WASHINGTON -- Stay wide awake in the coming weeks. This is a historic moment when all of the divisions, misunderstandings and hatreds of President Obama's time in office have come to a head. We are in a different place than we were. We are also in a place we were bound to get to eventually. Obama's decision to back away from our government's policy of ripping apart the … [Read more...] about Obama heightens the contradictions
Politics and Wealth
[icopyright one button toolbar] Thanksgiving week is a time citizens are supposed to remember how fortunate they are to live in freedom in America. Of course, some citizens are more fortunate than others, particularly in regards to wealth and material things (which as everyone knows can’t buy happiness). Particularly fortunate are federal officeholders who are generally … [Read more...] about Politics and Wealth
Breaking: Defense Secretary Hagel to Resign
[icopyright one button toolbar] The Washington Post quotes AP sources saying that Chuck Hagel is resigning as Secretary of Defense “following a tenure in which he has struggled to break through the White House’s insular foreign policy team.”: A senior defense official said that Hagel submitted his resignation letter to Obama on Monday morning and the president … [Read more...] about Breaking: Defense Secretary Hagel to Resign
Tamir Rice Shooting Sparks Toy Gun Bill
An Ohio legislator planned to introduce a bill Monday requiring all toy firearms to have brightly colored strips indicating they're fake after Cleveland police fatally shot a 12-year-old boy with a BB gun this weekend. Rep. Alicia Reece, D-Cincinnati, wanted airsoft guns, air rifles and gun replicas to have fluorescent strips to "prevent future deadly confrontations,"… … [Read more...] about Tamir Rice Shooting Sparks Toy Gun Bill
Book Review: There’s A House In The Land: (Where A Band Can Take A Stand) by Shaun Mullen
[icopyright one button toolbar] With each passing year, the 70s has taken on a kind of mystical quality. And, once upon a time in the 70s, a group of Vietnam vets, non-Vietnam vets, young men, young women, some children and a host of beloved, and exquisitely well-cared for animals made their home ona farm just beyond Philadelphia's far western suburbs. No, it was not a … [Read more...] about Book Review: There’s A House In The Land: (Where A Band Can Take A Stand) by Shaun Mullen
From Richards To Rivers: A Dozen Great Books For Holiday Gift Giving
Your Faithful Reviewer plowed through another 30 or so books in the course of 2014, some new, some not so old and a couple of classics that I had not gotten around to reading. Here are the best dozen of the bunch, actually the best 14 because one offering is a trilogy. All are great holiday gifts for a literary inclined spouse, other family member or friend, and all are … [Read more...] about From Richards To Rivers: A Dozen Great Books For Holiday Gift Giving
Remember Benghazi? (Update)
[icopyright one button toolbar] Updated -- at bottom -- with Senator Graham’s elegant "full of crap” comments over the weekend from the Huffington Post. Original Post: Remember the Benghazi tragedy? Of course you do. But do you remember the other tragedy? The one where Republicans attempted to “turn the Benghazi tragedy into a political scandal.” … [Read more...] about Remember Benghazi? (Update)
Sullivan on Obama and Immigration
Andrew Sullivan drills down into the immigration dynamic on The Daily Dish. One reason I’ve been somewhat forgiving of Obama’s executive action on immigration deportations is that I see it as a function not of his choice to be an “imperial” president, but as a result of unprecedented Republican obstructionism. It is, for example, jaw-dropping to hear the GOP declare its shock … [Read more...] about Sullivan on Obama and Immigration
Top 10 Villains
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved villains. It was always the big bad that interested me more in Disney films. More often than not, the villains were the folk that made the lasting impression and to this day I believe the villain is what elevates a film from being good to everlasting greatness. Over the coming week I’m going to be listing 10 of favourite … [Read more...] about Top 10 Villains
Bill Cosby’s Scandal-Filled Week: One Allegation After Another
More women have come forward this week accusing legendary comedian Bill Cosby of sexual abuse and several companies have cut ties with the actor. His attorney has dismissed the claims as “unsubstantiated or fabricated stories” and Cosby, 77, remained silent until recently. “I know people are tired of me not saying anything, but a guy doesn’t… … [Read more...] about Bill Cosby’s Scandal-Filled Week: One Allegation After Another
SNL Cold Open Takes On Executive Orders
Pretty funny regardless of how you feel on the issue Cold Open … [Read more...] about SNL Cold Open Takes On Executive Orders
Uppity
[icopyright one button toolbar] Uppity: We're talking about the immigration speech. How did that damn man in the White House manage to defy an election outcome in which Republicans liked to think they gave him a whuppin'? Why wasn't he behaving like a loser, dammit? It was a quiet meeting on the eve of a political explosion. At 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 or so … [Read more...] about Uppity
Obama Immigration Orders Could Drive Latino Vote
WASHINGTON – Nevada welcomed President Barack Obama on Friday as he came to rally support for his executive orders on immigration. It’s no coincidence that he headed to the Silver State, where 27 percent of the state’s population is Latino and helped propel him to victory there in both presidential elections. Democrats are hoping that nationwide,… … [Read more...] about Obama Immigration Orders Could Drive Latino Vote
Seventh Investigation Debunks Republican Benghazi Conspiracy Theories
[icopyright one button toolbar] Yet another investigation has debunked the Republican claims about Benghazi, this one run by House Republicans. AP reports: House intel panel debunks many Benghazi theories A two-year investigation by the Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee has found that the CIA and the military acted properly in responding to the 2012 … [Read more...] about Seventh Investigation Debunks Republican Benghazi Conspiracy Theories
What is Pizza?
I still like my pizza simple, The original Italian pizza was marinara sauce on a pizza crust. [icopyright one button toolbar] There might have been some basil leaves and mozzarella cheese but that was the exception in fine Italian restaurants in Europe. So what do Italians think Pizza Hut has just started a major rebranding effort. Headlined the “Flavor of Now,” the … [Read more...] about What is Pizza?
Hillary Clinton And Some Potential Challengers For The Nomination
[icopyright one button toolbar] With the midterm elections behind us, it finally makes sense to talk more about the 2016 presidential election. NBC News has a recent report claiming that Hillary Clinton will be announcing her candidacy in January, but Politico reports that she still has a paid speech scheduled for February 24, which may or may not give a clue as to her … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton And Some Potential Challengers For The Nomination
On Pope Francis’ Secret Service: Confronting the ISIS Threat (Corriere Della Sera, Italy)
[icopyright one button toolbar] He rides in an open car amid hundreds of thousands of people from around the world and abhors being seperated from his flock. Imagine the heart-stopping difficulty of protecting one of the most popular pontiffs in a generation from terrorists bent on killing anyone not a Sunni fundamentalist - particularly a man with the title 'Vicar of … [Read more...] about On Pope Francis’ Secret Service: Confronting the ISIS Threat (Corriere Della Sera, Italy)
Chait on Immigration Politics
Jonathan Chait argues immigration will hurt the GOP in New York Magazine.[icopyright one button toolbar] Substantively, Obama’s executive order gives him less than he hoped to gain with a bipartisan law. But politically, he has ceded no advantage. Indeed, he has gained one. Not only does immigration remain a live issue, it is livelier than ever. The GOP primary will … [Read more...] about Chait on Immigration Politics
How Americans Came to Oppose Fracking
by Walter Brasch [icopyright one button toolbar] For the first time since high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as nonconventional fracking, was developed, more Americans oppose it than support it. According to a national survey conducted by the independent non-partisan Pew Research Center, 47 percent of Americans oppose fracking, while 41 percent … [Read more...] about How Americans Came to Oppose Fracking
Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul announces February debut as AMC releases new trailer
Saul Goodman is returning to television in February for the two night premiere of the highly anticipated show Better Call Saul. AMC announced Nov. 20 that the Breaking Bad prequel will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 10 p.m. The second episode will air the following day, Monday, Feb. 9 at 10 p.m. All subsequent episodes… … [Read more...] about Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul announces February debut as AMC releases new trailer