WASHINGTON -- There is no doubt that President Obama's remarks about Christianity at the National Prayer Breakfast last week were historically accurate. But they were also -- let's face it -- glib, facile and patronizing. I must immediately dissociate myself from the bombastic critics, mostly Republicans, who have accused Obama of grievously insulting Christians by … [Read more...] about Patronizing at the prayer breakfast
Jon Stewart Leaving The Daily Show
Comedy Central has confirmed reports that Jon Stewart will be leaving The Daily Show by the end of the year when his contract expires. As with most major news these days, the mainstream media was bypassed, and this was released on Twitter: Thank you Jon. pic.twitter.com/yPdxjnkuLw — Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) February 10, 2015 There is no news as to what Stewart … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart Leaving The Daily Show
Cartoon: Professor Obama
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: Professor Obama
Book Review: “Letters From Brooklyn: A slightly irregular memoir of everyday life in New York City, with a tour guide thrown in” by Robert Laurence
[icopyright one button toolbar] Robert Laurence's "Letters from Brooklyn: A slightly irregular memoir of everyday life in New York City, with a tour guide thrown in" is required reading if you're going to the Brooklyn and New York area, required reading if you're there -- and even more required if you've ever wondered "why is there always all this fuss about New York?" … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Letters From Brooklyn: A slightly irregular memoir of everyday life in New York City, with a tour guide thrown in” by Robert Laurence
The Sadness of Brian Williams’ Fall
[icopyright one button toolbar] Brian Williams' fall from grace and his six-month suspension--likely to become permanent--as anchor for the NBC Nightly News, saddens me. While I haven't seen more than brief clips of his evening news broadcast for years, I always respected his reporting. It isn't his reporting that has gotten him into trouble though. It's his celebrity … [Read more...] about The Sadness of Brian Williams’ Fall
Reversing Plutocracy
[icopyright one button toolbar] Can it be done? Can American citizens roll back the actions of Congress and a conservative activist Supreme Court that are working to transform a flawed democracy into a plutocratic state? Currently, the situation looks grim with political changes already occurring on federal, state and local levels. Money has always played a role in … [Read more...] about Reversing Plutocracy
Prayer Breakfast Kerfuffle is about Fundamentalism
[icopyright one button toolbar] Ed Kilgore digs into the intra-Christian conflict behind the controversy over President Obama's prayer breakfast remarks on Talking Points Memo. But beyond the context of Christian-Islamic rivalry and comparative assessments of religious violence, Obama was also quietly but forcefully continuing an intra-Christian argument over clarity of … [Read more...] about Prayer Breakfast Kerfuffle is about Fundamentalism
BREAKING: NBC suspends Brian Williams for six months without pay
[icopyright one button toolbar] If Brian Williams was taken off his job for six months it would really be a de facto booting off the NBC News anchor slot. He'd be too much damaged goods to go back to that job. And suspended he is -- without pay: It’s anchors away — for six months. NBC brass slapped anchorman Brian Williams with a lengthy six-month suspension Tuesday … [Read more...] about BREAKING: NBC suspends Brian Williams for six months without pay
Brian Williams Case Gets Curiouser and Curiouser: Was he enabled?
[icopyright one button toolbar] While the media and new and old media class is waiting for the other patent-leather shoe to drop, the case of NBC Anchor Brian Williams and his "misremebering" being shot down in a helicopter seems to get curiouser and curiouser. NYU Journalism professor Jay Rosen, whose website Pressthink.org is required reading for anyone interested in … [Read more...] about Brian Williams Case Gets Curiouser and Curiouser: Was he enabled?
The Death of Kayla Jean Mueller – An Update
[icopyright one button toolbar] More details of the tragic death of American hostage Kayla Jean Mueller are emerging. I will not include them in the initial post announcing her death and containing tributes to her life. Here is a separate update. While the parents of Kayla Mueller did not specify what proof they had received of their daughter’s death, the New York … [Read more...] about The Death of Kayla Jean Mueller – An Update
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker First 2016 Presidential Hopeful to Open Iowa Office
[icopyright one button toolbar] Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker became the first 2016 presidential hopeful to open an Iowa office, the Des Moines Register reports. A political organization created by Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, has leased the space at 2775 86th St. in Urbandale – an office with a storied Republican political history. The strip-mall storefront, … [Read more...] about Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker First 2016 Presidential Hopeful to Open Iowa Office
John Oliver Exposes Pharmaceutical Marketing
[icopyright one button toolbar] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQZ2UeOTO3I&feature=youtu.be John Oliver and Last Week Tonight returned on HBO last weekend with a biting expose of the pharmaceutical industry (video above). Like Jon Stewart, Oliver's comedy version of the news is far more revealing than what is seen on most actual news reports. Last Week Tonight … [Read more...] about John Oliver Exposes Pharmaceutical Marketing
Germany’s Anti-Muslim Movement Spawns Anti-American Offshoot (Barbadillo, Italy)
[icopyright one button toolbar] Members of Germany's anti-Islamization movement Pigeda have just launched a new one: European Patriots Against the Americanization of the West, aka/Pegada. The group, which is growing fast and held it's first demonstration last month, calls the United States a 'terrorist power,' demands an end to U.S. spying and opposes the 'colonialist' … [Read more...] about Germany’s Anti-Muslim Movement Spawns Anti-American Offshoot (Barbadillo, Italy)
Munich Security Conference: U.S. and Germany Clash Over Salmon Canapés (Die Welt, Germany)
[icopyright one button toolbar] U.S. and German leaders may pretend that disagreements over arming Ukraine have done nothing to shake relations between them, but reporting on the behind the scenes maneuvering at the 'gastronomic highlight' of the Munich Security Conference, Die Welt special correspondent Anna von Bayern informs that an icy atmosphere between U.S. Secretary … [Read more...] about Munich Security Conference: U.S. and Germany Clash Over Salmon Canapés (Die Welt, Germany)
Cartoon: Brian Williams Liar
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: Brian Williams Liar
Overreacting to Obama, again (Guest Voice)
Overreacting to Obama, again by Ruth Marcus Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- Such is the daggers-drawn state of political discourse in Washington these days that President Obama could go to the National Prayer Breakfast, call the Islamic State a "brutal, vicious death cult" -- and still end up being assailed by conservatives. Obama's … [Read more...] about Overreacting to Obama, again (Guest Voice)
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Vaccinations and Rand Paul
Vaccinations and Rand Paul by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Rand Paul misses vaccines hearing --Rand Paul on defensive in Iowa after comments about vaccination dangers --Rand Paul on vaccines, thin line between medicine and politics --Rand Paul’s vaccine claims under microscope Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Vaccinations and Rand Paul
‘Better Call Saul’ sparks excitement in Albuquerque
Cast members Michael McKean (L-R), Michael Mando, Rhea Seehorn, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks and Patrick Fabian pose at the premiere of the television series "Better Call Saul" at the Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, California in this file photo from January 29, 2015. [Photo/Agencies] ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - New Mexico's largest city is back… … [Read more...] about ‘Better Call Saul’ sparks excitement in Albuquerque
The Death of Kayla Jean Mueller
[icopyright one button toolbar] Update: Statements by other officials at end of post. ~~ NBC reports that American ISIL hostage Kayla Mueller is dead. Her death has been confirmed by Kayla’s family. The family made the following statement, but did not elaborate on how it had learned of her death or the circumstances surrounding it, according to NBC: We are … [Read more...] about The Death of Kayla Jean Mueller
Democracy Day: Let’s Make the Next Election a National Holiday
[icopyright one button toolbar] I've written about Vermont senator Bernie Sanders before. The will-he won’t-he possible Presidential contender has a lot of great ideas, and whether or not you believe he has a snowball’s chance of winning the presidency, it’s clear that he will, at the very least, continue doing everything he can to steer the national political discussion in … [Read more...] about Democracy Day: Let’s Make the Next Election a National Holiday