It's an unforced error by Senate Republicans that will be difficult to mop up, and one that could cost them at the ballot box in November, according to Cillizza. Senate Republicans sent a clear message to the American voters: We aren't even going to make a show of playing ball on this one.
Instead they could have chosen this process offered by Cillizza, giving them the same result:
Step 1: Say almost nothing about Obama picking someone to replace Scalia other than that the person will get a "fair hearing."
Step 2: Convene the standard hearings on Judiciary for the nominee.
Aggressively question him or her as you would any other nominee in
Obama's presidency.
Step 3: Never allow a vote on the nominee, using the 60-vote filibuster threshold as your best friend.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/15/why-senate-republicans-made-a-big-mistake-on-the-supreme-court-opening/
Monday, February 15, 2016
Friday, February 12, 2016
Where To Invade Next
Michael Moore has a new film out entitled, "Where to Invade Next." According to Stephen Holden of The New York Times, the film offers hope and is Moore's most far-reaching film yet.
"Instead of pointing out our flaws, he imagines our possibilities. And instead of wallowing in fear and panic, he offers practical ideas for productive change," according to Sophia McClennan of Salon.
But perhaps as a better assessment indicating that the movie could have value, the conservative National Review doesn't like it. According to the National Review, "Michael Moore’s Where to Invade Next is ungenerous and condescending. Those unfunny characteristics typify propaganda just as they also describe the sorry state of contemporary political humor, which has declined in this millennium, and Moore is largely to blame." Hummm.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/431199/where-invade-next-michael-moore-movie-review-failed-satire
http://wheretoinvadenext.com/
"Instead of pointing out our flaws, he imagines our possibilities. And instead of wallowing in fear and panic, he offers practical ideas for productive change," according to Sophia McClennan of Salon.
But perhaps as a better assessment indicating that the movie could have value, the conservative National Review doesn't like it. According to the National Review, "Michael Moore’s Where to Invade Next is ungenerous and condescending. Those unfunny characteristics typify propaganda just as they also describe the sorry state of contemporary political humor, which has declined in this millennium, and Moore is largely to blame." Hummm.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/431199/where-invade-next-michael-moore-movie-review-failed-satire
http://wheretoinvadenext.com/
School Shootings – Out of Control
In a special edition of “20/20,” Diane Sawyer speaks with Sue Klebold, Columbine
killer Dylan Klebold's mother. The numbers that follow are a
part of a larger conversation about school violence and children in
crisis:
50 – The number of mass murders or attempted mass murders at a school since Columbine. (FBI records)
141 – The number of people killed in a mass murder or attempted mass murder at a school since Columbine. (FBI records)
73 – The percentage of school shooters with no prior criminal record, not even an arrest. (U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Department of Education)
96 – The percentage of school shooters who are male. (FBI records)
17 – The number of kids aged 15 or younger who have committed or attempted a mass school shooting since Columbine. (FBI records)
81 – The percentage of school shootings where someone had information that the attacker was thinking about or
planning the shooting. (U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Department of
Education)
68 – The percentage of school shooters who got their guns from relatives or at home. (US Secret Service, US Department of Education)
65 - The number of school shooters and thwarted school
shooters who have referenced Columbine as a motivation. (ABC News
investigation, various law enforcement agencies)
270 – The number of shootings of any kind at a school since Columbine. (ABC News review of reported cases)
1 – The number of shootings per week, on average, on a school or college campus in 2015. (ABC News review of reported cases)
http://abcnews.go.com/US/school-shootings-columbine-numbers/story?id=36833245
Friday, February 5, 2016
Gender Neutral Clothing for Children
We remember the days when many parents thought that if you did not dress your children in "girl's" clothes or "boy's" clothes, you weren't being a good parent.
But in reality, many parents were teaching the boys that they were free to become independent, and instructing girls to stay home and be sedentary and dependent with frilly lives.
Now, according to WABE. Atlanta's NPR station, a new wave of parents are rejecting pink and blue and instead looking for gender neutral clothing.
Michelle Finamore, historian and curator of fashion arts at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, says,
“We’re at a moment where really, this idea of what gender is, is being challenged on a regular basis, and I think that there is a certain comfort level right now with feeling like you can express yourself in any way you want, and you don’t actually have to associate yourself with being a man or being a woman.”
http://news.wabe.org/post/gender-neutral-baby-clothes-shed-pink-and-blue
But in reality, many parents were teaching the boys that they were free to become independent, and instructing girls to stay home and be sedentary and dependent with frilly lives.
Now, according to WABE. Atlanta's NPR station, a new wave of parents are rejecting pink and blue and instead looking for gender neutral clothing.
Michelle Finamore, historian and curator of fashion arts at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, says,
“We’re at a moment where really, this idea of what gender is, is being challenged on a regular basis, and I think that there is a certain comfort level right now with feeling like you can express yourself in any way you want, and you don’t actually have to associate yourself with being a man or being a woman.”
http://news.wabe.org/post/gender-neutral-baby-clothes-shed-pink-and-blue
When Does Donald Trump Not Want Other Hierarhcy Builders Around?
Donald Trump doesn't mind trying to keep hierarchies strong when it comes to religion and people who aren't white, like Muslims and immigrants from certain countries. But what happens when other hierarchy builders want to join him?
White supremacists, who prefer to be called nationalists, are using robocalls to contact New Hampshire voters with a message that includes, "We don't need Muslims. We need smart, educated, white people." Jared Taylor is the male voice on the calls and also a spokesperson for the Council of Conservative Citizens, which is widely considered to be white supremacist group, though they call themselves a "white rights" group on their website.
Apparently, most people from New Hampshire are quite turned off. Trump is apparently becoming known by the ideological company he keeps.
http://www.wmur.com/politics/trumps-unwelcome-support-white-supremacists/37843638
White supremacists, who prefer to be called nationalists, are using robocalls to contact New Hampshire voters with a message that includes, "We don't need Muslims. We need smart, educated, white people." Jared Taylor is the male voice on the calls and also a spokesperson for the Council of Conservative Citizens, which is widely considered to be white supremacist group, though they call themselves a "white rights" group on their website.
Apparently, most people from New Hampshire are quite turned off. Trump is apparently becoming known by the ideological company he keeps.
http://www.wmur.com/politics/trumps-unwelcome-support-white-supremacists/37843638
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Lego is Going to Make a Wheelchair, Finally
Even though Lego parts can be used to create wheelchairs and independent companies
sell mini-figures in wheelchairs, a wheelchair mini-figure with a support dog will be included in a Lego City set that will
go on sale in June, Lego spokesman Michael McNally said.
Good, but another challenge has been issued by #ToyLikeMe organizer Rebecca Atkinson, who suggests people with disabilities be incorporated into Lego's everyday kits. She wrote: “Is this the same as the world’s largest toy brand getting behind the issue and including a guide dog user in the Lego City sets or factoring wheelchair access into an aeroplane design?"
After all, people with disabilities live their lives among people without disabilities. The sooner Lego markets their new creation with that reality, the better we will be at breaking down the physical abilities hierarchy, as we send a positive message to our children and the parents and guardians who buy Legos.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/30/genuine-tears-of-joy-lego-to-release-its-first-ever-figurine-in-a-wheelchair/?tid=sm_tw
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/01/28/lego-creates-first-disabled-figurine-boy-with-guide-dog.html
Good, but another challenge has been issued by #ToyLikeMe organizer Rebecca Atkinson, who suggests people with disabilities be incorporated into Lego's everyday kits. She wrote: “Is this the same as the world’s largest toy brand getting behind the issue and including a guide dog user in the Lego City sets or factoring wheelchair access into an aeroplane design?"
After all, people with disabilities live their lives among people without disabilities. The sooner Lego markets their new creation with that reality, the better we will be at breaking down the physical abilities hierarchy, as we send a positive message to our children and the parents and guardians who buy Legos.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/30/genuine-tears-of-joy-lego-to-release-its-first-ever-figurine-in-a-wheelchair/?tid=sm_tw
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/01/28/lego-creates-first-disabled-figurine-boy-with-guide-dog.html
Monday, February 1, 2016
Wheaton College: Pope Francis Has Stated that All Major Religions Are Paths to the Same God
According to the website, Prophesy News Watch, Pope Francis has stated that all major religions are paths to the same God.
Wonder how Wheaton College in Illinois will respond to that, since they have begun the process of firing a professor who said Muslims and Christians worship the same God.
Larycia Hawkins, a tenured political science professor who in December demonstrated solidarity with her Muslim neighbors by wearing a hijab, and the first week of January she received word from Provost Stanton Jones that the termination process had begun.
We sent an email to Wheaton and asked them what they thought of Pope Francis's comment. Let's see if we hear from them. Apparently they are really keen on believing that only their way represents the one and only God, and have placed themselves on top of the religions hierarchy.
http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=50
Wonder how Wheaton College in Illinois will respond to that, since they have begun the process of firing a professor who said Muslims and Christians worship the same God.
Larycia Hawkins, a tenured political science professor who in December demonstrated solidarity with her Muslim neighbors by wearing a hijab, and the first week of January she received word from Provost Stanton Jones that the termination process had begun.
We sent an email to Wheaton and asked them what they thought of Pope Francis's comment. Let's see if we hear from them. Apparently they are really keen on believing that only their way represents the one and only God, and have placed themselves on top of the religions hierarchy.
http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=50
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