The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday, Nov. 25: ——— Recent events have not cast a flattering light on President Barack Obama's approach to military and security matters. The rise of the Islamic State has forced him to reverse his withdrawal from Iraq. Vladimir Putin has seized Crimea from neighboring Ukraine and may… … [Read more...] about Hagel: Foreign Policy Failure Symptom
Schumer: Dems taking up ObamaCare early was strategical error
Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.) has come out and said in the open what I've been privately been told by Democrats for several years and have heard repeatedly if the topic turned to politics during my current special one year national and Canadian tour in my non-writing incarnation: when President Barack Obama opted to use his (and his party's) political chits to first tackle … [Read more...] about Schumer: Dems taking up ObamaCare early was strategical error
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Think About It
The unstated rules for male victims of female-perpetrated sexual abuse and assault I have a friend, an autistic man, who was ordered to have sex with a woman and was informed by her that he had no choice and so, even though he didn't want to he, went along because he was doing as he was told. That was how he lost his virginity: by being told he had to, that he had no … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Think About It
Thanksgiving 2034: Your Sneak Peek
Thanksgiving 2034: Your Sneak Peek Tyrades! By Danny Tyree There is no shortage of pundits who could do a worthy job of waxing philosophical about the things we should or shouldn't be thankful for at Thanksgiving 2014. Rather than get lost in the shuffle of those traditional analyses, I'm going to take a different approach. Employing the latest computer models, I shall … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving 2034: Your Sneak Peek
Will Global Warming skeptics ever get the apologies they deserve?
It’s all over the news; we’ve gone about 17 years without any meaningful increase in global temperatures, and the experts are now declaring we’re in the middle of a “pause” based on factors they think maybe they can explain and maybe they can’t; the consensus seems to be to try to explain it away by the oceans, but this is as sloppy as anything they ever accused the skeptics … [Read more...] about Will Global Warming skeptics ever get the apologies they deserve?
Forget Bipartisanship. Expect More Gridlock (Guest Voice)
All it took for Mitch McConnell to see eye-to-eye with Barack Obama was victory. After re-election in Kentucky, the presumptive Senate majority leader told reporters, “We ought to see what areas of agreement there are and see if we can make some progress for the country.” This is the same can-do note of cheery bipartisanship that… … [Read more...] about Forget Bipartisanship. Expect More Gridlock (Guest Voice)
We anticipated the decision, but nothing prepared us for this much bumbling
Followup: The Ferguson grand jury proceedings, dissected About 3 pm Pacific on Monday, I said to a friend, "Did you see that the grand jury reached a decision?" He said yes, and we began a short discussion about race in America. I didn't have to say any magic words like "Ferguson" or "Mike Brown" or "Darren Wilson." This is the first time we had talked about the August … [Read more...] about We anticipated the decision, but nothing prepared us for this much bumbling
My top 10 greatest villains: Part 3
Just in case you missed the previous installments, you can find part 1 here and part 2 here. 6 – Tywin Lannister (A Game of Thrones – A Storm of Swords) George R.R Martin knows how to write morally reprehensible characters. He has a whole host of them in his A song of Ice and Fire series. In fact, the only truly decent character in the whole series, Ned Stark, … [Read more...] about My top 10 greatest villains: Part 3
Republicans Seek To Block Marijuana Law In Washington, D.C.
Republicans, members of the party which claims to support small government, individual freedom, and states’ rights, once again shows that it doesn’t mean a word of this. The Hill reports on one action planned by Republicans: House Republicans next year will try to block Washington, D.C.’s, newly enacted law legalizing recreational marijuana. Rep. Andy Harris said he … [Read more...] about Republicans Seek To Block Marijuana Law In Washington, D.C.
Priorities and realities
Hate that the White House wants to urge the protesters in #Ferguson to act peacefully but doesn't urge the same of the police. ...Corrente ___ Researchers — psychologists and social scientists, mostly — in the U.S. and United Kingdom say data indicate that, contrary to those mainstream media stereotypes, “conspiracy theorists” appear to be more sane than people … [Read more...] about Priorities and realities
Ferguson Riots: Photos Capture The Chaos
Ferguson is exploding. Over three months after 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed, the city is experiencing one of its most violent nights of demonstrations. Hundreds of protesters took to Ferguson’s already fragile streets late Monday, following the grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson. A car burns on the street after a… … [Read more...] about Ferguson Riots: Photos Capture The Chaos
Cartoons: World Cartoonists look at Ferguson
Cartoonists are now doing their takes on the grand jury's decision in Ferguson. The events in Ferguson and the ever-growing number of policy shoots of African-Americans has kept cartoonists busy over the past year. Here's a cross section with the publication dates: See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license … [Read more...] about Cartoons: World Cartoonists look at Ferguson
No Indictment In Furguson
Just breaking that the grand jury has voted not to indict I would hope we could all wait for the evidence to be released before reacting knee jerk but then I hope for a lot of things. Discuss away … [Read more...] about No Indictment In Furguson
No Indictment Against Officer Darren Wilson in Michael Brown Shooting
No indictment will be filed against Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. St. Louis County prosecuting attorney Robert McCulloch says the grand jury "determined that no probable cause exists to charge Officer Darren Wilson" for the teen's murder. Most of the witnesses said the shots fired at Michael Brown came when he turned towards the officer. … [Read more...] about No Indictment Against Officer Darren Wilson in Michael Brown Shooting
SciFi Weekend: Arrow; The Flash; Gotham; Agents of SHIELD; Natalie Dormer, Zombies, and Nudity on Game of Thrones; Westworld; How To Get Away With Murder; Doctor Who; Sherlock; SNL on Executive Orders
The Hollywood Reporter has more information on the upcoming cross over episodes from Arrow and The Flash, along with some other information about Arrow. Among the information revealed (not all of which is new): The title of The Flash portion of the pair of episodes is quite literal, The Flash vs. Arrow. Barry encounters a metahuman who brainwashes him. The Flash episode … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Arrow; The Flash; Gotham; Agents of SHIELD; Natalie Dormer, Zombies, and Nudity on Game of Thrones; Westworld; How To Get Away With Murder; Doctor Who; Sherlock; SNL on Executive Orders
‘Sergeant’ Chuck Hagel Steps Down
[icopyright one button toolbar] When announcing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s departure from the Pentagon, President Obama referred to Chuck Hagel’s enlisted service. "He’s been in the dirt. He’s been in the mud. And that has established a special bond. He sees himself in them. They see themselves in him," President Obama said about the first enlisted combat veteran … [Read more...] about ‘Sergeant’ Chuck Hagel Steps Down
Obama heightens the contradictions
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