Wolraich: Obama at the Gates of... Gates
Dr. C: In Praise of Writing Binges
Maiello: Gatsby Doesn't Grate
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Wolraich: Obama at the Gates of... Gates Dr. C: In Praise of Writing Binges Maiello: Gatsby Doesn't Grate |
Blowing |
As the political discussions heat up with the approaching 2012 elections, I think it is of value to ponder this little experiment.
We create through the wonders of cloning two candidates to run for the US Representative seat in every district in the country. The one running on the Democratic ticket would be a shoe in for membership in the Progressive Caucus, whereas the other would sit up shop in the Tea Party Caucus. Neither of them would be wackos or nutjubs. Both would be skilled in the game of politics. A Bernie Sanders vs. Mike Pence sort of battle.
What would the US House of Representatives look like? What would it say about the state of progressive politics in this country? What obligation does each of the politicians have to their district when their wishes are contrary to the majority in the country?
Prompted by Peggy Noonan's claim in The Wall Street Journal that "we are in the midst of the worst Washington scandal since Watergate," Andrew Sullivan steps forward to defend Pres. Obama's honor. "Can she actually believe this?," he asks incredulously.
By Julian Pecquet, The Hill, May 18, 2013
Congress is ramping up a new round of sanctions against Iran, ignoring the Obama administration's request to let diplomacy run its course.
In back-to-back hearings this week, lawmakers on key House and Senate panels put the State and Treasury departments on notice that their patience is wearing thin after the latest round of talks last month failed to produce a deal. Both chambers have legislative efforts in the works – the House foreign affairs panel will vote next week – but the administration is warning against any moves that could undermine international support for the existing sanctions against Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program [....]
By Carl Zimmer, New York Times/Science, May 16/17, 2013
An article that summarizes the recent work of Ya-Ping Zhang, a geneticist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who has led an international network of scientists who have compared pieces of DNA from different canines which is pointing to the theory that dogs domesticated themselves.
But the article's message is not just what it first appears to be. When you get to the concluding paragraphs there are some real though provokers:
[....] SLC6A4 may have played a crucial part in this change, because serotonin influences aggression.
To test these ideas,...
By Neha Paliwal, Passport @ ForeignPolicy.com, May 17, 2013
On Friday, chaotic clashes broke out in Georgia as an angry mob -- comprised mainly of young men but also including robed priests and some women -- descended on a gay rights rally commemorating International Day Against Homophobia. A day earlier, the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church had demanded that authorities stop the rally, calling it a "violation of the majority's right."
According to EurasiaNet, the mob, which numbered...
By Miriam Elder in Moscow, The Guardian, May 17, 2013
Federal Security Service spokesman breaches protocol as he accuses US agency of crossing 'red line' in its recruitment efforts
I'm kind of lost here but I have nothing else to do whilst I listen to Colin Quinn with the promise that Oswalt shows up.
I bring this up because Colin is a goddamn repub.
But be that as it may.
I know already what a repub drone is.
The Gov of Wisconsin is a drone. He has no personality, his eyes are askew, his speeches are merelycompilations of TPM's sent to him by repub/corporate/CPAC/AEI organizations.
He gets into office and he urges the end of voting for poor folks; he urges the end for public unions; he urges the end of civil actions by individuals against corporations; he urges the end of taxes for corporations; he urges the end of 'hand outs' to the poor and the dispossessed; he urges the end of tax breaks for the middle class; he urges more sales taxes and license fees and add-on taxes that affect only the middle class or the poor folk; he urges the end to minimum wages; he urges the end of medical care for the poor and middle class; he urges the end to any credits for the wind and solar experiments; he urges the end to....
WELL, HE URGES THE END TO ANY CHANCE OF CIVILIZATION.
the end