Politifact.com offers a comment from its archives on the Pew study of most and least trusted news sources. PunditFact is tracking the accuracy of claims made on the five major networks using our network scorecards. By that measure, 61 percent of the claims fact-checked on Fox News have been rated Mostly False, False or Pants on Fire, the most among any of the major … [Read more...] about Most/Least Trusted News Sources, Ctd.
When ‘Springtime for Hitler’ Became Serious Opera
[icopyright one button toolbar] Is Mel Brooks smiling? Brooks' 1968 comedy "The Producers" dealt with an outrageous, fictitious Broadway musical called "Springtime for Hitler" that trivialized Nazism and became a surprise hit. The New York Metropolitan Opera is now presenting "The Death of Klinghoffer," which tries to explain the point of view of PLF members who … [Read more...] about When ‘Springtime for Hitler’ Became Serious Opera
UPDATE: War memorial soldier murdered/ gunman dead, Canadian Parliment Locked down
UPDATE: The Parliment Buildings are no longer on lockdown in Ottawa. Soldier murdered appears to have been shot in the back. He was Corp Nathan Cerillo, a father of a young kindergarden aged son. The long gunfire in the parliment building which has cathedral ceilings was hugely amplified and terrifying to those in the building. Four others were injured and taken to the … [Read more...] about UPDATE: War memorial soldier murdered/ gunman dead, Canadian Parliment Locked down
Political Polarization–How The Left and Right Follow Different Sources For News
The Pew Research Center has released a study on Political Polarization and Media Habits. Most of their findings, summarized below, are as would be predicted:[icopyright one button toolbar] Overall, the study finds that consistent conservatives: Are tightly clustered around a single news source, far more than any other group in the survey, with 47% citing Fox News as … [Read more...] about Political Polarization–How The Left and Right Follow Different Sources For News
Beinart on US Isolationism
Peter Beinart on the myth of American Isolationism in The National Journal.[icopyright one button toolbar] Given the overwhelming evidence, both from politicians and the public, that isolationism in America today is virtually nonexistent, why do so many high-profile commentators and politicians depict it as a grave threat? One clue lies in a word that these Cassandras use as … [Read more...] about Beinart on US Isolationism
Jack Vance
I read with great zeal the works of Asimov and Heinlein. But my favorite was always the works of the late great Jack Vance. I am re-reading the Caldwal trilogy. Science Fiction at it's best but also literature .[icopyright one button toolbar] [Ed note: A 2009 profile in The New York Times Magazine described Vance as "one of American literature's most distinctive and … [Read more...] about Jack Vance
Extremist-Inspired Attack Raises Canada’s Terror Threat Level
Canada raised its terrorist attack threat level from "low" to "medium" on Tuesday. The change came a day after a Quebec man, who had previously attempted to leave Canada for Turkey, carried out a fatal hit-and-run attack on two Canadian military men. Suspect Martin Couture-Rouleau was one of 90 Canadians being monitored by the Royal Canadian… … [Read more...] about Extremist-Inspired Attack Raises Canada’s Terror Threat Level
Cartoon: Turkey takes action
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: Turkey takes action
Why are Americans So Czar-Struck? (Guest Voice)
Why are Americans So Czar-Struck? By Dick Polman Let's take a break from our Ebola freakout and debate something a bit more benign - like word usage. For instance, why do we keep using czar? Last Friday, seemingly within seconds of Ron Klain's ascent to the new post of Ebola response coordinator, the press headlines were dubbing him the "Ebola Czar." Which I suppose was … [Read more...] about Why are Americans So Czar-Struck? (Guest Voice)
Former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee dies
WASHINGTON - Ben Bradlee, the hard-charging editor who guided The Washington Post through its Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Watergate scandal and invigorated its newsroom for more than two decades, died Tuesday. He was 93. Mr. Bradlee died at his home of natural causes, the Post reported. As managing editor first and later as executive editor,… … [Read more...] about Former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee dies
(Updated) The Fight for Kobani Continues
[icopyright one button toolbar] Update: The Pentagon confirmed today that one of the 28 bundles of weapons and medical supplies airdropped by U.S. forces to Kurdish fighters in Syria "most likely" fell into enemy hands, but that a majority "reached their intended recipients. “One bundle worth of equipment is not enough equipment to give the enemy any type of … [Read more...] about (Updated) The Fight for Kobani Continues
Most/Least Trusted News Sources
Christopher Ingraham notes the most and least trusted news sources from a Pew study in The Washington Post.[icopyright one button toolbar] Overall, four of the top five least-trusted news outlets have a strong conservative lean: Limbaugh, Fox News, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. MSNBC rounds out the list. The most trusted news outlets, on the other hand, tend to be major TV … [Read more...] about Most/Least Trusted News Sources
Beware Of Those Politicians Who Spread Fear–We Have No Reason To Fear Ebola As Long As We Respond Sensibly
A mood of fear is engulfing the country which might very well affect the midterm elections. Hopefully people will react rationally and reject the Republicans who promote unwarranted fears, play politics, and advocate for counterproductive responses such as travel bans. Unfortunately but this is not the probable response. As I discussed last week, even citing a report on Fox, … [Read more...] about Beware Of Those Politicians Who Spread Fear–We Have No Reason To Fear Ebola As Long As We Respond Sensibly
A Perplexing Political Puzzle
Public approval ratings for Congress have remained consistently low for a number of years, though recently they have reached depths not previously seen. Americans seem to overwhelmingly agree that members of Congress are doing a terrible job, yet incumbents keep getting repeatedly reelected. Are citizens lying in response to the pollsters’ questions, or is something being … [Read more...] about A Perplexing Political Puzzle
Fun With Electoral College Math
[icopyright one button toolbar] Fun with Electoral College Math by Fig So I think the Electoral College is a bad system for a number of reasons, but I want to focus on one major reason in this article. For starters, it really seems to give the wrong impression about how divided this nation is, and how Presidents score a “mandate” because of electoral college numbers … [Read more...] about Fun With Electoral College Math
Please Politicize Ebola (Guest Voice)
Please Politicize Ebola By Tina Dupuy "Politicize" is a jab meaning the other side is trying to capitalize on a news topic. "The Republicans have tried to politicize the border crisis," says Nancy Pelosi. Reince Priebus says Democrats are trying to politicize Benghazi. Jay Carney says Republicans are trying to politicize Benghazi. Steny Hoyer says Republicans are trying to … [Read more...] about Please Politicize Ebola (Guest Voice)
Warren makes the case
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren says she isn't running for president. At this rate, however, she may have to. The Massachusetts Democrat has become the brightest ideological and rhetorical light in a party whose prospects are dimmed by -- to use a word Jimmy Carter never uttered -- malaise. Her weekend swing through Colorado, Minnesota and Iowa to rally the faithful … [Read more...] about Warren makes the case
Keep Portland Weird
I grew up in Portland but have not actually lived there for decades. I do still live a few miles from Portland and I'm proud of it. Can "Keep Portland Weird" be a winning strategy? Apparently so! [icopyright one button toolbar] From across the country, Portland looms as this place where everything comes in quirkier, locally produced, more artisanal versions of what the rest … [Read more...] about Keep Portland Weird
Cartoon: Ebola Cable News
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: Ebola Cable News
As Boardwalk Empire comes to an end, it still hasn’t figured out its main character
They decapitated Deadwood and they've foreshortened Boardwalk Empire. HBO seems to have it in for ambitious drama series with recent historical settings. The death of Deadwood was a cultural crime. That new look at the old West had a rhythm and flavour all its own; it belonged in the same bracket of achievement as The Sopranos… … [Read more...] about As Boardwalk Empire comes to an end, it still hasn’t figured out its main character