It is to be expected that the media would be discussing the violence in Baltimore, and questioning its justification, but hopefully this does not lead people to forget the underlying question, as posed by Ta-Nahisi Coates: These well-intended pleas strike me as the right answer to the wrong question. To understand the question, it’s worth remembering what, specifically, … [Read more...] about The Key Question in Baltimore
Obama calls Baltimore rioters thugs, says entire country has work to do
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama called on the nation Tuesday to engage in "soul searching" following riots in Baltimore sparked by what he said was the latest troubling encounter between police and African-American men. Obama decried as "criminals and thugs" those who looted stores and torched vehicles in the city after the funeral service for an… … [Read more...] about Obama calls Baltimore rioters thugs, says entire country has work to do
Clinton Stirring the Wrong Passions
Clinton Stirring the Wrong Passions By Peter Funt The troubling thing about Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign is that she is arousing passion among the wrong groups for the wrong reasons. To hear her Republican opponents you'd think the election was a few days off, not a year-and-a-half away. In a series of frantic emails, GOP leaders have set April 30 as the … [Read more...] about Clinton Stirring the Wrong Passions
The 50 Most Important Movies to See, According to New Wikipedia Analysis
What are the most important movies to see, according to Wikipedia? No, not Wikipedia editors, but Wikipedia itself. Wikipedia Ranks The 50 Most Important Movies To See The Open Wikipedia Ranking is a great new site that attempts to rank various categories of Wikipedia page by importance. A Wikipedia page’s importance is determined by a combination… … [Read more...] about The 50 Most Important Movies to See, According to New Wikipedia Analysis
Bernie Sanders To Announce Presidential Run Thursday: Report
America’s longest-serving independent Congress member, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, is expected to announce a run for the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday, according to sources cited by Vermont Public Radio. The 73-year-old reportedly will release a statement on Thursday, but will wait “several weeks” to hold a large campaign event to start his run. Sanders… … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders To Announce Presidential Run Thursday: Report
Cartoon: Police
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: Police
Justices Skeptical of Arguments in Same-Sex Marriage Case
Justices Skeptical of Arguments in Same-Sex Marriage Case The U.S. Supreme Court has finished hearing arguments in the same-sex marriage case Obergefell v. Hodges. How the court will rule in this landmark case is anyone’s guess. Predicting rulings from the court based on how the justices question the lead attorneys during oral arguments is risky, but what seems clear is that … [Read more...] about Justices Skeptical of Arguments in Same-Sex Marriage Case
Obama Took On The Right At White House Correspondents’ Dinner
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has turned into a major event in recent years, and Barack Obama did a fine job. Among his jokes: “For many Americans, this is still a time of deep uncertainty. I have one friend, just weeks ago, she was making millions of dollars a year, and she’s now living out of a van in Iowa.” “Michele Bachmann predicted I would bring about the … [Read more...] about Obama Took On The Right At White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Sen. Rand Paul Blames Baltimore Protests on Lack of Fathers, Lack of Moral Code
Presidential hopeful Sen. Rand Paul said the Baltimore protests about a lack of fathers and lack of morals. How about when an upper middle class white kid from a broken home goes on a shooting rampage and kills innocent people? Will Paul blame that on a lack of father and morals? No. They blame that on mental illness. What happened in Baltimore last night was inexcusable … [Read more...] about Sen. Rand Paul Blames Baltimore Protests on Lack of Fathers, Lack of Moral Code
Regulating Multi-national Corporations
The word multi-national makes regulation of corporations and financial institutions along with equitable taxation extremely difficult. Though most of a corporation’s business may be in a particular country or countries and most of its manufacturing or investments may take place in another nation, the company may locate its headquarters and primary habitat in a completely … [Read more...] about Regulating Multi-national Corporations
Jayne Meadows Dead At 95
She was the wife of Steve Allen and the sister of Audrey Meadows of "The Honeymooners". In her own right, she was nominated for three Emmys and was a panelist on "I've Got a Secret". Born in China to missionary parents, Meadows got her start in the movies, appearing opposite Katherine Hepburn in the 1946 film… … [Read more...] about Jayne Meadows Dead At 95
GOP candidates against the tide on gay marriage
WASHINGTON -- No one can be certain which way the Supreme Court will rule on gay marriage, but the direction of history's arrow is plain for all to see -- except, apparently, the Republican candidates for president. Actually, the very fact that the court is hearing arguments on the issue this week seems to telegraph how the justices are leaning. Prior rulings have been … [Read more...] about GOP candidates against the tide on gay marriage
Are Riots The Only Way To Provoke Meaningful Police Reform?
This correspondent abhors violence in any form, let alone what is happening on the streets of Baltimore. But he concludes that civil unrest may be the only way to provoke meaningful and lasting police reform, including an end to the rampant brutality that has been part and parcel of policing in Baltimore and too many other big American cities. (It is highly likely that in the … [Read more...] about Are Riots The Only Way To Provoke Meaningful Police Reform?
Why I love Cinema: Interstellar
The best thing anyone can do to increase your enjoyment of a film is to dampen your expectations. Hype will fuck up your enjoyment of... anything. So, there is a certain amount of irony with me writing this piece. Everyone I spoke to in regards to Interstellar said it was another Nolan disappointment. For someone who didn’t care for Insomnia and felt damn near offended by … [Read more...] about Why I love Cinema: Interstellar
Baltimore Riots: ‘It’s Still Total Chaos Out There’ (Guest Voice)
'It's Still Total Chaos Out There' BALTIMORE -- The city was burning, and Curtis Moore had to hightail it to work. The 72-year-old lifelong Baltimore resident said he witnessed a mob assaulting white people on Monday night as they looted a shoe store about four blocks from the DoubleTree hotel where he serves as a concierge. “They were assaulting White Anglo-Saxon Protestants… … [Read more...] about Baltimore Riots: ‘It’s Still Total Chaos Out There’ (Guest Voice)
No Baltimore Riots (Guest Editorial)
No 'Baltimore riots' The following editorial is to appear in the Baltimore Sun on Tuesday, April 28: ——— Our hearts go out to the family of Freddie Gray, who not only had to bury a loved one but also to cope with the fact that a small number of the thousands who have marched in the streets of Baltimore… … [Read more...] about No Baltimore Riots (Guest Editorial)
Cartoon: Bruce Jenner
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: Bruce Jenner
‘State Of Emergency’ In Baltimore
Maryland's governor declared a state of emergency Monday evening as clashes in Baltimore turned increasingly chaotic. Gov. Larry Hogan called the National Guard into action and Baltimore police urged parents to get their children off the streets as groups of teenagers wielding bricks, sticks and bottles swarmed parts of downtown. Hogan condemned the looting and acts… … [Read more...] about ‘State Of Emergency’ In Baltimore
Death Toll Nears 3,900 in Nepal Earthquake
Death Toll Nears 3,900 The death toll from the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that ravaged Nepal on Saturday has risen to nearly 3,900 people, CNN reported Monday morning. The number is expected to rise throughout the day as rescuers reach more remote villages where the extent of the destruction is unknown. Meanwhile, a magnitude-5.1 earthquake was reported Monday morning on the … [Read more...] about Death Toll Nears 3,900 in Nepal Earthquake
Is democracy unraveling?
WASHINGTON -- The world's democracies, perhaps especially our own, face a peculiar set of contradictions that are undermining faith in public endeavor and unraveling old loyalties. There is a decline of trust in traditional political parties but also a rise in partisanship. A broad desire for governments to reduce the levels of economic insecurity and expand opportunity … [Read more...] about Is democracy unraveling?