If you thought that Republicans had finally seen the folly of their demagoguery demonizing recommendations to include end-of-life counseling in Medicare or the Affordable Care Act, well think again. Remember Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley suggesting that government health care reforms would lead to the government deciding when to “pull the plug on grandma.” Or former … [Read more...] about Are Death Panels Coming Back?
Pope Francis needs a PR person and a speech writer. [Post Updated]
If Pope Francis wants people to believe that he isn’t a Communist, then he is going to need the help of a public-relations person and a speech writer. During the Pontiff’s visit to Bolivia, the president of that nation presented Francis with a crucifix carved into a wooden hammer and sickle, as seen in a photo published by The Telegraph. Granted, the Pontiff didn’t ask … [Read more...] about Pope Francis needs a PR person and a speech writer. [Post Updated]
OXI dokey: A report from a Greek solidarity rally
A must read report as the saga/tragedy of Greece continues is at Americablog. Here's a chunk: “We dedicate this song to the people of Greece. We hope everything works out well for them?” That was how a young guitar player apprehensively kicked off last week’s Greece solidarity rally, held in Astoria’s own Athens Square. It would soon become a microcosm of the chaos that … [Read more...] about OXI dokey: A report from a Greek solidarity rally
The Other Shoe Drops In CIA-Psychological Association Torture Conspiracy
That sound you hear -- or in all likelihood didn't hear at all -- is the other shoe dropping in the scandal involving the secret collaboration between the American Psychological Association and the Bush administration to justify the CIA's use of Nazi-like torture techniques. The first shoe dropped in April when a group of dissident health-care professionals and human … [Read more...] about The Other Shoe Drops In CIA-Psychological Association Torture Conspiracy
The Past Through Pictures IX
In November of 1971 I left my job with the Defense Intelligence Agency in Munich and returned to my home in Oregon. I bought a new large format camera and built a darkroom in my basement. I grew up about a block from the entrance of Balch Creek canyon, a city park, (oddly named for a man who murdered his wife and was hanged). It was and still is a magical place and and when … [Read more...] about The Past Through Pictures IX
Trump’s Laughing at Us (Guest Voice)
Trump's Laughing at Us By Peter Funt Give Donald Trump this much: he knows how to play the media like a violin. If I had half his business brain I'd send him a bill for this column, because every time a serious journalist treats his campaign seriously it feeds his coffers. Call Trump a bona fide political threat, and he's laughing all the way to the next campaign … [Read more...] about Trump’s Laughing at Us (Guest Voice)
Notorious Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Chapo’ Guzman Flees Top Security Prison (AGAIN) Through 1.5Km Tunnel
Top Mexican drug lord Joaquin `El Chapo' Guzman has managed to escape from a high security prison outside Mexico City for the second time. The drug lord was last seen near the showers before he disappeared, authorities say. Guzman, who headed the infamous Sinaloa Cartel, was last seen near the Altiplano prison's showers at about 20:00… … [Read more...] about Notorious Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Chapo’ Guzman Flees Top Security Prison (AGAIN) Through 1.5Km Tunnel
The Past Through Pictures VIII
This is probably the last post from Europe in our photo adventure but I can't leave without some pictures from Munich's famous Oktoberfest. The Bavarian people knew how to have a good time. Here in the United States we have mini Oktoberfests but nothing like the real thing. There were usually 7 beer tents put up by the 7 Munich breweries that held over 2,000 people … [Read more...] about The Past Through Pictures VIII
GOP Dreamworld
Howell Raines describes the Dreamworld of Southern Repubicans in The New York Times. For now, Republican officeholders live in a dream world where they think rhetoric and repetition will somehow cause minority voters and center-left whites to turn into Republican voters. Alarmed Republican political professionals warn that unless their candidates stop obstructing on health … [Read more...] about GOP Dreamworld
North Carolina: This Time Not About a ‘Symbol’
Some have called the recent debate about and the eventual taking down of the Confederate battle flag at the South Carolina State House “the ungodliness of trepidation” and claim that the flag is not a symbol of hate and institutional racism. Others have called that flag and other Confederacy relics just “symbols” and call the fury -- "hate" -- over them a distraction that … [Read more...] about North Carolina: This Time Not About a ‘Symbol’
The Past Through Pictures VII
This will be one of the last of this series from Europe. We will soon be travelling back to the United States and a short side trip to Japan. This is a picture from one of the older sections of Munich in the winter. A snow Fence south of Munich. Change Is Hard – II The Past Through Pictures The Past Through Pictures II The Past Through … [Read more...] about The Past Through Pictures VII
The Grin of a Fool: Gun Control and the NRA
A white racist with strong sympathies for the Confederacy and segregation walks into a black church in Charleston, S.C., talks with a welcoming congregation for about an hour, and then murders nine of them. The response by the nation is to discuss the Confederate battle flag, and why it should be removed from society. An undocumented citizen who was deported five times gets … [Read more...] about The Grin of a Fool: Gun Control and the NRA
There May Be Infinite Universes—and Infinite Versions of You
In another universe you might have become the president of Micronesia. Or a pauper, subsisting on ketchup. Perhaps a different version of you already read this—in which case, read it again, for the first time. All crazy ideas, but all completely plausible given the idea that there may be, in fact, multiple universes. Infinite, even. I… … [Read more...] about There May Be Infinite Universes—and Infinite Versions of You
Cartoon: Bill Cosby’s Greatest Hits
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: Bill Cosby’s Greatest Hits
A Conservative Criticizes Her Fellow Conservatives On Defense Spending
Conservative A.J. Delgado is critical of her fellow conservatives on defense spending. Conservatives are fiscally responsible. We believe in smaller government, cutting government spending and reducing the national debt. So why do we support reckless, bloated, wasteful government spending on so-called “defense” — and even fight to increase it? She then provides them with … [Read more...] about A Conservative Criticizes Her Fellow Conservatives On Defense Spending
Rebel Flag Removed, an Op Ed by Jordan Cooper
by Jordan Cooper The ungodliness of trepidation is something that riddled the citizens of South Carolina, General Assembly, and now our Governor --to approve a bill to remove the Confederate Battle Flag from The South Carolina State House. The only thing that can defeat trepidation is truth: The Confederate Flag is not a symbol of hate and institutional racism. It is … [Read more...] about Rebel Flag Removed, an Op Ed by Jordan Cooper
Republican-Americans v. Confederate-Americans
In the circus called American politics, Confederate-Americans have risen from their slumber to protect their collective ego from actions taken by Republican-Americans. For decades, Republican-Americans sat idle while Confederate-Americans claimed that their most-cherished emblem represented “southern pride” and “southern heritage”. Then, Republican-Americans began to … [Read more...] about Republican-Americans v. Confederate-Americans
The Best Quote So Far re Confederate Flag Taken Down
The crowd of souls, already fanning themselves in the heat of the day, gathered all around the capital flagpole, cheering USA USA USA and singing as the flag came down low, a pop tune da da da da, da da da da, oh ay, Goodbye...da da da da, da da da da, oh ay, Goodbye. Honor guard, black and white, handles the confederate flag with trained military respect, and once flag … [Read more...] about The Best Quote So Far re Confederate Flag Taken Down
Factcheck.org And Other Fact Checkers Debunk Clinton Statements During CNN Interview
While Hillary Clinton generally evaded answering questions during her interview on CNN, she did repeat the same false statements she previously told about her use of a private email server, added a new lie, and was also corrected by Factcheck.org for an incorrect statement she made about Republicans on immigration. They first summarized some of her incorrect statements on the … [Read more...] about Factcheck.org And Other Fact Checkers Debunk Clinton Statements During CNN Interview
Bringing down a twisted fantasy
WASHINGTON -- For most of my life, a flag representing white supremacist violence against black people flew at the capitol of my native state. It is a very big deal that this emblem of hatred and oppression is finally coming down. Gov. Nikki Haley was expansive after the state Legislature finished action early Thursday on a bill consigning the Confederate battle flag to … [Read more...] about Bringing down a twisted fantasy