Daniel Strauss reports on Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reading Republicans the riot act on Talking Points Memo. "The Republicans have a pretty simple philosophy: they say if those at the top have more — more power for Wall Street players to do whatever they want and more money for tax cuts then somehow they can be counted on to build the economy for everyone else," Warren … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Warren is my Hero
My Health Care Premiums, Part 2
Recently, I kept my months old promise to report on my 2015 health care premiums at Kaiser California in a post that generated considerable comments. Most were attempting to be helpful or empathetic. Some suggesting "I shop around" or "turn 65" (we do have a mature readership that is openly very progressive). That's all good. But a key point missed by some readers … [Read more...] about My Health Care Premiums, Part 2
The San Diego Chargers Stadium Debate: Thomas Powell, Derek Togerson, Dan McLellan, David Frerker and Booga Peters
The San Diego Chargers Stadium Debate: Thomas Powell, Derek Togerson, Dan McLellan, David Frerker and Booga Peters Boltbliz.com EDITOR’S NOTE: The need for the Chargers to remain in San Diego is obvious to Charger fans. The fans here do not want to lose their team to a market like Los Angeles, Portland or San Antonio. But is that even relevant to the vote or the topic at … [Read more...] about The San Diego Chargers Stadium Debate: Thomas Powell, Derek Togerson, Dan McLellan, David Frerker and Booga Peters
Obama will announce executive action on immigration tomorrow
The White House has announced that President Barack Obama will tomorrow outline executive actions he'll be taking on immigration reform. This announcement has set off a predictable debate on MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, left blogs and right blogs and if you think you know what they're saying about the issue, in most cases you are correct. America loves a screaming, angry debate -- … [Read more...] about Obama will announce executive action on immigration tomorrow
Liberty Is the Politics of Love
You know you love someone when you want for them what they want for themselves. The three little words that really convey this sentiment are not, “I love you “, which can mean all kinds of things to all kinds of people; rather they are, “As you wish”. Love is kind, expansive, proactive, and fundamentally non-constraining. And although some of us may disagree on a positive … [Read more...] about Liberty Is the Politics of Love
Republicans Used Jed Bartlet’s Former Campaign Manager To Skirt Election Laws
CNN reported this week that the Republicans used coded messages in Twitter accounts to get around campaign finance laws which prohibit coordination between campaigns and outside groups such as Super-PAC's. Information in fake Twitter accounts allegedly contained internal polling data. Republican officials deny knowing abut this. Considering the wide range of things which … [Read more...] about Republicans Used Jed Bartlet’s Former Campaign Manager To Skirt Election Laws
More and More ISIS resembles the Nazis
[feedburner name="name"][/feedburner] [icopyright one button toolbar] More and more ISIS resembles the Nazis in Nazi Germany and how they treated occupied terrority. Vox has a report on how its brutality is institutionalized, has a point -- and may be working. Yours truly is a World War II buff and is now reading "Hitler: A Study in Tyranny" by John Toland. I read reports … [Read more...] about More and More ISIS resembles the Nazis
GOP Shutdown Fever
Sahil Kapur lists factors working toward a GOP government shutdown on Talking Points Memo. The specter of President Barack Obama using his executive authority to temporarily shield as many as 5 million Americans from the threat of deportation has ignited a strong backlash from the GOP's tea party wing. Seeing no better option to stop Obama, these conservatives, led by Sen. … [Read more...] about GOP Shutdown Fever
Obama’s political legacy fading fast
WASHINGTON — The Obama legacy wasn't supposed to unfold this way. Barack Obama was changing the political map, pushing the Democratic Party into the South and the Mountain West. He was building a new social network that would endure long after an Obama presidency. And he was building a new Democratic coalition for a new age,… … [Read more...] about Obama’s political legacy fading fast
World reacts to terrorist synagogue slayings in Israel
NEW YORK (Press Release) –The American Jewish Committee praised world leaders who have spoken out against Tuesday’s deadly Palestinian terror attack on a Jerusalem synagogue during morning prayers. Four worshipers were killed and at least six others wounded by the two terrorists who struck with guns, axes and knives. “Jerusalem is on edge, thanks to Palestinian incitement … [Read more...] about World reacts to terrorist synagogue slayings in Israel
The Keystone Pipeline votes: who voted how?
If you see a headline saying that the Senate defeated the Keystone XL Pipeline project by one vote, your mind might imagine a 51-49 tally. You'd be wrong. The Senate roll-call vote today that suspended action on the Keystone XL Pipeline was a 59-41 vote on ending the Democratic filibuster. The bill under filibuster (according to the Senate Democrats website), S. 2280, … [Read more...] about The Keystone Pipeline votes: who voted how?
Breaking: Texas Judge Refuses to Throw Out Criminal Charges Against Perry
[icopyright one button toolbar] The Austin American-Statesman, Governor Perry’s hometown newspaper, has just reported that Senior Texas State District Judge Bert Richardson has refused to throw out the criminal charges against Perry brought by a Travis County grand jury when it indicted Perry on felony charges of abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public … [Read more...] about Breaking: Texas Judge Refuses to Throw Out Criminal Charges Against Perry
Turley Turns Coat
[icopyright one button toolbar] Turley upholds the ... republic? This showed up this morning [emphasis added]: TURLEY AGREES TO SERVE AS LEAD COUNSEL FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE November 17, 2014 by jonathanturley As many on this blog are aware, I have previously testified, written, and litigated in opposition to the rise of executive … [Read more...] about Turley Turns Coat
First 90 Troops Returning from Africa Begin ‘Controlled Monitoring Period’
[icopyright one button toolbar] As America was sending the first of our troops to West Africa to help combat the Ebola virus, the safety and wellbeing of those troops was foremost on everyone’s mind:The families of those being deployed, the American people in general and the military leaders responsible for such a mission. These were some initial reactions from those … [Read more...] about First 90 Troops Returning from Africa Begin ‘Controlled Monitoring Period’
Cartoon: School shootings
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: School shootings
Boehner’s stall on immigration
WASHINGTON -- Oh, please. All the melodramatic Republican outrage isn't fooling anybody. The only reason President Obama has to act on immigration reform is that House Speaker John Boehner won't. I repeat: That's the only reason. The issue could have been settled a year ago. It could be settled in an afternoon. The problem is that Boehner refuses to do his job, … [Read more...] about Boehner’s stall on immigration
Tel Aviv Diary: Barbaric Attack in Jerusalem (Guest Voice)
It seems it has finally happened. The thing we all feared. We appear to have entered into a religious war; a religious war that looks like it was inspired by the brutality of ISIS. This morning, a little before 7:00 AM, two terrorists entered the Kehillat B’nei Torah Synagogue in the religious neighborhood of Har Nof,… … [Read more...] about Tel Aviv Diary: Barbaric Attack in Jerusalem (Guest Voice)
People Not Directly Affected By Obamacare Are Unhappy With It
[icopyright one button toolbar] With the exchanges opening for its second year, Gallup has found that support for the Affordable Care Act remains low at 37 percent. I have to wonder about how those answering are coming to this opinion. After all, there is tremendous evidence as to the success of the Affordable Care Act, and Gallup also found recently that about 70 percent … [Read more...] about People Not Directly Affected By Obamacare Are Unhappy With It
The Late Great Jack Vance
In my mid teens, over 50 years ago, I discovered the wonderful world of science fiction. One of my favorite authors was Jack Vance who was not only a great story teller but a wordsmith extraordinaire. As it turned out I missed much of Vance's work most of which is now out of print but fortunately his work has been Kindled. I recently reread the Caldwell trilogy and … [Read more...] about The Late Great Jack Vance
The Republican War on Science and Education
While America and other western nations are concerned about climate change and ISIS, Republican conservatives take stances similar to some of those of ISIS and Boko Haram. The conservative wing of the Republican Party, which seems to dominate the party’s ideology, appears to be waging its own war against science and education. (Fortunately, they’re not quite as brutal in how … [Read more...] about The Republican War on Science and Education