series … [Read more...] about The Past Through Pictures XII
NERVY: Donald Trump Questions Whether Sen. John McCain is a War Hero
GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump attacked Sen. John McCain on Saturday, questioning whether he was a "war hero." Um, to McCain's credit, he served his country. Donald Trump got five deferments. Besides, who is he to call out John McCain on anything, particularly with his service in the military? Trump said, "[John McCain] not a war hero." He added, "I like people that … [Read more...] about NERVY: Donald Trump Questions Whether Sen. John McCain is a War Hero
Hell on Earth
At 69 I like most of the people alive I have lived with the threat of nuclear weapons all of my life. Less than 10 months before I was born the first nuclear weapon was detonated in New Mexico. It was code named Trinity. The light of a nuclear explosion is unlike anything else on Earth. This is because the heat of a nuclear explosion is unlike anything else on Earth. … [Read more...] about Hell on Earth
Deal with Iran: Payback for Saudi Role on 9-11? (L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon)
If senior officials of one of your closest allies played a role in the most devastating terrorist attacks ever to strike your country - it seems logical that one might look for alternatives. So - did the Saudi role in the September 11th attacks figure in the agreement on Iran's nuclear program reached in Vienna last week? In this interview with Lebanon's L'Orient Le Jour, Dr. … [Read more...] about Deal with Iran: Payback for Saudi Role on 9-11? (L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon)
Breaking News: Four Killed at Naval Reserve Center (Updates)
Even more bad news: The U.S. Navy reports: A male Navy Petty Officer succumbed to wounds received in the July 16 shooting at the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) in Chattanooga, Tennessee July 18 at 2:17 a.m. In total, four U.S. Marines and one Sailor were killed in the incident. His name will not be released until 24 hours after the next of kin process is … [Read more...] about Breaking News: Four Killed at Naval Reserve Center (Updates)