Jackie was the perfect university rape victim. She was a white, well-raised, straight-A student. She wasn’t a drinker. On the night of her rape, she “discretely spilled her spiked punch” on the fraternity-house floor, rather than drink it. She was sober. She was wearing a “tasteful red dress with a high neckline” — no flashing cleavage… … [Read more...] about The Rolling Stone article and the damage done (Guest Voice)
A turning point in U.S.-Iran relations
WASHINGTON -- The framework agreement over Iran's nuclear program dramatically changes the Middle East. Hard-liners and hawks may complain all they want, but things will never go back to the way they were. I believe the change is clearly -- perhaps historically -- for the better. In that part of the world, however, there is always the possibility that things will get … [Read more...] about A turning point in U.S.-Iran relations
Hillary Clinton About to Launch a No ‘I’ Campaign
[icopyright one button toolbar] Several news sources are reporting that Hillary Rodham Clinton is preparing to launch her 2016 presidential campaign. While “the specific moment she jumps into the race remains a closely guarded secret,” CNN reports that the announcement is “only days away.” The associated Press believes Clinton will launch he presidential campaign … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton About to Launch a No ‘I’ Campaign
Gary Hart Tells Politico Billion-Dollar Clinton Campaign Should Frighten Americans
[icopyright one button toolbar] In an interview with Politico, Gary Hart warned that a billion-dollar Clinton campaign “ought to frighten every American" and hoped for a competitive primary which forced Clinton to be specific on the issues. He had favorable comments on both Martin O'Malley and Elizabeth Warren. Here is a condensed version: “I like Hillary Clinton. I really … [Read more...] about Gary Hart Tells Politico Billion-Dollar Clinton Campaign Should Frighten Americans
The Last Battle That Counted
[icopyright one button toolbar] A suggestion for a national holiday? Make the Confederacy's Defeat a National Holiday Brian Beutler / The New Republic — 150 years ago this week, Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union. Let's celebrate it—every year. — In a speech one month ago, the first black president of the United States challenged millions of white Americans to … [Read more...] about The Last Battle That Counted
Tesla’s Stalled Nationwide Rollout: A Case Study in Political Conflicts of Interest
[icopyright one button toolbar] While it’s possible you haven’t yet heard of Tesla, the company best known for their mold-breaking automobiles, that probably won’t be true for much longer. With famed billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk at the helm, Tesla is looking to disrupt a number of major industries, including electric automobiles, home energy, and even privatized space … [Read more...] about Tesla’s Stalled Nationwide Rollout: A Case Study in Political Conflicts of Interest
SciFi Weekend: Agents of SHIELD; Better Call Saul; Arrow; The Flash; The Americans; Outlander; 12 Monkeys; Orphan Black; Continuum; X-Files; Big Bang Theory; Good Riddance, Carrie Matheson
[icopyright one button toolbar] It felt like almost every show I watched last week had major episodes. Agents of SHIELD went back to the events of Captain America: Winter Soldier and showed the origin of the other SHIELD. Will Nick Fury or Tony Stark settle this dispute? Better Call Saul revealed who was sabotaging Jimmy's career all along. Arrow blew everything wide open … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Agents of SHIELD; Better Call Saul; Arrow; The Flash; The Americans; Outlander; 12 Monkeys; Orphan Black; Continuum; X-Files; Big Bang Theory; Good Riddance, Carrie Matheson
Presidential Wannabe Jeb Bush Registered as a Hispanic in 2009
[icopyright one button toolbar] GOP presidential hopeful former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush registered as a Hispanic on his 2009 voter-registration application. I remember when vice president George Bush introduced us to Jeb Bush and the "little brown ones:" August 17, 1988|Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — A bristling Vice President George Bush today defended his … [Read more...] about Presidential Wannabe Jeb Bush Registered as a Hispanic in 2009
Ezra Klein on Indiana Law
Ezra Klein suggests that the controversy over the Indiana religious freedom law is largely symbolic on Vox.com. One of the strangest political facts of the past few years is how completely the politics have reversed on same-sex marriage. In 2004, it was conventional wisdom — though probably wrong — that George W. Bush won reelection because Republicans savvily used … [Read more...] about Ezra Klein on Indiana Law
How to read the Iran debate
WASHINGTON -- Deals involving limits on weapons, nukes or otherwise, are intricate and technical. Only a limited number of people among arms-control connoisseurs fully grasp the meaning of every detail. Yet in a democracy, these matters are and should be the subject of debate. Those engaged in the argument sometimes pretend to more knowledge than they have, tossing out … [Read more...] about How to read the Iran debate
‘Sinatra’ on HBO review: A loving tribute, but a little stale
When Frank Sinatra died in 1998 at the age of 82, there followed a deluge of farewells. But as Pete Hamill in "Why Sinatra Matters," "much of the language had a stale, even hollow quality," from obituaries that had been written months or years before. The television coverage had a tone of "odd insincerity -- they… … [Read more...] about ‘Sinatra’ on HBO review: A loving tribute, but a little stale
How Hitchcock Instilled His Own Anxieties in His Audience
Alfred Hitchcock, said director François Truffaut, was “an artist of anxiety”. Everything made him anxious: as a baby he was terrified by an aunt who put her face up against his and made cooing noises; in Hollywood he refused to cross the studio floor in case a stranger tried to speak to him. He suffered from… … [Read more...] about How Hitchcock Instilled His Own Anxieties in His Audience
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Gay Marriage and Ohio
Gay Marriage and Ohio by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST --Ohio attorney general: Gays already have too much power — that’s why they can’t get married --A Supreme Court ruling allowing same-sex marriage in Ohio must not lead to a legislative backlash in Columbus: Thomas Suddes --Ohio defends gay marriage ban in U.S. Supreme Court brief ---The arguments against gay … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Gay Marriage and Ohio
Why Does Racism Persist?
If anyone took the demise of Jim Crow and the election of a black president to mean that racism was dead, reports of the Justice Department on Ferguson and Philadelphia are sobering reminders that racism lives. Racism is proving as stubbornly hard to eradicate as the mythical Hydra which sprouted two new heads for every one that was cut off. Until, that is, Hercules found … [Read more...] about Why Does Racism Persist?
Clinton’s Electability Now Being Questioned
While it is far too early to make many meaningful predictions about the 2016 election, there is one safe bet--the media will concentrate on the horse race, as opposed to the issues, even at this early state. Eric Ham argues at The Hill that Jeb Bush as the edge in the electoral college over Clinton. David Atkins disagrees at The Political Animal blog, arguing that even if the … [Read more...] about Clinton’s Electability Now Being Questioned
Comedy Is Work (Guest Voice)
Comedy Is Work by Gene Perret Comedy, when it’s done correctly, appears easy, spontaneous. As television writers, we noted that irony. When we did an excellent job of writing, it appeared that we did nothing at all. I recall one time when Bob Hope was hosting his annual golf tournament in Palm Springs, he sent me a list of golfers and said, “These are the guys I’ll … [Read more...] about Comedy Is Work (Guest Voice)
Iran Was the Easy Part: Obama Takes His Nuke Deal to Congress
Now begins the hard part: selling the Iran nuclear framework agreement to a very skeptical Congress and worried allies in the Middle East. The Republican presidential candidates represent an additional hurdle for Obama, as they will rally the conservative faithful against the deal and help whip up a climate in which it will be difficult for… … [Read more...] about Iran Was the Easy Part: Obama Takes His Nuke Deal to Congress
Watch ‘Mad Men’ Season 7 Part 2 Premiere
AMC's period drama Mad Men is coming to an end with the final seven episodes of the last season premiere on Sunday, Apr. 5. The first episode of season 7 part 2 will air at 10/9c and pick up from where season 7 part 1 left off. "The shows became so much more concentrated on these… … [Read more...] about Watch ‘Mad Men’ Season 7 Part 2 Premiere
Georgia official: we’ve “addressed” issue of teacher saying those who voted for Obama aren’t Christians
After allegations that a school teacher told her students that "any parent who supports [Obama] is not a Christian," officials insist that they have "addressed" the issue. Dublin City Schools Superintendent Chuck Ledbetter told NBC affiliate WMGT that "we're always going to address our issues and learn and move forward and grow." He did not tell either NBC or … [Read more...] about Georgia official: we’ve “addressed” issue of teacher saying those who voted for Obama aren’t Christians
Bruni on Bigotry and the Bible
Frank Bruni offers notes on bigotry and the Bible in The New York Times. The drama in Indiana last week and the larger debate over so-called religious freedom laws in other states portray homosexuality and devout Christianity as forces in fierce collision. They’re not — at least not in several prominent denominations, which have come to a new understanding of what the … [Read more...] about Bruni on Bigotry and the Bible