Republican insiders say legislation already is in the works to pressure the White House into expanding the war against the Islamic State and increasing pressure on Russia and Iran, as the GOP takeover of the Senate provides neocons and war hawks with their first bully pulpit since the end of George W. Bush's presidency. While there… … [Read more...] about Republican Senate takeover gives war hawks, neocons bully pulpit
Cartoon roundup: Republicans win, Obama and Democrats lose
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license these cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon roundup: Republicans win, Obama and Democrats lose
Humoring the headlines (Guest Voice)
Humoring the Headlnies by Laurie Baron [icopyright one button toolbar] An election wrap up: SAN DIEGO? John Boehner and Mitch McConnell celebrated the GOP’s control of both the House and the Senate by offering to work cooperatively with President Obama to accomplish their aims. In this spirit of bipartisanship they changed the GOP’s campaign slogan from “Stop Obama; … [Read more...] about Humoring the headlines (Guest Voice)
Gruesome Details Revealed In Suspected Massacre Of Mexico Students
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's government said on Friday evidence suggests that 43 missing trainee teachers were murdered and their charred remains tipped in a rubbish dump and a river in southwest Mexico, based on the confessions of three detained gang members. Attorney General Jesus Murillo said the detainees, caught a week ago, admitted setting fire… … [Read more...] about Gruesome Details Revealed In Suspected Massacre Of Mexico Students
Cartoon: GOP captures Senate
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: GOP captures Senate
Breaking: Obama Authorizes Additional Troops in Fight Against ISIL
[icopyright one button toolbar] The Defense Department has announced that, “as part of the strategy to defeat ISIL terrorists,” President Obama has authorized up to 1,500 additional troops to Iraq, pretty much doubling the number of U.S. forces on the ground there now. The new authorization gives the U.S. military the ability to deploy up to 3,100 troops. About 1,400 U.S. … [Read more...] about Breaking: Obama Authorizes Additional Troops in Fight Against ISIL
A Bad Week Gets Worse: Sixth Circuit Court Upholds Bans On Gay Marriage
[icopyright one button toolbar] As if the news wasn’t bad enough on Tuesday, there was even more bad news this week. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit overturned rulings against bans on same-sex marriage in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. More on the decision at SCOTUSblog. This decision runs counter to decisions in 4th, 7th, 9th and 10th circuit … [Read more...] about A Bad Week Gets Worse: Sixth Circuit Court Upholds Bans On Gay Marriage
Larison: GOP Will Do Nothing
Daniel Larison of The American Conservative predicts the GOP majority Congress and Senate will do what they campaigned on: nothing.[icopyright one button toolbar] (h/t rudi) All of this suggests that most observers, myself included, underestimated the extent to which Republicans would dominate this election. The GOP ran an almost purely negative campaign and said almost … [Read more...] about Larison: GOP Will Do Nothing
Would This Have Helped Democrats on Tuesday? Nah!
[icopyright one button toolbar] The U.S. economy, especially the private sector job growth, has been steadily recovering for the past five years. As a matter of fact, Jason Furman, chairman of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers has characterized this period as “the longest streak in U.S. history.” The Hill calls it “the longest such streak since 1995.” … [Read more...] about Would This Have Helped Democrats on Tuesday? Nah!
The Driving Force Behind the US Oil Boom (Guest Voice)
The Driving Force Behind the US Oil Boom by James Stafford of Oilprice.com The shale revolution’s sweet spot is oilfield services, the lower-risk backbone of the American oil and gas boom that pays off regardless of a play’s economics. Behind the stardom of the explorers and producers who have put themselves on the revolutionary shale map and absorb most of the risk—are … [Read more...] about The Driving Force Behind the US Oil Boom (Guest Voice)
In need of a rebuilding plan
WASHINGTON -- All right, all right, I didn't see the wave coming. All those margin-of-error polls seemed to suggest that Democrats would likely hold their own -- probably not keep the Senate but make a respectable showing overall. Wrong. All the caveats are true. It was a midterm, when the incumbent president's party usually gets a comeuppance. The Senate losses were … [Read more...] about In need of a rebuilding plan
“My name is the symbol of my identity”
It’s a factoid that should raise eyebrows: as recently as 1982, a married woman forfeited her right to vote unless she took her husband’s name. You may think we’ve come a long way since the Dark Ages. Think again. *** In 1855 she couldn’t vote, but that year Lucy Stone became the first woman in the U.S. to keep her surname after marriage. Stone’s rationale for not taking … [Read more...] about “My name is the symbol of my identity”
Have Democrats Given Up On Louisiana ?
It looks like Democrats may have written off Louisiana and the December runoff. According the the article quoting inside sources the national party has largely cancelled ad buys of almost 2 million dollars. The consensus seems to be that since control of the Senate is decided and since incumbent Mary Landrieu will be a minority party member there is less chance of getting … [Read more...] about Have Democrats Given Up On Louisiana ?
NRO: Beware the “Governing Trap”
The conservative National Review warns newly elected Republicans to avoid the "governing trap." Already a conventional wisdom about what Republicans should do next has congealed. Supposedly it is up to Republicans to “prove they can govern” even though they do not have the White House. Senator Jeff Flake (R., Ariz.) told NPR listeners that Republicans could do this by moving … [Read more...] about NRO: Beware the “Governing Trap”
Republicans Beat Something With Nothing (Other Than Negativity And Fear)
Ronald Reagan couldn’t save the Senate for the Republicans in his 6th year. While the closeness of the polls left hope until the end, realistically the Democrats were not in a situation to defy history. There were two tends which the Democrats could not overcome. When people are unhappy, they look at the president regardless of who is actually to blame. Running a campaign based … [Read more...] about Republicans Beat Something With Nothing (Other Than Negativity And Fear)
What’s Healthier: Coffee Or Tea? [INFOGRAPHIC]
To some, coffee is an essential drug of sorts: a jolting liquid that staves away fatigue, headaches, and lack of motivation. Or perhaps you’re a recovering coffee addict who has now turned to the soothing varieties of tea to get a decent caffeine fix, just without the jitters. Of course, coffee sometimes sounds more like an… … [Read more...] about What’s Healthier: Coffee Or Tea? [INFOGRAPHIC]
Cartoon: Mid-term gift
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: Mid-term gift
Democratic Midterm Nightmare: Is It Time for Black Voters to Form New Alliances?
[icopyright one button toolbar] The Democratic Party got a well-deserved spanking in the midterm elections. There is no other way to say it, but it was self-inflicted on many levels. Still, the Republican Party cannot coddle right wing extremists and do nothing for the next two years. It won't bode well for them in 2016. I won't lie, I was stunned. Very stunned. I didn't … [Read more...] about Democratic Midterm Nightmare: Is It Time for Black Voters to Form New Alliances?
Josh Marshall on Why
Josh Marshall explores reasons behind the mid-term narrative on Talking Points Memo. [icopyright one button toolbar] We're hearing that President Obama was poor at messaging and keeping his voters involved and invested, that Dems aren't tough or combative enough or didn't stick together enough. All of these are true to some degree. But it doesn't explain why they are true or … [Read more...] about Josh Marshall on Why
Now that Quantitative Easing is going away, what did it do? (Guest Voice)
[icopyright one button toolbar] Now that Quantitative Easing is going away, what did it do? By Robert Coutinho Quantitative Easing (QE) has been used by the Federal Reserve Bank to try to stimulate the economy. It was a controversial program where the Fed bought treasury notes and mortgage backed securities (you know, those toxic assets that the banks had that were … [Read more...] about Now that Quantitative Easing is going away, what did it do? (Guest Voice)