When I was in Army basic training in 1971, the drill sergeants explicitly told us NOT to act like John Wayne when we got to Vietnam. While not a John Wayne fan, I never saw him portray a current or past Confederate officer in his westerns. I remember him always in blue (eg., The Horse Soldiers (1959).
I admit I'm confused. If the bill is passed, would I be charged with a felony if instead of buying a shirt made in Israel I chose to buy a shirt made in, say, Honduras?
I think "dupe" is too generous a term since it implies innocence and even if Trump knows his tweets/words are inciting violence I doubt he cares. Face it: violence by or against Muslims is good for bolstering Trump's political power. I think ISIL's "useful idiot" is a more accurate description. Trump and ISIL need each other.
I stopped watching all cable news channels three weeks before the election when I finally considered critically the credentials of all those "talking heads."
I remember about a dozen years ago a series of full page magazine ads touting the benefits of global warming: happier plants and more crops. I can't recall which petroleum related outfit produced the ads; but after a year or so they stopped and I wondered why.
To avoid further U.S. political condemnation the Syrians should just switch to napalm since (apparently) burning someone to death is more humane than gassing him to death.
I wonder how the simple act, at the beginning of the Cold War, of renaming the War Department the Defense Department figures into this mix. After all, what politician or citizen can argue against defense?
It has occurred to me that "compassion" and a sense of "shame" are totally lacking in Trump's character. I hope those arrayed against him bear that in mind as they plan and act against him.
The problem with labeling someone a psychopath is the implication that he isn't entirely responsible for his actions. I prefer good old "evil" and dealing with him on that basis.
If moving the embassy to Jerusalem provokes more terrorism then Trump can whip up even more anti-Muslim bigotry and then it will be nearly impossible politically to oppose his Muslim registry. So Trump still wins.
At the risk of my sounding tiresome, the correct term is "global warming," not "climate change". The latter term is promulgated by global warming deniers to negate the urgency implied by " global warming". ("The climate is always changing. What's to get excited about?") Subtle, maybe; but I remember when it was "tar sands" until they became exploitable. Now it's "oil sands".
Just because they now call themselves "alt-right" doesn't mean we have to, even in quotation marks. "Neo-nazi" still works just fine. Never cede control of language to the opposition. It reminds me of when "friendly fire" replaced "military blunder" in describing when our military kills its own soldiers.
After all of this I still don't know what is supposed to so horrifying in the emails. I have grown the opinion that government "secrecy" and "sensitive information" is probably 90% garbage. Maybe not directly germane, but when Nixon was forced to relinquish "secret" administration files they were found to include boxes of clippings from the New York Times and the Washington Post.
One of the comments mentioned the Texas educational system. I would note that with the huge buying power of the system, textbook publishers gear their elementary through high school textbooks to pass muster with the State Board of Education.
Incidentally, way back when I was in first grade in Austin, our favorite storytime book was Little Black Sambo. Eventually the teacher got sick of it and refused to play the record or read the book aloud anymore.
I gather I was the only one outside the military who noticed several weeks ago when Trump spoke about consulting with "my" generals when he is president. I doubt the generals missed the implication.
I wish the media would pay more attention to the nuances of his language rather than just the bluster.
Not a Trump fan, but I am surprised at the (feigned) outrage, particularly from Republican politicians. Aside from a vulgarity or two, it's the same Trump we've known all along. In his defense (which Limbaugh will certainly invoke) it was a private banter more than a decade ago and before Trump became a politician with a politician's demeanor. More disturbing, I've listened to the tape several times and it sound less than "locker room" talk than Trump being matter of fact and even reflective about himself: Trump is not boasting at all. The real Trump.
I am amused because the right wingers have been promising (and promised) an October Surprise against Clinton for months from Julian Arrange. All they got was a p.r. conference with Arrange plugging a new book. The real October Surprise came from the Washington Post.
Mr. Cole,
Please stop using the term "friendly fire". It's just the euphemism for " stupidity killing your own people". I suspect the term was coined by the military to obscure incompetence.
You are too dismissive of the Chilcot report. I watched on the BBC some of the political disgust with Blair that followed its release, along with Blair's abject apology. Such political willingness to assess and accept responsibility is unthinkable over here, where the main miscreant gets a government pension and a library named after him.
As for punishment for "mainstreaming" torture in the execution of U.S. foreign policy:
John Yoo, who as Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. wrote the "torture memos," is now the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.
John S. Bybee, who as Assistant Attorney General, head of the Office of Legal Counsel of the U.S. Department of the Justice, signed the "torture memos," is now a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, appointed by President Bush in 2003.
Engelhardt is totally missing Trump's point. The only reason America isn't great now is because it has been under a black president for eight years. When he is replaced by a white man/woman, the country will be great again. We don't need 21 paragraphs of gasbag analysis to understand that.
How does Medved, who 37 years ago co-wrote a crappy book about crappy movies wind up with his own talkshow and is treated as an expert who knows anything about anything?
The night of Trump's cancellation of the Chicago rally, one of the cable networks-- I believe I was watching CNN-- reported that a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department was emphatic in denying that Trump consulted with anyone at the Department. Then that was the last I heard of the matter so I'm still unsure if Trump was telling the truth.
Nobel laureate?
Perhaps if Limbaugh hadn't bombed as a television football announcer he wouldn't be a right wing blatherer now.
I'd vote for the aid but publicly, vociferously, and unrelentingly skewer Cruz and his fellow Texas hypocrites. And I'm from Texas.
Please don't forget the two police officers who died in the helicopter crash.
I read today's BBC report on Charlottesville. It referred to Heather Heyer as a "leftest". I wonder if Europe really understands what's going on here.
If Ms Gordon is calling for a war on Cheetos, count me in.
Actually, there have been so many politically declared "wars" I don't believe anyone is particularly aroused by use of the word now.
I trust I'm not alone in having noticed that Trump never apologizes.
When I was in Army basic training in 1971, the drill sergeants explicitly told us NOT to act like John Wayne when we got to Vietnam. While not a John Wayne fan, I never saw him portray a current or past Confederate officer in his westerns. I remember him always in blue (eg., The Horse Soldiers (1959).
I admit I'm confused. If the bill is passed, would I be charged with a felony if instead of buying a shirt made in Israel I chose to buy a shirt made in, say, Honduras?
Trump will give them and just blame the witch-hunting media.
Obamacare literally saved my brother-in-law's life. So he voted for Trump. This is Trump's base.
Sometimes its the littlest insults that have the greatest consequences.
I think "dupe" is too generous a term since it implies innocence and even if Trump knows his tweets/words are inciting violence I doubt he cares. Face it: violence by or against Muslims is good for bolstering Trump's political power. I think ISIL's "useful idiot" is a more accurate description. Trump and ISIL need each other.
I stopped watching all cable news channels three weeks before the election when I finally considered critically the credentials of all those "talking heads."
My memory may be faulty; but didn't Russia once ask to join NATO?
I remember about a dozen years ago a series of full page magazine ads touting the benefits of global warming: happier plants and more crops. I can't recall which petroleum related outfit produced the ads; but after a year or so they stopped and I wondered why.
All this chatter aside, I would like an explanation from Sessions what he was implying. (My mother was Okinawan, so I am not exactly disinterested.)
To avoid further U.S. political condemnation the Syrians should just switch to napalm since (apparently) burning someone to death is more humane than gassing him to death.
I still remember Trump during the campaign calling Bernie Sanders a "communist."
I wonder how the simple act, at the beginning of the Cold War, of renaming the War Department the Defense Department figures into this mix. After all, what politician or citizen can argue against defense?
I never understood why Comcast demanded my Social Security number before they would sell me cable.
In fairness to Gorsuch, a judge is supposed to decide what's legally correct; not morally right. There's plenty to nail him on-- I wouldn't use this.
The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library. My mind curdles at the thought.
Mr. Cole,
I wish you wouldn't feel the necessity to use such a polite term as "deeply flawed". "Lying bastard" would do just as well.
As a former lowly enlisted man, I 'm puzzled how Flynn made Army Lieutenant General in the first place.
It has occurred to me that "compassion" and a sense of "shame" are totally lacking in Trump's character. I hope those arrayed against him bear that in mind as they plan and act against him.
Hmmm... If torture works on terrorists abroad, why not on murder suspects at home?
Why would anyone trust Assange?
The problem with labeling someone a psychopath is the implication that he isn't entirely responsible for his actions. I prefer good old "evil" and dealing with him on that basis.
If moving the embassy to Jerusalem provokes more terrorism then Trump can whip up even more anti-Muslim bigotry and then it will be nearly impossible politically to oppose his Muslim registry. So Trump still wins.
It sounds hopeful; but three years is a lifetime in politics.
At the risk of my sounding tiresome, the correct term is "global warming," not "climate change". The latter term is promulgated by global warming deniers to negate the urgency implied by " global warming". ("The climate is always changing. What's to get excited about?") Subtle, maybe; but I remember when it was "tar sands" until they became exploitable. Now it's "oil sands".
Just because they now call themselves "alt-right" doesn't mean we have to, even in quotation marks. "Neo-nazi" still works just fine. Never cede control of language to the opposition. It reminds me of when "friendly fire" replaced "military blunder" in describing when our military kills its own soldiers.
After all of this I still don't know what is supposed to so horrifying in the emails. I have grown the opinion that government "secrecy" and "sensitive information" is probably 90% garbage. Maybe not directly germane, but when Nixon was forced to relinquish "secret" administration files they were found to include boxes of clippings from the New York Times and the Washington Post.
Well, OK; but I still say Trump is just the Republican Party without the mask. And of course Cruz is now waiting in the wings.
Some times "little incidents" like this say more than the actions of an entire state.
Well, OK totally discriminatory and blatantly illegal. But what if the ad was for hair straightener?
It's curious how the U.S. always seems willing to act in its perceived self-interest except when it comes to Israel.
My Jr. high school teacher more than 50 years ago explained the reasoning of moderate and low income citizens who vote Republican:
"Republicans are rich. If I vote Republican maybe they'll make me rich too."
Of course a public schools civics teacher who said that in class today would be fired.
Score one for "new technologies". Thank you.
One of the comments mentioned the Texas educational system. I would note that with the huge buying power of the system, textbook publishers gear their elementary through high school textbooks to pass muster with the State Board of Education.
Incidentally, way back when I was in first grade in Austin, our favorite storytime book was Little Black Sambo. Eventually the teacher got sick of it and refused to play the record or read the book aloud anymore.
I gather I was the only one outside the military who noticed several weeks ago when Trump spoke about consulting with "my" generals when he is president. I doubt the generals missed the implication.
I wish the media would pay more attention to the nuances of his language rather than just the bluster.
Not a Trump fan, but I am surprised at the (feigned) outrage, particularly from Republican politicians. Aside from a vulgarity or two, it's the same Trump we've known all along. In his defense (which Limbaugh will certainly invoke) it was a private banter more than a decade ago and before Trump became a politician with a politician's demeanor. More disturbing, I've listened to the tape several times and it sound less than "locker room" talk than Trump being matter of fact and even reflective about himself: Trump is not boasting at all. The real Trump.
I am amused because the right wingers have been promising (and promised) an October Surprise against Clinton for months from Julian Arrange. All they got was a p.r. conference with Arrange plugging a new book. The real October Surprise came from the Washington Post.
Mr. Cole,
Please stop using the term "friendly fire". It's just the euphemism for " stupidity killing your own people". I suspect the term was coined by the military to obscure incompetence.
(Semi-joking, of course.)
On the other hand, a lot of rightwing websites and Fox News could be sued.
Wait a minute; what about the corruption of the Republican attorneys general? Also, I would also shield ExxonMobil from climate change "fabrications."
A terribly written and argued piece.
Trump seems to end each inflammatory statement with an "I don't know." I' m beginning to wonder if it is some kind of coded signal.
I can (sort of) understand the first bomb; but why the second only three days later? I hardly think an exclamation point was needed.
Kubrick chickened out by making nuclear war a comedy. Watch "The Bedford Incident" instead.
You are too dismissive of the Chilcot report. I watched on the BBC some of the political disgust with Blair that followed its release, along with Blair's abject apology. Such political willingness to assess and accept responsibility is unthinkable over here, where the main miscreant gets a government pension and a library named after him.
As for punishment for "mainstreaming" torture in the execution of U.S. foreign policy:
John Yoo, who as Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. wrote the "torture memos," is now the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.
John S. Bybee, who as Assistant Attorney General, head of the Office of Legal Counsel of the U.S. Department of the Justice, signed the "torture memos," is now a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, appointed by President Bush in 2003.
I've heard all this too many times before: "This time it's gonna be different!"
I'm afraid of what Trump might do.
I'm afraid of what Cruz would do.
Engelhardt is totally missing Trump's point. The only reason America isn't great now is because it has been under a black president for eight years. When he is replaced by a white man/woman, the country will be great again. We don't need 21 paragraphs of gasbag analysis to understand that.
I'm no admirer of Trump; but "Yeah, I guess so," doesn't sound to me like a ringing endorsement of the invasion of Iraq.
How does Medved, who 37 years ago co-wrote a crappy book about crappy movies wind up with his own talkshow and is treated as an expert who knows anything about anything?
Had to stop reading so depressed. Sorry.
I wish one could differ with Israel without being called an antisemite.
The night of Trump's cancellation of the Chicago rally, one of the cable networks-- I believe I was watching CNN-- reported that a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department was emphatic in denying that Trump consulted with anyone at the Department. Then that was the last I heard of the matter so I'm still unsure if Trump was telling the truth.
I don't know. I still think of the 43 butchered Mexican student protesters. Still government stonewalling.
I wonder why publicly worrying about murdering innocents is considered "weakness."