Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# LaMaster's Corner

Politics and opinions

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://lamasterscorner.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Welcome To Trumpistan.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/07/01/welcome-to-trumpistan/) - On the 250th anniversary of our nation's Declaration of Independence, we are experiencing a type of autocracy that exceeds everything the Founders feared. In fact, few royals in history have exhibited the kind of unrestrained narcissism that we have seen from the current occupant of the Oval Office. Even the actions of such despots as
- [The U.S Is Facing Enormous Problems Most Politicians Are Afraid To Address.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/06/18/the-u-s-is-facing-enormous-problems-most-politicians-are-afraid-to-address/) - When WWII ended, it was thought that are problems were mostly over. We were paying down the wartime debt through income taxes on the wealthy of as much as 94 percent. Manufacturing was thriving. The middle class was growing with more Americans able to afford a home, a car and a good education for their
- [Why CBS Should Drop The C From Its Name.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/06/10/why-cbs-should-drop-the-c-from-its-name/) - When Walter Cronkite was anchor of the CBS Evening News, he was quoted as saying, “My job isn’t to tell you what you want to hear. My job is to tell you what you need to hear.” But now that the Ellisons have purchased the network and put Bari Weiss in charge of its news
- [The World's Most Powerful Crime Network.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/06/01/the-worlds-most-powerful-crime-network/) - Who could have imagined the FBI and DOJ becoming part of a crime syndicate in support of a narcissistic crime boss? But that's exactly what has happened. Even the MAGA-dominated Supreme Court has participated in the ongoing crime spree by granting the Felon immunity while sitting in the Oval Office, and by gutting the Voting
- [Adding To Our $39 Trillion Debt: What Happens When You Trust The Economy To A Felon.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/05/29/todays-trillions-are-yesterdays-billions/) - When President Reagan took office in 1981, the national debt was under $1 trillion. By the time he left office, it had ballooned to nearly $3 trillion. President Clinton was able to slow the growth and eliminate annual deficits. Then George W. Bush oversaw three wars and a stock market crash that sent the debt
- [Rewarding Criminals, Seditionists And Traitors.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/05/24/rewarding-criminals-seditionists-and-traitors/) - Following the corrupt presidency of Richard Nixon and V.P. Spiro Agnew, every president willingly released their tax returns…until Donald J. Trump. Unlike previous presidents and Joe Biden, he not only refused to release his tax returns. He refused to place his investments into a blind trust and refused to divest from his businesses. So, it
- [If MAGA Is Making America Great, Why Do They Need Pardons?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/05/20/if-maga-is-making-america-great-why-do-they-need-pardons/) - The Felon-in-Chief has already pardoned violent insurrectionists, drug traffickers and white-collar criminals who have been convicted of stealing millions from unsuspecting Americans. Now we have learned that the Felon has told his staff that he will issue them blanket pardons at the end of his term, which raises the question: Why? After all, if they’re
- [The Real Costs Of Corporate Welfare.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/05/18/the-real-costs-of-corporate-welfare/) - Increasingly, living wages and employee benefits are being replaced by shrinking government assistance and private donations. Walmart’s wages have long been so low that the corporation almost automatically helps new employees sign up for government programs. The narrative is that it helps assure low consumer prices. And that may be true. But the unavoidable reality
- [Proof Of Trump’s Sedition.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/05/15/proof-of-trumps-sedition/) - If there was ever a question that the Felon launched the January 6 insurrection, it has been clearly answered by his actions since returning to the Oval Office. On the first day of his second term, he pardoned nearly 1,600 of his thug supporters who were awaiting trial, had pled guilty, or were convicted of
- [Trump's Folly.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/05/10/trumps-folly/) - Let's call the bombing of Iran and the ensuing blockage of the Strait of Hormuz what it really is: Trump's Folly. He has a confusing and troubling history with the Islamic Republic of Iran. In 2017, he withdrew the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, an agreement negotiated with Iran and other world
- [Feeding The Felon’s Ego.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/05/08/feeding-the-emperors-ego/) - I believe Trump's vision of a White House ballroom encapsulates the entire Trump presidency, indeed his entire life. First, he decides to build a grandiose ballroom in his name. He and his friends will pay for it, and it will be attached to the East Wing. But don’t worry, the East Wing will not be
- [The Coming Reckoning.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/05/06/the-coming-reckoning/) - In the 1930s and late 1960s, the U.S. experienced unparalleled social progress under Democratic leadership that made life better for the vast majority of Americans. In the 1930s, we saw the official end of the Gilded Age along with the economic rescue of millions of Americans after the Great Depression thanks to Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
- [Kakistocracy? Idiocracy? Kleptocracy? Oligarchy? Theocracy? Or Autocracy?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/04/28/kakistocracy-idiocracy-kleptocracy-oligarchy-theocracy-or-autocracy/) - I admit to being flummoxed by how best to describe our current regime, er, administration. A government of the worst and most unscrupulous blowhards? A government by self-serving and unqualified incompetents? A government designed to fill its leaders’ bank accounts with taxpayer money? A government run by democracy-hating billionaires? A government based on ethically and
- [The Surest Way To Make America Great Again.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/04/24/the-surest-way-to-make-america-great-again/) - For 2025-2026, the U.S. military budget is $921 billion, 35.5 percent of all global military spending and 63 percent more than China’s and Russia’s military budgets combined (our largest global adversaries). And 11 of the remaining top 15 are U.S. allies! Given the fearsomeness of our military power, U.S. citizens have a greater likelihood of
- [The Oppressed Become The Oppressors.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/04/16/the-oppressed-become-the-oppressors/) - The bullied become the bullies. At the risk of being labeled antisemitic (I most certainly am not!!!), I believe it’s time to hold the Israeli Zionist leadership accountable for its role in the ongoing violence and hatred in the Middle East. To begin, we must recognize that Israel has a right to exist. But we
- [The Astonishing Costs Of Trump’s War.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/04/13/the-astonishing-costs-of-trumps-war/) - So far, 13 U.S. military members have been killed and more than 380 wounded in the Trump war on Iran. And it’s estimated that at least 2,000 Iranians have been killed – most of them civilians. As of April 9, the U.S. has struck more than 13,000 targets in Iran – 9,000 in the first
- [Paying For An Ill-Conceived War.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/04/09/paying-for-an-ill-conceived-war/) - After starting an unnecessary and likely unwinnable war costing more than a billion dollars a day, the Trump regime is planning to increase the already bloated military budget by half a trillion dollars – raising it to an astonishing $1.5 trillion, which would make it approximately $350 billion more than the military budgets of the
- [Measuring The Trump Regime 2.0.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/04/06/measuring-the-trump-regime-2-0/) - When Trump campaigned for a second term, he promised to cut costs, lower inflation, reduce taxes, close the borders, and deport “the worst of the worst”. He also promised to bring peace to Ukraine and the Middle East, and to avoid any more “forever” wars. So, what has his regime actually done? Dismantled, or attempted
- [The Political Division That's Most Concerning.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/03/24/the-political-division-thats-most-concerning/) - It's not left versus right. It's left versus left. Those who believe in democracy, human rights and a safe environment versus those who believe in democracy, human rights and a safe environment. What do I mean by that? By now it should be abundantly clear that the Felon-in-Chief and his MAGA followers are leading our
- [Trump Regime Prioritizing War Over Families.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/03/10/trump-regime-prioritizing-war-over-families/) - The Trump regime has stated that the cost of its attacks on Iran cost $5.6 billion in advanced munitions for just the first two days. And it has been estimated that the ongoing war has cost our military more than $1 billion per day since. Given that the war is now in its eleventh day,
- [How Bad Is The Minnesota Fraud?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/03/07/how-bad-is-the-minnesota-fraud/) - The Trump regime would have you believe that Somali immigrants in Minnesota committed $19 billion in fraud, which was the alleged reason behind Operation Metro Surge (the ICE invasion that brutalized both citizens and noncitizens and left two people dead). But according to an exhaustive study by the Minnesota StarTribune, the figure is actually $217.7
- [Constitution? What Constitution?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/03/03/constitution-what-constitution/) - In little more than one year, the Trump regime and the MAGA party have violated or proposed violations of an astounding number of the provisions of the United States Constitution – to the point that one wonders if it any longer has any meaning. Article 1, Section 4 gives states control of elections, including the times,
- [A Democratic Project 2029.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/02/10/a-democratic-project-2029/) - The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 embraced by the Trump regime has made the US virtually unrecognizable by creating an autocratic oligarchy that panders to the wealthy and the powerful and erodes the individual rights guaranteed by our Constitution. And it's likely to get much worse as Project 2025 is only roughly 50 percent implemented! When
- [At Least 38,000 Reasons To Hold Trump Accountable.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/02/05/at-least-38000-reasons-to-hold-trump-accountable/) - The reaction to the release of a portion of the Epstein files has been fascinating. It seems one mention of a name associated with the sexual predator in any way is enough for many to assume that person is also a predator. But for most of the MAGA minions, nothing can throw shade on the
- [1984 In 2026.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/02/03/1984-in-2026/) - Published in 1949, George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 warned of a future in which a totalitarian government, aided by technology, controlled nearly every aspect of its citizens’ lives through a combination of mass surveillance, propaganda, and lies. It turns out that his prediction arrived 42 Years late. Think that’s hyperbole? Consider this: In his first
- [It Was Never About The “Worst Of The Worst.”](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/01/27/it-was-never-about-the-worst-of-the-worst/) - The invasion of Minnesota by 3,000 feral paramilitary shock troops was never about arresting violent immigrants. Most of those people were already in Minnesota jails and prisons before being turned over to ICE. Certainly, the ICEstapo did detain immigrants. But almost all of them were hardworking, taxpaying individuals who contributed to our communities and are
- [The New Surveillance And Police State.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/01/10/the-new-surveillance-and-police-state/) - In recent years, the Republican Party and MAGA have constantly cried “Freedom”, believing that Democratic presidents were out to take away their liberty. But ironically, the people they voted for are the ones who are actually suspending the Constitution and taking away our freedoms. Starting by suspending due process for immigrants, the Trump regime has
- [Where Is Democratic Leadership?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/01/24/where-is-democratic-leadership/) - As I’ve previously written, CBP and ICE have deployed 3,000 masked, heavily armed bullies to Minnesota, including the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and their suburbs. For weeks, they have been terrorizing residents by making arrests using illegal and unconstitutional tactics, often brutally ripping innocent citizens from their homes and cars. In the
- [The Occupation Of Minnesota.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/01/14/the-occupation-of-minnesota/) - In case you are unaware of what is happening, Trump has created a personal army of 30,000 heavily armed, masked thugs (aka ICE and CBP) to do his bidding. A force of 3,000 of those bullies has invaded Minneapolis-St. Paul and surrounding communities on the pretext that they will make our cities safer. The truth
- [Donald J. Trump Guilty Of Sedition!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2026/01/07/donald-j-trump-guilty-of-sedition/) - Those are the words we should have heard from a federal jury. But, on this anniversary of the insurrection of January 6th, we're still waiting. Even worse, the leader of one of the ugliest days in our nation's history sits in the now gold encrusted Oval Office immune from accountability despite the fact that the
- [The Arpaio Model.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/12/11/the-arpaio-model/) - From 1993 to 2017, the self-proclaimed “America’s Toughest Sheriff” Joe Arpaio terrorized Latinos and political opponents in Arizona’s Maricopa County for which he faced numerous civil rights lawsuits and was eventually convicted of contempt of court. During his reign of terror, Arpaio established a model for what has become Trump’s ICEstapo. Racial Profiling – Arpaio’s
- [Expanding The Trump Brand.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/12/05/expanding-the-trump-brand/) - The building that once housed the United States Institute of Peace was recently renamed for our Felon-in-Chief – the same man who eliminated the congressionally created non-profit by Executive Order. Trump has also not-so-humbly called for renaming the J.F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after himself along with the new White House ballroom. That’s
- [How Much Worse Can It Get?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/10/30/how-much-worse-can-it-get/) - In just 10 months, the Trump regime has already implemented 48 percent of the actions outlined in Project 2025. Those changes have almost irreparably dimmed the shining city on the hill, previously known as United States of America. But if MAGA and the Trump regime are successful in implementing the entire plan, the nation will
- [How Project 2025 Is Destroying America.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/10/28/how-project-2025-is-destroying-america/) - Remember Project 2025? You know, the plan that Trump denied any knowledge of during the campaign despite previously praising its authors by saying, “This is a great group, and they’re going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do…” Not surprisingly, many of its authors have been awarded key
- [Addressing The Nation's Real Problems.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/10/22/addressing-the-nations-real-problems/) - MAGA (formerly known as the Republican Party) would have you believe that billionaires don't have enough money, that multinational corporations don't have enough power, that our debt is the result of giveaways to poor people, and that immigrants are destroying our nation. Of course, the opposite is true. In the meantime, our nation’s real problems
- [What Is Patriotism?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/10/16/what-is-patriotism-2/) - Today’s conservatives are fond of calling themselves patriots. But is there really a patriot among them? Their support for the Felon-in-Chief and their acceptance of his dismantling of our government would indicate otherwise. Patriotism is defined as “devotion and vigorous support for one’s country.” How does that square with those who watched, or even applauded,
- [Gone.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/10/10/gone/) - Trump’s ICEstapo recently reported that it’s on track to detain and deport 600,000 immigrants this year. (And that doesn’t count the number of legal immigrants and citizens who have been detained and often brutally treated.) In addition, ICE stated that 2 million immigrants have already left the country. That’s 2.6 million Americans gone. And, if
- [MAGA: Making America Go Away](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/10/04/maga-making-america-go-away/) - Far from making America great, the MAGA movement is making it unrecognizable. Indeed, it no longer resembles the vision of our forefathers. Instead of embracing the nation’s motto: e pluribus unum (out of many, one), MAGA has divided us. In MAGA’s America, immigrants are vermin, political rivals are demonic, and news media are enemies of
- [Dear Media: Stop Saying That Everything Trump Does Is Unprecedented.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/09/24/dear-media-stop-saying-that-everything-trump-does-is-unprecedented/) - To the contrary, we've seen it all before - in countries like Russia, China, North Korea, Hungary, Turkey, Fascist Italy, and Nazi Germany to name a few. That’s because Trump is quite literally following the dictator's playbook. That playbook goes something like this: You get elected to office any way possible. In 2016, Trump was
- [The Dishonest Reframing Of Operation Arctic Frost.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/09/17/the-dishonest-reframing-of-operation-arctic-frost/) - With Senator Chuck Grassley's description of an FBI and DOJ investigation targeting rightwing groups code-named “Artic Frost,” it would appear that the Biden administration had politicized and weaponized the government against Republican organizations. But that narrative doesn't fit the reality of the time. Keep in mind that the operation began following a violent attempted coup
- [The Divide Between The Left And The Right Is More Than Ideological.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/09/12/the-divide-between-the-left-and-the-right-is-more-than-ideological/) - It’s cultural. With the left determined to maintain some degree of decorum along with traditional norms and institutions. And the right determined to exact retribution against its opponents – to own the Libs – and to tear our government apart. Those differences have never been more apparent than following the recent political assassinations of Minnesota
- [Consequences Of The Trump Regime.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/07/28/consequences-of-the-trump-reign/) - Most people are concerned about the impact on separation of powers, the Constitution, and our democracy. But there is much more to be worried about. Following is a partial list of consequences to the planet, the nation and its citizens as a result of the regime’s policies: Increased debt and interest payments thereby mortgaging the
- [The Most Murderous Regime In U.S. History.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/08/26/the-most-murderous-u-s-president-in-history/) - As has been previously discussed, the Trump cult appears to view its leader as the savior of America, a man of God, the second coming of the Messiah. If so, Trump must serve a cruel and loathsome deity, since the Felon-in-Chief is responsible for millions of deaths. And he’s only halfway through the first year
- [The Death Of Journalism.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/08/21/the-death-of-journalism/) - Beginning with Benjamin Franklin in the U.S., journalism was once considered a noble profession – the fourth estate – practiced by giants such as Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, Eric Sevareid, Judy Woodruff, David Brinkley, Chet Huntley, Peter Jennings, Jim Leher, Gwen Ifill, and many, many more. These people not only reported the news, they
- [The Don.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/08/14/the-don/) - That’s a title that has long been used to refer to the head of a mafia family – someone who is ruthless, obsessed with power and willing to use any means to obtain it, including violence. And it can, quite rightly, be used to describe the felon in the White House. Not only has he
- [We Don’t Need To See The Epstein Files.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/08/06/we-dont-need-to-see-the-epstein-files/) - We already have more than enough evidence to know one of the prominent names listed: Donald J. Trump. Certainly, much of the evidence is circumstantial. But there are thousands of people in prisons who were convicted on less evidence, including many of those currently languishing in detention after being captured by the ICEstapo. The circumstantial
- [Killing Truth.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/08/02/killing-truth/) - It was documented that the Felon-in-Chief told more than 30,000 lies during his first term in office. And during his current term, it seems he lies as often as he breathes. What’s worse is the fact that he has extended his assault on the truth to include the entire government, along with educational institutions, law
- [How The U.S. Became An Oligarchy. And Some Thoughts On How To Change It.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/07/21/how-the-u-s-became-an-oligarchy-and-some-thoughts-on-how-to-change-it/) - Over the past five decades, the American economy has dramatically changed for the benefit of the wealthy and large corporations in ways many don’t understand. This led to the hollowing-out of the middle class and an ever-increasing number of working poor. Unfortunately, the few politicians who fight for American workers have necessarily focused on trying
- [What Did You Vote For?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/07/09/what-did-you-vote-for/) - Did you vote for increased inflation and higher prices due to tariffs? Did you vote to pay higher taxes so that billionaires and multinational corporations could receive large tax cuts? Did you vote to increase the deficit and add trillions to the national debt? Did you vote to consolidate more power in the executive branch
- [One Of The World’s Greatest Propaganda Machines.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/06/29/one-of-the-worlds-greatest-propaganda-machines/) - As a former writer, creative director and owner of ad agencies, I could be considered somewhat of an expert on propaganda. So, despite being appalled by the Republican Party's policies and utter cruelty, I have long been impressed by its mastery of propaganda. In advertising and marketing, we are taught that the best way to
- [Imagine The Worst Thing That Can Happen To Our Country.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/06/12/imagine-the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-to-our-country/) - Whatever scenario you come up with, the Felon-in-Chief will do worse. Since taking office, his actions have exceeded every worst-case scenario Democrats and even his own voters could have imagined. For example, he didn't just nominate a cabinet of staunch conservatives; he nominated unqualified and wholly incompetent extremists. He didn't just pardon the January 6
- [The Oppressed Have Become The Oppressors.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/06/02/the-oppressed-have-become-the-oppressors/) - In an attempt to put the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into perspective, it should be noted that it all began with the Balfour Declaration of 1917 when the UK agreed to create a home for Jews who were being persecuted in Europe. Of course, Jews had historical links to the land in British-controlled Palestine, but it had
- [The Kakistocracy Is In Full Bloom.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/05/30/the-kakistocracy-is-in-full-bloom/) - And the foul odor coming from Washington makes a corpse flower smell like roses. At the heart of that stench is the Trump crime family’s extortion and bribery campaign. Not only is The Donald unconstitutionally imposing or threatening tariffs to extort foreign governments. The 34-count felon has sold access to more than 200 of the
- [The Trump Regime's Toxic Racism.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/05/21/the-trump-regimes-toxic-racism/) - The MAGA movement began with racist attacks on Mexican immigrants and attacks on political correctness (aka courtesy and civility). It incorporated the slogan “America First” previously used by the Ku Klux Klan. And it gained momentum with the claim that Critical Race Theory was being taught in K-12 classes. (It was only taught in law
- [100 Days Of Criminality, Cons, Constitutional Crises And Chaos.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/05/02/100-days-of-criminality-cons-constitutional-crises-and-chaos/) - As the second Trump regime concludes its first 100 days, let’s review the many lowlights: To begin, there’s the takeover of the FBI, DOJ, and the State Department by Trump loyalists. There were pardons of more than fifteen hundred insurrectionists and violent criminals. The unjustified and illegal dismissal of entire government agencies and tens of
- [The Trump Regime’s War On Everything.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/04/19/the-trump-regimes-war-on-everything/) - Much has been written about Trump’s insane trade war with the world, which has endangered our stock markets, our economy, our international reputation, and the strength of the US dollar. Even the very conservative Wall Street Journal has taken the regime to task for its stupidity. We’ve also seen and heard a lot about the
- [What Is Our Democracy’s Breaking Point?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/04/16/what-is-our-democracys-breaking-point/) - All but the most extreme of Trump’s supporters now have legitimate concerns about the future of the world’s oldest democratic republic. After all, we’ve seen the Supreme Court of the United States give our Dear Leader immunity for official acts while in office. We've seen Trump pardon violent criminals who attacked police and vandalized our
- [America’s Two Political Parties: A Comparison.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/04/01/americas-two-political-parties-a-comparison/) - Some Americans have become convinced that there is no need to vote because they believe the two major political parties are essentially the same. Indeed, at one time, the parties shared many progressive beliefs. But, over the last six decades, the parties diverged until, today, they have almost nothing in common. To wit: The Democratic
- [The A In USA Now Stands For Autocracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/03/23/the-a-in-usa-now-stands-for-autocracy/) - Fellow Americans: The good news is that we no longer have to worry about our nation becoming an autocracy under a second Trump administration as many Democrats feared. The bad news is that it already has. Trump has moved the nation toward autocracy faster than Putin of Russia, Erdogan of Turkey or Orban of Hungary.
- [The Growing List Of Trump Victims.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/03/05/the-growing-list-of-trump-victims/) - Members of Trump’s MAGA cult have long wanted to reshape our government and punish the “Libs”. But they have gotten much more than they bargained for. Under the guise of making America great again and improving government efficiency, the actions of Donald J. Trump and his billionaire friends have already victimized millions of Americans and
- [We've Seen This Movie Before.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/02/26/weve-seen-this-movie-before/) - If the actions of the current Trump administration seem vaguely familiar, it’s because we’ve already seen similar storylines. Consider the movie Dave, in which a man without any relevant experience or qualifications finds himself in the White House through a series of misunderstandings and odd circumstances. There’s also Being There, the story of Chance, a
- [Complex Problems: Part 5 – Urban/Rural Divide](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/02/11/complex-problems-part-5-urban-rural-divide/) - Let me begin by stating that I was raised on a farm. For the first 18 years of my life, farming was the only life I knew. Indeed, I fully expected to, one day, take over the family farm. It was only 160 acres in size, but it provided a reasonable living. Then I went
- [A Return To The Gilded Age.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/02/04/a-return-to-the-gilded-age/) - During his second inaugural speech, Donald J. Trump, he of the golden toilets, announced that he would lead America into a “Golden Age.” What does that mean? Well, based on his executive orders to date and his roadmap called Project 2025, it appears that he wants to return the U.S. to the Gilded Age of
- [Complex Problems: Part 4 – News Versus Propaganda](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/01/30/complex-problems-part-4-news-versus-propaganda/) - I regret to inform you that you are being misinformed on a daily basis. For many years, Americans depended on TV networks, newspapers and radio to bring them the news in an unbiased manner. The news gatherers were mostly graduates of journalism schools that instilled in their students the need to be thorough, objective, and
- [America’s Mein Kampf.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/08/16/americas-mein-kampf/) - For as long as I can remember, Republicans have talked about freedom. The words liberty and freedom are splattered all over their websites and on their paraphernalia – from hats and t-shirts to flags and bumper stickers. They talk about making America great again as if it isn’t already great - the world’s economic and
- [Autocracy? Plutocracy? Corporatocracy? Kleptocracy? Kakistocracy? Or Idiocracy?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/01/28/autocracy-plutocracy-corporatocracy-kleptocracy-kakistocracy-or-idiocracy/) - Since the Felon-in-Chief took office, we’ve seen all of these words used to describe his new administration. So which one fits? In fact, they all do. To wit: An autocracy is defined as a country governed by one person with absolute power. By his own count, Trump has issued more than 300 executive orders (several
- [The Real Teflon Don.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/01/10/the-real-teflon-don/) - In the 1980s, John Gotti, the boss of the Gambino family became known as the “Teflon Don.” Though he was indicted for numerous crimes committed as head of America’s most powerful crime syndicate, he repeatedly escaped conviction through jury tampering, juror misconduct and witness intimidation. Until finally, in 1992, he was convicted of murder, conspiracy
- [Complex Problems: Part 3 – The National Debt](https://lamasterscorner.com/2025/01/07/complex-problems-part-3-national-debt/) - According to the National Debt Clock, our national debt is currently $36 trillion and counting. That’s because the government is currently spending more than $1.6 trillion than it receives from federal taxes. This is despite the fact that the annual deficit is currently $1 trillion less than when President Biden took office. Of course, there
- [Complex Problems: Part 2 - Climate Change](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/12/28/complex-problems-part-2-climate-change/) - As previously mentioned, our modern world is facing a daunting list of complex and interrelated issues. Unfortunately, most of our elected leaders fail to address their complexity and continue to offer quick, simplistic, and ineffective “solutions.” That’s a prescription for failure. Instead of shallow politicians who make hollow promises, we need leaders who can recognize
- [Our Problems Are Too Big For Simple-Minded Solutions.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/12/20/our-problems-are-too-big-for-simple-minded-solutions/) - Or simple-minded politicians. The US and the world are facing a growing and complex set of interrelated problems. But few people have the time and patience to understand them. Many politicians know this all too well. So, instead of being honest with voters, they lie. They offer simplistic “solutions.” They create easy targets for voters
- [Good People Who Unintentionally Damaged Our Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/12/04/good-people-who-unintentionally-damaged-our-democracy/) - In recent years, there have been numerous officials and powerful figures who have done great harm to our nation. To name just a few: Nixon authorized a break-in to undermine the integrity of our elections. Ronald Reagan created distrust in our federal government and formed a shadow government that led to the Iran–Contra scandal. George
- [Democratic Branding.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/11/22/democratic-branding/) - During my many years of working in the advertising industry at a high level (I helped create brands for hundreds of well-known products and services), I learned that, if an organization fails to create a positive brand image for itself, its competitors will create one for it. And the competitors' version will not be flattering.
- [Kakistocracy Returns.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/11/14/kakastocracy-returns/) - And this time, it's a real sh*storm! Kakistocracy, of course, is defined as a government run by the least acceptable and least competent officials. How else could you describe a government led by a thuggish narcissistic sociopath and administered by his unhinged and unqualified sycophants? Think that assessment too harsh? Not when an unqualified Fox
- [Trump Has Already Irreversibly Damaged Our Nation.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/11/12/trump-has-already-irreversibly-damaged-our-nation/) - Forget his plans for a second term. Pay no attention to the impending execution of Project 2025. Disregard his planned revenge against political opponents. Try to ignore the coming mass deportations, the threats to leave NATO, the refusal to address climate change, and his pandering to the obscenely wealthy and large corporations. Those are only
- [What Your Support Of Trump Says About You:](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/08/30/what-your-support-of-trump-says-about-you/) - If you are a multi-millionaire, a billionaire or an executive of a large, multinational corporation, your MAGA support is likely a matter of greed. Trump’s previous tax cuts and promised further cuts make you willing to ignore his boorish and bullying behavior. It shows that you are greedy and self-focused – able to ignore the
- [The Robbers...er...Roberts Court.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/07/26/the-robbers-er-roberts-court/) - Under Chief Justice Roberts, the highest court in the land has become the most corrupt and hyper partisan in history. Unencumbered by a code of ethics, two of its members have accepted gifts worth millions in exchange for their votes. Two of the majority were credibly accused of sexual misconduct. Most, if not all, of
- [Trump Is No Martyr.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/07/15/trump-is-no-martyr/) - He's the victim (and the beneficiary) of the hate he himself created. From the beginning of his presidential ambitions, violence and talk of violence have been a feature, indeed the central theme, of Trump’s rallies and his administration. He has aimed his hatred at immigrants and refugees, at Muslims and people of color, at Mexicans
- [America's Great Character Test.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/07/04/americas-latest-character-test/) - Each 4th of July, we celebrate Independence Day, the day the Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Second Continental Congress. That act, of course, led to the Revolutionary War, our freedom from a tyrannical king and the world’s longest-lasting democratic experiment. It was called an experiment by our nation’s founders because they were uncertain
- [Who’s Next On The MAGA Hit List?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/06/12/whos-next-on-the-maga-hit-list/) - Following World War II and the Holocaust, a German Lutheran pastor named Martin Niemöller wrote, “First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they
- [The Greatest Challenges Of The 21st Century.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/06/20/the-greatest-challenges-of-the-21st-century/) - Through the rest of this century, the world is facing a number of seemingly insurmountable problems – problems for which there appear to be no easy answers. Some so complex and so threatening that they could doom humanity for all eternity. Yet, even for those challenges, there are answers if we are willing to acknowledge
- [Name-Calling.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/05/31/name-calling/) - Donald J. Trump has been called a lot of things. Some good. Some bad. Some accurate. Others not. For example, in the 80s, Trump was called a playboy, a developer, or simply The Donald. In the 90s and early 2000s, he became known as an author (at least according to the book covers), a womanizer,
- [How The Party Of Lincoln Became The Party Of Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/05/22/how-the-party-of-lincoln-became-the-party-of-trump-2/) - The Republican Party was once the party of abolitionists and the party of progressives. Its first leader, Abraham Lincoln, not only held the nation together during the Civil War. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation that ended one of the saddest chapters in U.S. history. Unfortunately, a political party operating under the same name is now
- [Bad News.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/05/08/bad-news/) - Faced with intense political divisions and the growing threat of political violence driven by “fake news” and “alternative facts,” it should be little wonder why many Americans long for the days of Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, and the like, a time when all Americans shared the same set of facts. When journalism was
- [Gov. Noem's Cruelty Is Emblematic Of MAGA Party.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/05/04/gov-noems-cruelty-is-emblematic-of-maga-party/) - Perhaps no event better summarizes the character of today’s Republican Party than Kristi Noem bragging about her heartless and ruthless killing of a 14-month-old puppy and a “filthy” goat. After all, this is a political party (dare I say cult) that seems to revel in cruelty. Cruelty aimed at political opponents, at immigrants, at homosexuals
- [The Hamas-Israeli War By The Numbers.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/04/29/the-hamas-israeli-war-by-the-numbers/) - 70 million – the number of kilograms of explosives dropped on Gaza (the equivalent of 3 nuclear bombs of the type dropped on Hiroshima at the end of World War II.) 2.26 million – the approximate number of Palestinians living in the West Bank. 2.1 million – the approximate number of Palestinians living in Gaza
- [The New Rule(s) Of Law.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/04/03/the-new-rules-of-law/) - When SCOTUS pronounced George W. Bush president by ruling the Florida recount could not proceed, my faith in the court (and that of many other Americans) was shaken. I was further horrified by the theft of a seat on the bench by Sen. McConnell’s refusal to hold a consent hearing on Merrick Garland’s nomination eleven
- [It’s Still Russia, Russia, Russia.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/03/21/its-still-russia-russia-russia/) - Here we go again. In 2016, it was clear that Russia interfered in our presidential election to help Trump win the White House. Not only was the Trump campaign initially led by Paul Manafort, a longtime consultant to the former Russia-backed president of Ukraine. Trump, himself, had been lifted out of bankruptcy by Russian oligarchs
- [Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/03/06/justice-delayed-is-justice-denied/) - In the United States, one of the accepted principles of our justice system is the right to a timely and fair trial. Yet that principle never seems to apply to Donald J. Trump. Trump has long made it a practice to avoid prosecution through a seemingly never-ending series of delays and appeals – often based
- [Republicans' Shadow Government.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/02/19/conservative-republicans-shadow-government/) - Republicans continue to rant on about the "Deep State" – unelected government officials who make decisions affecting ordinary Americans’ lives. In fact, it's mere projection. (Given the GOP’s recent history, you can assume that they're already doing whatever they accuse Democrats of doing.) But they are right about one thing. There is an unelected shadow
- [Dear Trump Supporters, I Still Know Who You Really Are.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2024/01/27/dear-trump-supporters-i-still-know-who-you-really-are/) - In November 2016, I wrote a post aimed at Trump voters saying, “I know who you really are.” Not surprisingly, many of you were incensed by my conclusions. But then you seem easily incensed by any criticisms of you and your orange Messiah. Recent studies found that you are angry, but that you don't know what
- [America's Number One Crime Family.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/06/20/the-trump-crime-family/) - For those of you who have not been keeping track, following is a list of charges, civil suits and investigations into Donald J. Trump (aka El Chumpo or Cheeto Benito) and his associates: Trump – Subject of a special counsel investigation into his 2016 campaign’s collusion with Russia. Although he and his Attorney General reported
- [Criticism Is Not Antisemitism!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/12/15/criticism-is-not-antisemitism/) - After the inhumane October 7 attacks on Israeli civilians by the militant faction of Hamas, it seems that some believe any criticism of the Israeli government’s long-standing mistreatment of Palestinians and its mass bombings of Gaza is antisemitic. It represents the same kind of twisted accusations leveled against me and others for criticizing the US
- [How Much Vengeance Is Enough?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/12/11/how-much-vengeance-is-enough/) - Out of an abundance of guilt following the Holocaust of WWII, Great Britain and much of the world decided to create a permanent homeland for Jews called Israel. In doing so, they displaced thousands of Palestinians. What has happened over the ensuing years and generations is, to say the least, complicated. Indeed, since its creation,
- [A Renaissance of Hate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/10/13/a-renaissance-of-hate/) - How else could you describe the era of Trump and his cadre of domestic terrorists? A former president who, while in office, gave the term bully pulpit new meaning by appealing to legions of bullies and white supremacists to do his bidding. A demagogue who has so mastered the art of “mob speak” that he
- [The 2025 Project: A Republican Plan To Destroy Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/09/05/the-2025-project-a-republican-plan-to-destroy-democracy/) - When it comes to the destruction of our democracy, Donald J. Trump is only a symptom. The real killer is revealed only when you look at the Republican Party in its entirety. Once hailed as the Grand Old Party of emancipators led by Abraham Lincoln who saved the nation from being cleaved in two, by
- ["I Dislike The Man. But I Like His Policies."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/08/25/i-dislike-the-man-but-i-like-his-policies/) - Really? What policies are those? Is it Trump’s racism as displayed by his support of white supremacists and his hatred of Black Lives Matter? Is it his racist verbal attacks on Latino migrants? His cruel separation of children from migrant families? Are those the policies you like? Or maybe you like his attacks on the
- [Freedom Fighters?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/07/30/freedom-fighters/) - The Republican Party has a long history of claiming to be patriots and "freedom fighters." Indeed, many of its members have armed themselves with numerous AR15-style rifles and large stockpiles of ammunition while claiming such measures are necessary to defend themselves against tyranny – the tyranny of a Democratic-led federal government. Really? Exactly what Democratic
- [RIP GOP.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/07/07/rip-gop/) - Long ago, the Republican Party was the party of liberals – a political party that fought for abolition of slavery, fought to hold the nation together, and fought for civil rights. In the 1950s and 60s under Eisenhower, it was the party of growth. And, over time, the party evolved into the party of limited
- [Contempt Of Court.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/06/30/contempt-of-court/) - OPEN LETTER TO CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: In case you are blissfully unaware, a growing majority of Americans have lost faith in your court – the result of your "conservative" members being anything but conservative, engaged as they are in overturning decades of legal precedent. Your court continues to take fabricated cases dreamt up by anti-American
- [Weaponization? Or Justice?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/06/26/weaponization-or-justice/) - Republicans would have you believe that the Biden administration has unfairly weaponized the FBI and DOJ to pursue charges against its political opponents. As a result, the House "Freedom Caucus" created a Weaponization Committee to investigate the matter. They are furious that Trump has been indicted and that more than 1,000 insurrectionists have been arrested.
- [Examining The Arguments Against Abortion.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/06/01/examining-the-arguments-against-abortion/) - Abortion has become a simplistic catchall term for a wide variety of health care procedures for women, many of which don’t involve the removal of a healthy fetus. Yet the anti-abortion activists would have you believe that any intervention involving a woman’s uterus or reproductive system is against God’s will. They imply that all abortions
- [Why Not Just Leave Our Flags At Half Mast?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/05/23/why-not-just-leave-our-flags-at-half-mast/) - As I was driving home the other day, I noticed a flag at half mast, which made me wonder: Who was it honoring? Was it for the two officers gunned down during a traffic stop in western Wisconsin? Was it for the Minnesota sheriff’s deputy who was shot and killed while responding to a domestic
- [CNN's Suicide Pact With Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/05/12/cnns-suicide-pact-with-trump/) - The outcome of CNN’s effort to pander to the disgraced, twice impeached, indicted, and proven sexual assaulter was all too predictable. Giving him sole access to an hour of primetime in which he could be surrounded by his admirers and mainline his lies directly into the homes of gullible American voters was everything he could
- [An Armed Society Is A Polite Society?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/05/01/an-armed-society-is-a-polite-society/) - For years, that was the promise of the NRA. More guns would mean less crime and less violence. Well, it's now estimated that there are 466 million guns in the hands of US civilians. That’s nearly one and a half guns for every man, woman, and child. And at least one in 20 American civilians
- [What Is The Truth Worth?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/04/29/what-is-the-truth-worth/) - Although Fox was forced to pay $787.5 million for its repeated lies about Dominion voting machines, and its depositions revealed the depth of the network's depravity, it appears the only lesson it learned is to avoid using the names of corporations and individuals within the content of its lies. Sure, the network's lawyers made a statement
- [It’s Time To Start Using The F Word.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/04/24/its-time-to-start-using-the-f-word/) - Like many people, I’ve been hesitant to use the F word in public for fear of offending others’ sensibilities. It is, after all, the one word that can end any political debate or polite conversation. Yet I believe our nation has reached a point where it is the only word left to accurately describe a
- ["It's Not My Kid, Friend, Or Co-Worker."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/04/13/its-not-my-kid-friend-or-co-worker/) - “There's nothing I can do about it.” “That's the price of freedom.” “It’s a mental health issue.” “Guns don’t kill. People do.” “Thoughts and prayers.” And, of course, there’s the old reliable excuse we hear following every mass murder: “Now is not the time to talk about solutions.” Of all the possible reactions to mass
- [Can Our Democracy Survive?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/04/07/can-our-democracy-survive/) - The one thing Democrats and the MAGA Party (the Republican Party no longer exists having been subsumed by Fox-fueled Trump followers) can agree on is that our democracy is under attack. However, they see vastly different threats. The MAGAs believe, despite all evidence to the contrary, that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.
- [The GOP Dilemma: Choosing The Most Cruel Candidate For 2024.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/03/23/the-gop-dilemma-choosing-the-most-cruel-candidate-for-2024/) - Is it Don The Con Trump who ripped babies from the arms of immigrants, whose actions and inaction led to the deaths of 1.1 million Americans from Covid, who called for the murder of immigrants and protesters, who gave support to war criminal Vladimir Putin, who incited a violent coup? Is it Mike Pence who,
- [Mainstream Media: Enemies Of The People?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/03/14/mainstream-media-enemies-of-the-people/) - It's popular for those on the political right to disparage journalists, calling them enemies of the people as a result of the misguided belief that mainstream media are all biased or that they all lie. That's a convenient (and profitable) narrative for the likes of Fox, Infowars, OAN, NewsMax, Breitbart, Epoch Times, the entire litany
- [What They Say Versus What They Do.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/03/08/what-they-say-versus-what-they-do/) - Today’s Trump-loving MAGA GOP has tried to stake out the political high ground by waving the flag and likening themselves to the colonial patriots of 1776. They claim to be the only true defenders of the Constitution – God-fearing Americans who are for low taxes and limited government. Many walk around with a copy of
- [Why A New Civil War Seems Inevitable.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/03/03/why-a-new-civil-war-seems-inevitable/) - It seems the majority of Americans have viewed Marjorie Taylor-Greene’s call for a “national divorce” as laughable. But many of us who have been following the extreme right for the last several decades are not laughing. Both the rhetoric and actions of what can only be called the sedition caucus point to the near inevitability
- [The One Unifying Policy Of The Political Right.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/02/23/the-one-unifying-policy-of-the-political-right/) - Hate. Hatred of homosexuals. Hatred of transsexuals. Hatred of women. Hatred of immigrants. Hatred of people of color. Hatred of "urban elites." Hatred of socialism. Hatred of Black Lives Matter. Hatred of anti-fascists. Hatred of non-Christians. Hatred of election officials and other public servants. Hatred of educators. Hatred of environmentalists. Hatred of science. Hatred of
- [GOP Ignorance And Cynicism On Full Display.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/02/06/gop-ignorance-and-cynicism-on-full-display/) - Now that Republicans have taken control of the US House of Representatives, there is no hiding the idiocy and corruption of many of their members. For example, this past week, during a congressional hearing, Marjory Taylor-Greene compared the death of insurrectionist Ashley Babbitt to the brutal murder of Tyre Nichols whose only apparent crime was
- [Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/01/25/giving-credit-where-credit-is-due/) - In thinking about the many problems that we face as a nation, it has become clear that the vast majority can be traced to policies enacted and supported by the Republican Party, a political party that has evolved from the party of growth and controlled spending (Eisenhower and Nixon) to the party of small government
- [We Cannot Live Alone.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/01/16/we-cannot-live-alone/) - Our lives are made possible by a delicate ecosystem. We rely on our forests and plants to create oxygen. We rely on bees and other creatures to pollinate the plants that produce our food. We rely on coral reefs to sustain our fish. On birds and bats to control insects. On wolves and other predators
- [How Political Extremism Becomes Self-Sustaining.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2023/01/11/how-political-extremism-becomes-self-sustaining/) - When economic and societal problems go unaddressed, dissatisfaction with government grows. Far right extremists use that dissatisfaction to get elected. Then, when they’re in the office, they ignore the problems to pursue their own ideological agendas. After all, it's not in their self-interest to solve issues they can use in their campaigns for re-election. Indeed,
- [George Santos Exemplifies The Entire Republican Party.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/12/29/george-santos-exemplifies-the-entire-republican-party/) - The Republican representative-elect from Long Island campaigned on a background and resume that were complete fiction. He lied about his education and his work experience. He even lied about his religion and his mother's death. Such behavior is obviously unethical and immoral. And, in the context of an election campaign, it should be illegal. Yet
- [God's Will?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/12/10/gods-will/) - In the ongoing abortion debate, those who oppose the procedure justify their opposition by saying that a pregnancy is God’s will, even if that pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. They even claim that if the pregnancy endangers the woman’s life, that, too, is God’s will. Really? This philosophy presupposes that God is
- [What To Expect From The GOP House Majority.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/11/30/what-to-expect-from-the-gop-house-majority/) - In short, nastiness, revenge, political posturing, and impeachments. James Comer, who is expected to chair the Oversight Committee, will lead an investigation into the business dealings of Hunter Biden. (What's really on that laptop?) In doing so, he and the rest of the GOP members of the committee will almost certainly try to damage President
- [The GOP And Traditional Churches Have Suffered The Same Fate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/10/06/the-gop-and-traditional-churches-doomed-to-same-fate/) - Both devoured from within by Bible-thumping, government-hating, election-denying Americans who are gleefully leading the attack on democracy and civility. Traditional community churches have been overwhelmed by mega churches led by demagogues spewing prosperity gospel (the notion that sanctimonious zealots will receive riches beyond their imaginations through blind devotion to their version of the gospel). Despite
- [Treat Trump Like A Winner.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/08/31/treat-trump-like-a-winner/) - Reality Winner, that is, the 6-year Air Force veteran, recipient of a commendation for meritorious service, and former contractor for the National Security Agency who was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in federal prison, plus 3 years of supervised released. What horrible crime did she commit? She was convicted of violating the Espionage
- [Fox News Has Gone Full Goebbels.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/08/24/fox-news-has-gone-full-goebbels/) - During a recent Laura Ingraham show in which she questioned Mike Pompeo about his interview with the Jan 6 committee, a headline appeared at the bottom of the screen reading "Dems prop up phony democracies abroad, shred ours." In other words, the radical conservatives are angry that we are supporting Ukraine and investigating the January
- [The GOP's Clown Car To Autocracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/08/04/the-gops-clown-car-to-autocracy/) - No, that's not hyperbole. And, no, Donald Trump, the narcissistic and wannabe autocrat, is not on the ballot. But, across the nation, many equally seditious and treason-adjacent candidates are. They call themselves Republicans. And some of them make the conspiracy-loving Marjorie Taylor-Greene, the gun-toting Lauren Boebert, the insurrectionist Paul Gosar, and the alleged child sex
- [The Plan To Destroy Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/07/22/the-plan-to-destroy-democracy/) - In case it’s not yet obvious that Trump tried everything in his power to overthrow a free and fair election, here is what we know, or can reasonably surmise, about his plan to stay in office despite an overwhelming defeat at the polls: 1. Before the election, Trump began to sow doubt in the electoral
- [Blame It On Biden?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/07/16/blame-it-on-biden/) - If you were to listen to Republicans, their propaganda networks and the corporate media, you would almost certainly believe that President Biden’s administration has been a disaster for America – worse even than that of his treasonous predecessor who used the White House as his own personal ATM and tried to violently overthrow the will
- [Climate Change: The Future May Be Far Worse Than You Think.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/07/05/climate-change-the-future-may-be-far-worse-than-you-think/) - Today, Americans are facing a number of very real threats to our way of life. We are understandably transfixed by the very real threat to our democracy posed by Trump and his followers, by the theocrats who have taken hold of the court we once believed Supreme, by the still-ongoing pandemic, by the corporate price-gouging
- [We May Have Already Lost Our Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/06/30/we-may-have-already-lost-our-democracy/) - If you believe we dodged a bullet on January 6, 2020, you are most certainly correct. But the outcome of the insurrection is still very much in doubt. Forget Trump 2024. He will likely already be in prison by that time. At very least, he will be banned from holding office. The real threat is
- [What Happens When Those Unwanted Fetuses Become Unwanted Children?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/06/27/what-happens-when-those-unwanted-fetuses-become-unwanted-children/) - As the theocrats and pro-birthers are celebrating the court decision to overturn Roe v Wade, I can't help but focus on the consequences of that decision. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 630,000 abortions in the United States each year. Many are for medical reasons to save the
- [We Have Entered The Realm Of Theocracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/06/26/we-have-entered-the-realm-of-theocracy/) - For some people, churches are a blessing. They feel the need for pastors to guide them, to minister to their emotional needs, to provide hope, to tell them how to behave, and they look to congregations for support. But, in my opinion, having once considered becoming a pastor myself, organized religions are little more than
- [An Open Letter To The Once Supreme Court Of The United States](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/06/23/an-open-letter-to-the-once-supreme-court-of-the-united-states/) - I know that I speak for many Americans when I say that I no longer respect the court that I once believed supreme in regard to the wisdom of its legal rulings and interpretation of the Constitution. In recent years, the conservative majority has ruled that money equals free speech, that corporations have the rights
- [Low Gas Prices? Or The Planet? Which Will You Choose?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/06/17/low-gas-prices-or-the-planet-which-will-you-choose/) - Fires raging in the West, excessive heat in many parts of the world, crop failures, flooding in Yellowstone, disappearing glaciers, severe storms in the Midwest, and the predicted surge of hurricanes are all indicators that we have waited far too long to address climate change. But most Americans seem willing to ignore all of that
- [The Inevitable Outcome Of The Deep State Conspiracy Theory.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/06/02/the-inevitable-outcome-of-the-deep-state-conspiracy-theory/) - As Donald J. Trump began his campaign for the presidency, we began to hear about something called the Deep State. He and his followers claimed that a clandestine network of unelected officials was in control of the US government. The Deep State, as the theory goes, is a shadow government acting on behalf of Democrats
- [America Can No Longer Be Called Home Of The Brave.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/05/31/america-can-no-longer-be-called-home-of-the-brave/) - Ask most Americans to quote the 2nd Amendment and they’ll recite some version of “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged.” But that is only half of the Amendment. The full Amendment states: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of
- [It Is No Longer Accurate To Call White Nationalists Extremists.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/05/18/it-is-no-longer-accurate-to-call-white-nationalists-extremists/) - While those who espouse white nationalism may seem extreme to Democrats and to many independents, it has become clear that they now represent the mainstream of the Republican Party. Don’t believe me? Perhaps you will trust Miles Taylor, the former Chief of Staff of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the Goerge W. Bush
- [The Undeniable Racism Of US Immigration Policy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/05/15/the-undeniable-racism-of-us-immigration-policy/) - We currently have the lowest unemployment numbers in more than 50 years. At the same time, we may have more unfilled job openings than ever before. Employers big and small are struggling to find workers. As a result, many salaries are rising, especially those for unskilled and entry level jobs. All of that would seem
- [Why You Should Take Tyrants At Their Word.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/05/03/why-you-should-take-tyrants-at-their-word/) - In the 1970s and 80s, after looking at the nation's changing demographics, Republicans embraced southern racists still angry at having lost the Civil War and furious with forced integration of schools. Around the same time, they also crafted a deal with far-right evangelicals – people like Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart, Kenneth Copeland, Jim Baker, John
- [The Frightening Descent Of The Court We Once Held Supreme.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/05/05/the-frightening-descent-of-the-court-we-once-held-supreme/) - Many of us grew up with great respect for the highest court in the land. We did not always agree with its rulings. But we always respected them because we knew they were considered judgments based on the law. The current version of the Court is different. Very different. Contrary to the protestations of Alito,
- [Preaching Evil And Hate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/04/27/preaching-evil-and-hate/) - Preaching Evil is the title of a new Peacock documentary about FLDS leader, Warren Jeffs. But the title could well be applied to hundreds of televangelists and evangelical Christian pastors, as well as fundamentalist Imams, Rabbis, and leaders of various other religions and sects who use their platforms to preach hate against others. There are
- [Why It’s Entirely Appropriate To Call Republicans Fascists.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/03/17/why-its-entirely-appropriate-to-call-republicans-fascists/) - The ideology of today’s Republican Party not only meets the original definition of fascism (government by the corporate right), but Republicans have also embraced many of the bullying actions of some of history's most notorious fascists. Cloaked in nationalism and a veneer of religion, they are well on their way to diminishing many of our
- [The New Know Nothings.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/03/12/the-new-know-nothings/) - In the mid-1850s, there was a political party referred to as the Know Nothings. Officially called the American Party, its followers feared that the influx of Roman Catholics from Ireland and Europe would push “real Americans” aside and take over the nation, giving control to the Vatican. But with regard to racism, misogyny, and lack
- [America First? Hardly! More Like Me First.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/02/22/america-first-hardly-more-like-me-first/) - Trump followers would have you believe that their movement is determined to Make America Great Again. To rewind the clock and return America to the mythical, utopian state of their ancestors. A state in which everyone looked like them, worshiped like them, and thought like them. A state that welcomed immigrants to the Great Melting
- [When It Comes To Illegal Immigration, We Reap What We Sow.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/02/15/when-it-comes-to-illegal-immigration-we-reap-what-we-sow/) - The USA is one of the largest importers of illicit drugs on the planet. It is also the world’s largest exporter of guns, accounting for more than 41 percent of international small arms trade in 2020. While those two things may seem unrelated, they are the primary factors leading to the flood of refugees and
- [No One Should Be Surprised By Actions Of The Minneapolis Police Department.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/02/09/no-one-should-be-surprised-by-actions-of-the-minneapolis-police-department/) - Minneapolis and St. Paul are known as the Twin Cities. One (St. Paul) has enjoyed a competent, public service-focused police department for all of my nearly 40 years of living in the area. The other (Minneapolis) has long been plagued by a police department that is often overly aggressive and racist in its actions. As
- [America At War With Itself.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/01/24/america-at-war-with-itself/) - Some say that if our nation fails, it won’t be the result of a foreign attack. It will, instead, be the result of our own undoing. No, I’m not necessarily referring to the threat Donald J. Trump and his supporters pose to our democracy. Certainly, they are a very real threat. But a far greater
- [Anatomy Of A Conspiracy To Commit Sedition.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/01/20/anatomy-of-a-conspiracy-to-commit-sedition/) - This week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed charges of conspiracy to commit sedition against 11 members of the paramilitary group that calls itself the Oath Keepers. Given what we now know, it should be an open and shut case. The real question is: When will those who inspired and directed the insurrectionists of January
- [The January 6th Co-Conspirators Who Have Yet To Be Named.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2022/01/10/the-january-6th-co-conspirators-who-have-yet-to-be-named/) - They likely won’t be charged for their role in the insurrection. But the people most responsible for the attack on the Capitol and on the world’s longest-running democracy were not the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, etc. or even Donald J. Trump. They didn’t use pepper spray, flag poles, spears, and
- [Don’t Just Blame Joe Manchin!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/12/23/dont-just-blame-joe-manchin/) - Certainly, Manchin sold out President Biden and his Democratic Party by effectively blocking the Build Back Better Act this week. In doing so, he has undermined efforts to address climate change, committing all of us to suffer from increased severe weather events. Additionally, his refusal to support the bill means that more children will grow
- [The GQP’s Decades Long, Multi-Pronged Assault On Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/06/17/the-gqps-decades-long-multi-pronged-assault-on-democracy/) - If you think the insurrection ended on January 6th, I regret to inform you that it was only the tip of the proverbial autocratic iceberg. In fact, the billionaires have been working to undermine our democracy for more than 60 years. And they haven't stopped now. In one of history’s greatest ironies, Charles Koch, James
- [Do Republicans Believe In Democracy? Have They Ever?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/06/02/do-republicans-believe-in-democracy-have-they-ever/) - It's a legitimate question. Especially given their response to the 2020 election. Instead of accepting the fact that Biden won by an overwhelming margin and conducting a self-examination of their policies, Republicans have chosen to believe Trump's big lie that the election was "stolen." That is simply not true as confirmed by more than 60
- [The Ongoing Theft Of Generational Wealth From Black And Brown People.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/05/30/the-ongoing-theft-of-generational-wealth-from-black-and-brown-people/) - As we mark the 100th anniversary of the massacre on Tulsa's Black Wall Street, it's important to understand how little has changed in the past century. First, it should be noted that the Tulsa massacre was only one of at least 40 similar attacks on people of color, not including the genocide of Native Americans.
- [Jan. 6 Commission Vote Explains Why Bipartisanship Is A Myth.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/05/20/jan-6-commission-vote-explains-why-bipartisanship-is-a-myth/) - Most Americans continue to call for bipartisanship in the US Congress. But it has become as elusive as UFOs, Bigfoot, and the mythical unicorn. First, let's note that the "bi" in bipartisanship denotes the participation of two parties. Unfortunately, for at least the past 12 years, one party has been largely absent. Sure, the Republicans
- [Stop Calling Senator Joe Manchin A Centrist!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/05/17/stop-calling-senator-joe-manchin-a-centrist/) - For more than 40 years, the Republican Party has moved further and further to the right until 2020 when it dived right off the political spectrum into a delusional abyss. What once was a political party that believed in free markets and fiscal restraint has, over time, become anti-government, anti-immigrant, anti-abortion, white nationalist, pro-gun, pro-violence,
- [The Self-Defeating Politics Of Now.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/05/03/the-self-defeating-politics-of-now/) - Now that President Biden has completed his first 100 days in office, a number of special interest groups have expressed their frustration that he has not yet fixed all of the nation's problems. Of course, it's to be expected that Republicans are upset with the Biden administration. But many of his supporters are also unhappy.
- [Turning Point.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/05/01/turning-point/) - The threat of losing our democracy in the US did not end on January 6th. Republicans insist the 2020 election is not over. Not by a long shot. Never mind that the Trump campaign lost more than 60 court cases to overturn 2020 election results, including in courts ruled by Trump appointees. Disregard the fact
- [The “Both Sides Are At Fault” Myth.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/04/28/the-both-sides-are-at-fault-myth/) - Faced with the political climate in our country, it’s popular for media and individuals to blame both Republicans and Democrats alike. As the story goes, the division is driven by the extreme wings of both parties. Really? Consider this: One party promotes policies. The other promotes hatred and fear. One party wants more people to
- [Repairing A Broken Police System.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/04/16/repairing-a-broken-police-system/) - Though evidence of the breakdowns in policing have been constant (Daunte Wright, Caron Nazario, George Floyd, Breona Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland, etc., etc., etc.), change has been painstakingly slow. So, what can we do to prevent unnecessary deaths and provide equal justice under the law? To begin, let’s look at the reality of policing
- [America’s Racism On Full (And Constant) Display.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/04/13/americas-racism-on-full-and-constant-display/) - Even as the world is transfixed by the Derek Chauvin trial in Minnesota (a trial to decide if Chauvin was guilty of murdering George Floyd), we continue to see other examples of police abuse of black and brown people. In the past few days, video evidence of police mistreating a black man in a military
- [Why Racists Are The Real Losers.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/03/24/why-racists-are-the-real-losers/) - Two recent discoveries turned my thoughts to the enduring consequences of racism. First, to my horror, I discovered that two of my colonial ancestors from Scotland thought it necessary to enrich themselves off the labor and disenfranchisement of others. One was able to accumulate large tracts of land that required a large number of people
- [Political Party Turned Death Cult.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/03/09/political-party-turned-death-cult/) - For many decades, the Republican Party portrayed itself as the right-to-life party in order to gain the support of conservative Christians. Indeed, the party even went so far as to prioritize the life of a fetus over the life of the woman carrying it and the lives of medical personnel willing to abort it. Yet,
- [Requiem For A Vocal Terrorist.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/02/20/requiem-for-a-vocal-terrorist/) - Fox News ran hours of tributes. Republicans called for the nation's flags to be flown at half mast as if Rush Limbaugh was some sort of national hero. But he did not earn the accolades any more than he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom that was hung around his red neck by Trump's tiny
- [Have Republicans Confused Democracy For Democrats?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/02/18/have-republicans-confused-democracy-for-democrats/) - Republicans and Democrats have long been political rivals. But, beginning in the 1980s, Republicans began to view Democrats as enemies...as over-educated elitists hell-bent on destroying America. More recently, the GQP (Grand QAnon Party) has created a narrative that Democrats are evil...part of an international cabal of pedophiles and cannibals. That was bad enough. But thanks
- [Our Broken Criminal Justice System.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/02/16/our-broken-criminal-justice-system/) - Trump’s acquittal for inciting an insurrection and his pardons of some of the most treacherous criminals in our nation’s history only serve to call more attention to the inequalities of our justice system. The contrast is particularly stark in comparison to the treatment of people of color over the past year. The truth is, the
- [Welcome To The GQP.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/02/08/welcome-to-the-gqp/) - No, that is not a typo. The Republican Party, once led by Abraham Lincoln who held the Union together and emancipated slaves, by Theodore Roosevelt who broke up corporate monopolies and established National Parks, and by Dwight D. Eisenhower who led the defeat of Hitler and helped build America's middle class, has become the party
- [Why InfoWars, The NRA, Rightwing Media, And The GOP Should Be Labeled Terrorist Organizations.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/01/30/why-infowars-the-nra-rightwing-media-and-the-gop-should-be-labeled-terrorist-organizations/) - Following the insurrection at the Capitol, the FBI classified the Proud Boys as a terrorist group. Even prior to the attack on our democracy, the FBI warned Congress of the threat posed by domestic terrorists. But no one in the Trump administration or in the GOP seemed to listen. Why? Because they had been inspiring
- [America Is America Again: Welcoming, Compassionate, Strong And Free!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/01/20/america-is-america-again-welcoming-compassionate-strong-and-free/) - Congratulations, President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris!
- [Trump’s War On Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/01/15/trumps-war-on-democracy/) - January 6th was the latest, and hopefully the last, step in Trump’s plan to become president for life. To fully appreciate the seriousness of his attempted coup, it’s helpful to look at his actions leading up to the election and the plan to overthrow our government by assassinating congressional Democrats, independent Republicans, and even Vice-President
- [The Failure Of Language In The Age Of Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/01/14/the-failure-of-language-in-the-age-of-trump/) - As a professional writer who has a journalism degree and as someone who taught writing at the collegiate level, I believe words matter. Unfortunately, I feel too many journalists, politicians, and elected officials failed us during the administration of Donald J. Trump. Indeed, I believe their choice of words to describe his outrageous behavior have
- [The Origins Of Insurrection.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/01/07/the-origins-of-insurrection/) - As I watched our Capitol – the cathedral of democracy – invaded by a collection of neo-Nazis, white supremacists, militias and conspiracy theorists under the banners of Trump, QAnon, and the Confederacy, I was both horrified and transfixed. But it was clear to me that the seeds of insurrection and hate were planted years earlier
- [Part John Gotti. Part Vladimir Putin.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2021/01/06/part-john-gotti-part-vladimir-putin/) - That is the takeaway from Donald Trump’s hour-long call with the Georgia Secretary of State, in which he begged and bullied Brad Raffensperger, telling him he was “taking a big risk” unless he is able to “find” 11,800 votes that would give Georgia’s electoral votes to Trump. The message was clear. Trump wanted Raffensberger to
- [Our Greatest Strengths May Also Be Our Greatest Weaknesses.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/12/30/our-greatest-strengths-may-also-be-our-greatest-weaknesses/) - Since its inception, the US has been celebrated for its guaranteed freedoms: Most notably the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to own a gun, and the freedom to choose our leaders no matter how flawed and unqualified they may be. But those freedoms come with a cost. Under our Constitution, profiteers and ideologues
- [Are Racism And White Nationalism The Inevitable Result of Military Training?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/12/11/are-racism-and-white-nationalism-the-inevitable-result-of-military-training/) - With each military conflict, our soldiers become more lethal. In WWII, it was estimated that only 15-20 percent of our soldiers fired their weapons in combat. After changing our training methods, it was estimated that the percentage had grown to 55 percent in Korea and 90-95 percent in Vietnam. Those numbers have likely continued to
- [Give Trump Credit Where Credit Is Due.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/12/05/give-trump-credit-where-credit-is-due/) - During the 2016 campaign, Donald J. Trump promised to drain the “swamp.” And he did. Unfortunately, he replaced it with something much worse: A cesspool. Swamps are not only natural. They’re a necessary part of the landscape. They serve as filters for our waterways. They provide homes and food for an abundance of wildlife. And
- [The Threatening Legacy Of Donald J. Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/12/02/the-threatening-legacy-of-donald-j-trump/) - When President Joe Biden takes office, he will face some of the most problematic crises in our nation’s history. Not only will he have to orchestrate the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in the face of resistance from a growing number of anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists. He will have to find ways to restart the economy
- [Don’t Mourn For The GOP Of Old.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/11/20/dont-mourn-for-the-gop-of-old/) - In the age of Trump, some long for the GOP of old. True, the party of Lincoln was truly admirable. But that GOP hasn't existed for a very long time. The GOP of modern history bore little resemblance to the party of Lincoln. Yet some would have you believe that the party of Nixon, Reagan,
- [Why Republicans Should Lose. And Lose Bigly.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/10/05/why-republicans-should-lose-and-lose-bigly/) - Set aside most Republicans' embrace of divisiveness, violent militias, Qanon and its wacko conspiracy theories, and their head-in-the-sand approach to the climate crisis. The reason you should spurn the entire Republican Party is its blatant attempts to deny millions of American citizens the right to vote. For more than 20 years, the party has launched
- [The End Of Precedent. The End Of Justice.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/09/23/the-end-of-precedent-the-end-of-justice/) - From its beginning, US law, following that of the United Kingdom, has been based on legal precedent - that the outcome in one case is binding or persuasive in the outcomes of subsequent cases with similar circumstances. However, in recent years, conservatives have increasingly chosen to ignore precedent. That is certainly true in the case
- [If The Pandemic Was A War, It Would Be The 3rd Most Deadly In US History.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/09/22/if-the-pandemic-was-a-war-it-would-be-the-3rd-most-deadly-in-us-history/) - As of today, Covid-19 has claimed the lives of more than 200,000 Americans. To put that number into perspective, it exceeds the number of deaths of any other nation on Earth. It’s nearly 70 times the number who died as a result of the terrorist attacks on 9/11 (2,977). It's nearly 4 times the number
- [Will The US Become The Next Belarus?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/09/07/will-the-us-become-the-next-belarus/) - With the US presidential election approaching, US citizens should see the events in Belarus as a warning. As you may know, though the incumbent Alexander Lukashenko claimed to be re-elected with 80 percent of the vote. International observers have declared that the election was neither fair nor free. As a result, hundreds of thousands of
- [America: From The Age Of Enlightenment To The Age Of Lunacy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/08/21/america-from-the-age-of-enlightenment-to-the-age-of-lunacy/) - In a 2017 radio interview, the late comedian and “King of Fake News” Paul Horner described how he earned the title. He explained that he was looking for a way to reach more people with his comedy through satirical posts on Facebook. He quickly learned that Democrats, liberals, and progressives immediately recognized the satire or
- [The GOP’s War On Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/08/17/the-gops-war-on-democracy/) - The dismantling of the US Postal Service by Trump’s campaign donor and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has garnered deserved attention from the media and a large cross-section of Americans. Certainly, the impact on mail-in and absentee voting by slowing down the mail will disenfranchise tens of thousands of American voters. But we must keep in
- [A Few Questions For Republicans.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/08/13/a-few-questions-for-republicans/) - 1. You have witnessed the decay of the middle class and the growing inequality of wealth. Do you not understand that it’s the inevitable result of Reaganomics and the continuing tax cuts for the very wealthy? 2. You have seen Congress and state legislatures blatantly ignore the will of the people on numerous issues. Do
- [Once Again, The GOP Plays Politics With The Economy And People’s Lives.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/08/11/once-again-the-gop-plays-politics-with-the-economy-and-peoples-lives/) - Following the breakdown in negotiations over a second pandemic relief bill between the Senate, the House and the White House, many media reported the story as if it was a serious negotiation. It wasn’t. The House passed its $3 trillion HEROES Act in May showing that the majority understood the extent of pain being incurred
- [The Many Dilemmas That Will Face A Biden Administration.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/07/28/the-many-dilemmas-that-will-face-a-biden-administration/) - Should former VP Joe Biden defeat Donald Trump, he will likely inherit a nation so damaged that its very future is at risk. The problems are extensive both in their breadth and depth. Let’s look at them individually: The pandemic – Even if, as some claim, there will be an effective vaccine for Covid-19 before
- [Dear Trump Supporters: What Will It Take?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/07/17/dear-trump-supporters-what-will-it-take/) - I understand that you chose to support The Donald because you wanted change. You were angry. You felt the economy was rigged. That you would be left behind. He promised to shake up the government and end business as usual. He most certainly has done the that. You’ve continued to support him despite abundant evidence
- [The Death Cult Of Donald Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/07/15/the-death-cult-of-donald-trump/) - In the US, we like to think of our nation as the world leader. We cling to the notion of “American Exceptionalism” based on the belief that America is where dreams can come true. Where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. It’s not true. And it never has been. Yes, our Declaration of Independence
- [We're All Victims Of Trump Scandal Fatigue.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/07/13/were-all-victims-of-trump-scandal-fatigue/) - For many politicians, a single scandal has ended their careers. For Howard Dean it was a single, excited "Yaaay!" after losing the Iowa caucuses to opponent John Kerry. For Gary Hart it was an extramarital affair. For Hilary Clinton it was the use of a private email server as Secretary of State. But those are
- [Long-Term Consequences Of Trump’s Failed Coronavirus Response.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/07/01/long-term-consequences-of-trumps-failed-coronavirus-response/) - When China first reported the outbreak of a novel coronavirus, the Trump administration had an opportunity to prevent, or at least to minimize, its impact on the US as previous administrations had done several times before. Instead, Trump dismissed the threat, telling us that China had everything under control. Then, when it did arrive on
- [What If They All Wrote Tell All Books?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/06/18/what-if-they-all-wrote-tell-all-books/) - Given the revelations detailed in the book by former National Security Advisor John Bolton, I began to wonder: What would we learn if all the high-level members of the Trump administration who were dismissed or resigned wrote books detailing their tenure? But after some research, I discovered that the books would make up an entire
- [“Mississippi With Snow.”](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/06/11/mississippi-with-snow/) - During television coverage of the recent protests in Minneapolis, the head of the NAACP referred to Minnesota as “Mississippi with snow.” As a proud resident of Minnesota who has long tried to address the racism in our state, that was still difficult to hear. But it is an alarmingly accurate description. Despite the economic success
- [Reimagining Police.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/06/10/reimagining-police/) - Since the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing violence, I've been struggling to know what to write about policing in America. Despite many encounters with lazy and corrupt Bullies With Badges, my attempts to identify and explain necessary changes have seemed inadequate. Fortunately, a former police officer has described the problems better than I,
- [We're All Complicit In George Floyd's Death.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/05/28/were-all-complicit-in-george-floyds-death/) - Let me begin by stating that Minneapolis is a great city. It has been home to world leaders in music, advertising, graphic design, theater, education, medicine and more. In addition, it has been home to principled and forward thinking political leaders such as senators Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Al Franken. The city has great
- [Trump’s Conflict With China.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/05/23/trumps-conflict-with-china/) - With the help of William Barr, Trump was able to dismiss the Mueller investigation’s findings that he conspired with Russia to win election and committed obstruction of justice to avoid the consequences. And, with the help of a compliant GOP-controlled Senate, Trump was able to avoid removal from office through impeachment over his unconstitutional actions
- [The Coming Great(er) Depression.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/05/15/the-coming-greater-depression/) - In the US, we are quickly approaching 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 combined with 36 percent unemployment. The losses have been staggering – akin to combining the pandemic of 1918 with the Great Depression of the 1930s. Even “reopening” the economy is unlikely to change our future other than accelerating the death rate. At this point,
- [Barr's Latest Attempt To Rewrite History.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/05/08/barrs-latest-attempt-to-rewrite-history/) - Even before Donald J. Trump won the Electoral College, it was clear to US intelligence agencies that Russia had intervened in the 2016 election on his behalf. They had not only barraged social media with lies about Hillary Clinton. They hacked the DNC website, delivering Democratic strategies and internal polling to the Trump campaign, which
- [A Warning For Earth Day. And Every Day.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/04/23/a-warning-for-earth-day-and-every-day/) - When I did the research for my current book, Truth Over Politics, I was astounded to see how much worse the climate crisis had become since writing my last book in 2016. Despite the brief respite caused by the pandemic, the damage will soon reach a crisis that will endanger us all. Following are but
- [Religion Perverted.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/04/22/religion-perverted/) - As the pandemic spreads around the globe, we see indications that people are turning to religion for help and guidance. And though there is reason to believe that religion can help some people through difficult times, we should not forget the harm that morally bankrupt religious leaders can do. In the US, we see televangelist
- [How Ronald Reagan Destroyed America.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/04/17/how-ronald-reagan-destroyed-america/) - For many Americans, Ronald Reagan was a great president who reawakened and re-energized the nation as exemplified by the "Morning in America" commercials created by some of my friends. They even credit him for ending the Cold War. But the credit more accurately belongs to Gorbachev. To me, Reagan will always be the person who
- [Now Available On Amazon:](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/04/17/now-available-on-amazon/) - Ironically, in the age of information, our nation has been compromised by lies and disinformation as never before. Decades of consolidation, short-term thinking, corporate greed, extreme political ideologies, and poor leadership have left our nation's economy, healthcare system and its citizens unnecessarily vulnerable. Many of the decisions that led us to this point were made
- [George Washington Warned Us This Might Happen.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/04/08/george-washington-warned-us-this-might-happen/) - Having watched the History Channel docuseries on George Washington and having completed further research, I could not avoid the conclusion that the “Father of our Country” had foreseen the dangers we now face. After leading the nation to liberty and setting the standard for future presidents, he offered some advice to all Americans in a
- [Trump's Fatal FEMA Fiasco.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/04/03/trumps-fatal-fema-fiasco/) - George W. Bush was rightly ridiculed for his "doin' a heckuva job, Brownie" comment following FEMA's failed response to Hurricane Katrina. So what should be the consequences for Trump's "...thank you for the amazing job you’re doing...We’ve set every record you can set" statements about delivering medical equipment to New York? Or his "The federal
- [US COVID-19 Deaths The Result Of A Severe Lack Of Intelligence.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/03/27/us-covid-19-deaths-the-result-of-a-severe-lack-of-intelligence/) - The failures of the US war against the COVID-19 coronavirus are the result of an almost complete breakdown of intelligence. No, I'm not referring to wartime intelligence in the traditional sense. I'm certain that our national security agencies, such as the CIA, NSA, MI, DIA, ONI and MCIA have all provided accurate and valuable information
- [The Fractured States of Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/03/10/the-fractured-states-of-trump/) - From the moment he rode down the golden escalator to announce his candidacy for president until now, Trump has managed to avoid accountability for his actions. Sure, he was rightfully impeached for abusing his power to pressure an ally into investigating his likely opponent in the coming election. He was deservedly investigated for colluding with
- [What The US Could Be.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/03/04/what-the-us-could-be/) - Our nation has reached a crossroads. Will we continue to slide further down the path to autocracy and cruelty where the nation's leader is unaccountable, where the rule of law only pertains to those the leader says it should, where the leader puts his thumb on the scales of justice, where elected officials cater to
- [Taking The Profits Out Of Health Care.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/02/10/taking-the-profits-out-of-health-care/) - In the US, health care organizations were once required to be nonprofit. But, following WWII, companies were short of workers. To entice them, they began offering health insurance. At first, it was non-profit. But as the market for company-provided health insurance grew, it attracted for-profit competitors offering a variety of plans. The inevitable consequence was
- [Trump's Broken Promises. (Part Ten - Personal Behavior)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/02/29/trumps-broken-promises-part-ten-personal-behavior/) - The final installment of this series concerns the promises Trump made about his behavior. He derided anyone who claimed he was not presidential, claiming he would be the best president ever. Andrew Jackson: One of the first clues that this would be no ordinary presidency came when Trump chose Andrew Jackson as his model and
- [Trump's Broken Promises. (Part Nine - Draining The Swamp)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/02/24/trumps-broken-promises-part-nine-draining-the-swamp/) - The Trump White House is fond of sending out emails and Tweets stating "Promises Made. Promises Kept." But, on many issues, he has either done nothing or made matters worse. Swamp Creatures: Trump said he's drain the swamp. But his administration includes more corrupt billionaires, CEOs, and Wall Street moguls than in any administration in
- [Trump's Broken Promises. (Part Eight - Violence and Gun Safety)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/02/21/trumps-broken-promises-part-eight-violence-and-gun-safety/) - The Trump White House is fond of sending out emails and Tweets stating "Promises Made. Promises Kept." But, though promising to end gun violence, he has done nothing to help. After all, he wouldn't want to turn off the spigot of NRA campaign money. Age Limits: After the Parkland school shooting, Trump promised that he
- [Trump's Broken Promises. (Part Seven - Race)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/02/17/trumps-broken-promises-part-seven-race/) - The Trump White House is fond of sending out emails and Tweets stating "Promises Made. Promises Kept." He promised to bring people together; to improve the lives of blacks and minorities. But the promises broken far outnumber those kept. African-Americans: Trump promised a New Deal for black Americans saying he would be better for African-Americans
- [Trump's Broken Promises. (Part Six - The Environment)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/02/14/trumps-broken-promises-part-six-the-environment/) - The promises broken by the Trump White House far outnumber those kept. One of the most notable is Trump's promise that he would make our air and water cleaner than ever: "Nobody cares more about clean air and water than I do." Following are just some of the many ways he's broken that promise: Clean
- [This Isn't A Political Campaign. It's A Street Fight.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/02/12/this-isnt-a-political-campaign-its-a-street-fight/) - It seems that many of the Democratic candidates for president are approaching the electoral campaign as if 2016 never happened. They are focused on policy and change. What they fail to understand is that 2016 changed everything. The Democratic nominee won't be running against a mere candidate. They will be running against an unprincipled crime
- [Trump's Broken Promises. (Part Five - Defense and Foreign Relations)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/02/07/trumps-broken-promises-part-five-defense-and-foreign-relations/) - The Trump White House is fond of sending out emails and Tweets stating "Promises Made. Promises Kept." And certainly Trump has kept a few of his campaign promises. But the promises broken far outnumber those kept. Following are but a few examples: North Korea: Trump promised to bring an end to North Korea's nuclear program.
- [The March Toward Autocracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/02/02/the-march-toward-autocracy/) - Ever watch a kindergarten class out for a walk in the city? They are all hooked to a rope connected to two teachers so that no child can step out of line. Such is the case with our Republican Congress. Led by DonTheCon, they follow along through oncoming traffic toward the edge of a cliff
- [Trump's Broken Promises. (Part Four - Military and Veterans)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/01/30/trumps-broken-promises-part-four-military-and-veterans/) - In contrast to the many Emails and Tweets emanating from The Trump White House labeled "Promises Made. Promises Kept," the Trump has broken far more promises than it has kept. Following are just those that relate to military families and veterans: Respect For Military: Before the 2016 election, Trump said, "There's nobody bigger or better
- [Trump's Broken Promises. (Part Two - Health Care)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/01/25/trumps-broken-campaign-promises-part-two-health-care/) - Of the thousands of falsehoods and misleading statements Trump has made since declaring his candidacy, many concern health insurance and health care. Following are but a few of his broken promises: Insurance Premiums: Trump promised to allow individuals to deduct health insurance premiums from taxes. He hasn't. Affordable Care Act: Trump promised he’d repeal and
- [Trump's Broken Promises. (Part Three - Immigration)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/01/27/trumps-broken-campaign-promises-part-three-immigration/) - Of the thousands of falsehoods and misleading statements Trump has made since declaring his candidacy, some of the most notorious concern immigration. For example: The Wall: When he announced his candidacy for president, Trump promised to build "a great wall on our southern border and have Mexico pay for it." Instead, US taxpayers are paying
- [Trump's Broken Promises. (Part One - The Economy)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/01/21/trumps-broken-promises-part-one-the-economy/) - The Trump White House is fond of sending out emails and Tweets stating "Promises Made. Promises Kept." Certainly Trump has kept a few of his campaign promises. But let's look at Trump's promises about the economy. You'll see that the promises broken far outnumber those kept. Here are just a few: Deficit and Debt: Trump
- [Journalistic Malpractice.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/01/17/journalistic-malpractice/) - As a graduate of journalism school, an advertising copywriter, a teacher, an author, a journalist, a political commentator and a long-time critic of media, I am horrified with the current status of journalism. Certainly, there are brilliant and dedicated investigative reporters who work long hours, often at the risk of their own safety, to bring
- [Two Different Sponsors Of Terror. Two Very Different US Responses.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/01/10/two-different-sponsors-of-terror-two-very-different-us-responses/) - The US annual terrorism report of 2017 named Iran as "the foremost state sponsor of terrorism." But is it really? Even Trump, before the 2016 election, gave that title to Saudi Arabia, apparently basing his opinion on a leaked secret memo from then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that stated Saudi donors “constitute the most
- [Journalism, RIP.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/05/07/journalism-rip/) - Regardless of what happens in the upcoming presidential race, one thing has been forever changed...journalism. Though the competition for ratings has long influenced the news - forcing news editors to adopt the "if it bleeds, it leads" philosophy - the demand for ratings has relegated newscasts to stories of violent crimes, accidental deaths, and confrontations
- [Trump's Act Of War.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/01/07/trumps-act-of-war/) - There is an old saying that one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. Never has that been more true than in describing Iran's General Qasem Soleimani. Though Soleimani was reviled by Israel and the US for orchestrating terrorist attacks, he was celebrated in Iran for protecting his nation. Indeed, Soleimani had a complex history. He
- [What Didn't Happen In 2019 - The Year In Review.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2020/01/05/what-didnt-happen-in-2019-the-year-in-review/) - Despite the release of the Mueller Report, the impeachment of Donald J. Trump, and numerous disasters and milestones, I believe 2019 should be remembered more for what did NOT happen. Following are but a few examples: • The GOP-controlled Senate refused to vote on more than 400 House-passed bills - half of which were bipartisan.
- [The Coming Crises.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/12/31/the-coming-crises/) - As we understandably worry about the constitutional crisis posed by Donald Trump and the threat he poses to our democracy, there are several other crises that should be getting our full attention. Indeed, each of them poses a tremendous threat to the future of the United States and our planet. National Debt - As of
- [Russia 2.0?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/12/24/russia-2-0/) - A lot has been written about Trump's many links to Russia, his subservience to Putin and his admiration for some of the world's most despicable strongmen. Those things should make every American wary of the intentions of our Dear Leader. But are they merely innocent, well-intentioned attempts to reach out to our adversaries in the
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Fourteen - GOP)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/12/20/destruction-of-the-us-part-fourteen-gop/) - This is the last of my 14-part series. But last certainly does not mean least. Without the treachery and complicity of the Republican Party, most of the other factors that are destroying our nation either would not be possible. Or they would be far less damaging. The damage done to our government by the GOP
- [Time For Christians To Get Their House In Order.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/12/17/time-for-christians-to-get-their-house-in-order/) - For years, Christians have demanded that all Muslims speak out against Muslim extremists. When will they take their own advice? Domestic terrorists - most of them Christians - have murdered far more Americans than Muslims. They have used their faith to justify vandalizing synagogues and mosques; to excuse the gunning down of Muslims, Jews, members
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Thirteen - Putin)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/12/13/destruction-of-the-us-part-thirteen-putin/) - Following the fall of the Soviet Union, most of the world was hopeful that Russians would enjoy the benefits of democracy. Instead, it has become a brutal dictatorship led by a former KGB operative, Vladimir Putin. Using techniques he learned in the KGB, he controls almost every aspect of Russian life. He not only controls
- [Being Against Abortion Is Not The Same As Being Pro-Life.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/12/09/being-against-abortion-is-not-the-same-as-being-pro-life/) - In an attempt to gain more public support, in the 1970s, Christian evangelicals re-branded their anti-abortion efforts as "pro-life." In other words, if you supported a woman's right to choose to end a pregnancy or even to use contraceptives, you were against life - the equivalent of a murderer. Unfortunately, it worked. It seems that,
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Twelve - Religion)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/12/06/destruction-of-the-us-part-twelve-religion/) - It is well-known that many of the original European immigrants came to the US seeking freedom to practice their own versions of religion. For example, the Pilgrims who landed on Plymouth Rock had faced persecution in England when they quit the Church of England and established their own congregation in violation of the Act of
- [The Three Rs: Republicans, Religion and Racism.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/12/03/the-three-rs-republicans-religion-and-racism/) - Ironically, given that one of the party's founders was responsible for emancipating African-American slaves, racism has been an integral part of the GOP ideology for a very long time, most especially after a Democratic president signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. Of course, the Republican party vehemently denies its racist appeal. But,
- [Understanding The Threat Of Trump: A Holiday Reading List.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/11/27/understanding-the-threat-of-trump-a-holiday-reading-list/) - If you have a few moments to relax from your busy holiday schedule, here is a list of books that will help you better understand the political landscape of America. With the upcoming elections in 2020, nothing...I emphasize NOTHING...could be more important. The very future of democracy and our nation are at stake! The Constitution
- [Responding To A Facebook "Patriot."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/11/26/responding-to-a-facebook-patriot/) - The following message circulated on social media last week following hearings by the House Intelligence Committee. My responses are in parentheses. "Impeachment...each and every one of you should be ashamed and pray that this doesn’t happen...and, I’ll tell you why. For 8 years, we sat silent, while Obama divided our nation." (Obama didn't divide the
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Eleven - Guns)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/11/22/destruction-of-the-us-part-eleven-guns/) - Few things have impacted life in the US more than the increased availability and lethality of guns. Since the 1960s, Americans' gun ownership has evolved from a variety of bolt-action, pump-action and lever-action hunting weapons to semi-automatic assault rifles and semi-automatic handguns. Where once only police and those who could prove a need could legally
- [Donald Trump By The Numbers.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/11/11/donald-trump-by-the-numbers/) - 19,252 - number of emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee in 2016 50,000 - number of emails stolen from Hillary Clinton's campaign chair 2.7 million - number by which Trump lost the popular vote in 2016 71,000 - total number of votes by which he won the electoral college 272 - number of known
- [To The People Of Hong Kong:](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/11/19/to-the-people-of-hong-kong/) - Since the Hong Kong demonstrations began, the readership of this blog has soared in Hong Kong. For that, I'm very grateful. At the same time, I am exceedingly worried about the outcome of the latest confrontations with police and the Chinese military. I know that you are fighting for your democratic rights; for the right
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Ten - Propaganga)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/11/15/destruction-of-the-us-part-ten-propaganga/) - The Founders had such high regard for the role of the press that they included it in the Bill of Rights as one of the essentials of freedom. Nevertheless, the news media has had a checkered past. During the late 1800s, newspapers , led by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer published increasingly false and
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Nine - Consolidation Of Powers)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/11/08/destruction-of-the-us-part-nine-consolidation-of-powers/) - More than anything else, the framers of the Constitution were concerned that our fledgling nation could fall victim to tyranny. In particular, they feared that an authoritarian demagogue would be elected president and consolidate power to serve himself. Given the current occupant of the White House, they had good reason to worry. Yet the threat
- [Why Did Impeachment Take So Long?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/10/31/why-did-impeachment-take-so-long/) - Since Donald Trump first announced his candidacy for president, we have suffered through a litany of high crimes and misdemeanors that should have disqualified him from holding any public office...let alone the most powerful in the world. We have heard him brag about sexually assaulting women. We have heard him ridicule a reporter for his
- [Are Rural Americans Treated As Unfairly As They Believe?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/10/28/are-rural-americans-treated-as-unfairly-as-they-believe/) - Those living in rural America have long held a "woe is me" attitude. They claim that they are unfairly treated by "urban elites." They believe our government favors those who live in the cities - that most of their taxes go towards the building of urban freeways and what they perceive as unwarranted welfare assistance
- [Thoughts On Saving Our Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/10/20/thoughts-on-saving-our-democracy/) - I have written much about what's wrong with this nation. Now I want to offer some solutions. Think of the following as the LaMaster platform for good governance: 1 - Secure our elections while, at the same time, increasing participation. Eliminate unduly restrictive voter IDs and all forms of voter suppression. Institute same-day voter registration,
- [Why We Must Have A Green New Deal Now!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/10/15/why-we-must-have-a-green-new-deal-now/) - The courageous and determined teenager, Greta Thunberg, is only the latest and most visible advocate for combating climate change. Then-President George H.W. Bush spoke out about the need to address global warming as early as 1988. Al Gore championed the issue following his defeat in the 2000 election. And many other US politicians of both
- [Putting Trump's Actions Into Context.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/10/09/putting-trumps-actions-into-context/) - To fully appreciate the lawlessness of the Trump administration, it's helpful to look at the five GOP administrations that preceded him. As you will see, there is a pattern of disdain for the Constitution and the opposition party. But none of them have taken it to such extremes as Trump. Nixon - In 1968, before
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Eight - Corruption)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/10/04/destruction-of-the-us-part-eight-corruption/) - If we are ever going to rescue our nation from oligarchy and restore democracy, we must remove the obscene amounts of money from our politics and prevent government officials from using the treasury as their personal piggy bank. At no time in our history has that need been more urgent than now! If you don't
- [$15 Trillion Hidden In Offshore Shell Companies To Avoid Taxes.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/10/02/15-trillion-hidden-in-off-shore-shell-companies-to-avoid-taxes/) - A recent study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has found that corporations and the wealthy have hidden $15 trillion in offshore shell companies for the purpose of avoiding taxes. At the newly reduced US corporate tax rate of 21 percent, that represents a loss of $3.15 trillion in revenue. And at Germany's 29.79 percent
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Seven - Income Disparity)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/09/27/destruction-of-the-us-part-seven-income-disparity/) - For several decades, we've heard about growing income inequality. I believe that is a poor description of the problem. It's more about income disparity. Since there are differences in education, capabilities and cost of living, incomes cannot and should not ever be equal. As a nation, the US may occasionally struggle with recessions and unemployment
- [Why Impeachment Is Necessary.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/09/26/why-impeachment-is-necessary/) - The Founding Fathers were so concerned about the very real possibility of their new nation being taken over by an authoritarian president, they crafted the Constitution to create three co-equal branches of government: Congress, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. The idea was that Congress and the courts would serve as a check on
- [Yes, He Really Is A Russian Asset.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/09/20/yes-he-really-is-a-russian-asset/) - Trump loudly and repeatedly proclaims that there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia. Yet, beginning in 2015, after Trump announced his presidential bid, there have been 272 documented contacts between the Trump team and Russia-linked operatives. That includes at least 38 face-to-face meetings with those representing our nation's most dangerous rival. As a
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Six - Deficits & Debt)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/09/18/destruction-of-the-us-part-six-deficits-debt/) - When President Obama took office, the economy was in flames. Unemployment was soaring and entire industries were in jeopardy. Indeed, the entire world economy was on the verge of collapse. In order to help stem the bleeding, the Obama administration, the Democratic-led Congress and the Federal Reserve implemented a series of stimulus actions, including tax
- [The Death Of Christianity.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/09/16/the-death-of-christianity/) - For decades, many Christians have declared the US a Christian nation. That is provably untrue. Not only does the Constitution state "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." Most of those calling for recognition no longer practice a religion that, in any way, resembles Christianity. Unless, of course, your idea of Christianity
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Five - Immigration)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/09/12/destruction-of-the-us-part-five-immigration/) - From the very beginning of colonial times, the US has been a nation of immigrants. Indeed, the only people who are native to the US descended from those who survived the Indian Wars and genocide. The horrors we inflicted upon the original residents aside, immigration has always been our nation's great strength. The US is
- [Mass Murder And Mental Illness.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/09/09/mass-murder-and-mental-illness/) - Despite the fact the US has already experienced 293 mass shootings this year as recorded by gunviolencearchive.org, the president and the GOP do not want to talk about the single biggest issue that contributes to gun violence: Easy access to guns. I'm not referring to shotguns, hunting rifles and six-shooters. I'm referring to weapons of
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Four - Environment)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/09/06/destruction-of-the-us-part-four-environment/) - Not only has the Trump administration refused to acknowledge the looming threat of the climate crisis. (Trump and his minions have fired or silenced government scientists from even mentioning climate change. And they have removed any reference to climate change from government websites.) The administration has attacked the nation's environment resulting in destruction we haven't
- [How Washington Became Gridlocked.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/09/02/how-washington-became-gridlocked/) - Many Americans decry our failed Congress, angry that the institution seems incapable of addressing their needs. Yet they have continued to vote for the same representatives election after election. It seems they believe other representatives are to blame. Not their own. And they hold both parties equally responsible. But, as it turns out, Americans should
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Three - Racism and Discrimination)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/08/29/destruction-of-the-us-part-three-racism-and-discrimination/) - One of the many ways that Trump and the GOP are destroying our democracy is through discrimination - creating fear of those who look different, who speak a different language, who practice a different faith, or who love someone of the same gender. Under the guise of rejecting "political correctness" the GOP and its propaganda
- ["Constitution-Free" Zones.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/08/28/constitution-free-zones/) - Since taking office, the orange dicKKKtator has done his best to subvert the Constitution in a myriad of ways. He has banned Muslims from entering our country. He has suspended the rights to asylum to thousands of Central American refugees. He has denied constitutional protections to immigrants by separating children from parents and holding them
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part Two - Justice)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/08/23/destruction-of-the-us-part-two-justice/) - While much of the nation is fixated on Trump's alarming statements on Twitter and outraged by his many personal transgressions, he has quietly gone about reshaping the federal court system for a generation or more. When Trump entered office, there were nearly twice as many judicial openings as when Obama entered office. Indeed, the 108
- [Why You Should Really Want Immigrants To Have Health Care.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/08/20/why-you-should-really-want-immigrants-to-have-health-care/) - Who raises and picks the produce you eat? Who works in slaughterhouses and butchers the meat you eat? Who cooks your food when you dine in restaurants? Who washes the dishes? Who cleans the tables? Who serves your food? Immigrants, that's who! That's because immigrants are willing to do the jobs that few American citizens
- [Destruction Of The US. (Part One - The Climate Crisis)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/08/17/destruction-of-the-us-part-one-the-climate-crisis/) - There are those who say that the US can withstand the damage done by Trump; that the Constitution will prevail; that people will come to their senses. I wish I could be that certain. In the coming weeks, I will be examining the damage done to our nation and our planet by this rogue presidency
- [The Cleansing Has Begun.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/08/12/the-cleansing-has-begun/) - The Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler, recently announced on The Rachel Maddow Show that the impeachment process is underway. It took far too long for the House to reach this point. Nevertheless, Nadler's announcement is welcome news. Unless the Trump-stacked courts intervene to unconstitutionally rule that the presidency is immune from
- [Things That Should Make You Lose Sleep At Night.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/08/09/things-that-should-make-you-lose-sleep-at-night/) - It's easy to get depressed as a result of all the bad news in the world: The corrupt Trump regime, Russian interference in our elections, our growing national debt, the brutal dictators embraced by Trump, wars in Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen, genocide in Myanmar, the weakening of NATO, the end of nuclear treaties, the economic
- [The Cowards On The Right.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/08/08/the-cowards-on-the-right/) - In my lifetime, the leaders of the right have evolved from courageous WWII veterans, such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, George H.W. Bush and Robert Dole, to a group of cowards and provocateurs who hide behind desks and rally others to do their hateful bidding. For example, when Trump was eligible for the draft during the
- [Plenty Of Collusion. But Not Enough Evidence Of Criminal Conspiracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/22/plenty-of-collusion-but-not-enough-evidence-of-criminal-conspiracy/) - The president says that the Mueller Report exonerated him of collusion. It most certainly did not. But you can judge for yourself. With Mueller set to testify before Congress this week, I thought it would be helpful to post the executive summaries of the report. This is the report's Executive Summary of the findings regarding
- [Is Ending Abortion More Important Than Preserving Democracy?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/08/05/is-ending-abortion-more-important-than-preserving-democracy/) - This is a serious question that I pose to my conservative friends. You have told me that you dislike Trump as an individual. Yet you have supported his presidency. Some of you have even embraced him as a messenger of God claiming he was sent to Earth to restore "godliness" in the United States. Does
- [Free Stuff.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/08/01/free-stuff/) - The GOP, its propaganda network, and the corporate-owned media are fond of accusing progressive Democrats of trying to buy votes by offering "free stuff" to voters. Disregarding the fact that nothing the government does is, in fact, free, this has been a popular accusation for longer than I can remember. The GOP used the same
- [Dear Media, Stop Saying Trump's Statements Are "Considered Racist By Some."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/29/dear-media-stop-saying-trumps-statements-are-considered-racist-by-some/) - Call them what they really are: Racist! This was settled decades ago. When someone tells a person of color to "go back where you came from", that's racist as defined by most every Human Resources department in America, including the government's. Moreover, members of the white majority don't get to decide what is racist. That's
- [Why 2020 Could Be Deja Vu All Over Again.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/26/why-2020-could-be-deja-vu-all-over-again/) - Despite Robert Mueller's testimony before Congress that the Trump campaign sought, embraced and used information supplied by Wikileaks and Russia, and despite his report that outlines numerous instances involving obstruction of justice, GOP congressional representatives refuse to admit the possibility that Trump has committed any wrongdoing. Indeed, many acknowledge that they have not read the
- [No Obstruction? Mueller And More Than 1,000 Federal Prosecutors Beg To Differ.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/22/no-obstruction-mueller-and-more-than-1000-federal-prosecutors-beg-to-differ/) - The president continues to claim the Mueller Report exonerated him of collusion and obstruction. It most certainly did not. With Mueller set to testify before Congress this week, I thought it would be helpful to publish the executive summaries of his report. Following is Executive Summary, Volume II which covers the obstruction investigation. As you
- [No, Democrats Have Not Moved Left. The GOP Has Moved Right...Way, Way Right.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/22/democrats-have-not-moved-left-the-gop-has-moved-right-way-way-right/) - It's popular for the media - even the so-called liberal media - to portray the "Squad" and many of the Democratic presidential candidates as far left. As if they are some aberration from the core party principles. Of course, that's exactly what Republicans want you to believe. Indeed, even some Democratic leaders and "strategists" would
- [E Pluribus Unum (Out Of Many, One).](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/18/e-pluribus-unum-out-of-many-one/) - The phrase was first recommended as our nation's motto in 1776 as part of the Great Seal of the United States. It was meant to signify the union of the 13 colonies. But, over time, the meaning was expanded to embrace the fact that our nation is comprised almost entirely of immigrants from every part
- [Whatever Happened To The Golden Rule?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/17/whatever-happened-to-the-golden-rule/) - The idea that we should treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves is a bedrock principle of many religions and cultures. Indeed, it was one of the first things I was taught in my middle American Christian church. Given its importance to most faiths, one must wonder how today's Christian evangelicals could have
- [Filling The "Swamp" With Predators And Know-Nothings.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/15/replacing-swamp-creatures-with-predators/) - In 2016, Trump promised voters that he would "drain the swamp" of lifelong politicians and lobbyists - the so-called "Deep State." To a degree, he has done that. But, instead of banning lobbyists from the corridors of Washington, he has encouraged them to stay in his Washington hotel and at Mar-a-Lago where he and his
- [A Primer On Freedom For Trump Supporters.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/07/a-primer-on-freedom-for-trump-supporters/) - Following our annual celebration of freedom known as Independence Day, and given recent events, it has become clear that some of you - including our president - are unclear as to what freedom actually means. So I'll attempt to clear that up for you. Wikipedia defines freedom as "...having the ability to act or change
- [The Rebranding Of The United States Of America.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/10/the-rebranding-of-the-united-states-of-america/) - The Revolutionary War was not only a response to tyranny. It was a reaction to Great Britain's militarization of the colonies. That's why the Founders were opposed to a standing army. Indeed, that was why the 2nd Amendment tied the right to bear arms to a "well-regulated militia." But, over time, our population has embraced
- [Why I Won't Be Celebrating This Fourth Of July.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/07/03/why-i-wont-be-celebrating-this-fourth-of-july/) - On the eve of the Fourth of July and our wannabe dictator's MAGA tribute to himself, we should pause and consider how patriotism has been commandeered by his political party to divide rather than to unite; to celebrate military might over the ideals of our founders; to benefit the greed of a few over the
- [Make No Mistake. Today's GOP Is Racist.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/06/25/make-no-mistake-todays-gop-is-racist/) - Given Trump's unrestrained spending, the GOP can no longer claim to be the party of financial responsibility. Given Trump's boorish behavior, his history of extramarital affairs and sexual assaults, his administration's forced separation of refugee families and its torturous incarceration of young children, the party can no longer claim to be the party of family
- [Why It's No Exaggeration To Call Trump A Crime Boss.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/06/11/why-its-no-exaggeration-to-call-trump-a-crime-boss/) - If you read the Mueller Report, or follow the news, you know that the Special Counsel's Office obtained indictments against 34 people and three companies, many of them associated with the Trump campaign. Trump campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and Trump lawyer, Michael Cohen, now sit in prison. Trump National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, is awaiting
- [The Insufferable Cowardice Of Democratic Strategists.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/05/30/the-insufferable-cowardice-of-democratic-strategists/) - Whenever I listen to Democratic Party "strategists" dismiss the idea of impeachment out of fears that it will help Trump win re-election, my thoughts turn to the lion in the Wizard of Oz who was seeking courage. By basing all of their decisions on polling, these pundits and strategists have shown they lack the conviction
- [Ignore His Tweets and Taunts. Pay Attention To His Actions.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/05/20/ignore-his-tweets-and-taunts-pay-attention-to-his-actions/) - While Democrats and the media have focused on the Tweets and the taunts and the name-calling, many of the worst activities of the Trump administration have gone unnoticed. That's because the administration seems to have borrowed a strategy from sports - especially NHL hockey. The idea is that, if you can't win on the merits,
- [How The GOP Embraced A Crime Boss As Its Leader.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/05/16/how-the-gop-embraced-a-crime-boss-as-its-leader/) - Almost immediately following Trump's sparsely-attended inauguration, he pulled the US from the carefully-negotiated Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the Paris Climate Accords and the Iran Nuclear Agreement. Not because they were flawed. But merely because they were legacies of the Obama administration. Moreover, despite his reputation of deal-making Trump has no time for negotiation. No
- [The 2nd Amendment: What Were The Framers Thinking?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/05/14/the-2nd-amendment-what-were-the-framers-thinking/) - To many gun owners, and especially to the NRA, the right to own guns is as sacred as the right of free speech. The Constitution, after all, includes the 2nd Amendment in the Bill of Rights immediately following freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to assembly and the right
- [The Difference Between Muslim Extremists And Many Christian Evangelicals.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/05/10/the-difference-between-muslim-extremists-and-many-christian-evangelicals/) - Spoiler alert: There is almost none! Muslim extremists in the mold of ISIL and al-Qaeda are willing to martyr themselves to kill non-believers based on the bizarre notion that they will be greeted in the land of milk and honey by 72 virgins. On the other hand, extreme Christian evangelicals are willing to incite war
- [Is The GOP A Political Party? Or A Crime Syndicate?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/05/07/is-the-gop-a-political-party-or-a-crime-syndicate/) - For those of you who think the two major political parties in the US are different in name only, I would like to correct the perception. True, both parties are far too friendly with lobbyists and large corporations. Both rely on billionaires to fund their political campaigns. Both have voted to dole out billions in
- [Is The US Still A Nation Of Laws?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/04/24/is-the-us-still-a-nation-of-laws/) - If so, Congress has no choice but to begin the impeachment process now. Trump committed obstruction of justice - not just in private by ordering his underlings to fire Mueller - but in public by calling the investigation a witch hunt. He suborned perjury by stating that he would "take care of" those who refused
- [The Barr Effect.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/04/22/the-barr-effect/) - Contrary to Attorney General William Barr's 4-page "summary" of the Mueller Report or his misleading press conference, Trump and his campaign were not cleared of collusion. And he most certainly was not exonerated. In his report, Mueller simply said that there was not enough evidence to indict Trump and his campaign for conspiring with the
- [The Real Tragedy Of Notre Dame de Paris.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/04/18/the-real-tragedy-of-notre-dame-de-paris/) - In the 24 hours following the fire that partially burned the Notre Dame cathedral, donors have already pledged more than $1 billion for its repair. Certainly it was a tragedy for Parisians, for France, for Catholics and for the lovers of history and art. But consider what else could be done with that money. Imagine
- [Trumpism: Revenge Of The Misfits.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/04/05/trumpism-revenge-of-the-social-outcasts/) - There has long been a phenomenon relating to those who have difficulty fitting in with polite society - people who look different than others; who are darker, bigger, taller, shorter, fatter, clumsier, or poorer. After being ostracized, bullied and left out, once they find others who have suffered from the same issues and band together,
- [The Crime Boss In The White House.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/03/28/the-crime-boss-in-the-white-house/) - Over the past two years, the party of Reagan has become the party of Trump. And it is now clear that no Republican can defy Trump without paying a price. The question is: What are they afraid of? Why are so many Republicans afraid to vote against Trump's initiatives? Why do the so-called fiscal conservatives
- [Are Baby Boomers Really At Fault For Today's Problems?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/03/26/are-baby-boomers-really-at-fault-for-todays-problems/) - The Millennial generation seems to believe that all of the national and world problems are the fault of the Baby Boomer generation's unabated greed in accepting Social Security and Medicare. Really? Do we not get credit for paying into these insurance programs for our entire working careers? Ignoring that unwarranted attack, consider the world the
- [A Powerful Voice For Social Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/03/19/a-powerful-voice-for-social-democracy/) - Rutger Bregman, Dutch historian and author of Utopia For Realists recently spoke to some of the world's wealthiest people at Davos, Switzerland in which he said, "I hear people talking the language of participation and justice and equality and transparency, but almost no one raises the real issue of tax avoidance and of the rich
- [Exploitation Of The American Dream.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/03/14/exploitation-of-the-american-dream/) - The American Dream is a belief firmly rooted in our culture that anyone - regardless of race, gender, or circumstances of birth - can achieve prosperity through determination and hard work. That belief has led to our nation's success and made it a beacon for people the world over. Unfortunately, in recent years, the American
- ["If You're Explaining, You're Losing."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/03/11/if-youre-explaining-youre-losing/) - That is the "wisdom" voiced by a number of political reporters when discussing the latest GOP accusations that Social Democracy and Socialism are one in the same...a perfect example of the flaws with today's headline-driven, sensation-seeking journalism. Those reporters and their editors seem to believe that the American people are incapable of understanding complexity and
- ["Patriotism Is The Last Refuge Of A Scoundrel."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/03/07/patriotism-is-the-last-refuge-of-a-scoundrel/) - Samuel Johnson's statement from the 18th century is just as true now as it was then. When exposed, scoundrels will often claim patriotic intentions while questioning the patriotism of their accusers. For example, in order to hide their true beliefs, anti-government conservatives decorate their homes, their cars and their persons with the stars and stripes
- [What If You Just Came Here From Another Planet? A Philosophy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/02/20/what-if-you-just-came-here-from-another-planet-a-philosophy/) - For many years, I’ve looked at the world around me through the lens “What if I just arrived on Earth from Mars? Does (place anything you want here) make any freaking sense? You often realize that the answer is clearly “No.” For example, take climate change. Scientists are in almost unanimous agreement that human activity
- [Should Climate Change Be Declared A National Emergency?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/02/11/should-climate-change-be-declared-a-national-emergency/) - In order to prevent Trump from declaring border security a national emergency in order to fund his idiotic border wall, Sen. Marco Rubio noted that it would set a precedent that could wind up hurting Republicans saying, "If today, the national emergency is border security...tomorrow the national emergency might be climate change." He's right about
- [Where Was Trump's Concern For Unity The Last Two Years?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/02/06/where-was-trumps-concern-for-unity-the-last-two-years/) - During his State of the Union speech, Trump called for bipartisan unity in order to move the country forward. In reality, it came across as more of a threat. He all but said, "If you don't end the investigations into my campaign, my business and my administration, and if you don't build my wall, I
- [Where Are Those Patriots Now?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/02/01/where-are-those-patriots-now/) - For many years, conservatives have portrayed themselves as some sort of super-patriots. They have displayed the flag and images of the flag at every opportunity - in front of their homes, on their cars, in the rear window of their trucks, on their hats and on their shirts. They have made a show out of
- [Healing Our Political Divide Must Begin With The Church.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/01/29/healing-our-political-divide-must-begin-with-the-church/) - On a local level, the traditional neighborhood church can be quite useful in helping individuals and families cope with crises in their lives. But, on a national and international level, the church has too often engaged in self-serving politics as a means of increasing its power and diminishing or demeaning people of other faiths. Indeed,
- [The Shutdown Is Not A Negotiating Tactic. It's The Goal.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/01/23/the-shutdown-is-not-a-negotiating-tactic-its-the-goal/) - It seems that most Americans and much of the media believe that the shutdown is the result of a failed negotiation between Trump and Congressional Democrats. But, in reality, the great dealmaker has not been negotiating in good faith all along. Indeed, his latest "proposal" was to offer Democrats things that he has previously taken
- [Suborning Perjury? That's Where You Finally Draw The Line?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/01/18/suborning-perjury-thats-where-you-finally-draw-the-line/) - After learning that Trump ordered his personal attorney to lie to Congress about his continued attempts to develop a Trump Tower in Moscow, members of Congress are suddenly willing to speak of impeachment. Seriously, that's what finally caused you to grow a spine? It wasn't enough that Trump, his entire administration and his congressional supporters
- [What Would A Russian Operative Do If He Ran For President Of The United States?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/01/14/what-would-a-russian-operative-do-if-he-were-elected-president-of-the-united-states/) - He would appoint a pro-Russian lobbyist as his campaign manager. He would change the platform of his political party to make it more friendly toward Russia. He would invite the Russian ambassador to his party's national convention. He would request and accept Russian help with his election campaign. He would have his campaign manager provide
- [Confronting Racism Wherever And Whenever You Encounter It.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/01/12/confronting-racism-wherever-you-encounter-it/) - Though I'm generally reluctant to write about personal experiences, I feel that a recent confrontation might help to illuminate the seriousness of racism in America. Having been invited to Christmas dinner at a friend's house, I was warned in advance that one of the other guests was a conservative. So I vowed to avoid politics.
- [Do We Really Need The Mueller Report To Know That Trump Colluded With Russia?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/01/08/do-we-really-need-the-mueller-report-to-know-that-trump-colluded-with-russia/) - Here's what we already know about Trump's business ties to Russia: 1. When US banks refused to lend to his organization after his multiple bankruptcies, Trump sought and received funding from Russian investors. 2. Eric Trump told golf writer, James Dodson, "... we don’t rely on American banks. We have all the funding we need
- [America's On-going Unnatural Disaster.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2019/01/03/americas-on-going-unnatural-disaster/) - It has been nearly a year since a former student walked into the Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, pulled out a military-style weapon and shot 34 students. 17 of those students died. 17 more were seriously wounded. And many of those who escaped will likely suffer from PTSD for the rest of their
- [Addressing Rural Decline And Our Political Divide.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/11/28/addressing-rural-decline-and-our-political-divide/) - Over Thanksgiving weekend, I visited my hometown in rural Iowa. Once a thriving community with a variety of cafes, grocery stores, a five-and-dime, a clothing store, 3 farm implement dealers, 3 car dealers, a couple of hotels and more, it now features more empty storefronts and museums than active businesses...casualties of interstate highways that bypass
- [Where Is The Tipping Point?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/12/10/where-is-the-tipping-point/) - Some political pundits, even party insiders, have cautioned Democrats against beginning articles of impeachment when they take control of the House in 2019. Their line of reasoning is that the occupant of the Oval Office should be determined only by election and that a GOP-controlled Senate would never convict Trump anyway. The result of impeachment,
- [Trump Is A Case Study In The Failings Of News Media.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/11/30/trump-is-a-case-study-in-the-failings-of-news-media/) - No, I'm not referring to the right-wing accusations of "Fake News." As a journalist, I have great faith in the accuracy and integrity of most news reporters. I'm referring to the extraordinary amount of news coverage afforded to Trump from the time he was a two-bit developer and hustler in the early eighties; from the
- [It's Now Clear That One Of Our Political Parties No Longer Believes In Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/11/21/its-now-clear-that-one-of-our-political-parties-no-longer-believes-in-democracy/) - For most of our history, the US has been dominated by two political parties. Though they have been fiercely competitive, they have always seemed willing to agree on the relative infallibility of the Constitution. And they have been willing to put their faith in the electorate. But over the past few decades, something changed. The
- [Some Political Conspiracies Are More Than Theory.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/11/14/some-political-conspiracies-are-more-than-theory/) - It seems that every week conservative politicians, media pundits and, especially, President Trump come up with another unfounded conspiracy theory. On a regular basis, they have attacked the press, the Department of Justice, the FBI, the CIA, and others as operatives of the "Deep State" intent on undermining the Trump administration. In order to foment
- [The Wannabe King.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/11/08/the-wannabe-king/) - The president's actions on the day following the 2018 midterm elections will long be remembered as a window into his disturbing mind. He not only forced the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He replaced Sessions with a conservative ideologue. (As I've previously noted, that gives the president an acting Attorney General who is openly
- [Democrats' Dilemmas.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/11/08/democrats-dilemmas/) - Now that Democrats have overcome the Republican's extreme gerrymandering and voter suppression to take control of the US House of Representatives, they face a serious dilemma. If they reach across the aisle and cooperate with the president to pass legislation on behalf those who elected them, Trump will take credit for it. (No one is
- [Will Election Winners Live Up To Their Promises?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/11/07/will-election-winners-live-up-to-their-promises/) - Over the past year, Americans have been subjected to non-stop campaigning by national, state and local candidates. They and their affiliated Political Action Committees fueled by billions of dollars have papered our cities with flyers and ads. They have held thousands of campaign rallies. They have run tens of thousands of commercials on television and
- [The Nexus Of Sports And Politics.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/11/03/the-nexus-of-sports-and-politics/) - I certainly do not mean to demean sports. In my opinion, participation in team sports is one of the very best ways to prepare for life. Through my participation in team sports, I learned the value of practice, preparation, competition, teamwork, determination, toughness, and sportsmanship. When I was young, sports challenged you to do your
- [The Entitlement Lie.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/10/23/the-entitlement-lie/) - For many years, Republicans have been determined to privatize Medicare and Social Security or get rid of the programs altogether. So whenever Republicans talk about federal spending, they usually show a chart that looks something like this: Notice that the two largest slices of the budget represent Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, or what is
- [The True Enemies Of Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/10/17/the-true-enemies-of-democracy/) - Many Republicans, led by Donald J. Trump, have labeled the press "enemies of the people." In addition, they have called the Democratic Party an "angry mob." But the facts are abundantly clear that Republicans are the true enemies of the people. Indeed, today's Republican Party represents a greater threat to our democracy than any other
- [Kavanaugh's Lies.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/10/01/kavanaughs-lies/) - Forget Brett Kavanaugh's hyper-partisan demeanor. Forget his lust for the most sensational details about the Clinton-Lewinski encounter. Forget the thousands of pages of his writings that were hidden by the White House and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Forget his rude and dismissive behavior toward Fred Guttenberg , the father of a Parkland shooting
- [Republicans, Do You Ever Listen To Yourselves?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/09/28/republicans-do-you-ever-listen-to-yourselves/) - You blame Democrats for playing partisan politics with the Brett Kavanaugh nomination to the US Supreme Court while withholding mountains of documents from his time as a political operative, including the lengthy period he was investigating President Bill Clinton. You "plow" forward with the judiciary committee hearing while refusing to ask the FBI to investigate
- [Our Political Divide Is More The Result Of Differences In Personality Than Issues.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/09/21/our-political-divide-is-more-the-result-of-differences-in-personality-than-issues/) - Political pundits have expended a lot of effort to try to understand our political divide. In particular, they want to understand what led so many people to vote for a man who outwardly defies their oft-stated values. Was it the browning of America? Was it the loss of manufacturing jobs? Was it the decline of
- [Should Americans Be Afraid Of Socialist Democrats?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/09/18/should-americans-be-afraid-of-socialist-democrats/) - Republicans are trying to frighten voters away from politicians who refer to themselves as Socialist Democrats, stating that these are people who want to give you "free stuff" with other people's money. There is a small kernel of truth to that. But that has been the case for Americans since the very beginnings of our
- [Remembering 9/11.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/09/12/remembering-9-11/) - Since 2001, September 11 has become a somber occasion - a sad reminder of an attack on American soil that shattered many lives. Almost every American who was alive at the time can remember where they were and what they were doing when New York's World Trade Center towers came down. That day impacted everyone
- [Why Kavanaugh Does Not Belong On The Supreme Court.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/09/06/why-kavanaugh-does-not-belong-on-the-supreme-court/) - Prior to the hearings of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I was willing to keep an open mind about Brett Kavanaugh, the president's nominee for the Supreme Court of the United State. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, believing that his eventual appointment to the Court was fate accompli. However, after
- [The "Enemies Of The People" Versus The Enemies Of Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/08/16/the-enemies-of-the-people-versus-the-enemies-of-democracy/) - Since he began his campaign for the White House, Trump has lied to the media. Then, when they have fact-checked and reported on his lies, he has attacked them. Among other things, he has called them horrible, disgusting people. He has labeled the media "fake news" and, most recently, "enemies of the people." These so-called
- [Four Potential Outcomes Of The Mueller Investigation.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/08/07/four-potential-outcomes-of-the-mueller-investigation/) - We don't yet know the extent of what the Special Counsel and his team have found. We know that Russia, at the direction of Vladimir Putin, interfered with our election by hacking into voter databases. And we know that Russia hacked into Democratic websites and databases, and stole emails. We know that Don Jr. and
- [Camp Trump's Unholy Connection To Russia.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/07/31/camp-trumps-unholy-connection-to-russia/) - Aside from the myriad of meetings and financial connections between the Trump campaign and Russia, there are two less obvious threads that bind the two together: Religion and discrimination - discrimination against the LGBTQ community, discrimination against black and brown people, discrimination against refugees, and discrimination against non-Christians. Following the atheist days of the Soviet
- [To My Trump-Supporting Friends.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/07/22/to-my-trump-supporting-friends/) - Your hero continues to deny any "collusion" with Russians to interfere with the 2016 election. He implies that the interference could have come from anyone. He calls the Mueller investigation a "Witch Hunt." And he labels anything that conflicts with his statements as "Fake News." So let's look at what we know. These are not
- [How The Senate And The Electoral College Distort Voter Representation.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/07/18/how-the-senate-and-the-electoral-college-distort-voter-representation/) - After the 2016 presidential election, Democrats rightly raised questions about the Electoral College, a anachronistic remnant of the compromises made to unite the northern and southern states following the American Revolution. After all, Republican candidates had been awarded the White House following two of the last five presidential elections despite the fact that a majority
- [Views Versus News. Facts Versus Truths.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/07/17/news-versus-views-facts-versus-truths/) - When a Facebook friend recently shared a news story, a woman responded by saying "Gosh, I wish I was smart enough to find news I want to read but obviously you don't think anyone else is smart enough to find the news they want to see and make their own decisions." She inadvertently hit upon
- [13 Ways The GOP Suppresses, Manipulates and Marginalizes Votes.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/07/11/13-ways-to-suppress-manipulate-and-marginalize-votes/) - For years, GOP strategists have tried to sow doubt in our electoral process. They claim that there is widespread voter fraud; that thousands of Democratic votes have been cast by dead people; that ACORN illegally registered Democratic voters with names like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; that college students have illegally voted in both their
- [Why I Won't Be Celebrating This July 4th.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/07/03/why-i-wont-be-celebrating-this-july-4th/) - In the US, the 4th of July is recognized as Independence Day - a day to celebrate our independence from the British empire. A hard-won independence that required the blood sweat and tears of our ancestors to defeat the most powerful military forces on earth. Indeed, a least eight of my ancestors fought for the
- [Where Is Our Compassion?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/06/27/where-is-our-compassion/) - This past week, the Bully-In-Chief further divided Americans by ordering Homeland Security to wrench children from the arms of refugees seeking asylum. That such behavior is in violation of international laws and the US Constitution is less important than the fact it is in violation of the norms of human kindness and moral behavior. It
- [For Many, This Administration Will Be Fatal.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/06/19/for-many-this-administration-will-be-fatal/) - Much has been written about the Trump effect - Trump's impact on civility, ethics and morality. Certainly, the impact has been serious. It has led to rifts among friends and families. It has led to more conflicts based on race and religion. And it has led to a diminished respect for our democratic institutions, including
- [Two Photos Tell Everything About Trump's Foreign Policy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/06/14/two-photos-tell-everything-about-trumps-foreign-policy/) - (G7 Photo: Jesco Denzel, AFP/Getty Images) The media have shown Trump saluting a North Korean military officer and, once again, liberals have taken the clickbait. They are outraged - sharing the video and photographs across social media. But, of all the things Trump has done, that gesture was, by itself, relatively meaningless. It was, perhaps,
- [The Great American Con.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/06/11/the-great-american-con/) - The news media - the ones Trump so viciously attacks - continue to treat his administration as any other. They devote hours of airtime and barrels of printer's ink in an attempt to decipher the actions of the Trump administration. But the sad truth is that Trump is not a typical president. He gained the
- [The Bleak Future Of The US As Envisioned By Today's GOP.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/05/16/the-bleak-future-of-the-us-as-envisioned-by-todays-gop/) - Forget for a moment, if you can, the man currently occupying the White House. As bad as he and his cartel of corrupt officials are, in many ways, Trump is merely an aberration - a con man running a scam to enrich himself with taxpayer money at the expense of decency and world peace. The
- [How Much Smoke Do You Need To See To Know There's A Fire?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/05/11/how-much-smoke-do-you-need-to-see-to-know-theres-a-fire/) - For those who believe the Special Counsel investigation of a potential conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign is a "witch hunt," here's a large dose of reality. Every US agency and many of their European counterparts have determined that Russia interfered with our 2016 elections to benefit Trump. Also, it has been proven that
- [Beyond Tribalism.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/05/09/beyond-tribalism/) - Today, most Americans are members of a political tribe - Trump's tribe, the Republican tribe, the Conservative tribe, the Libertarian tribe, the Democratic tribe, the Liberal tribe, the Evangelical tribe. But no matter which of the labels we prefer, we should find many issues upon which we can all agree. On the most important issues,
- [Michelle Wolf's Jokes Were Less Offensive Than Trump's Lies.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/04/30/michelle-wolfs-jokes-were-less-offensive-than-trumps-lies/) - Wolf's comedic attacks on administration officials at the White House Correspondents' Dinner were seen by many as offensive. But, in reality, she merely called attention to the actions of occupants of the Trump clown car. And the truth sometimes hurts. Moreover, in the case of Michelle Wolf's jokes, it can be damn funny! And you
- [A Culture Of Corruption.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/04/19/a-culture-of-corruption/) - Trump used his campaign and his first year in office to line his pockets with donors and taxpayers' money. His businesses have raked in an estimated $15.1 million since he began his presidential campaign and he continues to use campaign contributions as his personal bank account. And he's only getting started. But Trump is not
- [Trump Tower Fire Is A Metaphor For The Trump Presidency.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/04/10/trump-tower-fire-is-a-metaphor-for-the-trump-presidency/) - I'll begin by stating that the fire at Trump Tower was a tragedy. 200 firefighters and emergency personnel were required to fight the fire, at least four firefighters were injured, and a 67-year-old resident lost his life. Sadly, the man was only living in the apartment because, after the 2016 election, he was unable to
- [Are The Latest Russian Sanctions Mere Window-Dressing?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/04/06/are-the-latest-russian-sanctions-mere-window-dressing/) - Last year, Congress passed a bipartisan bill calling for stricter sanctions against Russia in response to its meddling with our 2016 election. But, with no explanation given, the Trump administration failed to implement any further sanctions until after the attempted assassination of a former Russian spy in England. Even then, it appeared that the administration
- [The Constitutional Crisis That Is Donald Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/03/20/the-constitutional-crisis-that-is-donald-trump/) - Russian meddling in the 2016 election has created a crisis the Founders never could have imagined - a greedy, narcissistic con man holding the highest office in the land supported by a sympathetic Congress that likely, too, was elected with the help and interference of a foreign enemy. The Founding Fathers did put into place
- [Revisiting The Second Amendment And Gun Violence.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/03/16/revisiting-the-second-amendment-and-gun-violence/) - "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." I draw your attention to the full text of the amendment since the first 12 words are seldom mentioned. In fact, in the NRA headquarters, only the last half
- [Imaginary Political Purity Of Independents.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/02/26/imaginary-political-purity-of-independents/) - In response to a recent post about the cruelty of the GOP's plan to cut food stamps, a Facebook friend dismissed my opinion as propaganda and smugly commented, "I'm so glad I'm an independent and don't get caught up with all this left wing right wing bullshit." Like many voters who are registered as independents,
- [False Patriotism.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/02/23/false-patriotism/) - A few years ago, a local chapter of the VFW asked me to judge a group of essays written by middle schoolers on the subject of patriotism. As a writer and former teacher, I was honored to do so. But, after reading them, I realized that none of the students knew the real meaning of
- [Tax Secrets Of The Wealthy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/02/21/tax-secrets-of-the-wealthy/) - Most Americans fear being audited by the IRS based on the knowledge that, if it is deemed that they have not paid their fair share, they could face penalties, garnishment of wages and/or possible imprisonment. Yet some of the wealthiest Americans and multinational corporations apparently have no such fear. It's not enough that these people
- [The Reality Of Gun Violence In America.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/02/15/the-reality-of-gun-violence-in-america/) - As a long-time self-defense instructor, I taught students that the first rule of self-defense is situational awareness. I encouraged them to be aware of the world around them. In the US, that means being aware of guns. So here's the uncomfortable reality: Guns are everywhere in our country. One can assume that anyone you meet
- [The Real State Of Our Union.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/01/31/the-real-state-of-our-union/) - Last night, Donald Trump basked in the light of his predecessor, taking credit for declining unemployment, a rising stock market and low African-American unemployment...all things that began under President Obama and have continued as a result of their own momentum combined with improved economies throughout the world. So what is the real state of our
- [America's Legal Drug Cartel.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/02/08/americas-legal-drug-cartels/) - A couple of newspaper stories recently caught my attention. The Arizona Republic reported that, in 2016, Mojave County had more opioid prescriptions than people - 127.5 prescriptions for every 100 residents. In another story, The Arizona Republic reported that four Mojave County doctors prescribed 6 million opioid pills in a single year! Yet another newspaper,
- [Evangelical Extremists.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/01/27/evangelical-extremists/) - I'll begin by admitting that I have always struggled with the idea of a group of people - any group of people - trying to push their ideas of morality onto others. I was horrified when I discovered that my family church was more interested in paying for building improvements than in helping others. I
- [How Low Can He Go?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/01/20/how-low-can-he-go/) - Every few days, we are given a new reminder of the character of the man who now occupies the White House (at least when he's not taking a government-paid golf vacation at one of his own resorts). Before the 2016 election, we knew that Donald Trump was a womanizer - thrice married and involved in
- [The Inequities Of Our Political System.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/01/17/the-inequities-of-our-political-system/) - We've heard a lot about wealth inequality and how it's destroying the United States. But it's merely a symptom - a symptom caused by the growing disparity between the parties in our two-party system. Consider the following: • Since the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, more than 90 percent of talk radio has been controlled
- [Why A Third Party Is Unlikely To Win.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/01/11/why-a-third-party-is-unlikely-to-win/) - I have long wished for a third US political party. Although I mostly agree with the Democratic Party on issues, in my view, the party's unelected leadership is largely incompetent and strategically clueless. On the other hand, I believe the Republican Party is just flat-out crazy! With a third party in Congress, it's unlikely that
- [#MeTooLate? #MeTooLittle? Or #MeTooFar?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2018/01/03/metoolate-metoolittle-or-metoofar/) - The #MeToo movement represents a welcome change for our culture. It has drawn attention to a problem that has been allowed to continue for far too long. But it also raises a number of questions. Should an accusation of unwanted touching be treated in the same way as an accusation of sexual assault or rape?
- [Where Has All The Money Gone?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/12/28/where-has-all-the-money-gone/) - In 2015, Michigan State economics professor, Mark Skidmore became curious when he heard former assistant secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Catherine Austin Fitts mention that the Pentagon couldn't account for $6.5 trillion in spending. So he asked Fitts and a team of his graduate students to help him confirm that number. After poring
- [18 GOP Actions That Have Undermined America.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/12/21/18-gop-actions-that-have-undermined-america/) - For those of you who believe that there is little difference between the two political parties, I submit that one party is generally on the side of civil rights, social justice and issues that benefit ordinary Americans, while the other continually finds itself on the wrong side of history. In my lifetime, the decisions of
- [Actions Speak Louder Than Words.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/12/15/actions-speak-louder-than-words/) - Donald Trump and the GOP leaders in Congress continue to say that they support ordinary working Americans and the middle class. Yet virtually everything they have done indicates otherwise. Following is the latest list of attacks on the American people: • The GOP-led Federal Communications Commission voted to end Net Neutrality making it possible for
- [False Equivalencies.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/12/07/false-equivalencies/) - For many years, the media, pressured by Republicans, have continued to compare the activities of Democrats with those of Republicans - even when there was no true comparison. For example, most accused the two parties of being equally divisive. (They are not.) And most equated MSNBC with Fox News Channel even though Fox received daily
- [An Open Letter To Democratic Party Leaders.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/12/07/an-open-letter-to-democratic-party-leaders/) - For most of my life, I was registered as an independent. Nevertheless, I faithfully voted for Democrats, and even helped create advertising for a few Democratic candidates. Then, in 2006, recognizing that I could never vote for a Republican, I registered as a Democrat. I threw myself into politics. I contributed to and campaigned for
- [RIP, USA.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/12/06/rip-usa/) - It's not entirely hyperbolic to say that the latest GOP tax scam could be the final nail in the coffin of the American dream. If the bill is signed into law, it will show that the oligarchs and the con artists are in full control. And our democratic republic may never recover. Remember when Republicans
- [This Should Explain A Lot.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/11/29/this-should-explain-a-lot/) - As the GOP Congress continues to push a tax plan that is based on the lie that it will create jobs by cutting taxes on large corporations and the very wealthy, I think it's important to understand how the tax "reform" plan came about. In reality, it was spawned decades ago by the libertarian billionaires
- [The GOP Tax Scam.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/11/15/the-gop-tax-scam/) - For weeks, the GOP Congress has been working behind closed doors to craft a tax "reform" bill. They promise that their bill will "give everybody a raise." They claim that it will simplify tax codes so much that you will be able to "file your income taxes on a postcard." And they claim that the
- [Manafort = Trump's Mini-Me.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/11/06/manafort-trumps-mini-me/) - Former Trump campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his business partner, Rick Gates, have been indicted with 12 counts including conspiracy against the US, conspiracy to launder money, false statements and failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. These are serious charges and, likely, they would not have been filed if the special
- [What's At Stake With Tax "Reform."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/11/02/whats-at-stake-with-tax-reform/) - For decades, taxation in the US has been based on a progressive tax structure, which means those who earn the most money pay the highest taxes. And those less fortunate pay the least. Similarly, corporations were taxed to help pay for the government-provided infrastructure they needed to operate. When the nation incurred substantial debt, the
- [The Unholy Marriage Between Evangelicals, Billionaires And Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/10/31/the-unholy-marriage-between-evangelicals-billionaires-and-trump/) - There's a long history between the GOP and evangelicals dating back to the late 1800's. In the book The Family, you'll read about wealthy industrialists and evangelicals joining forces to keep labor unions from gaining power. In the 1950's, Eisenhower was put in office with the help of evangelicals. He rewarded them by agreeing to
- [Keeping Track Of The Trump/GOP Agenda.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/10/13/keeping-track-of-the-trumpgop-agenda/) - Voters and the media are all too aware of The Donald's Twitter rants and the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in last year's election. But while we've been distracted by the noise, here's what Trump and the GOP have been doing in the shadows and away from the spotlight: They passed and signed a bill
- [What's Really Behind America's Gun Deaths?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/10/11/whats-behind-americas-gun-deaths/) - Following the most lethal mass shooting in US history, it's once again time to take a serious look at the cause. By all accounts, the Las Vegas shooter was not a terrorist - at least not in the traditional sense. He was no Osama bin Laden. He was not a member of ISIS. Moreover, he
- [Now Is Exactly The Time To Talk About Guns.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/10/02/now-is-exactly-the-time-to-talk-about-guns/) - Each time there's another mass shooting event, the GOP is quick to say, "Now is not the time to talk about politics." In other words, "Let's address the symptoms, but not the cause." That happened after Columbine, after Sandy Hook, after Charleston, after Orlando...after every single mass shooting. The motive, of course, is to delay
- [Eulogy For The "King Of Fake News."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/09/28/eulogy-for-the-king-of-fake-news/) - This week, comedian Paul Horner died at the way-too-early age of 38. Though most Americans won't recognize the name, Mr. Horner, in addition to being a successful stand-up comedian, founded a charity called Sock It Forward which gives socks to homeless people. He was also largely responsible for calling attention to fake news. No, I'm
- [Dear Democrats:](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/09/20/dear-democrats/) - I am writing this open letter to the Democratic Party's leadership in hopes that they might better understand the obstacles they face. Every day, I receive a series of emails, tweets and Facebook posts asking me to sign the petition du jour. I don't mean to demean the issues the petitions are intended to address.
- [My Trump Obsession.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/09/26/my-trump-obsession/) - Many of my friends and acquaintances have raised questions regarding my near constant blog posts, Facebook posts and Tweets about Trump. I've been told, "Hillary lost. Get over it." That they had to "put up" with Obama for 8 years so "Why can't I just shut up and give Trump a chance?" I've been asked,
- [How Russia Stole Our Conscience.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/09/12/how-russia-stole-our-conscience/) - Though the Robert Mueller investigation has not yet been completed, it's clear that Russia meddled with our election. Disregarding possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, and the many meetings between Trump associates and Russian operatives, we're already certain that Russia controlled the election outcome using a variety of techniques for the benefit of
- [Is There A Difference Between The Right And The Alt-Right?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/09/06/is-there-a-difference-between-the-right-and-the-alt-right/) - Last year, with the help of Breitbart editor Steve Bannon, white supremacists rebranded themselves as the "alt-right" - an attempt to portray themselves as part of the mainstream. In many ways, the effort succeeded, since most of the media now use the term in referring to Nazis, the KKK and other white supremacists. I've even
- [Feeding The Rich And Starving "The Beast."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/08/27/feeding-the-rich-and-starving-the-beast/) - The top 10 percent control 76 percent of the nation's wealth. Yet a new study* found that the bottom 99.9 percent pay 175 times as much income tax as the top 0.1 percent! That's because the wealthy use a variety of tax shelters, both offshore and in tax havens such as Delaware and South Dakota.
- [Can Democrats Win With Identity Politics?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/08/23/can-democrats-win-with-identity-politics/) - Since the 2016 election, Mark Lilla and others have been decrying Democrats' efforts to address the needs of individual groups, such as women, African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims, Jews, atheists, the LGBTQ community, minimum wage workers, labor unions, teachers, senior citizens, immigrants, environmentalists and others. Such efforts have been decried as "identity politics," as if that is
- [It's Time For White People To Face Facts.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/08/18/its-time-for-white-people-to-face-the-facts/) - Given that our Racist-in-Chief excused and encouraged the worst elements of our society - white supremacists and neo-Nazis - this might be a good time to share a chapter from my book Antidote to Fact-Free Politics: Debunking the Falsehoods, Fabrications and Distortions Told by Conservatives and Perpetuated by the Media. LIE #1: “America is a
- [Our Racist-In-Chief.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/08/16/our-racist-in-chief/) - Unfortunately, the hatred and bigotry that claimed the national spotlight on Saturday was highly revealing. President Trump's tepid condemnation and initial refusal to call out the hateful groups responsible for the violence in Charlottesville called attention to the White House's deep ties to the "alt-right." Indeed, Trump has a long history of racism. His parents
- [What Is The Real Goal Of Trump's Rallies?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/08/09/what-is-the-real-goal-of-trumps-rallies/) - Almost immediately after his inauguration, Donald Trump filed the paperwork for his 2020 campaign. And with the election barely over, he has continued to campaign. For what reason? Some believe that he is simply addicted to the adulation of crowds. But every president draws crowds. And every president benefits from Americans' respect for the office.
- [An Open Letter To Congress.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/08/02/an-open-letter-to-congress/) - Dear Senators and Congressional Representatives: We understand that it's hard work to win an election. There's the fundraising, the canvassing, the fundraising, the travel, the fundraising, the public appearances, the fundraising, the baby-kissing and the butt-kissing, the fundraising, the debates, the fundraising, the media interviews, and, of course, the fundraising. We also believe that, by
- [Give Me That Old Time Religion.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/07/17/give-me-that-old-time-religion/) - It's easy to look back on our lives and glorify earlier years as something special. But our memories are fallible. And, in reality, those days were seldom as good as we remember. There are, however, exceptions. One prime example is religion. I remember growing up at a time when churches and synagogues were the pillars
- [America First? Not From My Perspective.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/07/28/america-first-not-from-my-perspective/) - In the past week, my wife and I had the pleasure of visiting the Alps of Bavaria. Not only were we treated to the splendor of one of the most beautiful places on Earth. We were able to observe a country that works. Though Germany may not be a military super-power, it is an economic
- [The Root Of Our Political Divide.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/07/13/the-root-of-our-political-divide/) - While the mainstream media and political pundits are still debating the circumstances that led to the election of Donald Trump, a recent study published in the Columbia Journalism Review appears to have revealed the real reason for the surprising results. Between April 1, 2015 and election day, scholars at the Berkman Klenin Center for Internet
- [Republicans Are The Masters Of False Equivalency.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/06/22/republicans-are-the-masters-of-false-equivalency/) - Following the shooting of Republican Congressman Steve Scalise, there were calls from both sides of the aisle to calm the extreme rhetoric. The House even made a great show of bipartisanship by kneeling together on the field prior to the annual Republican/Democrat baseball game. Senator Bernie Sanders made a forceful speech denouncing the shooter's past
- [A Tsunami Of Coincidences.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/06/14/a-tsunami-of-coincidences/) - As more connections between Russia and the Trump camp are exposed, Republicans would have you believe that they are mere coincidence, the product of successful people who operate multinational businesses. That's an explanation only the chronically naive and the willfully ignorant could accept. Following is a list of just those connections that have been identified.
- [Montana's Gianforte Will Fit Right In With The Washington GOP.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/05/26/montanas-gianforte-will-fit-right-in-with-the-washington-gop/) - So what if he's an out-of-control billionaire who assaulted a reporter for merely asking a question? What does it matter that, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, he has supported white supremacists and other hate groups? He is a member of a political party represented by those who have done much worse. For example,
- [Why Democrats Lose Despite Having A Majority.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/02/28/why-democrats-lose-despite-having-a-majority/) - The 2016 presidential election again demonstrated that a majority of US voters align with Democrats. Hillary Clinton did, after all, win the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. Had she not lost 5 key battleground states by a total of approximately 100,000 votes, she would be president. And Combover Hitler would be relegated to
- [GOP Government Setting New Standards For Corruption.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/02/08/gop-government-setting-new-standards-for-corruption/) - While most of the nation's attention is focused on the immigration ban, the level of this administration's corruption has been largely overlooked. It began even before Donald Trump took office when he became the first presidential candidate since Gerald Ford who refused to release his tax returns. As you no doubt recall, the reason given
- [Republicans Aren't Content With Changing Administrations. They Want To Change History.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/01/25/republicans-arent-content-with-changing-administrations-they-want-to-change-history/) - For most of our nation's 241-year history, we have seen a relatively seamless and peaceful transition from one administration and from one Congress to another. This time is different. The GOP-controlled Congress and the Trump administration seem intent on erasing the Obama administration and, for that matter, most other administrations from history. Trump has already
- [The Many Reasons Donald Trump Can Never Be My President.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2017/01/09/the-many-reasons-donald-trump-can-never-be-my-president/) - 1. He spent years undermining a sitting president by claiming that the president was not a citizen of the United States. 2. He broke a 40-year tradition of presidential candidates releasing tax returns. What is he hiding? 3. He has a long record of refusing to pay small businesses for work on his properties. 4.
- [The Video Fantasies of James O'Keefe.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/11/01/the-video-fantasies-of-james-okeefe/) - Given motivation, a hidden camera, editing software and enough time, anyone could create videos showing targets saying almost anything. An edit here and an edit there and you could make it seem that a NASA official said the moon landing was a fraud. Or you could make it seem that the Pope said there is
- [The Real Threats We Face.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/12/07/the-real-threats-we-face/) - Our planet is facing a growing number of crises - any one of which could lead to a calamity that could end life as we know it. Let's begin with the threat of climate change. We've known about the impact of burning fossil fuels for many years. But our Republican politicians continue to allow the
- [Let's Not Over-Analyze Trump's Victory.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/12/22/lets-not-over-analyze-trumps-victory/) - Despite the blame being heaped onto the Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party, I believe it was never a fair contest. Hillary was outgunned by a biased media; by a partisan FBI director; and by Russian interference. But even without those things, Hillary may have fallen victim, as did Trump's primary opponents, to the cultural
- [Starving The Beast? More Like Drowning It In A Cesspool Of Oil And Right-Wing Ideologies.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/12/17/starving-the-beast-more-like-drowning-it-in-a-cesspool-of-oil-and-right-wing-ideologies/) - For years, the GOP has been intent on starving the federal government of the funds in needs to operate. Unconcerned by large deficits (except when Democrats are in power), Republicans have continued to cut taxes for the wealthy. At the same time, they have happily created loopholes for corporations to evade taxes. By doing so,
- [Why I Believe Trump Voters Are Worse Than Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/11/15/why-i-believe-trump-voters-are-worse-than-trump/) - Trump is a sociopath. He is exactly who you see. There is no facade. He has made it perfectly clear that he's a bully, a demagogue, a misogynist, a serial philanderer, a sexual predator, a racist, a promoter of hate and violence, an admirer of authoritarian dictators and a pathological liar. He is, in fact,
- [Dear Trump Supporters, I Know Who You Really Are.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/11/10/dear-trump-supporters-i-know-who-you-really-are/) - I've known you all my life. Contrary to being the country bumpkins as you're portrayed in the media, many of you make a good living - a really good living. By the luck of nature, you were born into a world of white privilege that gave you numerous advantages over those with darker skin. You're
- [Worse Than Watergate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/11/03/worse-than-watergate-2/) - During the 1972 presidential race, Republican operatives known as the "plumbers" were caught breaking into the Democratic National Party (DNC) headquarters. Working on behalf of President Nixon, their intent was to rig the election. The break-in and ensuing cover-up led to the threatened impeachment of the president and, ultimately, his resignation. Embarrassed and furious at
- [The Politics Of Accusations, Conspiracy Theories And Propaganda.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/11/02/the-politics-of-accusations-conspiracy-theories-and-propaganda/) - When FBI Director James Comey announced last week that the FBI was reviewing emails that could be pertinent to the Hillary Clinton case, it was quickly publicized by GOP congressmen as the FBI "re-opening the investigation of the Clinton private email server." That, in fact, was untrue. The new announcement was referring to the discovery
- [Current Election More Revealing Of Character Than Policy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/10/21/current-election-more-revealing-of-character-than-policy/) - There was a time when the debate between candidates and their supporters revolved around issues such as defense spending, tax policy, safety nets, federal deficits and debt. No longer. This election cycle has revolved around character - not just the character of candidates. But that of their supporters. Here's a case in point: Someone I
- [The Age Of Disruption.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/10/03/the-age-of-disruption/) - It has become fashionable for entrepreneurs and businesses to seek disruption; to seek opportunities so significant they can disrupt and change entire sectors of the economy in the same way Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat have disrupted the traditional media business; in the same way Uber and Lyft have disrupted traditional taxicab companies; in the
- [Another Day. Another Police Shooting.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/09/22/another-day-another-police-shooting/) - The current unrest in Charlotte as a result of yet another police shooting should come as no surprise to anyone, least of all metropolitan police departments. It's only the latest in a long line of black men - many of them unarmed - who were shot and killed by police. The Charlotte shooting may well
- [We Cannot End Political Divisiveness Without First Changing Our Media.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/09/12/we-cannot-end-political-divisiveness-without-changing-our-media/) - Following the era of so-called "Yellow Journalism" from the early 1900s during which newspapers wrapped themselves in shame by focusing on sensationalism to the point of creating false stories, journalists found their better selves. After the Great Depression and World War II, journalists focused on exposing and reporting the truth. Not coincidentally, during that time
- [Black Lives Matter! A Primer For White People.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/09/08/black-lives-matter-a-primer-for-white-people/) - When it became evident that an increasing number of black people were being killed by police despite being unarmed and often innocent, some activists formed Black Lives Matter. Given the obvious nature of their complaints, it's unlikely that the founders thought the organization would be seen as particularly controversial. Yet many white people seemed to
- [Fascism, American Style.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/09/02/fascism-american-style/) - Let me begin by stating that I recognize that fascism is a loaded and almost universally misunderstood term. Indeed, it's one of the F words used to end conversations. But, in most cases, the fascist label is wrongly applied. For example, if you are intolerant of other races and ethnic groups, you may be a
- [Ending Racism: A Proposal.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/08/31/ending-racism-a-proposal/) - America has a problem with racism that we have not yet adequately addressed. Sure, we passed the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, but those actions didn't actually solve racism. Far from it. They merely altered it by making it somewhat less obvious and making it uncomfortable
- [Will US Election Be Decided By Outsiders?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/08/29/will-us-election-be-decided-by-outsiders/) - During the Clinton and Obama administrations, the right-wing promoted numerous conspiracy theories - that Hillary Clinton had Vince Foster murdered; that Obama is not a US citizen; that Obama is a secret Muslim; that Obama is coming for your guns; that Clinton and Obama sacrificed our Libyan ambassador by telling a military response team to
- [How Trump Has Forever Changed The Standard For Presidential Candidates.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/08/24/how-trump-has-forever-changed-the-standard-for-presidential-candidates/) - Prior to this election campaign, political candidates - especially presidential candidates - were held to almost impossibly high standards. They not only had to show experience that qualified them to hold the office. They had demonstrate a great depth of understanding about critical national and international issues. In addition, they were expected to be of
- [How The Party Of Lincoln Became The Party Of Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/08/09/how-the-party-of-lincoln-became-the-party-of-trump/) - When the Republican party replaced the Whigs with Abraham Lincoln at its helm, the party was determined to end slavery and hold the Union together through the strength of the federal government. Then, following the Civil War, the party committed itself to serving the interests of business. When workers began to fight for better pay
- [What Trump And A Live Grenade Have In Common.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/08/02/what-trump-and-a-live-grenade-have-in-common/) - There's a growing movement in the US of voters disenchanted with the system and fueled by rightwing news outlets (I'm thinking of you, Fox News Channel and all of you hate radio clowns) that have decided to destroy our government rather than try to fix it. Nothing else could explain how the Great Pumpkin won
- [A Stark Contrast.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/07/29/a-stark-contrast/) - I truly appreciate the views of my conservative friends with regard to politics. After all, I was raised in a reliably Republican household. I believe in eliminating government waste. I believe that people should take responsibility for the own lives and their own actions. Even after the GOP was over-run with religious extremists, I shared
- [If It Was A Joke, We're Not Laughing.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/07/29/if-it-was-a-joke-were-not-laughing/) - After encouraging Russia to hack the former Secretary of State's website and reveal 33,000 of her personal emails, the Republican "Presidential" nominee now says he was joking. Having seen his plea to Russia at his news conference, it sure didn't seem like a joke at the time. And no one was laughing. Not the FBI,
- [We May Be Living In America's Golden Age.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/07/27/we-may-be-living-in-americas-golden-age/) - Contrary to what some politicians would have you believe, things in the world - and the US in particular - are not bleak. Indeed, a case can be made that things have never been better! Fareed Zakaria's Global Public Square on CNN pointed to statistics compiled by two Harvard professors. They show that, despite the
- [Clinton More Trustworthy Than Media Or Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/07/21/clinton-more-trustworthy-than-media-or-trump/) - Let's be clear, like most politicians, Hillary has made statements that were later proven to be untrue. Still, fact-checking organizations have shown that she has actually made a greater percentage of true statements during the campaign than any of the other presidential candidates. Hillary has also made several political decisions that were unpopular and later
- [What The GOP Wants.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/07/20/what-the-gop-wants/) - It's easy to dismiss the mudslinging and hateful rhetoric of the speakers featured at the Republican National Convention as mere partisanship; as the typical hyperbole of a contested election. But the GOP platform shows that the fear and hate so prevalent at the convention is representative of the party's deep-rooted beliefs. On its surface, the
- [Thoughts And Prayers Will Not Stop Shootings.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/07/13/thoughts-and-prayers-will-not-stop-shootings/) - After Columbine, there were thoughts and prayers. There were more thoughts and prayers after Aurora, Sandy Hook, Charleston, San Bernardino, Orlando and, now, Dallas. After Eric Garner, after Michael Brown, after Timor Rice, after Ezell Ford, after John Crawford III, after Jonathon Ferrell, after Alton Sterling, after Philando Castile, and after the deaths of 5
- [How Has Racism Plagued The Obama Administration? Let Me Count The Ways:](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/07/12/how-has-racism-plagued-the-obama-administration-let-me-count-the-ways/) - I have conservative friends who deny that President Obama has been treated any differently than previous presidents. Setting aside the prolonged fishing expedition to find dirt on the Clintons and the natural reaction to a stolen election and the lies told by the Bush administration to justify its invasion of Iraq, (yes, I proudly wore
- [How Can We Ever Hope To Bring Americans Together?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/06/24/how-can-we-ever-hope-to-bring-americans-together/) - Regardless of which candidate wins this year's presidential election, it's all but certain that Americans will be more divided than ever. We're divided by far more than politics. We're divided by ideology; by media choices; by attitudes toward guns and violence; by attitudes toward the environment; by a woman's right to decide what is right
- [The Difficulty Of Disproving A Negative.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/07/08/the-difficulty-of-disproving-a-negative/) - Once again, the Clintons have found themselves in the unenviable position of disproving negatives. Over more than 35 years, the GOP has accused them of wrongdoing and, when they have tried to prove their innocence, they have been labeled liars. According to the GOP, Bill lied about Gennifer Flowers. The GOP claims that the Clintons
- [Trump And GOP Evangelicals Versus The Founding Fathers.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/06/22/trump-and-gop-evangelicals-versus-the-founding-fathers/) - It's difficult for me to write anything that places the Founding Fathers and Donald Trump in the same sentence or even on the same planet. But I cannot let stand the Donald's unconstitutional call for excluding Muslims from our nation. Nor can I ignore his recent pandering to evangelicals who claim that the Founders intended
- [Has The Democratic Party Awakened From Its Coma?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/06/20/has-the-democratic-party-awakened-from-its-coma/) - The recent filibuster calling for a vote on common sense gun safety gives me hope. It forced a vote which will put each member of Congress on record and make them accountable to their constituents instead of the NRA. After all, a whopping majority of Americans favor universal background checks. And an even greater majority
- [Rethinking Our National Motto.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/06/14/rethinking-our-national-motto/) - "E Pluribus Unum" (Out of many, one) was the motto chosen to represent our nation in 1776. It was suggested by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere to the committee responsible for developing the Great Seal of the United States. It not only gave reference to the fact that our country was born out of 13 separate
- [Mass Shootings Now Define Our Civilization.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/06/13/mass-shootings-now-define-our-civilization/) - Since the tragedy at Columbine, I have written blog posts calling for common sense gun safety. I have written and called my congressional representatives asking for universal background checks. I have taught self-defense classes debunking the notion that guns are a defensive weapon. I have demonstrated that carrying a gun does not protect you against
- [Understanding The Trump Phenomenon.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/06/09/understanding-the-trump-phenomenon/) - The success of Trump the candidate seems to have confused liberals and conservatives alike. But it's really not that difficult to understand if you look at the underlying causes. First, there is great dissatisfaction among many Americans on both sides of the political spectrum. Both sides see growing poverty and a struggling middle class while,
- [Trumped-Up Presidential Qualifications.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/06/03/trumped-up-qualifications/) - Given that Donald J. Trump will soon be named the Republican nominee for president, there's more than a little irony that, when we describe something that has been fabricated, concocted or fictitious, we commonly use the words "trumped-up." In fact, nothing could better describe the qualifications of the Republican nominee. Yes, Republican voters have winnowed
- [Risking Your Safety And Wasting Your Time.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/05/25/risking-your-safety-and-wasting-your-time/) - The growing threat of terrorism, increased air travel and a shortage of security agents have led to long lines and growing frustration at airport security checks. As a result, it's fashionable to blame the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the problem. Indeed, Republicans would have you believe that the problem is just another example of
- [A 566-Page Helping Of Truth.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/05/23/a-566-page-helping-of-truth/) - You know that co-worker who thinks the Donald is "authentic?" That crazy uncle who thinks Trump is a candidate who tells it like it is? That self-focused neighbor who thinks immigrants are ruining our country? That religious nut job at the gym who thinks God hates gays? The CEO who thinks that our corporate tax
- [Do Facts Still Matter?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/05/20/do-facts-still-matter/) - Based on statements by the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee, one would have to say no. (More than 90 percent of Trump's statements have been rated untrue.) Moreover, the voting record of Republican congressional representatives consistently shows that, on most issues, they base their votes more on ideology that on facts, or even the majority
- [The Planned Dysfunction Of Our Government.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/05/16/the-planned-dysfunction-of-our-government/) - As has been repeatedly demonstrated, Republicans and conservatives have mastered the art of telling lies. And, on the rare occasions when the corporate-owned media challenge those lies, they seldom bother to correct their falsehoods, choosing instead to double-down. Why wouldn't they? After all, there are rarely any consequences for lying. For example, Politifact.com has ruled
- [Public Lands: A Matter Of "Me" Versus "We".](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/05/10/public-lands-a-matter-of-me-versus-we/) - For the past several decades, the anti-government neo-confederates (otherwise known as the Tea Party) have howled about a so-called "federal land grab." They claim that federal ownership of any property is unconstitutional. In fact, they have it backwards. Their attempts to force the federal government to give public lands to the states and private enterprise
- [On Earth Day, An Assessment.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/04/23/earth-day-an-assessment/) - Each year, we celebrate our planet for a single day. On that day, there are a variety of gatherings, speeches and warnings. It's not enough. Not nearly enough. The remainder of the year, most of us continue to trash the planet. Some liken our actions to filling our living rooms with garbage. But it's worse
- [The Panama Papers? Why Not The Delaware Papers?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/04/11/the-panama-papers-why-not-the-delaware-papers/) - While the Panama Papers exposed thousands of politicians and billionaires who have used off-shore tax havens to hide trillions of dollars from taxes, the leaked papers will likely have little effect on Americans. It's not that American corporations, billionaires and politicians are any more trustworthy than their foreign counterparts. It's just that they don't need
- [SCOTUS Nomination Is Emblematic Of Obama Presidency.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/04/01/scotus-nomination-is-emblematic-of-obama-presidency/) - In 2008, Barack Obama ran for president on a platform of change and hope - hope that he could end division and bring people together. He probably should have known better. After all, the Republican Party had long based their election campaigns on fear and division. So it was no surprise when it became known
- [Despicable GOP.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/03/23/despicable-gop/) - No, I'm not just referring to the Republican Party's current slate of presidential candidates - although they, alone, should be cause for derision. I'm referring to the Party's ongoing disregard for ethics, human kindness and the Constitution. Witness former Nixon administration staffer John Ehrlichman's recent admission during an interview with Dan Baum for Harper's about
- [Beware The Politics Of Self-Righteous Zealotry.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/03/16/beware-the-politics-of-self-righteous-zealotry/) - For many years, we've heard network pundits talk about a "war on Christianity" and call for the US to officially become a Christian nation. Such talk would have made our Founding Fathers cringe. After all, many of them had settled in the US, like some of my ancestors did, as the result of religious persecution
- [Exposing Republican Lies And The Failures Of A Compliant Media.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/03/12/exposing-republican-lies-and-the-failures-of-a-compliant-media/) - I hope you will indulge me for promoting my new book, Antidote to Fact-Free Politics: Debunking the Falsehoods, Fabrications and Distortions Told by Conservatives and Perpetuated by the Media. It's a culmination of months of research into the partisan lies that are unchallenged by the media, and repeated so often that they have become accepted
- [Why We Should Be Even More Afraid Of Cruz And Rubio Than Donald Trump.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/03/04/why-we-should-be-even-more-afraid-of-cruz-and-rubio-than-donald-trump/) - By now, most people know that Donald Trump is an insensitive, bigoted blowhard who would endanger all Americans and many others throughout the world. Yet despite his lack of policies, his grandiose promises, his angry rhetoric and threats, his refusal to denounce the endorsement by David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan, and his willingness
- [Trump Is Only A Symptom Of A More Serious Condition.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/03/02/trump-is-only-a-symptom-of-a-more-serious-condition/) - The success of Donald Trump's presidential campaign should come as no surprise to anyone. It has been in the making since the Fairness Doctrine was repealed during the George H.W. Bush administration. That seemingly innocuous decision meant that US broadcast media no longer had to operate in the public interest. No longer held accountable to
- [Will Obama's Supreme Court Nominee Be "Borked?"](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/02/19/will-obamas-supreme-court-nominee-be-borked/) - In case you aren't familiar with the history of Supreme Court nominations, the threat refers to President Reagan's nomination of Robert Bork, which was blocked by a Democratic-controlled Senate. But though you may think that turnabout is fair play, the Senate's refusal to confirm the nominee involved a much different set of circumstances than what
- [Okay, GOP. Now What?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/02/22/okay-gop-now-what/) - The past weekend's results in South Carolina and the suspension of Jeb! Bush's campaign leaves only one GOP candidate with the credentials to be president...John Kasich. And though he is extreme enough to collect the votes of some conservatives, he has little chance of winning. The only candidates who have a real chance of winning
- [The Hoax That Won't Go Away.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/01/11/the-hoax-that-wont-go-away/) - Following the release of videos showing Planned Parenthood employees discussing fetal tissue donations, rightwing politicians continue to call for defunding Planned Parenthood. Even though the videos have been discredited as fraudulently-edited and obtained under false pretenses, and even though defunding the organization would deny healthcare to thousands of women, the ginned-up controversy won't go away.
- ["Can't We All Just Get Along?"](https://lamasterscorner.com/2016/01/07/cant-we-all-just-get-along/) - As a result of our on-going fight with ISIS, the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, and hateful, uniformed statements by Donald Trump, the amount of anger toward Muslims has increased. Mostly, it's based on religious differences combined with gross misunderstanding. For example, a post has begun circulating on Facebook asking "Can a good Muslim be
- [Il Douchie.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/12/09/il-douchie/) - For some time, I've been trying to figure out who Donald Trump reminds me of. He seems all too familiar...the bullying attitude, the pouty lips, the chin thrust forward in defiance, the arrogant posture, the unbridled narcissism, the sense of privilege, the ridicule of others, the refusal to apologize for anything, the "trust me I'll
- [After Paris, What Next?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/11/16/after-paris-what-next/) - Following the terrorist attacks in Paris, the Republican presidential candidates and others are calling for President Obama to deploy a large force of troops in Iraq and Syria. There are those who want to prohibit Syrian refugees from entering our country...unless they are Christian. And, as with every terrorist attack, there are those who blame
- [Retraining Police To Protect And Serve.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/10/31/retraining-police-to-protect-and-serve/) - Following the most recent example of police brutality at a high school in South Carolina, it is abundantly clear that law enforcement agencies across the country must re-evaluate and re-educate their officers. Too often we've seen officers use excessive force to bully, bruise, wound and kill citizens without probable cause. Far too often, we've seen
- [Benghazi Selective Hearing Committee.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/10/23/benghazi-selective-hearing-committee/) - Were there breakdowns in security? Was there a cover-up? What led to the terrorist attack? What did the administration know? I'm not referring to Benghazi. I'm referring to the assassination of President Kennedy, the break-in at Watergate, the terrorist attack in Beirut, and the Iran-Contra scandal. None of these tragedies were subjected to anything close
- [The Attempted Destruction Of A Candidate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/09/29/the-attempted-destruction-of-a-candidate/) - Since she was Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has been the presumptive Democratic nominee for the office of president. And, of course, that has made her the prime target for Teapublican attacks. There is simply no other explanation for the continued investigation into the attack on our Benghazi consulate. In fact, few other incidents in
- [Our Present And Future With Guns.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/10/10/our-present-and-future-with-guns/) - According to Harvard's Injury Control Research Center, only 22% of Americans are gun owners. Yet there are an estimated 300 million guns in the US, not including those owned by our military. More than 6 million Americans own 10 or more guns. 10 or more? Seriously? Let's see...a small gauge shotgun for small birds, a
- [You Don't Need To Pull The Trigger To Be A Mass Murderer.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/10/02/you-dont-need-to-pull-the-trigger-to-be-a-mass-murder/) - There are many examples of such people - the friends and family of mass shooters who ignore warning signs of impending violence, the people on social media who encourage potential shooters, the National Rifle Association for pushing laws that benefit gun manufacturers at the expense of shooting victims, courts that have twisted the Second Amendment
- [No Religious Test.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/09/22/no-religious-test/) - Dr. Ben Carson's recent statement that no Muslim should ever be allowed to become president of the US not only reveals his willingness as an evangelical Christian to discriminate against a significant portion of the US population. It also reveals his ignorance of the Constitution. To wit, Article VI states, "...no religious test shall ever
- [Time To Extinguish Liberty's Torch?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/09/12/time-to-extinguish-libertys-torch/) - The European response - especially that of the Germans - to mass migration from the Middle East and Southwest Asia stands in stark contrast to the immigration policies of the US. What makes this all the more remarkable is that Germany had relatively little to do with events that led to the crisis. On the
- [Our Other Civil War.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/09/09/our-other-civil-war/) - This past Labor Day should give us pause to consider its real meaning. More than a 3-day weekend, the unofficial end of summer and a shopping holiday, it's a celebration of labor - the hard-working men and women who built this nation. In many ways, it also represent the end of our second civil war.
- [Overheating Our Planet, Draining Our Aquifers And Poisoning Our Future.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/09/03/overheating-our-planet-draining-our-aquifers-and-poisoning-our-future/) - It has been well-established that climate scientists are almost unanimous in their warnings of the consequences of climate change as the result of burning fossil fuels. Certainly, man-made global warming is one of the biggest threats of our time. But, unfortunately, it is not the only serious threat to the future of the planet. There's
- [What Does Your Party Stand For?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/08/26/what-does-your-party-stand-for/) - These days, it's popular to say that there is no real difference between the political parties; that they are both in the pockets of large corporations. While it is true that, following recent Supreme Court decisions, both parties rely on the wealthy for campaign donations, there are sizeable differences in what the two parties stand
- [When Journalism Becomes Propaganda.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/08/24/when-journalism-becomes-propaganda/) - Where do you go for news? Do you rely on a single source? Do you read beyond the headlines? Do you take the time to explore beyond the sound bites? Do you take the time to fact check statements by politicians? Do you check the veracity of chain emails and posts on social media? Most
- [Gold King Mine Spill: What The Headlines Don't Tell You.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/08/21/gold-king-mine-spill-what-the-headlines-dont-tell-you/) - If you've seen the headlines, you no doubt "know" that the EPA unintentionally caused the spill of more than 3 million gallons of toxic sludge into the scenic Animas River. With great glee, the so-called liberal media announced that the Environmental Protection Agency was responsible for polluting our environment. But wait! There's more to the
- [The US Is No Longer A Democracy.  Here's How It Happened.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/08/17/the-us-is-no-longer-a-democracy-heres-how-it-happened/) - Last year, a study from Princeton and Northwestern universities, "Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups and Average Citizens," concluded that the US government no longer represents the interests of the majority of the nation's citizens. Instead, it panders to the rich and powerful. In other words, the US has become an oligarchy defined
- [Hall Of Fame Indifference.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/08/11/hall-of-fame-indifference/) - The induction of former San Diego Chargers linebacker, Junior Seau, into the NFL Hall of Fame raises a number of questions. Not about his qualifications for the honor. He is most certainly deserving. It raises questions about NFL team ownership; about the league's Commissioner; about concussion protocol; about the equipment; about the game's rules; about
- [A Voter's Guide To The GOP Debate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/08/06/a-voters-guide-to-the-gop-debate/) - Now that the defacto head of the Republican Party, Roger Ailes of Fox News Channel, has announced the participants in the first GOP presidential debate, here are a few things you should know about the candidates: Donald Trump - You already know he's rich (he tells everyone at every opportunity) and that he's a bully
- [A Texas-Sized Conspiracy Theory.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/07/31/a-texas-sized-conspiracy-theory/) - As they say, everything is bigger in Texas and apparently tinfoil-hat paranoia is no exception. For those in the North, aka sane people, you may not be aware of Obama's latest attempt to subjugate the people of the South under sharia law. That's right, as a secret Muslim, President Obama has ordered the US military
- [Why Iran Began Its Nuclear Program In The First Place.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/07/28/why-iran-began-its-nuclear-program-in-the-first-place/) - With all of the talk about the agreement between Iran, the US and 5 other world powers, one key aspect has been largely overlooked. Iran may never have tried to develop nuclear weapons had it not been for the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. That ill-conceived and unwarranted act placed US troops at the
- [What If We Applied The NRA Philosophy Internationally?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/07/24/what-if-we-applied-the-nra-philosophy-universally/) - Since the latest mass shooting in the United States comes at a time when Teapublicans are denouncing the Iran Nuclear Agreement, it makes me wonder: "What if we treated all armaments the same way as the National Rifle Association and its Teapublican supporters want us to treat guns?" If their answer to mass shootings is
- [Far From A Cancer On The Conservative Movement, Trump Represents It.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/07/23/trump-isnt-a-cancer-on-the-conservative-movement-he-represents-it/) - Contrary to Rick Perry's assessment of Donald Trump, The Donald embodies everything that's wrong with today's Republican Party. He's loud, arrogant, abusive, mean-spirited, greedy, narcissistic and an unapologetic bully. He's a friend of soulless multinational corporations and an enemy of the environment. He's opposed to immigration, yet he happily hires immigrants for menial, low-paying jobs.
- [The GOP Clown Car Has Turned Into A Clown Caravan.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/07/21/the-gop-clown-car-has-turned-into-a-clown-caravan/) - With John Kasich's recent announcement, there are now officially 16 - count 'em - 16 Teapublicans running for president. That's certainly an impressive number. Now let's talk about how many are actually qualified to be president. Zero. None. Nada. Certainly, some have led their respective states as governors. Others have been elected to Congress. Still
- [What If The US Were Like The EU?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/07/13/what-if-the-us-were-like-the-eu/) - The corporate media propagandists have portrayed Greece as a debtor nation unable to get its fiscal house in order due to the laziness and greed of its people. They fail to report that Greece is only in its current situation largely as the result of the US-created mortgage crisis and the greed of huge international
- [So Netanyahu Doesn't Like The Agreement. So What?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/07/15/so-netanyahu-doesnt-like-the-agreement-so-what/) - Whether or not Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likes our nuclear agreement with Iran shouldn't matter. He wasn't in the room while the deal was being made. And if he had been, we'd likely be at war right now. You see, it's clear by now that Netanyahu doesn't want peace in the Middle East. It
- [There Is No Freedom Without Responsibility.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/07/06/there-is-no-freedom-without-responsibility/) - The Fourth of July has long been declared a national holiday so Americans can take time to celebrate our freedom. To many Americans, that makes us unique. But, in reality, the US is not the only country with freedom. Indeed, based on a study by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which looks at 60 indicators in
- [The Prosperity Gospel Phenomenon.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/06/25/the-prosperity-gospel-phenomenon/) - There have always been con men; carnival barkers imploring you to take a chance on a game you cannot win; snake oil salesmen asking you to purchase products that don't work; and, in the modern day, hedge fund managers and bankers selling worthless stocks. Maybe the most despicable of all are the mega-church charlatans demanding
- [Symbols Matter.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/06/23/symbols-matter/) - Following the shooting of 9 people at a Bible study group in Charleston, South Carolina, some wonder why so many have called for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds. They claim that the flag is flown to commemorate the state’s history and those who died in service of the Confederacy.
- [Rick Perry Reveals The Right Wing Agenda.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/06/08/rick-perry-reveals-the-right-wing-agenda/) - It would seem that 2012's "Ooops" candidate has had another "Ooops" moment. In launching his 2016 presidential bid, he finally remembered the 3 federal departments he would eliminate: the Department of Education, the Department of Labor and the Department of Energy. And that's not all. He would also eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency, the IRS,
- [Politicization Of Religion.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/06/15/politicization-of-religion/) - Let me begin by stating that, although I'm not a church person, I am a religious person. My spirituality and my belief in compassion for others is an essential part of my being. Religion can play an important role in keeping order and preventing some from infringing on the rights of others. I wish everyone
- [Why Let Politics And Religion Divide Us?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/06/06/why-let-politics-and-religion-divide-us/) - In the past 20-30 years, politics have been increasingly used to identify and separate us. We are no longer people who hold a variety of complex ideas that we believe could improve the human condition. We have been reduced to conservatives or liberals...Democrats, Republicans or...gasp... Independents. We cannot have nuanced views. We must join a
- [Guns For Everyone, Everywhere!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/06/04/guns-for-everyone-everywhere/) - For years, I thought the National Rifle Association could stoop no lower than its role as shill for the gun manufacturers. The US has never restricted gun ownership, but the NRA has routinely pushed for increased accessibility and ever more lethal weapons. As a result, Americans may now purchase a 50-caliber semi-automatic sniper rifle powerful
- [Phoenix Demonstrations Expose Hearts And Minds Of Participants.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/06/02/phoenix-demonstrations-exposes-hearts-and-minds-of-participants/) - Last weekend's so-called First Amendment demonstration really wasn't about standing up for the Constitution. In addition to sending a message that, under the First Amendment, repulsive hate-mongers have a constitutional right to say whatever they want, it sent a message of religious intolerance. It was intended to deny Muslims their First Amendment guarantee of freedom
- [You Can Take That To The Bank.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/05/25/you-can-take-that-to-the-bank/) - That used to be a statement of certainty. Americans once considered the bank a place of safety for their money; an island of certainty in an uncertain world. No longer. With the repeal of Glass-Steagall in 1999, banks have become little more than high-end casinos - only casinos have some semblance of integrity. When banks
- [Whatever Happened To Sportsmanship?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/05/10/whatever-happened-to-sportsmanship/) - Tom Brady's involvement in Deflategate is further evidence of the decline of sports. At their best, sports teach the benefits of teamwork, hard work, determination, fairness and sportsmanship. But over the years, those attributes have been replaced by the effects of money and swollen egos. Witness the seeming indifference by the New England Patriots when
- [America's Biggest Losers.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/05/08/americas-biggest-losers/) - Texans have always been proud of their state's size and independence as clearly expressed in the tourism slogan: " It's like a whole other country." Since the territory was annexed from Mexico, Texans have seemed to deny their relationship to the US, proudly referring to their state as "The great republic of Texas." In 1861,
- [Videos Of Police Abuse Are Just The Tip Of The Iceberg.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/04/11/videos-of-police-abuse-are-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/) - The video showing the murder of Walter Scott has re-ignited the debate over police abuse by showing the cold-blooded murder of an unarmed 52-year-old man who was running away from a cop. But this video is no less alarming than other videos showing the strangulation death of a man for selling untaxed cigarettes; the merciless
- [The Reality Show I'd Pay To See.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/03/19/the-reality-show-id-pay-to-see/) - I despise virtually all of the so-called "Reality" TV shows. But there is one show I'd love to see: "Sheriff Joe's Prison Term In Tent City." For years, "America's Toughest Sheriff" has, in reality, been America's Most Corrupt Sheriff. He has ignored court orders and enforced laws as he sees fit. He has racially-profiled Latinos.
- [America Was Built By Riots.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/04/29/america-was-built-by-riots/) - Although many Americans, especially those who are white, are quick to decry the rioting and looting in predominately black neighborhoods and communities, it should be noted that those involved are simply following a long-standing American tradition. Indeed, the act that inflamed tensions and led to the Revolutionary War was a riot of angry taxpayers looting
- [The Eleventh Hour For Earth.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/04/22/the-eleventh-hour-for-earth/) - Half of all the species on Earth have disappeared in the last 40 years. In Malaysia, Indonesia, Africa and Brazil, the destruction of rain forests continues almost unabated endangering thousands more species of plants and animals while belching tons of carbon and methane into the atmosphere. The resulting increase in world temperatures from deforestation, gas
- [Remembering The Greatest Economic Crash In History.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/04/21/remembering-the-greatest-economic-crash-in-history/) - Looking back at the market crash of 2008, it's difficult to believe that it represented a greater loss of stock and home equity than any previous crash in American history. Though we may be impatient for a full recovery of jobs and middle class incomes, we should take a few moments to recognize that the
- [The Ongoing Bloodless Coup.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/04/03/the-ongoing-bloodless-coup/) - Prior to the Great Depression, the world's financial institutions and industrialists had most everything going their way. Still living in the gilded age, they had been able to stave off labor unions by exercising all of the power their money could muster. But when the stock market crashed and Herbert Hoover failed to right the
- [Iran Deal Is The Best Of Three Options.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/04/03/iran-deal-is-the-best-of-three-options/) - Whatever you think of the framework to prevent Iran's nuclear arms ambitions, it could be worse. Anyway you look at it, western nations have three possible options: 1 - Negotiate the best deal possible with Iran. 2 - Continue to allow Iran to develop its nuclear capabilities despite our sanctions. 3 - Declare war. There
- [The New F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.  My, How Time And Money Fly!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/04/01/the-new-f-35-joint-strike-fighter-my-how-time-and-money-fly/) - It seems that the United States military-industrial complex has always been good at squandering taxpayer money. But, as the most costly weapons program in our nation's history, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has taken wasteful spending to a new level. The F-35 was supposed to replace the F-16 as the nation's premier fighter jet. But
- [United Corporations Of America.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/03/30/united-corporations-of-america/) - Now that Congress has been bought by large corporate interests and billionaires, you can clearly see the GOP agenda intended to pay back campaign donors. Some of the very first bills brought forward by the GOP include a bill demanding that President Obama and the State Department approve the Keystone XL pipeline. The stated goal
- [The Balanced Budget Fraud.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/03/24/the-balanced-budget-fraud/) - It may sound like a good idea to require the federal government to balance the budget, but it's nothing more than a thinly-disguised way for Teapublicans to shrink government and give corporations free reign to exploit people and resources. Make no mistake, as soon as a balanced budget amendment is passed, if it ever is,
- [Is It Time To Break The "Unbreakable Bond?"](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/03/18/is-it-time-to-break-the-unbreakable-bond/) - Following the results of the Israeli elections in which the Likud party led by Benjamin Netanyahu won the most seats in the Knesset, it's time for the United States to make some difficult decisions. In order to push his party over the top, Netanyahu made a last minute statement that he would never agree to
- [NetanyaWho?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/03/09/netanyawho/) - As has been widely reported, the Prime Minister of Israel spoke to a joint session of Congress for the third time. Only Winston Churchill has matched that number. However, as you know, this is the first time a leader of another nation has requested and received an invitation to appear before Congress without first going
- [The Reality Of Tar Sands Oil.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/03/16/the-reality-of-tar-sands-oil/) - It's telling that, among the priorities of the new Teapublican-controlled Congress, several bills came to the forefront. In addition to further attempts to repeal Obamacare, Teapublicans prioritized the Keystone XL pipeline and reduced funding for the Environmental Protection Agency. And who would this legislation benefit? Certainly not the general public. The primary beneficiaries are the
- [A Step Way Too Far!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/03/09/a-step-way-too-far/) - The letter sent by GOP senators to the leaders of Iran is certainly not the first attempt by the GOP to undermine our president. But it is, most certainly, the most egregious and the most dangerous. Since President Obama defeated John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, the Republicans in Congress have done everything in
- [Pillorying Hillary.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/03/07/pillorying-hillary/) - The media is trying to turn the fact that Hillary Clinton used a personal email account as Secretary of State into another scandal. Of course, the right wing wants us to believe that it is part of the Benghazi conspiracy - a conspiracy that has been debunked by 6 separate commissions. Indeed, the so-called "Select
- [Democracy Lost.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/03/02/democracy-lost/) - In recent years, much has been written about growing inequality. It is, indeed, one of the most important issues of our time. And the effects of big money on our democracy have been devastating. Sure, you may still be able to vote to elect those who are supposed to represent you. But that, alone, does
- [How Much Is Enough?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/02/14/how-much-is-enough/) - In 2014, the US spent $612.5 billion on defense. Although numerous sources have reported that this number exceeds the military budgets of the next 12 biggest spenders combined, I find that most people still have trouble getting their minds around the number and even more difficulty putting it into perspective. So let's look at it
- [What's The Matter With Kansas Now?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/02/16/whats-the-matter-with-kansas/) - In 2004, Thomas Frank wrote the book "What's The Matter With Kansas?" which looked into the state's religious and political extremism. It was a fascinating read. But it's time for him to write a sequel because the answer to that question is now more clear. What's wrong with Kansas is Governor Sam Brownback and his
- [The True Cost Of America's War Machine.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/02/10/the-true-cost-of-americas-war-machine/) - President Obama just released his proposed budget for 2016. Out of a total budget of $1.15 trillion, $625.2 billion is earmarked for our military. And that doesn't include the $70.5 billion for veterans' benefits. That means $695.7 billion, or 60.4 percent of our total annual budget, will be dedicated to planning for war and dealing
- [Is Another Civil War Inevitable?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/02/05/is-another-civil-war-inevitable/) - Some on the right believe so. To examine that dire possibility, it's necessary to look at history - the issues that led to the Civil War and the issues created by the defeat of the Confederacy. As any school child knows, the cause of the Civil War was slavery. The primary reason the Union won
- [No One More Deserving Of Contempt.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/02/02/no-one-more-deserving-of-contempt/) - On Thursday, January 15, a United States District Court Judge called for a contempt of court proceeding against Joe Arpaio, the self-proclaimed "nation's toughest sheriff." It's a development for which I have only one question: What took so long? The oh-so-tough Sheriff Joe has a long history of deeds that are deserving of contempt. The
- [The Sad State Of Arizona (2015 Edition)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/01/26/the-sad-state-of-arizona-2015-edition/) - Before the GOP-created Great Recession, Arizona's state economy was based on the fantasy that construction could continue until the entire Sonora Desert was covered by homes, shopping malls and golf courses. So since the housing market crashed, Arizona's economy has languished. While other states were trying to mend their losses by diversifying, stimulating their economies
- [On Religion, Politics, Terrorism And War.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/01/29/on-religion-politics-terrorism-and-war/) - Following World War II, the Korea War and Vietnam, when our soldiers returned home, they tried to resume their previous lives as quickly as possible. Despite their often heroic acts, many declined recognition. Many refused to talk about their experiences...not even with friends, neighbors and families. In part, it was because they did not want
- [State Of The World.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/01/21/state-of-the-world/) - On the day following President Obama's inspiring State of the Union address, I think it appropriate to wonder, if a world leader were to make a State of the World address, what would it be? What would be the calls to action? What accomplishments would it tout? What dire warnings would it contain? If I
- [MLK Day: An Update.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/01/19/mlk-day-an-update/) - As we celebrate Martin Luther King Day, it seems appropriate to look at King's legacy in the area of civil rights. By the time Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968, he and his movement had made great strides. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had been signed into law making it illegal to
- [Some Context On The Terrorism In France.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/01/09/some-context-on-the-terrorism-in-france/) - For the last few days, US media have been fixated on the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo. Without question, murdering satirists and innocents over ideology is a horrible, despicable act. But would the story have so dominated the news media if the terrorists were not Muslim? The treatment of similar stories by news media suggests
- [How Our Media Are Failing Us.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2015/01/05/how-our-media-are-failing-us/) - The US news media were once the envy of the world. TV news gave us legendary journalists such as Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley and Chet Huntley to name just a few. These were people who proudly informed Americans, exposed corruption and provided context for politics. So what happened? How did we go
- [Journalism: A Eulogy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/12/31/journalism-a-eulogy/) - Last week's admission by Chuck Todd, the host of Meet The Press, was a recognition that he no longer makes any pretense that his show is about journalism. For those who missed it, Todd stated that he dared not challenge a Teapublican guest by challenging a false statement or by asking a difficult question. For,
- [We All Need To Take A Deep Breath.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/12/22/a-fantastic-analysis-of-police-and-race-relations/) - After the spate of shootings of unarmed black men and children by the police, the failure to file charges, the massive demonstrations, and the retaliatory killings of two police by a mentally ill black man, it's clear that we all need to calm the rhetoric. Charges by conservatives that the cop shootings were caused by
- [What's A Black Man's Life Worth?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/12/17/whats-a-black-mans-life-worth/) - In recent weeks we have seen a number of unarmed black men and children killed by police. We have seen video of a non-violent black man being choked to death in Staten Island for failure to pay cigarette taxes. We have heard testimony of a black teenager in Ferguson gunned down by 12 shots even
- [Scandals That Weren't.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/12/04/scandals-that-werent/) - Since Teapublicans took control of the House in 2011, Rep. Darrell Issa, Rep. Paul Gosar and other extremists have conducted a barrage of hearings with the intent of exposing the misdeeds of the Obama administration. They began by examining government loans made to administration "loyalists" at Solyndra, a start-up manufacturer of solar panels. They moved
- [Why US Must Prosecute Its Architects Of Torture.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/12/11/why-us-must-prosecute-its-architects-of-torture/) - When President Obama took office, he and Attorney General Eric Holder declined to prosecute crimes committed by the Bush administration...the fraudulent case for the Iraq War, the illegal detention and treatment of the prisoners at Gitmo, and the failure of government agencies to regulate the gambling addiction of Wall Street. The feeling was that the
- [Tales Of Our Torturer-In-Chief.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/12/09/tales-of-our-torturer-in-chief/) - The Senate Committee on Intelligence (Yes, I know, there are many who would question if there is any intelligence in Washington) has released its report on torture and its insights into the actions of the CIA under the Bush administration is not pretty. The report shows that waterboarding was only one of the methods used,
- [College Football Playoffs Already A Joke.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/12/09/college-football-playoffs-already-a-joke/) - The new playoff format for major college football was supposed to eliminate the subjective judgments of the previous BCS (Bowl Championship Series) to choose a true champion. But, in the first year of its existence, the new system has already proven to be fatally flawed. Instead of relying on a variety of polls to choose
- [Greed Versus Poverty.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/11/22/greed-versus-poverty/) - "For the first time in history it is now possible to take care of everybody at a higher standard of living than any have ever known. Only ten years ago the 'more with less' technology reached the point where this could be done. All humanity now has the option of becoming enduringly successful." - Buckminster
- [The Difference Between The Facts And The Truth.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/11/24/the-difference-between-the-facts-and-the-truth/) - Since President Obama's Executive Order on immigration, various news organizations have been crawling all over each other to "fact-check" the president's statements. Predictably, they found a number of things that were at odds with the "facts." What those news organizations fail to recognize is that the facts don't necessarily represent the truth. So I'll do
- [An Informed Voting Public?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/11/17/an-informed-voting-public/) - Our Founding Fathers created a democracy based on informed voters carefully selecting a representative government. The reality is that, after nearly 240 years, we have neither an informed public nor a representative government. The most recent election is a case in point. After six years of Teapublican obstruction, the approval rating of Congress was lower
- [Delusional Democrats.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/11/06/delusional-democrats/) - The midterm electoral ass-kicking should be a wake-up call for Democrats. Yet, in the hours following the debacle, all I've seen and heard are the same old lame excuses. "Democrats only turn out for presidential elections." "Our candidates were swamped by a tsunami of dark money." "It's the result of Obama's unfavorable numbers." "With the
- [The Not-So-United States.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/11/12/the-not-so-united-states/) - It's the day after Veteran's Day. After flying the Stars and Stripes one last time to honor those who served our nation, Arizona citizens and businesses should be folding up their American flags and storing them away. Or, for the few who still pledge allegiance to the flag, they should remove the star representing Arizona.
- [How Teapublicans Cheat.  Let Me Count The Ways.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/11/03/how-teapublicans-cheat-let-me-count-the-ways/) - 1 - Lies: People tend to think that all politicians lie. To some degree, that's true. In order to make a point that can be used as a 20-second sound bite in the news, most politicians stretch the truth or take things out of context. But a recent study shows that Republicans lie much more
- [A Simple Way To Reform Political Advertising.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/10/29/a-simple-way-to-reform-political-advertising/) - Since the Supreme Court decisions in Buckley v. Valeo, Citizens United v. FEC and McCutcheon v. FEC, there have been numerous initiatives to reform election campaigns. Most involve asking Congress to pass Constitutional Amendments that would control election finance or require publicly-funded elections. Though these attempts are admirable and necessary, I think they have little
- [The Only Thing We Really Need To Know About School Shooters.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/10/27/the-only-thing-we-really-need-to-know-about-school-shooters/) - After the most recent school shooting, the media and law enforcement are, once again, attempting to find out what motivated the shooting. They've analyzed his social media posts. They've interviewed his friends, family members and teachers. They've speculated that he was suffering from mental illness. They've explored his relationships. Everyone wants to know why he
- [How Does The Koch Money Look In Your State?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/10/24/how-does-the-koch-money-look-in-your-state/) - In Arizona, it looks as vile and nasty as the people at the Koch refinery for whom I once worked. And I suspect it looks no different wherever you live. If you watch the political ads as carefully as I do (I know, I know, that makes me sound like a masochist), you'll see a
- [Further Evidence That Television News Is A Joke.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/10/22/further-evidence-that-television-news-is-a-joke/) - It was recently revealed that, before NBC News selected Chuck Todd to host Meet The Press, it tried to convince Jon Stewart to be the host. Yes, that Jon Stewart...the comedian. The same Jon Stewart who currently hosts The Daily Show. That speaks volumes about the quality of television journalism today. Stewart is one of
- [Why Democratic Candidates Keep Fighting An Uphill Battle.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/10/21/why-democratic-candidates-keep-fighting-an-uphill-battle/) - The answer is Democratic leadership...or, more precisely, the lack of it. The only discernible strategies of the Democratic Party are to wait for minorities to become the majority and to send a constant barrage of fund-raising emails to registered Democrats in hopes of countering the massive amounts of money from corporations, PACs, Super PACs, and
- [Allison Lundgren Grimes' Campaign A Perfect Example Of Party Incompetence.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/10/15/allison-lundgren-grimes-campaign-a-perfect-example-of-party-incompetence/) - I'm not referring to Grimes herself, to other Democratic candidates or to the rank and file Democratic volunteers. It's the so-called strategists who demonstrate the most incompetence. They collect millions in fees while seldom venturing outside of Washington, DC. They create cookie-cutter ads for their candidates. They ignore the principles of their own party platform.
- [Liberals Are Missing The Point About The Affleck-Maher Debate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/10/14/liberals-are-missing-the-point-about-the-affleck-maher-debate/) - On Real Time with Bill Maher, the two celebrities and author Sam Harris had a lively discussion about religion and, specifically, about Islam. It seemed that Harris and Maher intended to make the point that Islam is like other religions, except that a surprising percentage of its adherents in the Middle East have extremist views.
- [Take That, Westboro Baptist Church!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/10/10/take-that-westboro-baptist-church/) - This past Wednesday, a District Judge in Kansas cleared the way for same sex marriages. Yes, Kansas! The state that had become the buckle on the Bible Belt; the state that had become so infamously conservative that it had a book written about it entitled What's The Matter With Kansas? There couldn't be a more
- [The Real Threat From Ebola.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/10/09/the-real-threat-for-ebola/) - Fox Noise Channel and other right wing media pundits have cranked up the scare-o-meter, and it has nothing to do with Halloween. In fact, it has more to do with the upcoming mid-term elections. They want us to believe that we're all going to die from Ebola-carrying terrorists from ISIS, aka ISIL. And, of course,
- [You've Gotta Hand It To Conservatives.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/10/03/youve-gotta-hand-it-to-conservatives/) - Following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the GOP employed the Southern Strategy which was designed to employ racism in order to gain votes from long-time southern Democrats. It worked. As a result of the strategy, Republicans were able to win the White House in 1968, 1972, 1980, 1984, and 1988. It took Southerners to
- [The Real Israeli-Palestinian War.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/09/05/the-real-israeli-palestinian-war/) - Since the murder of 3 Israeli teenagers and the revenge killings of more than 2,000 Palestinians, Israel and Hamas have been engaged in a propaganda war. And it appears that Hamas is winning. The disproportionate Israeli attacks on Gaza, including air strikes on hospitals, schools and UN facilities, polls have caused the popularity of Hamas
- [Qurans At Our Border?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/09/18/qurans-at-our-border/) - As part of election year fear-mongering, conservatives have once again tried to foment fear over our southern border. Some good ol' boy cowboy-hat-wearing nitwit recently appeared on Fox Noise Channel to warn that "Muslim clothing and the Quran book" had been found at campsites near the border. In addition, right wing politicians have warned that
- [Many Problems, One Cause.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/09/23/many-problems-one-cause/) - Every single day, I receive emails and letters from dozens of organizations seeking help: The Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, Oceana, Greenpeace, Walk Free, UNICEF, Care, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Corps, No Kid Hungry, Food and Water Watch, Organic Consumers Association, ACLU, Everytown for Gun Safety...the list goes on and on. While each of
- [Destroying Our Country To "Save" It.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/09/30/destroying-our-country-to-save-it/) - Former Congressman Ron Paul has long been the darling of the so-called Tea Party "Patriots." Like all of his ilk, he waves the flag and spouts quotes from the Founding Fathers in an attempt to claim the high ground of patriotism. Yet, Paul recently told the National Journal " that he was "real pleased...and a
- [Obama Again Forced To Clean Up One Of Bush's Messes.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/09/26/obama-again-forced-to-clean-up-one-of-bushs-messes/) - It has taken most of 5 years for President Obama to clean up the economic mess left by the Bush administration...an economic disaster that former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke labeled as worse than the 1929 crash that led to the Great Depression. Now the Obama administration is determined to clean up the mess created
- [The Home Of Radical Islam.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/09/08/the-home-of-radical-islam/) - ISIS (aka ISIL and the Islamic State), al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the radical Islamic madrassas in Pakistan all have something in common aside from Islam. They have all been funded by Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabia that is sitting on an ocean of oil which has turned a family of desert tribesmen into billionaires; the
- [Cop Shootings Prove The Need For Gun Control.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/08/28/cop-shootings-prove-the-need-for-gun-control/) - One of the claims made by the NRA (National Rifle Assh*les) when pushing for expansion of open carry laws is that guns are safe in the hands of individuals who have been properly trained in the use of firearms. Well, either that is false or most of our gun-wielding cops have been poorly trained. In
- [More Questions About Ferguson.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/08/27/more-questions-about-ferguson/) - Why did the Ferguson police force have only three African-American officers out of a force of 53 when the population of Ferguson is more than 67 percent black? What did Officer Darren Wilson take away from his training at the disgraced Jennings Police Department that was disbanded over racial tensions? Did he bring that training
- [Bullies In Blue.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/08/21/bullies-in-blue/) - Or black, or khaki, or camoflauge or whatever police officers are wearing these days. The events in Ferguson and St. Louis are by no means unique. But they have called attention to a long-festering problem in the US. I recognize that there are many honorable and well-intentioned police officers. Unfortunately, their good work is being
- [Racism And The Militarization Of Police.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/08/19/racism-and-the-militarization-of-police/) - The current upheaval in Ferguson, Missouri has finally drawn attention to two long-standing problems with law enforcement in the US. Police have been disproportionately arresting and shooting African-American males for decades. Imagine if a member of a predominately black police force shot an unarmed white teenager in a majority white city. How do you think
- [Democrats Should Listen To Nader.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/08/14/democrats-should-listen-to-nader/) - For some time, I’ve written about the Democratic Party’s appalling ineptitude with regard to branding and messaging. The party seems utterly incapable of communicating a clear, concise and cogent message. Most voters can recite the Republican brand – “Less government. Lower taxes.” But what does the Democratic Party stand for? What is its brand? Ask
- [WWJT – (What Would Jesus Think)?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/08/11/wwjt-what-would-jesus-think/) - During a recent sermon, Pastor John Hagee of Cornerstone Church in Texas decried our federal safety net programs by saying, “To those of you who are sick, to those of you who are elderly, to those of you who are disabled, we gladly support you. To the healthy who can work but won’t work, get
- [Drill, Baby, Drill? No, Baby, No!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/08/08/drill-baby-drill-no-baby-no/) - In order to fuel our energy habit, there are now more than 1.8 million oil wells worldwide. We know that 36 percent – 648,000 – of them will leak. In addition, we know that all of the oil and gas pipelines that crisscross our country will leak. Yes, all of them! And they'll leak, not
- [Be Afraid Of The Children. Be Very Afraid!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/08/07/be-afraid-of-the-children-be-very-afraid/) - A study by Darren Schreiber of the University of Exeter found that the brains of Democrats and Republicans are wired differently. The key characteristic that distinguished Republican brains is in the way they process risk, reward and fear. They are more likely to exhibit fear of any perceived threat...even of change. You can see this
- [Where Will This Nonsense End?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/08/01/where-will-this-nonsense-end/) - This week, the United States House of Representatives voted along party lines to sue the President of the United States for the first time in history. The basis for the lawsuit? Teapublicans claim that President Obama overstepped his legal authority by extending the deadline for the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate for another year –
- [What Good Are Geneva Conventions If We Refuse To Enforce Them?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/08/05/what-good-are-geneva-conventions-if-we-refuse-to-enforce-them/) - By signing the Geneva Convention on torture, the US agreed that it would never resort to torturing prisoners, and that it would prosecute or extradite anyone who did. So why has the Obama administration refused to press charges of war crimes against George W. Bush, Richard “The Dick” Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, et al?
- [Why Does The Right Feel Free To Interpret Science But Not The Constitution And The Bible?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/07/19/why-does-the-right-feel-free-to-interpret-science-but-not-the-constitution-and-the-bible/) - If anything, it should be the other way around. The Bible is not only full of contradictions. Most of it was written hundreds of years after the events it portrays, and it has lost meaning with each translation. As for the Constitution, not even its authors thought it was infallible. Indeed, the Founders expected it
- [Inversion: The New Name For Corporate Tax Evasion.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/07/30/inversion-the-new-name-for-corporate-tax-evasion/) - Some of the world’s largest corporations were founded in the US. They were capitalized by selling shares to Americans on American stock markets. They relied on our infrastructure, our labor force, and the stability of our currency in order to prosper and grow. That growth was accelerated by tax incentives and government giveaways. They lobbied
- [Where Is Our Conscience?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/07/26/where-is-our-conscience/) - If the events of this past week disclosed anything, it’s that the people of the United States have no conscience. We not only support a government waging war on civilians, including women and children, resulting in 860 dead and more than 5,000 wounded. We have accelerated deportations of desperate mothers and kids escaping the violence
- [Does Israel Actually Want Peace?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/07/22/does-israel-actually-want-peace/) - It's a fair question. Because nearly every time Israel is presented with a real opportunity, it seems to turn, instead, to violence. Israel's latest misadventure was soundly criticized this past Sunday by former Secretary of State Zbigniew Brzezinski during an appearance on Fareed Zakaria’s Global Public Square. When asked if the Israeli invasion of Gaza
- [Immigration Issues Tied To Foreign Policy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/07/07/immigration-issues-tied-to-foreign-policy/) - Conservatives, especially those in Arizona, California and Texas, are using the recent influx of unaccompanied children from Central America to "prove" that President Obama is neglecting our southern border. They can't seem to comprehend the fact that the children have been apprehended while crossing the border. They weren't just given a pass into the US.
- [Proof That Racism Is As Rampant And Repugnant As Ever.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/07/16/proof-that-racism-is-as-rampant-and-repugnant-as-ever/) - In writing the majority decision that struck down key portions of the Voting Rights Act, Chief Justice Roberts stated, “While any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions.” That’s the same uniformed and misguided mindset that the Court has
- [Conservative “Values.”](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/07/14/conservative-values/) - Whenever I hear someone talk about “values,” I silently prepare myself to endure yet another lecture about religion, hard work, freedom and patriotism. That’s because conservatives assume that they are the only ones who appreciate such things - the only ones who admire hard work, dedication to family and the benefits of living in the
- [What Is Patriotism?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/07/05/what-is-patriotism/) - On this Independence Day weekend, movoto.com published a map showing the most and the least patriotic states in America. I might not have paid it any heed except for the fact that it ranked my former state of Minnesota at #49. The criteria used included the number of National Historic Landmarks per capita (WTF?), the
- [Israel’s One-Sided “Justice.”](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/07/03/israels-one-sided-justice/) - Although it didn’t make international news, not long ago, two Palestinian boys were kidnapped in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank and killed. Apparently, that is what led to the senseless kidnap and muder of 3 Israeli teenagers. A day after their bodies were found, Israeli jets bombed and strafed Gaza in reprisal for their killings. Not
- [Vengeance Is Mine?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/07/01/vengeance-is-mine/) - In Romans 12:19, Bible readers are warned, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” Apparently that message is lost on most so-called Christians in the US. After all, we rank among the top five nations for executions.
- [Further Disintegration Of Our National Media.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/30/further-disintegration-of-our-national-media/) - Nancy Grace’s recent interview with a father whose child had been reported missing was, in a word, disgraceful. By choosing to tell the father on-air that his child had been found demonstrated a lust for sensationalism and insensitivity that defies any journalistic standards. Worse, she first announced to the father that the child had been
- [Another School Shooting...Yawn.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/26/another-school-shooting-yawn/) - The recent Oregon school shooting was the 74th shooting on or near school property since the slaughter of six and seven-year-olds at Sandy Hook Elementary. Several other school attacks have been discovered before the individuals could carry out their plans. Nevertheless, these shootings are happening at a rate of more than one a week. And
- [Ugly Voices From The Past.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/18/ugly-voices-from-the-past/) - Since the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) jihadists invaded Iraq, the media outlets who failed to ask the tough questions in 2002 and 2003 have paraded Bush administration neocons and their apologists from one “news” program to another. In recent days, we’ve heard the warmongering duo of Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. John
- [How To Make White People Roll Their Eyes.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/24/how-to-make-white-people-roll-their-eyes/) - Bring up the subject of reparations for the descendants of slaves and for Native Americans as Ta-Nehisi Coates recently did in the May edition of The Atlantic and most white people will roll their eyes and sputter, “But that was generations ago! I didn’t have anything to do with slavery or genocide.” Such a response
- [Advice From A War Criminal.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/20/advice-from-a-war-criminal/) - From The Department Of Who The Hell Cares, Richard “The Dick” Cheney and his unpleasant daughter, Liz (I assume that’s short for Lizard) recently announced that they have formed a Political Action Committee to “restore America.” Restore America to what? To a craven bully that interferes with other governments; that robs resources from third world
- [Trading "Terrorists" For A “Deserter.”](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/16/trading-terrorists-for-a-deserter/) - The US, Israel and other countries have long said, “We don’t negotiate with terrorists.” But that’s not exactly true. After all, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. And there have been many exceptions to that rule. For example, Israel once exchanged more than a thousand “terrorists” for one of its soldiers. And, of
- [Time To Rethink The Language Of Hate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/10/time-to-rethink-the-language-of-hate/) - Following the murder of two Las Vegas cops and a “good guy with a gun,” it’s time to take a long look at those who are fomenting anti-government hate. The shooters, Jerad and Amanda Miller, had apparently been inspired by Cliven Bundy, as well as various militias and “patriot” groups. They believed the police officers
- [More Empty Rhetoric About Border Security](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/09/more-empty-rhetoric-about-border-security/) - In recent weeks, a wave of immigrants from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador have flooded the Texas border in order to escape political turmoil and extreme poverty in their home countries. The would-be immigrants include more than 48,000 children traveling on their own. With its Texas facilities overwhelmed, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) transported thousands
- [What Next For VA?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/01/what-next-for-va/) - Now that Gen. Eric Shinseki has resigned as Secretary of Veterans Affairs under pressure from the crass reactionaries and the weak-minded in Congress, what’s next? Shinseki had been charged with taking over an already flawed and expanding system. He dramatically reduced the wait time for those in line for VA benefits. He helped many homeless veterans
- [The Teapublican Zombie Apocalypse.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/03/the-teapublican-zombie-apocalypse/) - Following eight years of the George W. Bush administration, which included two wars (including one pre-emptive war of choice), the failures of FEMA to give aid for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the crash of the housing market, the nation’s second-largest stock market crash, the bailout of the nation’s largest banks, soaring debt, thousands of
- [Thoughts On The 70th Anniversary Of D-Day. ](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/07/thoughts-on-the-70th-anniversary-of-d-day/) - I was born on the second anniversary of D-Day and I was raised near Omaha. Maybe that's why I have always been fascinated by those men who had the courage to step off a ship into the cold waters off Normandy and storm Omaha Beach. I didn't know anyone who actually fought on Omaha Beach, but I
- [McCain Goes Maverick With The Truth Again!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/06/05/mccain-goes-maverick-with-the-truth-again/) - Having worked with two US Senators on behalf of a friend who had been denied military benefits after being exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, I know how responsive most senators are with regard to veterans’ issues. That’s why it is particularly puzzling that a senator, who is a veteran himself, would not know that
- [Horrified By Yet Another Mass Shooting? Get Used To It.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/29/horrified-by-yet-another-mass-shooting-get-used-to-it/) - In the history of our nation, our individual citizens have never possessed such lethality. Guns are available to anyone, even children. At the same time, our federal, state and local governments have cut back on social programs, including mental health programs. The combination of the two is certain to ensure that more mentally ill people
- [VA Problems A Product Of Our Never-Ending Wars.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/21/va-problems-a-product-of-our-never-ending-wars/) - Since taking office in 2009, President Obama has been confronted with an extraordinary list of problems: Two wars, a failing economy, the collapse of our largest financial institutions, a massive number of home foreclosures, a failing auto industry, high unemployment, rising deficits and rising debt. Those are just the problems he inherited the day he
- [Walmart May Be Finally Getting What It Deserves.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/27/walmart-may-be-finally-getting-what-it-deserves/) - Earnings reports show that same store sales for Walmart have dropped for 5 consecutive quarters. One theory is that the slump is the result of wealth inequality and lower salaries for the bulk of Walmart’s customer base. If so, it couldn’t happen to a better company. Walmart began as the American flag-draped spawn of Sam
- [Tea Party Is Just Another Version Of Posse Comitatus.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/23/posse-comitatus-rides-again/) - Posse Comitatus is from Latin, meaning “power of the community.” As you might expect, the modern organization by that name rejects the authority of the federal government and any form of taxes. Its roots go back to the origins of our country and it blossomed briefly during the Great Depression. After fading into oblivion for
- [Out Of The Mouths Of Comedians...](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/19/out-of-the-mouths-of-comedians/) - One of the sad facts about today’s media is that the hosts of several satirical “news” comedies are better journalists than the news readers on the so-called news networks. They are often more factual and probe more deeply into stories than many of those who pretend to be journalists. Moreover, they are even willing to take the few
- [IRS Did Not Unfairly Target Tea Party.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/30/irs-did-not-unfairly-target-the-tea-party/) - In 2013, it was alleged that the IRS had subjected Tea Party groups that applied for nonprofit status to extra scrutiny. Led by Fox News, hate radio and Rep. Darrell Issa's House Oversight committee, the right howled with indignity. The IRS Director was removed from office. IRS agent, Lois Lerner was vilified. There were even charges
- [Our Ongoing National Shame.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/17/our-ongoing-national-shame/) - Teapublicans are fond of saying that racism is no longer an issue. Conservatives on the US Supreme Court have echoed that sentiment in decisions that weakened and overturned affirmative action. Indeed, many conservatives cite affirmative action as a form of reverse racism. And whenever a politician or African-American speaks out against discrimination, conservatives are quick
- [Just Politics?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/13/just-politics/) - Last week, the GOP unleashed its new election strategy. Not only did they vote for a “select” congressional committee with 7 Republicans and 5 Democrats to investigate Benghazi yet again (there have already been a total of 13 Congressional hearings, 50 Congressional briefings, 25,000 pages of findings, and numerous media investigations – all with the
- [What Good Are Smart Guns With So Many Dumb Gun Owners?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/10/what-good-are-smart-guns-with-so-many-dumb-gun-owners/) - The National Rifle Association is apoplectic over attempts to market so-called smart guns by one of their own. They have threatened violence against the guns’ inventor and every retailer who has attempted to sell them. And they have shouted down those who support the guns by calling them just another attempt by the left to
- [Congress Should Have Given As Much Attention To Iraq As Benghazi.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/07/congress-should-have-given-as-much-attention-to-iraq-as-benghazi/) - Congress has spent far more time debating and analyzing the events at Benghazi than it did the invasion of Iraq. The results of the terrorist attacks on the US Consulate in Benghazi resulted in the tragic deaths of four Americans. While the cavalier invasion of Iraq led to the deaths of 4,486 US soldiers and,
- [Why Religion Is Failing.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/05/why-religion-is-failing/) - In many European nations, churches and cathedrals stand empty, saved from the wrecking ball only because of their historic value. In some cities, the buildings are occupied by tourist information centers; by clothing stores; by shopping malls; by nightclubs; even by strip clubs. Given the current sad state of affairs exhibited by many religions, this
- [A New Understanding Of Life And Death.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/05/02/a-new-understanding-of-life-and-death/) - After studying ancient Hebrew with an old Jewish rabbi, a friend once told me that the ancient term for God or Yaweh is pronounced “huuah,”…similar to the sound one makes when exhaling forcefully. He said that, in addition to being defined as God, it also means “breath.” My understanding of the Buddhist tradition is that consciousness is
- [Conservative Death Wish?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/16/conservative-death-wish/) - For nearly two decades, conservatives have denied...no, scoffed at...climate change. The Koch brothers paid scientists to create reports showing that climate change was a fraud. Republicans first created, then voted against, the idea of Cap and Trade. The Tea Party pushed the Agenda 21 conspiracy saying that a UN plan for global sustainability was a
- [Obamacare “Failure” Is Looking More And More Like A Success.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/28/obamacare-failure-is-looking-more-and-more-like-a-success/) - On Thursday, April 17, 2014 President Obama announced that more than 8 million people have signed up for Obamacare through the federal exchange. Another 1.9 million have signed up through state-run exchanges. Those numbers don’t even include the 3 million young adults who were able to stay on their parents’ plans and the 3 million
- [Middle East Peace Held Hostage By Four Terrorist Groups.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/25/middle-east-peace-held-hostage-by-four-terrorist-groups/) - Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s announcement that Israel is withdrawing from US-brokered peace talks with Palestinians came as no surprise. He and his conservative Israeli supporters have long looked for an excuse...any excuse...to avoid peace. That excuse presented itself when Palestinians announced that Fatah and Hamas, the two largest political parties in Palestine, had joined hands
- [20 Things President Obama Should Do After The Mid-Terms.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/23/20-things-president-obama-should-do-after-the-mid-terms/) - In no particular order of importance: Normalize relations with Cuba. Support Palestine for UN membership. End the War on Drugs and begin the process of decriminalization. Renew calls for a Public Option as part of the Affordable Care Act. Negotiate pharmaceutical prices as all other industrialized nations have done. Rally Americans to aggressively deal with
- [An Act Of Sedition.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/21/an-act-of-sedition/) - After watching videos of the armed confrontation between Cliven Bundy and federal agents executing a legal court order, I realized that I was watching more than a political demonstration or civil disobenience. When Bundy’s crowd of armed milita threatened government officials by drawing their weapons and taking aim from sniper positions, they crossed a very
- [Time For U.S. To Show Leadership.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/18/time-for-u-s-to-show-some-leadership/) - Actually, it’s long past time. Had the United States shown leadership when scientists first explained the consequences of climate change, when Al Gore released his Inconvenient Truth, we might have already recreated our economy, inspired other nations and generated millions of jobs. Instead, conservatives chose to politicize the issue to protect Bush/Cheney’s interests in Big
- [Nevada Rancher Is Just Another Ungrateful “Taker.”](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/13/nevada-rancher-is-just-another-ungrateful-taker/) - The Tea Party and those who believe states' rights trump the federal government have hailed Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy as a “freedom fighter” and an “American hero” for standing against the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. But the fact is, by the definition of Mitt Romney, he’s just another one of
- [Pennsylvania School Attack Highlights The Need For Gun Control.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/11/pennsylvania-school-attack-highlights-the-need-for-gun-control/) - Following the school stabbing incident in Pennsylvania, the nation’s gun lobby is almost certain to draw comparisons to school shootings. They’ll likely claim that guns are no more dangerous than knives or clubs. They’ll point to the number of stabbings and beatings in the US. They’ll likely say that a crazed person with a weapon –
- [Shoddy…er...Hobby Lobby.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/10/shoddyer-hobby-lobby/) - As you may know, the Supreme Court of the United States recently heard Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Inc., a case brought against the Department of Health and Human Services by a few Christian zealots led by the founders of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood. In their lawsuit, they are challenging the Affordable Care Act’s requirement
- [T.G.F.M. (Thank God For Mississippi!)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/07/t-g-f-m-thank-god-for-mississippi/) - Last month, Arizona made national and international headlines for SB 1062, the highly discriminatory bill that would allow businesses to refuse service based on religious beliefs. In the short time between the legislature passing the bill and Governor Brewer’s veto, the state lost tens of thousands in convention and tourism business.The state also received threats from
- [Supreme Injustice.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/02/supreme-injustice/) - The Supreme Court decision in McCutcheon et al v Federal Election Commission is the next step in our march from democracy to plutocracy allowing the rich to dominate our political system even more than they already have. In a series of 5-4 decisions with "conservatives" in the majority, the Court has ruled that money equals free speech;
- [All Men Are Created Equal?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/04/01/all-men-are-created-equal/) - That’s what our Declaration of Independence stated. But it wasn’t true. In fact, African-Americans were considered three-fifths of a person and held in slavery for nearly a hundred years longer. Native Americans were slaughtered and herded onto reservations in order to steal their land. Chinese-Americans were virtually enslaved to build our railroads. And women were
- [Why "Obamacare" Won't Be Repealed.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/31/why-obamacare-wont-be-repealed/) - As of last week, more than 6 million people have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges and that number is expected to grow to as many as 7 million by the end of today. Roughly one-third of those people were previously uninsured. Another 4.5 million people have gained health
- [With Friends Like These...](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/28/with-friends-like-these/) - The Karzai government in Afghanistan was put in place with the help of the US. Since the government is a supposed ally, we have spent more than $100 billion to rebuild the country that the Soviets and we destroyed – more than we spent to rebuild Japan or Germany after World War II; more than
- [Do Religious Beliefs Trump Scientific Facts And The Common Good?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/26/do-religious-beliefs-trump-scientific-facts/) - Can a for-profit corporation have religious beliefs? If so, who defines the corporation’s beliefs? Is it the CEO? The Board of Directors? The shareholders? Do the corporation’s religious beliefs out-weigh those of its employees? If so, are there any limits on those beliefs? May the corporation cite those beliefs in denying service to customers? What
- [We Can’t Afford That Anymore.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/24/we-cant-afford-that-anymore-2/) - Whenever someone proposes rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, improving schools, funding research for chronic diseases, helping the unemployed, treating the mentally ill, paying pension obligations to public employees, etc., our politicians are quick to say that we can’t afford those things anymore. Say what? The richest nation on Earth can’t afford to meet the needs of
- [Are Women Mere Hosts?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/19/are-women-mere-hosts/) - Are they the property of men to do with as they wish? Are they mere vessels designed to do little more than nurture the male seed? Are they organisms good only for child-bearing and child-rearing? Do they not enjoy any civil rights of their own? That, in fact is the view of fundamentalist Muslims. It’s also,
- [Illusion Of Justice.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/17/illusion-of-justice/) - Since the founding of our nation, Americans have always taken pride in our rule of law. In civics class we learned that this was what distinguished our country from others; that it provided protection from unreasonable search and seizures; that it guaranteed us a quick and fair hearing before a jury of our peers; that
- [The Costs Of Deregulation.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/14/the-costs-of-deregulation/) - For nearly 40 years, those politicians who represent big business have been pushing an agenda of deregulation. They want to “get the government out of the way of business.” And they have been amazingly successful. Since the push for deregulation began, we have deregulated airlines resulting in lost service, rising airfares for many, the demise
- [If Obama's Foreign Policy Was More Like Reagan's...](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/06/if-obamas-foreign-policy-was-more-like-reagans/) - Following the Russian confrontation in Crimea, the neocon politicians and right wing media have compared President Obama's foreign policy to that of their idol's - Ronald Reagan. Since I don't remember those days as fondly as they do, and I remember conversations during a trip to Europe in which Europeans stated that they feared the US
- [Crimean Crisis Began With Bush.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/12/crimean-crisis-began-with-bush/) - When Mikhail Gorbachev called an end to the Cold War, President George H. W. Bush agreed that there would be no expansion of NATO. Bush also agreed that, following the reunification of Germany, NATO troops and weapons would not be permitted on former East German soil. This was not only necessary to ensure the security
- [Illusion Of Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/10/illusion-of-democracy/) - The passage of SB 1062 by the Arizona legislature and subsequent veto by Governor Brewer drew national attention. But there's one aspect of the incident that has gone largely overlooked...the fact that the legislation was not written by an Arizona legislator. It was written by a national stink tank, Alliance Defending Freedom and pushed by
- [Five Times The Distance. Five Times The Spills?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/07/five-times-the-distance-five-times-the-spills/) - The debate over the Keystone XL pipeline is puzzling on many fronts. We hear that the pipeline will create jobs (although the number has been greatly exaggerated); that it’s safer than transporting oil by train; that it will lessen US dependency on foreign oil. Disregarding the fact that oil from the Alberta tar sands is
- [Men (And Women) Of War.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/03/04/men-and-women-of-war/) - Now that the political upheaval in Ukraine is reaching a critical juncture, the usual warmongers are blustering and calling for military threats. At the same time, they’re blaming President Obama for “weak foreign policy.” Exactly which foreign policy do they consider weak? The policy that ferreted out and killed Osama bin Laden? The policy of
- [Why Do Democrats Apologize When Teapublicans Won’t?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/28/why-do-democrats-apologize-when-teapublicans-wont/) - Every day, Teapublican leaders and their spokesmouths say something offensive to our president, to women, to minorities, to the poor, to non-Christians, and to Democrats. For example, Texas Senatorial candidate Chris Mapp recently said ranchers should be allowed to shoot “wetbacks.”Virginia State Sen. Steve Martin wrote that a pregnant woman is “just a host” and
- [Arizona Receives A Jolt Of Reality.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/27/arizona-jolted-with-reality/) - In a rare moment of clarity, Governor Jan Brewer vetoed Arizona's anti-gay legislation disguised as a "religious freedom" bill. But don't get the idea that Brewer had an epiphany of tolerance and inclusiveness. What she had was the commercial equivalent of electro-shock therapy. Not only had some of Arizona's largest corporations - American Airlines, Intel
- [The Groups Behind The Group Behind The Group Behind The Legislators Behind The Bill.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/26/the-groups-behind-the-group-behind-the-group-behind-the-legislators-behind-the-law/) - Passage of SB 1062 by the Teapublican dimwits in Arizona’s legislature gives the impression that the entire state is intolerant, narrow-minded and bass-ackward. Of course, that is partially true. After all, Kansas, Maine, South Dakota and Tennessee all considered the same bill and ultimately rejected it. However, Arizona doesn’t deserve all the credit for being
- [Arizona Legislator Reveals Who Really Runs The State. ](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/26/arizona-legislator-reveals-who-really-runs-the-state/) - During an interview on All In With Chris Hayes, Arizona State Senator Steve Pierce tried to explain why he voted for SB 1062 before asking the governor to veto it. He said that he really didn’t know what the bill said – that it was written by the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP), which describes
- [Does Freedom Of Religion Include Freedom To Discriminate?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/21/does-freedom-of-religion-include-freedom-to-discriminate/) - As you know, the First Amendment of our Constitution says “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...” Unfortunately, there is a segment of our society that believes those words give them the right to infringe on others’ civil rights. Some of that segment are members of the
- [Vote For SB 1062? Who Me?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/25/vote-for-sb-1062-who-me/) - Since the bill legalizing discrimination on religious grounds passed the Arizona Senate, three of the Teapublicans who voted for the bill are now calling for our finger-wagging governor to veto it. They claim that they really didn't understand all of the bill's implications in their rush to vote it into law. But now that the
- [Unreasonable Trade-Offs.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/19/unreasonable-trade-offs/) - After seeing a headline by David Suzuki “Trading Water for Fuel is Fracking Crazy,” I started thinking about all of the trade-offs we’re being asked to make. Yes, as Suzuki points out, we are being asked to trade the purity of fresh water in our aquifers that took hundreds and thousands of years to accumulate
- [The Man Who Saved Nukes.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/17/the-man-who-saved-nukes/) - In 1986, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev asked for a meeting with President Ronald Reagan. When they met in October of that year, Gorbachev surprised Reagan by offering what may have been the greatest gift in history. He proposed a realistic path that would lead to total nuclear disarmament. It would have resulted in the mutual destruction of all nuclear warheads over
- [The Growth Of Hate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/14/the-growth-of-hate/) - The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which monitors hate groups and other extremists throughout the US, reports that the number of hate groups has grown by 67 percent since 2000. The SPLC website states, “Currently, there are 1,007 known hate groups of neo-Nazis, Klansmen, white nationalists, neo-Confederates, racist skinheads, black separatists, border vigilantes and others.”
- [Patriots Across The Border.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/11/patriots-across-the-border/) - Last week, KPHO-TV in Phoenix aired a story about US military veterans who have been hired as assassins by Mexican drug cartels. It noted that at least four US veterans have been arrested in Mexico and charged with working as hit men for the cartels and others have been approached by the cartels. One of those
- [Has Our Education System Failed Teapublicans?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/10/has-our-education-system-failed-teapublicans/) - Over the last several years, it has become obvious that Republicans and their Tea Party Parasites lack basic comprehension skills. For example, when the President made a speech talking about the role of government, he said, “…look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always
- [Worse Than Iraq.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/03/worse-than-iraq/) - This past Saturday, the United Nations reported that at least 733 Iraqis had been killed and at least 1,229 wounded in January as the result of violence. Worse, the UN said that the numbers did not include Anbar province due to problems verifying the numbers killed. Those numbers are startling and they justifiably made headlines in
- [GOP Identity Thieves.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/07/gop-identity-thieves/) - Last week, it was revealed that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has created numerous websites pretending to be fundraising sites for 18 Democratic Congressional candidates. For example, if you Google Kyrsten Sinema, you may be led to a site headlined “Kyrsten Sinema for Congress.” But unless you notice the small subhead that reads, “Make a
- [The Great Debate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/06/the-great-debate/) - On Tuesday, Bill Nye “The Science Guy” debated Ken Ham, founder of the Creation Museum…you know, the place featuring dioramas of Adam and Eve sharing the Earth with dinosaurs. I give credit to Ham. Not only did he pay Nye’s substantial speaking fee for the event. He risked exposing his supporters to a dose of
- [Guns In The Neighborhood.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/04/guns-in-the-neighborhood/) - I live in a small development near several tourist destinations in Arizona. There’s absolutely nothing remarkable about the neighborhood other than it is primarily populated by retirees from California and snowbirds from New England and the Midwest. The neighborhood has virtually no crime and has never experienced a home invasion. Despite this, I have to
- [A Memorial To Gun Victims?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/02/01/a-memorial-to-gun-victims/) - A new study by Dr. John Leventhal, professor of pediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine, found that firearms kill more than 3,000 children each year in the US. Another 7,000 are wounded badly enough to be hospitalized, most from assaults. And those are just the statistics for children! Overall, there are more than 11,000
- [The Real Cost Of Fossil Fuels.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/30/the-real-cost-of-fossil-fuels/) - The chemical spill in West Virginia that polluted the drinking water of more than 300,000 people should remind everyone of the real cost of fossil fuels. As you know, conservatives are fond of saying that subsidies for research and the expansion of alternative energy are unfair; that they disguise the true cost of solar, wind
- [The Politics Of Division And Deception.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/29/the-politics-of-division-and-deception/) - For many years, the GOP has used so-called “social” issues, such as proposed anti-abortion legislation and “sanctity of marriage” laws to divide the voting populace and fire up their base. The Democratic Party has focused on issues like social safety nets, minimum wages and availability of health care. And the debate has left our government
- [Congress Versus The American People.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/28/congress-versus-the-american-people/) - Politicians, especially Republicans, are fond of saying that they have faith that the American people will always do the right thing. Hmmm...that raises a number of questions. If politicians believe the American people are so smart, why don't they do what the people want them to? Why have they refused to vote for universal background checks on all
- [Senatorial Amnesia?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/27/senatorial-amnesia/) - It is well-known that there were more filibusters during Obama’s first term than in the entire previous history of the Senate, forcing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to resort to the extraordinary measure of changing Senate rules. As a result of the GOP obstruction of presidential appointments, federal judicial offices are grossly understaffed and overworked.
- [Another Perspective On The Racist Frat Party At ASU.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/24/another-perspective-on-the-racist-frat-party-at-asu/) - The weekend before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the clueless frat rats at the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Arizona State University decided the best way to celebrate was with a “blackoutformlk” party. Those who attended the all white party wore basketball jerseys, hip hop clothing, some reportedly even wore black face make-up. They also drank
- [The Slavery We Ignore.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/22/the-slavery-we-ignore/) - Despite the emancipation of African-American slaves, slavery in the US is not over. Not by a long shot. Today’s slaves are African-Americans, Caucasions, Asians, Latinos…even children. And instead of working on plantations, they work in hotels, bedrooms and massage parlors. I’m referring, of course, to the sex trade in which thousands of people…mostly women…are held
- [The Symbology Of Politics.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/23/the-symbology-of-politics/) - You can tell a lot about people from the symbols they choose to attach to their bodies, their cars and their homes. In the Sixties, a generation wore long hair and tie-died clothing as the symbols of revolution. In the Eighties, Yuppies (Young Upwardly Mobile Professionals) turned to pricey brand labels and t-shirts from vacation spots
- [An Irresponsible Corporation’s Last Resort.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/21/an-irresponsible-corporations-last-resort/) - Last Friday, it was announced that the company responsible for the chemical spill in West Virginia, Freedom Industries Inc., had filed for bankruptcy protection and is in the process of selling its assets to a newly created corporation headed by (you guessed it) the former CEO of Freedom Industries. What better way for a group
- [Why Teapublicans Are Wrong About Government.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/20/why-teapublicans-are-wrong-about-government/) - After all of the GOP talk of “freeing businesses from government regulation” and “shrinking government down to a size small enough to fit in a bathtub,” it’s time to force a dose of reality down their loudmouth throats. No matter how much they rant about the "evils" of government, we need government to do a
- [Beheading More Right Wing Lies.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/17/beheading-more-right-wing-lies/) - According to the right wing blog, Freedom Outpost, “more than 68,105 new medical codes are being added due to the Obamacare monstrosity.” The blog claims that the codes are intended to “link us to the international system created by the World Health Organization (WHO). It goes on to state, “One thing is for sure. This
- [What The Most Recent Shootings Tell Us About Access To Guns.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/16/what-the-most-recent-shootings-tell-us/) - The shooting in the Florida movie theater that left the father of two dead was not carried out by a reclusive young male who was mentally ill and felt spurned by society. It was carried out by what most people consider a highly qualified gun owner…a retired police officer who was merely upset by a young
- [Tricky Dicky Lives On!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/13/tricky-dicky-lives-on/) - In the 1972 presidential campaign, President Nixon was overwhelmingly re-elected thanks to his “Plumbers,” Nixon’s infamous dirty tricks team that was exposed at Watergate. The team, which was tied directly to the White House, consisted of E. Howard Hunt, G. Gordon Liddy, CIA liason John Paisley, James McCord, Donald Segretti, and who one knows how
- [Is God A Conservative?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/15/is-god-a-conservative/) - Archeologists and religious historians know that the gospels of the Bible were written by a variety of authors over a period of hundreds of years. The Vatican then sorted through dozens of gospels, ignoring those they found contradictory or unsuitable, before settling on the Bible as we know it today. Originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek,
- [What Next For “60 Minutes?”](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/14/what-next-for-60-minutes/) - 60 Minutes was founded as a weekly news show from the premier broadcast news organization. The idea was that, as a news program with a full hour to devote to a few stories, it would have the time to thoroughly investigate issues and report beyond the headlines. It became a huge success. For decades, Mike Wallace,
- [Bullying On A Massive Scale.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/09/bullying-on-a-massive-scale/) - We have now learned that a top aide to Gov. Chris Christie ordered the closure of two access lanes to the world's busiest bridge as political payback. Apparently, the aide was angry that the Democratic mayor of Ft. Lee failed to endorse Christie in his successful re-election campaign. That public officials in New Jersey would use their offices to
- [Follow The BIG Money.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/10/follow-the-big-money/) - In a previous post, I referenced a study from Bulls, Bears and the Ballot Box which found that Democratic presidents have been better for the economy than Republican presidents despite GOP claims to the contrary. The question is why. After all, isn’t the GOP the party of business? In a word, yes, but only big
- [Stop Blaming Bush?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/08/stop-blaming-bush/) - On today's edition of The Diane Rehm Show on NPR, a conservative asked the question, "Can we all admit that this is no longer George W. Bush's economy?" It's a fair question. We are, after all, about to begin the sixth year of the Obama administration. So I, for one, am more than willing to concede the
- [Paying It Forward.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/08/paying-it-forward/) - Renewing the Emergency Unemployment Compensation bill would add $25.2 billion to the current federal budget. Right wing politicians and media outlets tell us that we can’t afford such “giveaways” unless they are offset by other spending cuts. Oddly, they have no such requirements for subsidies to defense contractors, the oil industry, the financial industry, big
- [CBS' “60 Minutes" Fails Again!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/07/cbs-60-minutes-fails-again/) - After its well-publicized failure to report the truth about the attack on our Benghazi consulate, one would expect that CBS, particularly its 60 Minutes crew, would be careful to assure accuracy in future reports. Yet, this past Sunday, just 10 weeks after its Benghazi debacle, 60 Minutes failed again. In attempting to uncover government waste
- [Stone Cold GOP.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/06/stone-cold-gop/) - I can think of no better way to describe Teapublicans' failure to extend benefits for the 1.3 million long-term unemployed. After all, these are people who, through no fault of their own, are hanging on by their fingernails. Instead of offering them a hand, Teapublicans seem unwilling to give them anything but some nail clippers. Nevertheless,
- [Cutting Through The GOP’s Economic Talking Points.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/03/cutting-through-the-gops-economic-talking-points/) - Almost from the first day President Obama took office, conservatives have howled about his economic policies. They blamed him for growing the national debt. They blamed him for record deficits. They created the Tea Party to protest taxes, even though they were at historic lows.They labeled Obama a socialist for saving the auto industry. They
- [Good News/Bad News For 2014 And Beyond.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2014/01/01/good-newsbad-news-for-2014-and-beyond/) - For the New Year, I thought it appropriate to list a few of the accomplishments from 2013. First the good news: 1 - Millions more Americans now have health insurance thanks to Obamacare. More than 2 million have signed up on the federal and state exchanges, tens of millions more will benefit from Medicaid expansion.
- [A New Kind Of Pope.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/30/a-new-kind-of-pope/) - Much has already been written about Pope Francis, but I can’t resist adding my two cents worth. For much of my life I found myself contrasting various religious leaders. The most remarkable contrast was between the Dahli Lama and Pope Benedict XVI. Where the Dahli Lama sought to find the similarities of all religions, too
- [The Conservative War Against Labor.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/26/the-continuing-war-against-labor-unions/) - In the years following the Great Depression, labor unions were popular and thriving. The Wagner Act of 1935, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, guaranteed workers the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike. As a result, union workers, particularly those in mining and manufacturing, experienced dramatic gains in salaries and
- [Environmental Suicide.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/27/environmental-suicide/) - Many years ago, a scientist named Paul Ehrlich convinced me of the dangers of uncontrolled population growth. He helped create an organization named Zero Population Growth (ZPG) which called for couples to have no more than two children – the number needed to replace the parents while maintaining the existing population. At the time, the
- [Happy Holidays!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/25/happy-holidays/) - Enjoy your celebration of Christmas or whatever moves you. May you share it with family and friends!
- [Dumb Dynasty.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/23/dumb-dynasty/) - Last week, social media were overwhelmed with the Duck Dynasty scandal after the program's “star,” Phil Robertson likened homosexuality to bestiality and talked glowingly about the days of Jim Crow. In an interview with GQ, he said, “I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once … They were godly;
- [Putting Pagan Back In The Solstice.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/20/putting-pagan-back-in-the-solstice/) - It’s that time of year when, once again, we are treated to the annual Fox News Channel “War on Christmas” diatribes. For some reason, the Fox pundits believe that wishing someone “Happy Holidays” is an insult to Christianity. It's not. It's simply a sentiment intended to include those of all religious backgrounds. Certainly, the majority
- [We Could All Learn From "The Jerk."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/19/what-we-could-all-learn-from-the-jerk/) - The Jerk, starring Steve Martin, has long been one of my favorite movies. Not only is it filled with great comedy, it is filled with wisdom and life lessons. One such lesson is represented by the scene in which Martin’s character, Navin, first sees his name listed in the phone book. “I am somebody!” he
- [Prisoners Of Greed.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/18/prisoners-of-greed/) - Contrary to popular belief, crime does pay. But not in the way you think. It’s not necessarily the criminals who profit. It’s the corporations that imprison them. You see, more and more of our states are replacing state-run prisons with prisons run by private corporations. And since the US has 25 percent of the world’s
- [Affluenza: Too Rich To Jail.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/16/affluenza-too-rich-to-jail/) - The young Texas boy who was given probation for killing four pedestrians and critically injuring two of his companions while driving drunk is less the exception than you may think. Certainly, his defense of pleading guilty to being a spoiled brat is unique. But the end result was not. Instead of going to jail, the
- [The Privatization Fraud.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/17/the-privatization-fraud/) - For many years, the GOP has called for smaller government while, at the same time, extolling the virtues of privatization. GOP politicians have pushed for private schools through tax incentives and vouchers. In many states, they have turned the operation of prisons over to private, for-profit corporations. And thanks to the GOP, many of the
- [A Case For Renaming The Department Of Defense.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/12/a-case-for-renaming-the-department-of-defense/) - Until 1947, the United States military operated under the name Department of War. At that time, it split into the Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force and the Department of the Navy. Then, in 1949, the service branches were brought together under a new name - the Department of Defense (DoD).
- [Why We Can Never Return To The Nostalgic Post-War US Of The Baby Boomers.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/11/why-we-can-never-return-to-the-nostalgic-post-war-us-of-the-baby-boomers/) - The Baby Boomers who comprise the majority of the Tea Party movement fondly recall the world of their youth; a world of cheap gasoline, muscle cars, rock 'n roll, full employment and US world dominance. They want that world back. And they are convinced that the only thing standing between them and the world of
- [Public Versus Private. Corporations Versus People.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/10/public-versus-private-corporations-versus-people/) - Ever since President Ronald Reagan said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are I’m from the government and I’m here to help,” conservatives have attributed virtually all of our problems to the federal government. They believe that the government cannot do anything well. As a result, they have continually cut taxes in
- [Mourning Mandela.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/09/mourning-mandela/) - It has been said that one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist. No statement more accurately describes Nelson Mandela. Mandela began his career as an activist by non-violently demonstrating against South African apartheid. When the white South African government responded with exceptional brutality, Mandela and his followers reluctantly turned to terrorism. But rather than
- [Impeach Obama?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/04/impeach-obama/) - In the fantasy world of right wing crazies, the impeachment of President Obama is becoming a greater possibility. For example, Michele "Batsh*t Crazy" Bachmann recently told viewers of Fox News Channel that President Obama has "rewritten the Constitution to serve his own purposes." First, I doubt that Bachmann has ever actually read the Constitution. Second,
- [Conservatives Take Aim At Government Labor Unions.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/06/conservatives-take-aim-at-government-labor-unions/) - This year, conservatives are gathering lumps of coal for most Americans' Christmas stockings. We can soon expect to see multi-million dollar assaults on many of the nation’s remaining social institutions and programs. At the federal level, conservatives in Congress are seeking to cut another $4 billion to 40 billion from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program
- [The Tao Of Politics.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/05/the-tao-of-conservative-republicans/) - I am not a Taoist. Nevertheless, I have learned that the philosophy of Taoism has much to offer. The Taoist concept of Yin and Yang holds that nothing is ever entirely black or white; hard or soft; good or bad. Taoism teaches that good people can do bad things. It also teaches that those we
- [The Sovereign State Of Arizona?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/12/03/the-sovereign-state-of-arizona/) - The State of Arizona has always been home to a somewhat contentious sort of people. Settled by prospectors and ranchers, many of whom were escaping the rules of civilization, it has never had a warm relationship with Washington. Yet, it has long sought to benefit from federal largess. Prior to 1912, the people of Arizona Territory
- [Holiday Spirit According To Walmart And McDonald's.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/26/holiday-spirit-according-to-walmart-and-mcdonalds/) - Last week, several large retailers made headlines by announcing that they would be open on Thanksgiving Day. Not content with the usual mad rush to sell holiday gifts on Black Friday, the retailers are hoping to increase sales by dragging their employees away from their families and the dinner table. Chief among the holiday scrooges
- [Blessed Be The Peacemakers.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/25/blessed-be-the-peacemakers/) - In one of the most encouraging deals in decades, the US and other western powers reached a deal with Iran President Hassan Rouhani to limit Iran’s enrichment of uranium in exchange for a relaxation of economic sanctions on Iran. Although merely the first step in a long process, it could make the Middle East and
- [JFK RIP.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/22/jfk-rip/) - Today is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, yet after all of these years, there are still many questions about his death. Did Oswald act alone? How could one man fire three bullets from the bolt-action rifle in such a short time when no other marksman has been able to
- [Abortion Foes Obscure Complexity Of The Issue.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/21/abortion-foes-obscure-complexity-of-the-issue/) - For 40 years, religious conservatives have fought against a woman's constitutional right to end a pregnancy. They have pushed laws that would deny government funding for medical clinics performing abortions. They have demanded waiting periods. They have demanded that women be forced to view pictures of fetuses. They have subjected abortion providers to increased scrutiny.
- [Department Of Injustice.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/20/department-of-injustice/) - In my elementary school civics class, I was taught that the key to a democratic government was the rule of law; that everyone is equal under the law; that Lady Justice was blind to money, power and influence. In other words, my teacher lied. It wasn’t that she intended to. And, at the time, it
- [From Obstruction To Subversion.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/19/from-obstruction-to-subversion/) - By now, we all know the incredible lengths to which Teapublicans have gone in order to repeal, defund and obstruct “Obamacare.” But now, it seems, Teapublicans have taken a step over the cliff to outright subversion. It appears one of the reasons for the difficulties of the HealthCare.gov website is a cyber attack tool named
- [Extremists And Cowards.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/18/extremists-and-cowards/) - Bullies and weaklings; a**holes and chickensh*ts; Teapublicans and Democrats. Whatever you want to call them, many of the people who now take up seats in Congress generally fall into one of these two categories. Never has the distinction been more obvious than following the latest vote on "Obamacare." 39 cowards chose to join the right
- [Exactly What Are Teapublicans Trying To Protect Us From?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/14/exactly-what-are-teapublicans-trying-to-protect-us-from/) - In shutting down the federal government, GOP congressional leaders said they wanted to save us from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (aka “Obamacare”). In other words, they want to save Americans from an idea that they, themselves, proposed in 1996 and successfully implemented in Massachusetts as an alternative to universal health care. So
- [Is Muslim Extremism A US Export?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/15/is-muslim-extremism-a-us-export/) - As sensational as that may seem, it’s a reasonable question. Here’s why: When the USSR invaded Afghanistan, the US moved to counter the invasion with Operation Cyclone which was portrayed in the movie, Charlie Wilson’s War starring Tom Hanks. The operation consisted of the US providing weapons, military aid and training to the mujahedeen, a
- [How Small Of A Government Is Small Enough?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/13/how-small-of-a-government-is-small-enough/) - For years, Republicans have demanded a smaller government with limited powers. Indeed, Grover Norquist has said, "I want to shrink it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.' Okay, I get it. Republicans really hate government. But given the fact that our federal government is already the smallest in 47
- [If Corporations Are People...](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/12/if-corporations-are-people/) - In its Citizens United decision, the US Supreme Court ruled that corporations are people – with all of the rights of individuals. The “justices” didn’t mention the responsibilities that go along with those rights. Like the responsibility to care for your neighbors. But, just for a moment, let’s assume that those five old men in
- [Prelude To 9/11.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/06/prelude-to-911/) - Understandably, 9/11 is a very sensitive subject. It was the only attack on US soil since Pearl Harbor. The people who died in the attacks are still being mourned, and those who gave their lives trying to save the victims are legitimately American heroes. Additionally, there are still many questions about how the attacks happened
- [Let’s Try To Become The Nation Our Founders Imagined.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/11/lets-try-to-become-the-nation-our-founders-imagined/) - In reading The Untold History Of The United States by Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick (a gut-wrenching, powerful and well-documented book), it’s clear that, contrary to what we were taught in history classes, the US has long been a cruel and greedy empire. For more than 200 years, we have engaged in wars of choice
- [A Sad Episode Of "60 Minutes."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/10/a-sad-episode-of-60-minutes/) - When I was in journalism school a long time ago, CBS was rightfully used as an example of great journalism. Such industry giants as Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, Robert Trout, Harry Reasoner, Eric Sevareid, Roger Mudd, Charles Kuralt, Mike Wallace, Robert Pierpoint, Howard K. Smith, Douglas Edwards, Ed Bradley, and Daniel Schorr were part
- [Hallelujah! Pass The Hate And Ammunition!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/08/hallelujah-pass-the-hate-and-ammunition/) - While perusing my local newspaper, I ran across a curious item. There was an ad for a gun show at a local community church. That's right, a gun show in a church! Doesn’t everyone know that Jesus Christ and AR-15s go together like wine and crackers; blood and flesh? After all, guns and ammo will
- [Who Speaks For The Poor And The Hungry?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/04/who-speaks-for-the-poor-and-the-hungry/) - Not Republicans. They continue to vote to cut unemployment benefits, food stamps, Head Start, minimum wage, labor unions and public education. Indeed, last year’s standard bearer was caught on tape deriding the bottom 47 percent for paying “no taxes” and wanting "free stuff." Certainly not the Tea Party parasites. They contemptuously refer to the working
- [The Real Problem With HealthCare.gov.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/07/the-real-problem-with-healthcare-gov/) - The glitches and failures of HealthCare.gov have provided GOP congressmen with much needed ammo to attack “Obamacare.” They have held numerous congressional hearings that have allowed them to grandstand to their heart’s content. They have elicited an apology from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius. The glitches have even forced President Obama
- [The Next Detroit?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/05/the-next-detroit/) - Since the US auto industry began exporting most of its jobs to southern right-to-work (anti-union) states, to China, to Mexico and to South Korea, the City of Detroit and nearby Flint have experienced dramatic losses in jobs and population. Large portions of both cities are ghost towns. Many of those who are left simply can't
- [New World Order Paranoia Is Nothing New.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/03/new-world-order-paranoia-is-nothing-new/) - Reports that the shooter at LAX may have been motivated by the so-called "patriot" movement and the New World Order conspiracy theory should come as no surprise to anyone. Fears of a New World Order have been around for decades. Some even believe that our Founding Fathers were part of the conspiracy to create a
- ["A Holocaust In Slow Motion."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/11/01/a-holocaust-in-slow-motion/) - That’s how one interview subject described our War on Drugs and mandatory sentencing in Eugene Jarecki ‘s film, The House I Live In. The film won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, but I only recently had the opportunity to see it, and I can tell you I left the
- [A Nation Of Crises.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/31/a-nation-of-crises/) - Every day I receive dozens of emails and letters asking me to help save the oceans, save the environment, save children, save wildlife, save food stamps, increase the minimum wage, stop voter suppression, stop global warming, stop the pipeline, stop racism, stop the attacks on women’s rights, stop the attacks on education, stop the attacks
- [House Of Horrors.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/30/a-real-house-of-horrors/) - No, it’s not The House On Elm Street. It’s not Norman Bates’ home. The US House of Representatives has claimed the crown! Populated by a host of psychopaths, spooks, bloodsuckers and zombies, it strikes fear into intelligent people around the globe. Within its terror-filled chambers, Speaker Boehner plays a modern-day, orange-tinted Mad Hatter with a
- [Smallest Government In 47 Years.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/29/smallest-government-in-47-years/) - It’s fashionable for Teapublicans to demand a smaller, limited government. To support their cause, they quote the 10th Amendment which says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” What Teapublicans neglect to consider is
- [The Cost Of "Wanting To Kick Some Ass."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/28/the-cost-of-wanting-to-kick-some-ass/) - Our role in the Iraq War may be over, but the costs are still mounting up. According to a study by a Harvard researcher, the financial cost to the US has surpassed $4 trillion, and if the cost of care for wounded warriors is included, the overall cost could grow to as much as $6
- [Contrasting British Politics With Ours.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/25/contrasting-british-politics-with-us-politics/) - On a recent trip to Scotland, I participated in a rally for Scottish independence...a Scotland independent of the United Kingdom. Although I strongly believe that outsiders should not be involved in local politics, I joined the march in support of my friends. What I experienced was extraordinary. The leaders of the Scottish independence movement were
- [The Legacy Of Lee Atwater: How Republicans Became The Party Of Racists.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/25/the-legacy-of-lee-atwater-how-republicans-became-the-party-of-racists/) - Following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, LBJ famously said that, by signing the bill, the Democratic Party may have lost the South for a generation. Not long afterward, Republican strategist Lee Atwater formulated the Southern Strategy, which encouraged Republicans to express their racism in more subtle ways in order to win elections. “You start
- [Who's Really Responsible For Our National Debt?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/17/whos-really-responsible-for-our-national-debt/) - It’s popular for the Republican Party to blame our $16.7 trillion debt on President Obama. Certainly, like all presidents, he has some responsibility for it. But a much larger share of the responsibility goes to President Reagan, President George H.W. Bush and, most especially, President George W. Bush. You see, the increase in spending in
- [Why Do We Have A Debt Ceiling Anyway?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/24/why-do-we-have-a-debt-ceiling-anyway/) - Following the Tea Party-forced government shutdown and near default, it’s worth considering doing away with the debt ceiling. It serves absolutely no purpose other than providing recalcitrant congressional representatives the opportunity to hold our government hostage in order to “negotiate” their pet issues. Since the debt ceiling is a measure of money already spent by
- [The End Of Professionalism.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/23/the-end-of-professionalism/) - In the early nineties, I started noticing a new attitude from advertising clients. Where previous clients respected our opinions and were willing to pay for our expertise, clients began questioning everything from concepts to production to grammar. It was if our college degrees and years of experience meant nothing. You see, this new generation of
- [GOP Put “Obamacare” Tantrum Above Infrastructure And Jobs.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/22/gop-put-obamacare-tantrum-above-infrastructure-and-jobs/) - In March of this year, President Obama called for Congress to approve a $21 billion package designed to update our crumbling infrastructure and create jobs. “Let's get this done. Let's rebuild this country we love. Let's make sure we're staying on the cutting edge,” Obama said, calling for a “partnership to rebuild America.” As part
- [The End Is Near?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/21/the-end-is-near/) - All across the Worldwide Web, you can find websites, blogs and videos announcing the impending “End of Obama.” Some have been created by fanatical Christian groups that are convinced President Obama is a Muslim. Some have been created by white supremacy groups and other racist thugs who dislike the color of his skin. Some have
- [The $24 Billion Tantrum.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/18/the-24-billion-tantrum/) - Following the Teapublican-caused government shutdown and threatened US default, it’s fair to look at what this pointless exercise cost us. Not including the human costs, economists at Standard & Poors estimate the cost of the government shutdown at $24 billion. That’s larger than the entire annual budget for NASA ($17.8 billion) or the Department of
- [Artificial Intelligence.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/19/artificial-intelligence/) - In an age of political irony, the committee assignment for Rep. Michele Bachmann stands out. Believe it or not, she is a proud member of the House Intelligence Committee! Clearly, GOP leaders have no understanding of the word’s meaning. As I'm sure you know, intelligence is defined as “the ability to learn facts and skills
- [Falling Behind Russia.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/14/falling-behind-russia/) - For those Americans who still consider Russia a rival of the US, I have bad news. We have fallen behind the Great Russian Bear in one important economic category: Russia is one of the few nations on the planet with more economic disparity than ours. In the US, the top one percent own 40 percent
- [How The People You Elect Are Turned Into Highly-Paid Puppets.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/16/how-the-people-you-elect-are-turned-into-highly-paid-puppets/) - On Tuesday, Heritage Action, the even more political arm of the Heritage Foundation, sent a memo to Republican Congressmen telling them to vote against the bipartisan Senate bill that would re-open our government. As a none-too-subtle threat, the memo noted that the organization would be “scoring” Congressional votes. In other words, do as we say
- [Late Night Skullduggery By The GOP.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/15/late-night-skullduggery-by-the-gop/) - In the wee hours of September 30, the eve of the government shutdown, the GOP-controlled House Rules Committee pushed through a last minute amendment that was intended to go unnoticed. This slight of hand known as HR 368 changed long-standing House rules to prevent any House member other than Majority Leader Eric Cantor from calling
- [Rebels Without A Brain.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/15/rebels-without-a-brain/) - Sunday’s demonstration of anger, racism and stupidity at the WW II monument revealed far more about those speaking than about our government shutdown. Waving the Battle Flag of Northern Virginia (aka the Confederate flag), holding "Impeach Obama" signs and hiding behind a few hundred veterans, Canadian-born Sen. Ted Cruz, failed VP candidate and former Alaska
- [If Teapublicans Want To Be Taken Seriously, They Should Lose The Superiority Complex.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/12/if-teapublicans-want-to-be-taken-seriously-they-should-lose-the-superiority-complex/) - They need to stop claiming that they’re the only real patriots; stop pretending to be the only true protectors of liberty; stop wrapping themselves and their ideas in the US flag; stop quoting the Founding Fathers, at least until they read the Constitution – the whole Constitution - and stop believing that God has taken
- [Looking For Anonymity.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/11/looking-for-anonymity/) - When a GOP congressman was asked if he would vote for a “clean” resolution to end the government shutdown, he said, “Sure, I’d vote for it. I think probably 140 of my colleagues would vote for it if it was a secret ballot.” Hmmmm…. In other words, GOP representatives are willing to do the right
- [Why You Can’t Negotiate With Terrorists.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/04/why-you-cant-negotiate-with-terrorists/) - Long ago, our law enforcement agencies learned that you can’t negotiate with terrorists, especially those who take hostages. The reason is that their demands are always unreasonable and they never live up to the negotiated agreement. House Republicans are no different. The President and Senate have been negotiating the federal budget for more than four years,
- [Everything You Need To Know About Today’s GOP In One Button.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/09/everything-you-need-to-know-about-todays-gop-in-one-button/) - In case anyone could confuse Teapublicans for reasonable people, it should be noted that the following button was offered for sale at the California GOP convention: “KFC Hillary Special - 2 Fat Thighs, 2 Small Breasts, Left Wing.” Wow! Just wow! This is from the party that claims to respect women all the while they
- [GOP’s Age Warfare.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/10/gops-age-warfare/) - Teapublicans always whine about what they refer to as “class warfare” whenever anyone wants to level the playing field between the wealthy and the middle class. But now they are waging a war on those 50 and older by trying to privatize Social Security and Medicare. To push their agenda of destroying “entitlements,” the Tea
- [How To Shut Up Teapublicans.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/08/how-to-shut-up-teapublicans/) - John Boehner, Ted Cruz, et al are fond of blaming President Obama and Sen. Harry Reid for the government shutdown. In doing so, they claim that the Democrats “refuse to negotiate.” Negotiate what? The only thing Teapublicans want to “negotiate” is the Affordable Care Act, a bill that was duly passed by both houses of
- [A Failure Of Journalism.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/07/a-failure-of-journalism/) - The impasse in Congress that has shut down our federal government is not only the result of a political failure. It’s the result of a journalistic failure. As evidenced by statements from NBC’s Chuck Todd, too many reporters believe that their job is simply to report the positions of both sides and let the public
- [More Guns = More Homicides.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/18/more-guns-more-homicides/) - Without the heavily-financed propaganda from the NRA, it’s doubtful that anyone would ever question the relationship. But since the gun industry has spent hundreds of millions to convince us otherwise, it has become the job of academia to bring us back to reality. That’s just what Professor Michael Siegel from Boston University and his two
- [Demanding A 50 Year Cover-Up For Doing Your Job?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/26/demanding-a-50-year-cover-up-for-doing-your-job/) - Our nation was built on representative government. But our representatives are so concerned with re-election that many are now afraid to do what’s best for our nation. So much so, that they try to hide their actions from the very people they represent. The on-going debate over the federal tax code is a case in
- [An Ugly GOP Strategy Gets Even Uglier.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/01/an-ugly-gop-strategy-gets-even-uglier/) - As long ago as the late sixties and early eighties, Republican leaders developed a unique election strategy. They intentionally made politics so messy; so reprehensibly ugly; so divisive that many moderate voters became disgusted with the whole political process and tuned out. The idea was that by diminishing the votes of moderates, the primaries and
- [House Teapublicans Throw A Snitfit. ](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/10/03/house-teapublicans-throw-a-public-snitfit/) - Recognizing that out-of-control medical costs represented a growing threat to the health of Americans and the health of our nation, then-candidate, Barack Obama, vowed to overhaul our health care system if elected president in 2008. Almost immediately after being sworn into office, President Obama challenged the Democratic-led Congress to deliver a health care reform bill
- [A Textbook Example Of What Not To Do With Public Education.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/29/a-textbook-example-of-what-not-to-do-with-public-education/) - The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that Arizona will spend 17 percent less per student on education this year than it did in 2008 before the Great Recession. That's despite the fact that, according to the National Education Association (NEA), Arizona ranked dead last for expenditures per student for public K-12 schools for
- [Another Debt Ceiling Debacle?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/24/another-debt-ceiling-debacle/) - Teapublicans are always fond of relating government budgets to your household budget. It’s a lousy analogy. But let’s use it for the purposes of the debt ceiling debate. Imagine if your family, concerned about its spending and debt, had a meeting and decided that you no longer wanted to pay any debts above…let’s say, $10,000.
- [A Recipe For Failure.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/23/a-recipe-for-failure/) - Since 2009, many conservatives have believed that Barack Obama is an anti-American socialist who was born in Kenya and, therefore, is an illegitimate president. Many in Congress refuse to recognize him as president, let alone negotiate with him. Even after he was re-elected in overwhelming fashion, they refuse to accept the results believing that he
- [Could We Be On The Verge Of Peace In The Middle East?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/19/could-we-be-on-the-verge-of-peace-in-the-middle-east/) - The key to unlocking peace in the Middle East may have just been handed to us by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who told NBC News national and international correspondent, Ann Curry, that Iran has no intention of creating nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction of any kind. When asked about Iranian denial of the
- [How Many Mass Shootings Will It Take?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/17/how-many-mass-shootings-will-it-take/) - Recent polls have shown that, after being mired in continuous conflicts for the past 12 years, Americans seem to have lost their appetite for war. Various polls found that more than 6 in 10 Americans were against any form of military action in Syria. But we’re in the midst of our own war right here
- [Marketing Addiction.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/16/marketing-addiction/) - The development of e-cigarettes was a good thing. It provided an opportunity for those addicted to nicotine and the act of smoking to replace tobacco cigarettes with something less harmful...not only less harmful to themselves, but everyone around them. Of course, some greedy corporations can’t settle for a good thing. They have to find ways
- [Sovereign Citizens:  America’s New (Bowel) Movement.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/13/sovereign-citizens-americas-new-bowel-movement/) - If you’re wondering about the headline, it’s not a typo. I feel it’s an accurate description of the freeloaders who have renounced their US citizenship and refuse to pay taxes or obey laws while taking advantage of our nation’s freedoms, services and benefits. Each time one of these nitwits burns his driver’s license, Social Security
- [Arizona’s Right Wing “Job Creators.”](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/11/arizonas-right-wing-job-creators/) - When Gov. Janet Napolitano was replaced by the finger-wagging Jan Brewer following Napolitano’s appointment to become Director of Homeland Security in 2009, the last check on Arizona’s right wing-dominated legislature was eliminated. That led to such bills as the anti-immigrant SB 1070; bills that made it legal to carry guns in bars; bills that protected
- [Ronald Reagan: Solar Assassin.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/09/ronald-reagan-solar-assassin/) - When President Obama recently ordered the White House to be fitted with solar panels, he was following the precedent set by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. After the OPEC cartel’s decision to limit oil production in order to drive up oil prices, Carter had recommended a series of measures designed to conserve energy and limit
- [Arizona Goes Begging Once Again.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/06/arizona-goes-begging-once-again/) - Unwilling to accept the decision by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) that the Yarnell fire was not so large that the State of Arizona cannot handle the aftermath itself, Governor Jan Brewer is appealing the decision saying, "Financially, it is not, I don't believe, Arizona's responsibility." She is unlikely to win. For as tragic as
- [The Bush Legacy Of War.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/05/the-bush-legacy-of-war/) - Whatever your position on military action in Syria, your decision has likely been influenced by the Iraq War. In 2003, the Bush administration told the US and the world that the invasion of Iraq was necessary in order to overthrow a sadistic leader; a leader who had used chemical weapons against Iran (with our blessings)
- [When US Jobs Are Shipped Offshore, It's In A Shipping Container.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/09/03/when-us-jobs-are-shipped-offshore-its-in-a-shipping-container/) - Since Malcom McClean invented the modern shipping container in the late sixties, no individual item has had a greater impact on the US and world economies. These large, steel and aluminum boxes can be filled with products, carried by truck to the nearest port, and loaded by crane onto a ship specifically designed to carry
- [Beware The Pendulum.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/29/beware-the-pendulum/) - As a creative director for ad agencies and as a part-time college instructor, I used to teach that social trends and fashions responded like a pendulum with a 360-degree axis. The pendulum freely swings, but never back to exactly the same place twice. I was reminded of that description while watching the ceremonies marking the
- [Today’s Corporate CEO No One To Look Up To.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/30/todays-corporate-ceo-no-one-to-look-up-to/) - The CEO of a corporation is supposed to act as the rudder of the ship; a leader; someone that sets an example for the rest of the corporation’s employees. But, increasingly, CEOs set an example of greed and unethical, even criminal, behavior. According to a recent study by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), in
- [Rules Of War?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/28/rules-of-war/) - The assumed response to Syria's use of chemical weapons raises an obvious question: Where do we draw the line in warfare? Following World War I and World War II, the world came together at the Geneva Conventions which banned the use of chemical weapons and torture. They also provided for the humane treatment of prisoners
- [Do NSA Revelations Actually Surprise Anyone?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/27/do-nsa-revelations-actually-surprise-anyone/) - Ever since Edward Snowden announced that the National Security Agency is collecting phone and email records of US citizens before skipping the country, many in the media and in Congress have expressed surprise and outrage. Really? How could anyone be surprised at this invasion of privacy? Since the late nineties, there has been an explosion
- [Saber Rattling In Congress.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/26/saber-rattling-in-congress/) - Following reports of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, some in Congress are demanding that President Obama intervene. Even though the use of chemical weapons have not yet been confirmed, some are calling the president "weak" for his failure to respond. Such knee jerk reactions by the war hawks already have been responsible for
- [What Is Our Real Legacy For Future Generations?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/23/what-is-our-real-legacy-for-future-generations/) - Much has been written about the national debt that is being left to future generations; how that debt is the greatest threat to the future of our nation. I beg to differ. Not that the debt isn't a serious issue, but our nation faces many more daunting problems. For example, our infrastructure is crumbling. Roads
- [The Government Of Me.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/22/the-government-of-me/) - As the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party continues to express outrage at our federal government, it becomes increasingly clear that the Tea Party simply does not understand the concept of a democratic republic. Its members ignore the fact that the Articles of Confederation were replaced by a Constitution that created a strong, centralized
- [Betrayal Of Public Trust.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/21/betrayal-of-public-trust/) - Now that Michigan's GOP governor has forced the City of Detroit into bankruptcy, it's expected that retired city workers will have to settle for a fraction of the pensions they were awarded under contract. As a result of the expected bankruptcy settlement, many of the retirees may be forced to file bankruptcy themselves and find
- [Detroit Is Merely The Canary In The Coal Mine.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/19/detroit-is-merely-the-canary-in-the-coal-mine/) - It’s popular for conservatives to blame the bankruptcy of the City of Detroit on a history of Democratic leadership. Indeed, the conservative commentators seem to revel in the city’s troubles. And since Detroit has a high percentage of African-Americans, the problems also conveniently fit their racist narrative. The wingnuts believe that this simply couldn’t happen
- [Arizona’s Religious Boat People.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/17/arizonas-religious-boat-people/) - For those of you who live outside the state, here’s a story that will give you some idea of the lunacy that is Arizona. Sure, you may know about our famous “dry heat” (like living in a sauna for 5 months out of the year), our Grand Canyon, our version of the Iron Curtain, our
- [GOP Is Racist? How Racist Of You To Bring It Up!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/16/gop-is-racist-how-racist-of-you-to-bring-it-up/) - The right wing megaphone that is Fox News Channel and talk radio is in full throat defending the rodeo clown who appeared wearing an Obama mask. "It was just entertainment." "The real racists are those who can't take a joke," say the wingnuts. Really? It's now racism for pointing out obvious racism? Let's review. The
- [Stop & Frisk Old White Men.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/15/stop-frisk-old-white-men/) - Since dimwits like Bill O'Reilly think the NYC Stop & Frisk program is so great, I propose it be redirected for a year or so. Instead of targeting minorities, let the police target white guys around Wall Street. After all, they have been responsible for far greater crimes than minorities, having stolen trillions of dollars
- [Who Says The Tea Party Is Racist?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/14/who-says-the-tea-party-is-racist/) - Well, actually the Tea Party does. When President Obama recently visited Arizona, he was met by a demonstration organized, in part, by the Tea Party. In addition to the inevitable "Obama is a Fascist" and "Impeach Obama" signs, the protesters sang "Bye Bye Black Sheep." They carried signs that read "Impeach the Half-White Muslim" and
- [Still Gutless After All These Years.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/12/still-gutless-after-all-these-years-2/) - The Democratic Party can claim a number of major accomplishments for the American people. It's the party that led the US out of the Great Depression. It's the party that created Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. It stood behind workers in their fight for labor unions. And it passed the Civil Rights Act at the
- [While Congress Is On Recess, The Real Government Meets In Chicago.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/10/while-congress-is-on-recess-the-real-government-meets-in-chicago/) - This weekend, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a meeting in Chicago. If you are still unfamiliar with ALEC, you are no doubt familiar with its legislation, such as Stand Your Ground laws, Arizona's SB 1070 anti-immigration law, and the new wave of Voter ID laws designed to limit
- [General...er...Sheriff Joe Goes To War.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/09/general-er-sheriff-joe-goes-to-war/) - The original motto of most law enforcement organizations was "To Serve And Protect." But, in recent years, the motto may as well be "To Harass And Intimidate." Many purposefully engage in racial profiling (New York City even singles out African-Americans for its "Stop And Frisk" program). Many live outside the cities they serve. Most spend their
- [Crocodile Tears And Denial For One Of The Prescott 19.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/08/crocodile-tears-and-denial-for-one-of-the-prescott-19/) - The deaths of 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots in the Yarnell Fire became a national story about the sacrifice of first responders as they protect us from disaster. Firefighters, city officials, politicians, dignitaries and grateful citizens turned out to honor them at a large memorial service. Virtually the entire city of Prescott, AZ
- [The Moral Cost Of Food.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/07/the-moral-cost-of-food/) - This past week, a couple of announcements stood out to me. One was that scientists were having a taste test of their “test tube” burger…meat that was grown from stem cells. Two was the announcement that the world is pretty much “maxed out” when it comes to meat and dairy production. These announcements happened to
- [How Would You Pay For Uninsured Healthcare?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/07/how-would-you-pay-for-uninsured-healthcare/) - Conservatives in Arizona and other states are mouth-frothing mad over the expansion of Medicaid for those who can’t afford health insurance. They claim that it’s a matter of personal responsibility; that the current system is fine; that people should simply go without healthcare if they can’t afford it. Hmmm… The people saying that consist mostly
- [Recess Is The Appropriate Term For A Congressional Break.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/05/recess-is-the-appropriate-term-for-a-congressional-break/) - Exhausted by the 86 days members of the US House of Representatives have worked this year, the House is now taking a 5-week recess – a term that aptly describes the childish behavior of this Republican-controlled legislative body. After all, Republican congressional representatives continue to throw a tantrum over Obamacare, having voted to repeal the
- [Families In Deep Doo-Doo.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/05/families-in-deep-doo-doo/) - It seems that nearly every week, a new study is released that shows the growing income disparity in the United States. Recently, an Associated Press survey found that 80 percent of adults in the US face near-poverty and unemployment at some point in their lives. Another study by the International Human Rights Clinic at New York University’s School
- [Ummm…You Can’t Record What You Don’t See.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/08/01/ummmyou-cant-record-what-you-dont-see/) - Some members of Congress are now demanding that the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) release data for the number of migrants who are turned back before crossing the border illegally and the number who evaded the Border Patrol and thus were able to successfully enter the U.S. illegally. Say what? Am I the only one
- [Mitt Romney Lies Again!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/31/mitt-romney-lies-again/) - I realize that Mitt's aversion to the truth will come as no surprise to anyone, except his most rabid supporters. Throughout the 2012 election cycle, the former governor had more positions on any given issue than the Kama Sutra. He also continually manipulated data to make President Obama look bad and himself look better. Indeed, it
- [Growth Of The "Moocher" Class.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/29/the-moocher-class-is-growing/) - During the 2012 presidential election, Mitt Romney was famously caught on camera talking about the 47 percent he claimed pay no taxes. That led to the conservative media referring to the 47 percent as the "moocher" class; those people whose votes could be bought with promises of free "stuff," such as food stamps, unemployment insurance
- [Race Or Economics?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/30/race-or-economics/) - Following the acquittal of George Zimmerman and the ensuing discussion of race by President Obama, conservative race-baiters have gleefully blamed the victims. “It wasn’t Zimmerman’s fault. Trayvon Martin was a young, black thug high on marijuana who had it coming. There’s no race problem. The real problem is the black culture of dependency. Black people
- [Pardon The Interruption.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/30/pardon-the-interruption/) - This blog site was off-line yesterday due to circumstances beyond my control. The matter has been addressed and will not be an issue again. Thanks for your patience.
- [GOP: 1.6 Million Jobs Don't Matter.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/26/gop-1-6-million-jobs-dont-matter/) - There was a story this week that was overshadowed by Anthony Weiner's penis, San Diego Mayor Filner's hands-on management style and Congressman Steve King's idiotic statements on immigrants. It was news that the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) reported that sequestration cuts forced by the Republican-dominated House will prevent the creation of 1.6 million jobs over
- [Here We Go Again. Another Debt Crisis!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/25/here-we-go-again-another-debt-crisis/) - In 2011, Speaker John Boehner and his GOP cronies nearly sent the US economy into a death spiral by refusing to raise the debt ceiling unless President Obama agreed to severe budget cuts. When the president and other Democrats tried to negotiate a common sense agreement that would not lead to a double dip recession,
- [The New American Royalty?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/22/the-new-american-royalty/) - Last week, Liz Cheney announced that she is running for US Senate from the State of Wyoming. If elected, she will likely walk the same dark path as her father, former Vice-President Richard "The Dick" Cheney. Liz has long been her father's most outspoken defender and apologist. Like her father, virtually every word that escapes
- [Oh Boy!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/24/oh-boy/) - Each day, approximately 370,000 babies are born into our world. Some of them will become world-renowned scientists. Some will become democratically-elected leaders. Some will work to end disease and hunger. Some will work to end poverty. Most will simply work to survive. Of all these babies, only one captured the attention of US and European
- [GOP In A Hurry To Make Enemies.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/23/gop-in-a-hurry-to-make-enemies/) - A number of conservatives are calling for President Obama to call the removal of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi a military coup. Doing so would automatically trigger an end to foreign aid to Egypt and its military. The fact that the Obama administration is approaching the situation in Egypt cautiously has left conservatives frustrated. They call
- [Playing The Race Card!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/20/playing-the-race-card/) - On Friday, President Obama held an unannounced press conference during which he spoke personally and sensitively about race in hopes of generating an adult conversation about racism in the US. Of course, his remarks were met with derision and anger by many conservatives and their media mouthpieces. (I'm looking at you, Rush Limbaugh and anyone
- [Death Of Yarnell 19 May Be The Result Of Sequestration Cuts.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/19/death-of-yarnell-19-may-be-the-result-of-sequestration-cuts/) - On June 30, 2013, 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots wildfire crew perished in the Yarnell Fire in northern Arizona. As you probably know, an investigation is underway to determine the events that led to their deaths. But one fact is already clear: The wildfire crews were stretched thin and firefighting resources have been
- [Getting Away With Murder.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/17/getting-away-with-murder/) - George Zimmerman isn't the first person that the courts have allowed to get away with murder. But he is one of the few to be acquitted after admitting to intentionally shooting an unarmed person. Zimmerman can thank Florida's ill-conceived "Stand Your Ground" law for that, along with an inept prosecution and seemingly naive jurors. The
- [Yes, Virginia, There Is Corruption.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/18/yes-virginia-there-is-corruption/) - The now almost daily revelations of deceit and corruption by Virginia's Governor Bob McDonnell are a smorgasbord of everything wrong with politics. Indeed, it seems everything that could go wrong has gone wrong in Virginia. McDonnell accepted $145,000 from Jonnie R. Williams, Sr., the owner of a Virginia-based nutritional supplement company. In addition, he and
- [Only Crimes Issa Has Exposed Are His Own.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/16/only-crimes-issa-has-exposed-are-his-own/) - For more than two years, Congressman Issa has been digging under rocks to find dirt on President Obama and his administration. He has claimed that his investigations would prove that the federal loan to Solyndra would expose a "sweetheart" deal for one of Obama's political contributors. Instead, he proved that the loan process was well
- [Egypt's Morsi = America's GOP](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/15/egypts-morsi-americas-gop/) - When asked to explain the removal of President Mohamed Morsi, Egyptian leaders said that Morsi had offered no plan; no vision to solve the nation's problems. Instead, he focused on consolidating the power of the Muslim Brotherhood and instituting Sharia law. In many ways, his actions paralleled those of the GOP in the US. Like
- [What's Wrong With The US? Connect The Dots.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/11/whats-wrong-with-the-us-connect-the-dots/) - It's probably self-evident, but our government is no longer of the people, by the people and for the people. A more accurate description would be of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations. But how did we get here? How have a few powerful multinationals and one percent of the population usurped power
- [Abolish The IRS?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/12/abolish-the-irs/) - Tea Party favorite, Sen. Rand Paul, is featured in a TV commercial calling for viewers to sign a petition to abolish the IRS. Paul and his fellow Tea Party parasites are capitalizing on what they falsely call an unconstitutional attack on conservatives to get what they really want...a flat tax. The flat tax is a
- [Media Should Call A Filibuster A Filibuster.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/10/media-should-call-a-filibuster-a-filibuster/) - For four and a half years, Senate Republicans have made unprecedented use of the filibuster. Intended to protect the minority, the filibuster historically was used only as a last resort to prevent tyranny by the majority. It was an extreme measure to be used in extreme circumstances. But in the hands of Mitch McConnell and his
- [What Egypt Reveals About US Foreign Policy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/09/what-egypt-reveals-about-us-foreign-policy/) - In one of the most ironic foreign policy twists of all time, Egyptian journalists are reporting that a majority of Egyptians now link the US with the Muslim Brotherhood and deposed President Mohamed Morsi. No, it's not because President Obama is the socialist Muslim Teapublicans think him to be. The reality is much less interesting.
- [Grand Old Party Of Hate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/08/politics-of-hate/) - After last year's failure to elect a president, you would think that the GOP would stop trying to be the stupid, anti-minority, anti-woman, anti-poor party. You'd be wrong. Confirming that the Tea Party Parasites are firmly in control of the GOP, red states across the country are refusing to expand Medicaid making it difficult for
- [What Happened To Creativity?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/05/what-happened-to-creativity/) - After the conclusion of the past TV season and viewing the latest sample of so-called blockbuster (emphasis on bust) movies, I must conclude that creativity in the US is either dead or on life support. As a former advertising creative director, for the first time since the early 1960's, I ignore most of the commercials.
- [A Divided Nation.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/04/a-divided-nation/) - I began this blog several years ago with a post "Why We're Divided." The point was that our political divide is not merely the result of differing ideologies. It's the result of differing "facts." Never has that been more clearly demonstrated than by two competing advertising campaigns running on this Independence Day. In my state's
- [The New Jim Crow.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/04/the-new-jim-crow/) - When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law in 1965, everyone thought that would be the end of Jim Crow laws that mandated segregation throughout the South and prevented African-Americans from exercising their right to vote. Everyone was wrong! Within days of the Supreme Court striking down the portion of the
- [Too Cute By Far.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/03/too-cute-by-far/) - I don't know if Edward Snowden is a hero or a traitor; an honorable whistleblower or a self-serving snitch. Those distinctions will be up to history, the public and the courts to decide. But I do know that, if his revelations ultimately show as he claims, that US spying is out of control, he is
- [The War Within.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/02/the-war-within-2/) - During the Cold War of the 1950's, 60's, 70's and 80's, the US and Soviet Union armed proxy nations with the world's most sophisticated weapons. It was good business for the defense industries of both participants. And when the proxy nations went to war with one another, business got even better. Now we're seeing a
- [A Healthcare System Only The Mafia Could Love.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/07/01/a-healthcare-system-only-the-mafia-could-love/) - Actually, I should offer my apologies to the Mafia. Because not even the Mafia could create such a blatantly expensive and inefficient system as the one we have in the US. In fact, when Singapore recently decided to create a national healthcare system, they first looked to the US...in order to learn what NOT to
- [The Dismal State Of Our Union.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/28/the-state-of-our-union/) - Upon listening to the last day of Neal Conan’s Talk of the Nation on NPR, I was surprised by Ted Koppel’s response when asked about the future. Turns out, Koppel shares many of the same concerns as I do. For what it’s worth, here is a compilation of my own views of the current state
- [Let's Sit This War Out.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/26/lets-sit-this-war-out/) - By my calculations, the US has been at war all but 33 years of our existence. And that doesn't even include many of the "police" actions and minor intrusions into other nations. Now many in Congress are beating the war drums again. They want us to do more to help depose Syria's al-Assad by creating
- [The States' Rights Court.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/27/the-states-rights-court/) - Now that the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled on three highly controversial cases, it seems that the decisions all have one thing in common - a desire to protect states' rights. Even though the justices behind the majority opinions changed from one case to another, the Court showed a willingness to defer,
- [The South Will Rise Again!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/25/the-south-will-rise-again/) - The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision to shoot down sections of the Voting Rights Act may be one giant step backward in our nation's centuries-long fight for equality and civil rights. It also represents an unprecedented power grab by the Court. The Voting Rights Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon
- [Pope v. Vatican.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/25/pope-v-vatican/) - After being named Pope, it seems that the Holy See is seeing some things the Vatican doesn't like. During his homily at Mass in Rome, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of doing good as a principle that unites all of humanity The Pope said, "The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are
- [America's Most Centrist President.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/24/americas-most-centrist-president/) - In history, no president has ever nominated more than two members of the opposing party to his cabinet...until President Obama. While Republicans call Obama an extreme liberal, a socialist, a communist, and worse, the president continues to nominate Republicans to important posts. He nominated Ray LaHood as Secretary of Transportation, Judd Gregg as Commerce Secretary
- [It's Difficult To Disprove A Negative.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/21/its-difficult-to-disprove-a-negative/) - Whenever someone accuses the government of a scandal, it's almost impossible to disprove it. That's because the accusation makes headlines. The truth doesn't. Nobody understands this principle better than Teapublicans. When Bill Clinton was elected to the White House, he was forced to disprove a constant wave of scandals created by the GOP. Now it's President
- [Arizona's War On The Environment.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/20/arizonas-war-on-the-environment/) - Arizona has a long love affair with the gun. Its legislature even named the Colt .45 as the state's official gun. Gun shops are everywhere. And there's at least one gun show in the state every weekend. On the other hand, there are few gun clubs or official firing wages. So where do Arizonans go
- [Visit To The Border Exposes The Complexity Of Immigration.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/19/visit-to-the-border-exposes-the-complexity-of-immigration/) - My wife and I recently traveled to the border town of Douglas, Arizona. Along the way, we passed dozens of Border Patrol pickup trucks and two checkpoints. Upon arriving in Douglas, we were greeted by an imposing wall stretching along the border and a town in visible decay. You see, Douglas was once a shopping
- [Organized Bank Crimes.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/18/organized-bank-crimes/) - After an ill-advised investment in grain futures in the late 80’s, I became more convinced than ever before that small investors are at the mercy of large investors. Not just in commodities, but in other markets as well. If your timing happens to coincide with that of the large corporations and the wealthy, you profit.
- [A Fine Example Of An Arizona Conservative.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/15/a-fine-example-of-an-arizona-conservative/) - Last Tuesday, a federal jury convicted former Arizona Congressman "Slick" Rick Renzi on 17 counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy, extortion, racketeering, money laundering and making false statements to insurance regulators. He was acquitted on 15 other felony charges because some evidence was ruled inadmissible. I was especially interested in the outcome of the case, since the
- ["Private Eyes" Given A Whole New Meaning.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/17/private-eyes-given-a-whole-new-meaning/) - Recent revelations about National Security Agency (NSA) snooping on phone records, emails and Internet history have been used by some politicians to attack President Obama. Really? He not only inherited these programs from Dubya. By most accounts, he placed new restrictions on them. Whatever the case, government spying on American citizens should be openly debated
- [Jesus Lives!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/14/jesus-lives/) - In an example of what passes for journalism these days, today's website of the Arizona Republic featured a smudge someone had found on the floor of the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. The "reporter" submitted a photo because he/she thought it resembled Jesus. What was the editor thinking? "Hold the presses! I've got Jesus on the floor?" The
- [Sore Losers.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/15/sore-losers/) - Following the expansion of Medicaid in Arizona, which was pushed by a very conservative governor and passed by a bipartisan coalition of both Republican and Democratic legislators, the so-called "patriots" of the Tea Party are trying every trick in the book to overturn majority rule. They are threatening to collect enough signatures to put the
- [How The Wealthy Avoid Taxes.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/10/how-the-wealthy-avoid-taxes/) - Last fall's presidential election shed light on the issue of offshore tax havens. Thanks to the fact that, as a presidential candidate, Mitt Romney was forced to reveal his income tax returns, many people now better understand how the world's wealthiest people avoid taxes by stashing their often ill-gotten fortunes offshore. According to the Tax
- [Arizona Turned Upside-Down.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/14/arizona-turned-upside-down/) - Mark it down. On Thursday, June 13, 2013, the Earth stood still! The clouds parted. The impossible became possible. Red turned blue. Blue turned red. Tempers cooled, even if the temperatures didn't. In a brief moment of clarity and political sanity, moderate Republicans joined Democrats at the behest of our finger-wagging Governor Brewer to pass
- [How Quickly We Forget!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/12/astonishing-poll-says-more-about-americans-than-bush/) - A new poll by Gallup has found that 49 percent of Americans now view President George W. Bush favorably, while 46 percent view him unfavorably. Assuming that the poll is more accurate than Gallup polls from the 2012 election, it would seem to indicate that 49 percent of Americans are either uninformed, misinformed or blissfully
- [Scandalrama!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/13/scandalrama/) - As the Teapublican House, led by witch-hunter-in-chief, Darrell Issa, looks under every rug and in every nook and cranny for dirt on Fast & Furious, Benghazi, Tea Party applications for non-profit status, the NSA, and anything else that can be used as a hammer against the Obama administration, the real work of Congress languishes. The
- [Post Racial America?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/13/post-racial-america/) - On the anniversary of the murder of civil rights leader, Medgar Evers, his wife, Myrlie Evers-Williams, was interviewed on Politics Nation with Rev. Al Sharpton. Although acknowledging that much has changed since that day 50 years ago, Myrlie Evers-Williams said, "Jim Crow is still alive and it's dressed in a Brooks Brothers suit, instead of
- [Rx For Economic Depression And World War.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/11/rx-for-economic-depression-and-world-war/) - Last week, the Romney-Ryan campaign released its plan for the transition of power from the Obama administration had they won the 2012 election as they expected. Titled the Romney Readiness Project 2012, the 138-page report reads more like a plan to destroy our nation than to lead it forward. Among the recommendations were 20 percent across-the-board tax cuts
- [Big Oil And Its Worldwide Oiligarchy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/06/big-oil-and-its-worldwide-oiligarchy/) - If oligarchy is a power structure in which all political power effectively rests with a few people, Oiligarchy is the perfect term to describe what has become the most powerful industry on Earth. Since World War II, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, BP, Royal Dutch Shell and others have gained increasing control over the US government, along with our
- [Subsidizing Millionaires And Billionaires.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/05/subsidizing-millionaires-and-billionaires/) - For years, large corporations have whined that US corporate income taxes are "the highest in the world." While it's true that our maximum corporate tax RATE is the highest in the world, the EFFECTIVE tax rate paid by US-based multinational corporations is much, much lower. In fact, as a percentage of GDP, US corporations pay
- [What Passes For Government In Arizona.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/07/what-passes-for-government-in-arizona/) - If you think the right wing lunacy in Arizona is limited to the unconstitutional anti-Latino bill SB 1070, anti-federal government nullification laws, unrestricted gun sales, and the nation's most corrupt...er...toughest sheriff, you haven't seen anything. A few weeks ago, the Arizona legislature held a hearing on Agenda 21 that brought out the Tea Party Parasites
- [New Poll Finds 33 Percent Of Americans Are Batcrap Crazy!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/03/new-poll-finds-33-percent-of-americans-are-batcrap-crazy/) - A recent HuffPost/YouGov poll found that 44 percent of Americans view Rep. Michele Bachmann unfavorably while 33 percent had a favorable view of one America's most ignorant and batcrap crazy politicians! That tells us less about Bachmann than American voters. Keep in mind, this is the woman who confused John Wayne with John Wayne Gacy;
- [Darrell Issa Has Long Been An Expert On Lies And Corruption.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/06/04/darrell-issa-has-long-been-an-expert-on-lies-and-corruption/) - It seems that Rep. Darrell Issa sees lies and corruption everywhere in the Obama administration; Fast & Furious, Benghazi, IRS and AP. Yet after months of "investigations" Issa has yet to find any evidence of White House involvement in these scandals. In fact, to use the term "scandal" is a misnomer. So why is Issa
- [Do You Believe In Magic?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/31/do-you-believe-in-magic/) - Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has reported from war zones and written a number of powerful books about our culture. I was fascinated by his recent interview on NPR's Talk of the Nation, during which he addressed some of the cultural idiocy that exists in the US. Hedges decried the media's tendency
- [Marketing Guns To Kids.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/22/marketing-guns-to-kids/) - For many years, I've used mock guns to teach disarms to martial arts students. Some time ago, government agencies banned the sale of such items if they too closely resembled a real gun. They dictated that they be colored red, orange or yellow, and that they not include any detail so that no reasonable person
- [Colbert Exposes Abuses Of The 501(c)4.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/30/colbert-exposes-abuses-of-the-501c4/) - Although known for his comedy, Stephen Colbert has shown an aptitude for investigative journalism that surpasses many of the so-called "legitimate" news operations. His reporting on the IRS "scandal" is but the latest example. Long before traditional news organizations began reporting on the abuses of political PACs and Super PACs, Colbert exposed the inappropriateness of
- ["RNC Needs To Be Closed For Repairs."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/29/gop-needs-to-be-closed-for-repairs/) - That's what former Senator and Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole said about today's Republican National Committee. Asked if he would fit into the GOP today, he said, "I doubt it...Ronald Reagan wouldn't have made it. Certainly Nixon wouldn't have made it, because he had ideas." Now Former Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) has reiterated Dole's comments. "The Republican
- [Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Revisited.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/28/vast-right-wing-conspiracy-revisited/) - During President Clinton's two terms as president, a right wing witch hunt led by Ken Starr and financed by libertarian billionaires spent years trying to uncover dirt on the president and his wife. They claimed that Clinton's investment in a development named Whitewater was fraudulent. They claimed that Hillary hid legal records from her time
- [Onward Christian Soldiers?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/27/onward-christian-soldiers/) - On a recent holiday, my wife and I visited a historic church. Aside from the architecture, what struck me were two monuments on the church grounds: One was a war memorial placed directly in front of the main entrance honoring those church members who had served in war. The other was a gravestone dedicated to
- [The Real IRS Scandal.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/17/the-real-irs-scandal/) - The IRS should be embarrassed by revelations that it singled out Tea Party Patriot groups for extra scrutiny after they applied for 501(c)4 status. Not because scrutinizing these groups was wrong. But because the IRS did not deny them such status. That's right. None of these groups deserve to be considered 501(c)4 organizations. Neither do
- [Political Wars - From Reasoned Debate To Party Tribalism.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/24/political-wars-from-reasoned-debate-to-party-tribalism/) - Despite our political differences, almost all Americans would agree on one thing: Our political system is broken. But why? What led us from the relative political unity following World War II to the anger and divisiveness of today? It didn't just happen. A few individuals intentionally created the politics of destruction, most notably the so-called
- [31 To 5.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/16/31-to-5/) - Teapublicans continue to demand accountability for the deaths of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three others in Benghazi. They might begin with some simple addition and subtraction. For example, under President George W. Bush, the US State Department suffered the following attacks: 2002 Karachi, Pakistan Embassy - 10 dead 2004 Tashkent, Uzbekistan Embassy - 2
- [The DDT Of Our Time.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/23/the-ddt-of-our-time/) - In 1972, the federal government banned the use of the pesticide DDT for agricultural use in the US. At the time, many species of birds (including the Bald Eagle) were on the path to extinction, and DDT was considered the culprit. Not surprisingly, farmers were outraged. They were convinced that DDT was their only means
- [Worse Than Watergate?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/20/worse-than-watergate/) - Every time there's even a hint of a scandal in a Democratic administration, conservatives are quick to call it "worse than Watergate." It's obvious that they need a history lesson. Because, nothing...I mean nothing...has approached the abuse of power that is now known as Watergate. For conservatives and those too young to remember the Nixon administration,
- [The Benghazi "Smoking Gun" Goes Up In Smoke.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/17/the-benghazi-smoking-gun-goes-up-in-smoke/) - Just when Darrell Issa and his melodramatic, partisan witch hunters thought they found the "smoking gun" showing malfeasance by the Obama administration with regard to Benghazi, they found that the "gun" was aimed at them. On Tuesday, ABC News reported to have found an email showing that the State Department crafted the talking points for
- [Repealing Obamacare...Again.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/16/repealing-obamacare/) - In case you haven't heard by now, Teapublicans don't like the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Since taking control of the House in 2011, Teapublicans have voted to repeal Obamacare 37 times. The latest vote came yesterday. Of course, there is absolutely no chance that the law will actually be repealed. Not only do
- [All The Way To Crazytown, AKA Benghazi.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/09/all-the-way-to-crazytown-aka-benghazi/) - According to Teapublicans, it's the "scandal" that's "worse than Watergate." Except for voting to repeal Obamacare 37 times, nothing has taken up more of their time since they took back the House in 2010. Not job creation. Not national security. Not terrorism. Not even tax reform. For Teapublicans, this is the event that keeps on
- [From Kathie Lee To Bangladesh.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/15/from-kathie-lee-to-bangladesh/) - Nearly a decade ago, the media were awash with stories tying Kathie Lee Gifford to sweatshops in Honduras. It seems she had endorsed a line of clothing sold at Walmart and, when it was discovered that Walmart outsourced the clothing manufacture to sweatshops using children, Kathie Lee was vilified. Walmart, on the other hand, emerged
- [Proof That Greed Kills.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/02/proof-that-greed-kills/) - For some time, Americans have taken greed for granted. Many have believed that greed is an inevitable outgrowth of free market capitalism. Even following Mitt Romney's speech about the 47 percenters and revelations of his offshore tax havens, many Americans said it didn't matter. But greed has real world consequences. As the top one percent
- [Sex, Politics, Religion And Poverty.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/14/sex-politics-religion-and-poverty/) - According to a new Census Bureau report, Social and Economic Characteristics of Currently Unmarried Women With a Recent Birth: 2011, more than 6 out of 10 women who have children in their early twenties are unmarried. That number has accelerated in recent years - up 80 percent since 1980. Overall, 36 percent of all births in
- [A Role Model For The US Senate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/13/a-role-model-for-the-us-senate/) - If US senators are wondering what they can do to endear themselves to their constituents, they should look to their new colleague, Sen. Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts. In her short tenure, Warren has already shown a willingness to tell truth to power. She has also shown she has the guts to stand up for those
- [Tea Party Conspiracy Theories: Tinfoil Hats Recommended.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/08/tea-party-conspiracy-theories-tinfoil-hats-recommended/) - Apparently, one of the criteria for becoming a Tea Party "Patriot" is to believe that our federal government is out to get you. These people actually believe that the Freemasons, beginning with our Founding Fathers, are intent on creating a New World Order in which our nation will become subservient to a New World government.
- [The Austerity Fraud.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/10/the-austerity-fraud/) - For more than 30 years, conservatives have pushed for smaller government. Their battle cry is to "Starve the Beast," the beast being our federal government. They have demanded more and more tax cuts, especially for the wealthy, and they finally got them under President George W. Bush. Yet, when the tax cuts led to large
- [George W. Bush Presidential Library - What It Should Include.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/25/george-w-bush-library-what-it-should-include/) - No, I'm not going to suggest that it consist simply of My Pet Goat, the only book other than the Bible that Bush is known to have read. But if a presidential library is intended to represent the achievements of a presidency, here's what I believe it should include: Bush 9/ll Room - The highlight of this
- [A Teapublican Twofer.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/07/a-teapublican-twofer/) - This Wednesday, Teapublicans in Congress will, once again, hold hearings on the murders of Ambassador Stevens and three other US government personnel at the consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Unwilling to accept the State Department's account of the incident, the Secretary of State's account, testimony in previous Congressional hearings, or even a report by a special
- [A Message To Tea Party "Patriots."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/03/a-message-to-tea-party-patriots/) - There's simply no nice way of saying it. You are a bunch of self-serving, gun-toting, conspiracy promoting, anti-intellectual, anti-education, anti-evidence, anti-American nitwits. You call yourselves Tea Party Patriots, but you're neither patriotic nor even a party. You are the lunatic fringe. You wrap yourselves in the flag and spout quotes from a select few of
- [Trial By Media.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/06/trial-by-media/) - For some Americans, this promises to be a big week...a very big week. You see, this may be the week the media circus, also known as the Jodi Arias trial, reaches a climax...er, verdict. For weeks on end, Americans have been glued to their TVs to make certain they wouldn't miss a single salacious detail
- [Turning History Into Fiction.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/30/turning-history-into-fiction/) - Last week's opening of the George W. Bush presidential library was remarkable in one respect. With the opening, Teapublicans began their attempts to rewrite history in earnest. Last week, you heard Bush state that he still considers our invasion of Iraq a great achievement for exporting democracy to the world. There was no mention, of
- [Caution With Syria Justified.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/05/01/caution-with-syria-justified/) - Despite the right wing warmongers' calls for war with Assad's Syria, President Obama is correct to move cautiously. There are many questions to be answered. Who are the rebels? What are their aims? What will be the future of Syria if the rebellion is successful? What will be the cost to the US if we
- [Flight Delays Versus Food, Children And Safety. ](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/29/flight-delays-versus-food-children-and-safety/) - Late Thursday and early Friday, legislation sailed through Congress faster than it has in years. The reason? Teapublicans were upset by furloughs to air traffic controllers, causing flight delays for business people, vacation travelers and, of course, Congress. Oh my! How would these people ever survive an hour or two wait on their way to
- [A Warning To Democrats:](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/26/a-warning-to-democrats/) - From recent polls showing, among other things, that 13% of Americans believe the president is actually the Antichrist, you may correctly assume that the Republican Party is full of a bunch of crackpots (aka the Tea Party). You may rightly believe that the GOP platform is akin to something coming out of the north end
- [Getting Re-Elected Versus Doing The Right Thing.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/24/getting-re-elected-versus-doing-the-right-thing/) - You would think those two things would not be mutually exclusive. However, in today's style of politics, our elected representatives seem to be more focused on the next election than on the problems in front of them. Moderate Republicans (remember them?) are fearful of seeming to cooperate with the president and the opposition lest they
- [West, Texas Disaster Highlights Our Regulatory Problems.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/23/west-texas-highlights-our-regulatory-problems/) - Those on the political right are fond of saying that business is over-regulated by the federal government...even after the economic meltdown resulting from the lax regulation of financial institutions; even after skyrocketing oil prices caused by deregulation of commodities; even after the ecological disaster involving BP Oil and the Deepwater Horizon caused, in part, by
- [A Little Perspective On The Boston Bombing Suspects.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/19/a-little-perspective-on-the-boston-bombers/) - Before Americans get all high and mighty and resume the same Islam bashing that followed 9/11, we should remember this: Islamic terrorists no more represent Islam than the Westboro Baptist Church represents Protestantism. They no more represent Islam than pedophile priests represent Catholicism. They no more represent Chechnya, Russia, or immigrants than they represent boxers, wrestlers,
- [Creating A Separate Justice System For Terrorism Is A Very Slippery Slope.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/22/creating-a-separate-justice-system-for-terrorism-is-a-very-slippery-slope/) - Some Teapublican leaders are calling for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to be treated as an "enemy combatant", removing him from our traditional justice system and subjecting him to a military tribunal. Although this may be tempting to some, it is the slipperiest of slippery slopes. Tsarnaev is an American citizen. He has the same right to a trial
- [Suddenly, Budweiser Tastes A Lot Better!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/19/suddenly-budweiser-tastes-a-lot-better/) - I'm not a big beer drinker. But I'll treat myself to a cold one a little more often now...and it will definitely be an Anheuser-Busch product. That's because Adolphus Busch IV just resigned his lifetime membership in the National Rifle Association. It seems Busch was upset over the NRA's refusal to listen to its members
- [Everyday Terrorism In The US.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/17/everyday-terrorism-in-the-us/) - To take nothing away from the tragedy at the Boston Marathon, our nation faces a far more deadly form of terrorism every single day. At latest count, the Boston bombs cost 3 lives and 180 wounded. That's a horrendous toll and I cry for the victims and their families. But gun violence claims 32 lives
- [Government Of The Gun, By The Gun And For The Gun.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/18/government-of-the-gun-by-the-gun-and-for-the-gun/) - You probably thought our government was "of the people." Not anymore. The NRA, the Republican Party and the Tea Party Parrots have changed that. When gun-lovin' senators decided to filibuster a bill that would expand background checks on gun sales, they went against the will of 90 percent of the people. It's now abundantly clear who
- [We Pledge Allegiance To The Gun Manufacturers Of America.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/17/we-pledge-allegiance-to-the-gun-manufacturers-of-america/) - Today, the gun lobby-owned Teapublicans in the US Senate filibustered a bill calling for expanded background checks. As a result, the bill failed on a vote of 54-46. It needed 60 votes to break the filibuster of rootin', tootin', shootin' Teapublicans. So the Teapublican senators would rather allow criminals and the mentally ill easy access
- [Does Wayne LaPierre's Advice Also Apply To Bombs?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/16/does-wayne-lapierres-advice-also-apply-to-bombs/) - Following the tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, NRA Exec. VP, Wayne LaPierre said, "the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun." So after the tragedy at the Boston Marathon, will Mr. LaPierre make a similar statement about bombs? Of course not!
- ["We Can't Afford That Anymore."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/15/we-cant-afford-that-anymore/) - We hear it all the time. There's no money to improve our schools. There's no money to rebuild our infrastructure. There's no money to ensure that our citizens have access to food and medicine. There's no money to care for the mentally ill and the homeless. There's no money to give our veterans the care
- [Iron Lady With A Tin Heart.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/11/iron-lady-with-a-tin-ear/) - Since the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, conservatives have nearly deified her in the same way they did Ronald Reagan. She's credited with everything from helping to end the Cold War to single-handedly saving the British economy. Certainly, she broke the glass ceiling through perserverance and determination. For that she deserves respect. But
- [At War With Ourselves.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/13/at-war-with-ourselves/) - Not to diminish the loss and sacrifice of those fighting in Afghanistan, but America's most lethal war is internal. All of our wars since 1776 (and there have been far too many of them) have resulted in the deaths of 1,171,177 soldiers. But since 1968, 1,384,171 civilians have lost their lives to gun violence in
- [The Underworld Of Homelessness.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/12/the-underworld-of-homelessness/) - Out of sight, out of mind. That's how most Americans deal with homelessness. So it's not surprising that a few homeless people in Kansas City created an underground camp. They dug a series of tunnels which they ventilated with PVC pipe...a creative way to get out of the weather and out of sight of the
- [How The Drug War Is Destroying America!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/10/how-drugs-are-destroying-america/) - In 1971, President Richard M. Nixon announced a war on drugs to punish those who manufacture, sell and use illicit drugs. More than 40 years later, we're still at war. And we're losing badly. Since the war on drugs began, we've spent more than $1 trillion to intercept drug smugglers; to arrest, prosecute and incarcerate
- [Filibuster For Murder.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/09/filibuster-for-murder/) - Monday, Sen. Mitch McConnell announced that he will join 14 other Teapublican senators to filibuster the gun safety bill. He apparently timed his announcement to coincide with President Obama's Newtown speech calling for gun control. Nothing could better demonstrate the minority leader's disdain for the president, Democrats and the majority of Americans. Depending on which
- [The United States Of Crazy!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/07/the-united-states-of-crazy/) - A recent survey by Public Policy Polling found that 13 percent of Americans actually think President Obama is the antichrist. An additional 13 percent are unsure. The same survey found that 37 percent of Americans believe global warming is a hoax, while another 12 percent are unsure. The survey also found that 28 percent of
- [The NRA's Circular Argument.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/05/the-nras-circular-argument/) - As Congress debated the assault weapons ban in 1994, the NRA offered universal background checks as an alternative. Following the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999, the NRA again called for universal background checks. But now that we're once again looking for solutions to gun violence, the NRA leadership is adamantly opposed to universal
- [The GOP’s Continuing Attack On Voters, Workers, Women And The Constitution.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/03/the-gops-continuing-attack-on-citizens-workers-women-and-the-constitution/) - Still stinging from its losses in the 2012 election, the Grand Old Party is becoming a Grand Old Pain In The Ass. Not just for Democrats…for everyone. While opposing a bill that would raise the minimum wage, the GOP is attacking labor unions across the nation and successfully ending defined benefit pension plans. Now the
- [The Constitutional Fight That Never Seems To End.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/29/the-constitutional-fight-that-never-seems-to-end/) - You may think that the current debate between the Tea Party and Democrats over the role of the federal government is relatively new. It's not. The debate is as old as the nation itself. Following the Constitutional Convention of 1787, there was an intense debate over the same issue. Anti-Federalists such as Patrick Henry, Samuel
- [Putting The Party In Tea Party.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/04/01/putting-the-party-in-tea-party/) - The Tea Party began as a group of individuals who claimed to be aghast at runaway government spending. To fight back, they promoted a number of candidates who ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility. That was 2010. Just a few years later, those so-called fiscal hawks have decided that federal spending is a good
- [Apocalyptic Politics.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/26/apocalyptic-politics/) - Many Americans seem convinced that the Apocalypse is upon us. Remember Y2K? Remember Nostradamus? Remember the Mayan calendar? There have been dead-enders around as long as I can remember. Usually, they were part of some wacko religious cult that had bet its future on the book of Revelation. But, in recent years, the dead-enders have
- [Most U.S. Problems Are The Result Of The 2000 Election.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/27/2000-our-greatest-mistake/) - In some ways, those who predicted apocalyptic disaster as the result of Y2K were right. No, our computers did not stop working. No, the millennium did not lead to the end of the world. But we did experience a disaster nonetheless. Despite winning the majority of the popular vote, Al Gore was denied a recount in
- [The Iraq War Summed Up In A Single Letter.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/20/the-iraq-war-summed-up-in-a-single-letter/) - Remember when Paul Wolfowitz said that the Iraq War would pay for itself? He and others in the Bush administration claimed that we would be welcomed as liberators; that it would be financed by oil revenues. Contrary to those claims, the cost is now more than $800 billion and rising. When you take into account
- [Let's Create A New Tax System!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/22/lets-create-a-new-tax-system/) - The US is a patchwork of federal taxes, state taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, capital gains taxes, gasoline taxes, tobacco taxes, etc. In addition, there are a myriad of tax loopholes allowing billionaires to pay lower tax rates than the secretaries who work for them. Worse yet, some of the world's largest corporations are able
- [What The Frack?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/21/what-the-frack/) - If you've followed fracking in the US (the process of releasing gas and oil from rock formations hundreds of feet underground through hydraulic fracturing), you've heard about the many nightmares. Some people have had their wells so polluted, the water can be set on fire. Others talk of bullying tactics by the oil drilling companies
- [The Treason Party.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/19/the-treason-party/) - Following the fallout of the Watergate break-in, we learned that Richard Nixon was a crook. Thanks to a documentary by the BBC and the Rachel Maddow Show, we now know that he was also a traitor. The Thursday before the 1968 presidential election, President Johnson announced that the allies had reached a peace agreement with
- [If I Were King.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/18/if-i-were-king/) - Ever think about what you might do if you were named King (or Queen) of the US for a day? I realize this is a somewhat narcissistic exercise, nevertheless, here's what I would do: 1 - Cut the defense budget in half and use the leftover money to rebuild our antiquated and decaying infrastructure 2
- [What Next For Our Relationship With Israel?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/15/what-next-for-our-relationship-with-israel/) - Once a necessary relationship of a superpower protecting a fragile state, the US relationship with Israel has turned into something far different. Thanks to our protection and investment, Israel is no longer helpless. It may be surrounded by larger nations opposed to its very existence, but Israel has a more powerful military with more advanced
- [Drone Controversy Nothing New.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/14/drone-controversy-nothing-new/) - Sen. Rand Paul's talking filibuster succeeded in calling attention to the issue of government-sanctioned assassinations. But this issue is far from new. The US has been using the threat of assassination for decades. The only thing that has changed is the means of killing. Following World War II, our CIA and military planned assassination attempts
- [His Highness Obama?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/13/his-highness-obama/) - Right wing nitwits continue to claim that President Obama has usurped the powers of Congress in order to pursue his liberal, socialist agenda. They derisively refer to him as King Obama or Emperor Obama. Ironically, he very nearly earned such a title. According to Jon Meacham's book, Thomas Jefferson - The Art of Power, many of
- [Tax Cuts For The Rich, Budget Cuts For The Poor.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/08/tax-cuts-for-the-rich-budget-cuts-for-the-poor/) - Following are a few numbers that clearly show the results of more than 40 years of Republican economic policies: 1 percent of Americans now control more than 40 percent of the nation's wealth, while the bottom 40 percent of Americans control 0.2 percent of the wealth. 46.2 million Americans are living in poverty. 3.9 million
- [Let Them Eat Horse!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/12/let-them-eat-horse/) - According to new studies, 1 in 3 Americans believe that hamburger tainted with horse meat should be given to the poor. In essence, they're saying, "I wouldn't eat it, but it's good enough for the poor." Of course, in the minds of Teapublican deficit hawks, the poor are merely freeloaders who don't deserve what the
- [Supreme Attack On Voting Rights.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/28/supreme-attack-on-voting-rights/) - Today, the Supreme Court took up a challenge to the Voting Rights Act of 1964 which was renewed in 2006. If you're not familiar with the Act, it was passed by Congress to prevent many of the states of the old Confederacy from denying African-Americans representation and the right to vote. For many years, in
- [Does Mitch McConnell Deserve The Title "Leader?"](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/11/does-mitch-mcconnell-deserve-the-title-leader/) - Following President Obama's dinner with Senate Republicans, the invitees were asked to comment on the evening. All said it was productive and one stated that he was surprised to learn that the president had previously offered a variety of spending cuts to prevent sequestration. Really?!!! This is surprising on a couple of fronts. First, the
- [The Real Hunger Games.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/07/the-real-hunger-games/) - What's your definition of a third world country? When I was a child (far too long ago) third world countries were defined as those that didn't produce enough food for their own citizens. I remember photographs of these faraway places...photos of people with blank stares and bellies bloated by starvation. If I failed to clean my
- [Unrestrained Greed.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/26/unrestrained-greed/) - Our nation is just a few days away from across-the-board austerity cuts that will likely send our fragile economy back into recession...all because the GOP (Guardians Of Privilege) refuse to consider increasing or reforming taxes. The GOP would rather cut programs for the poor, the unemployed, the elderly and the very young than cut subsidies
- [Since Most Americans Want Compromise, Why Elect Those Who Don't?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/06/since-most-want-compromise-why-elect-those-who-dont/) - A variety of polls show that the overwhelming majority of Americans want their elected officials to compromise. Yet the US House of Representatives is controlled by those who view compromise as a weakness. Speaker Boehner can't even bring himself to say the word! As a result, President Obama was forced to sign an order implementing
- [Arizona Tea Party Patriots Es Muy Loco.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/05/arizona-tea-party-patriots-es-muy-loco/) - I recently received an invitation to a meeting of the Sedona Tea Party "Patriots" for a "one-time" showing of Behold A Pale Horse. Based on the title, one assumes this movie will prepare us for the coming political apocalypse. The movie "stars" Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, a leader of the Family Research Council, which has
- [Recognizing Tea Party "Patriots" For What They Really Are: Liars And Lunatics.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/02/recognizing-tea-party-patriots-for-what-they-really-are-liars-and-lunatics/) - Tea Party Patriots say they want the US to return to the principles of the Constitution. But the principles they cite tend to be more closely aligned to the Articles of Confederation which the Constitution replaced. For example, unlike the Articles of Confederation which reserved power for the States, the Constitution gives expansive powers to
- [Scalia And Thomas Bring Court's Ethics Into Question.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/03/01/scalia-and-thomas-bring-courts-ethics-into-question/) - As the highest court in the land, judgments of the Supreme Court of the United States should be beyond question. The Court's decisions should not be influenced by partisan politics, and there should be no lingering doubts that they were the result of undue influence. Yet Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas transparently allow their ideologies to
- [Buying Elections.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/28/buying-elections/) - Americans have long been opposed to the notion of candidates buying elections. But we're just one step short of unfettered vote buying. In 1976, while upholding a law which set limits on campaign contributions, the Supreme Court made it possible for candidates to spend unlimited amounts on their own campaigns. In essence, the Court ruled
- [Criticism Of Oscars Says More About Us Than Hollywood.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/25/criticism-of-oscars-says-more-about-us-than-hollywood/) - It's the day after the Academy Awards and the Web is filled with questions and snarky critiques of the proceedings. Was Heidi Klum's dress too revealing? (Yes, she has breasts. She's a woman!) Did the darts in Ann Hathaway's dress look like nipples? (Only if you have difficulty telling fabric and flesh apart.) Why was
- [Are We Really So Different From Australia?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/22/are-we-really-so-different-from-australia/) - In 1996, a madman used an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle to kill 35 people and wound 21 more at an Australian tourist site. The Port Arthur massacre led the newly-elected prime minister to implement new gun law proposals to ban most handguns, semi-automatic rifles, semi-automatic shotguns, even pump-action shotguns. Guns are still available to competitive target
- [What Does It Take To Make The NRA's Enemies List?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/20/what-does-it-take-to-make-the-nras-enemies-list/) - Although I have been a gun owner since my parents gave me a single-shot .22 rifle for my 13th birthday, I have been writing about the insanity of this nation's gun culture for many years. Yet I recently learned that I was left off the enemies list published by the National Rifle Association! Naturally, I
- [Teapublicans Can't Have It Both Ways.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/19/teapublicans-cant-have-it-both-ways/) - Upon reviewing a leaked document purporting to be the White House plan for immigration reform, Teapublican boy wonder Senator Marco Rubio issued a response stating, "It's a mistake for the White House to draft immigration legislation without seeking input from Republican members of Congress." He went on to call the plan "half-baked," "seriously flawed" and
- [The True Measure Of A Great Man.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/17/the-true-measure-of-a-great-man/) - Few people achieve great things in their chosen professions. Fewer still are capable of teaching others how to achieve those things. And it's a rare individual who can teach others how to face difficulty, even death, with courage and grace. Mike Hughes has done all of these things. Mike is President and former Chief Creative
- [A Rare Slip Of The Tongue By Sen. McCain.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/18/a-rare-slip-of-the-tongue-by-sen-john-mccain/) - It doesn't happen often, but last Thursday, a nugget of truth slipped between the lips of the self-described maverick. Appearing on Fox News Channel, he stated that the reason for the filibuster of former Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination for Secretary of Defense is Hagel's statements regarding former President Bush. McCain said, "it goes back to
- [Guns And Bibles.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/13/guns-and-bibles/) - Or is it Bibles and guns? The two now seem so inexplicably linked it's difficult to know. For example, many of the nation's leading Bible-thumping states also have the largest percentage of gun ownership. And although I know of no studies on the subject, these same states would seem to rank high on a paranoia index.
- [The Nation's Toughest Sheriff?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/15/the-nations-toughest-sheriff/) - In my opinion, it would be more accurate to call Joe Arpaio the nation's most corrupt sheriff. I'm not saying Joe's not tough. He's plenty tough on Latinos, other minorities and anyone who dares to question his actions. For example, Arpaio has repeatedly conducted "crime" sweeps in Latino neighborhoods, hoping to latch onto an undocumented
- [Is The Tea Party A Political Party? Or Not?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/14/is-the-tea-party-a-political-party-or-not/) - Following President Obama's State of the Union address, there were two rebuttals: One from Republicans and one from the Tea Party. This begs the question: What is the Tea Party? Is it a real political party competing with Democrats and Republicans? Or is it just a more angry, more mean-spirited faction of political Neanderthals within
- [Vatican Exposed!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/08/vatican-exposed/) - John Dalberg-Acton, a British Catholic historian, politician and writer, once wrote of the Vatican and the Catholic Church, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” No statement could better describe the Vatican’s actions (or should I say inactions?) which were exposed like a priest caught with his pants down in Alex Gibney’s documentary
- [A Heartless Dick Who Won't Go Away.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/12/a-heartless-dick-who-wont-go-away/) - On the day of President Obama's State of the Union address, Richard "The Dick" Cheney crawled out of his hidey hole to show off his new black heart. He used the opportunity to criticize the president's choices for Secretary of Defense and CIA Director as "second rate." Even if The Dick were to be believed,
- [NRA Hypocrisy On Gun Laws.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/11/nra-hypocrisy-on-gun-laws/) - Since the massacre of children at Sandy Hook Elementary School, National Rifle Association leaders have spoken out against any form of gun control. Instead, they call for "enforcing the more than 20,000 gun laws already on the books." That's interesting because the NRA and its Teapublican pawns in Congress have placed an increasing number of
- [Let’s Have A Real Debate About Drone Strikes And Torture.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/07/let’s-have-a-real-debate-about-drone-strikes-and-torture/) - Over the past decade, our “war on terror” has led to two highly contentious policies. Extraordinary rendition (AKA torture) involving the US and 50 nations which acted in defiance of the Geneva Conventions' ban on torture, and unmanned drone strikes (AKA assassination by remote control). These two policies were created and undertaken by the CIA
- [We Not Only Have A Gun Problem. We Have An Anger Problem.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/06/we-not-only-have-a-gun-problem-we-have-an-anger-problem/) - Sometime in the mid-1980s, I heard a report on the radio of a road rage incident. I later found out that a friend had been involved. While my friend was stopped at a traffic light, another driver inexplicably attacked him. My friend got out of the car, picked him up, and deposited the attacker in the
- [Absolutism And The 2nd Amendment.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/04/absolutism-and-the-2nd-amendment/) - The National Rifle Association, right wing conservatives and gun collectors like to consider the rights granted by the 2nd Amendment as absolute. Even during testimony by a parent of one of the children slaughtered in Newtown, a heckler shouted "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Of course, people
- [America's Gun Culture.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/02/01/americas-gun-culture/) - At halftime of an NFL game, Bob Costas incurred the wrath of gun nuts by raising the issue of this nation's out of control gun culture. His comments followed a tragic murder/suicide committed by an NFL player. And he recently expanded on those comments during a guest appearance on The Daily Show. Although Costas was
- [No Such Thing As Partial Equality.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/31/no-such-thing-as-partial-equality/) - Although I'm not excited at the prospects of young women being involved in combat (I'm actually not fond of anyone being involved in combat), I applaud the decision. It means that our government is finally addressing inequality. We have a long way to go. There's still discrimination with regard to women's salaries, GLBT rights, economic inequality
- [Another Chickensh*t Decision By A Democrat.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/30/another-chickensht-decision-by-a-democrat/) - Last week, Sen. Harry Reid had an opportunity for real filibuster reform. With the beginning of each new Congress, the Senate can determine its rules by a simple majority vote. Given the opportunity, many Democrats wanted to return to a voice filibuster like that of the past. In other words, the minority would still be
- [Another Teapublican Backfire.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/22/another-teapublican-backfire/) - Remember all of the idiotic comments about rape during the past election campaign? You know, the ones about how women's bodies have a way of preventing pregnancy from "legitimate" rape. It turns out that those comments prevented a bunch of Teapublicans from being elected. What's more, it seems that all of the discussion about women's
- [Are We Willing To Settle For This America?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/29/are-we-willing-to-settle-for-this-america/) - There are those, particularly on the political right, who are satisfied with the way things are in the US. They truly believe that everything about the US is better than any other country in the world. And they believe it's unpatriotic to criticize our faults. But can we really settle for the way things are in
- [Sorry For The Interruption.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/29/sorry-for-the-interruption/) - This site has been unavailable for nearly a week. I can't blame Teapublicans, Fox News Channel, Rush Limbaugh or any of the other angry, right wing zealots who would like to silence the left. The reason for the interruption was nothing quite that interesting. It was simply the result of technical problems. Thanks for your
- [Preparing To Steal Elections.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/23/preparing-to-steal-elections/) - On Monday, Teapublicans in the Virginia State Senate used the absence of a Democratic senator (who was attending the Presidential Inauguration) to ambush Democrats by calling for a vote on a bill to redraw senate districts. The bill gerrymandered the state to ensure that Teapublicans would enjoy a virtual permanent advantage. This is but the
- [Exposing The Lies Of The Gun Lobby.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/18/exposing-the-lies-of-the-gun-lobby/) - Since the 1980s, gun lobbyists such as the National Rifle Association have generated a huge number of lies in order to further sales of gun manufacturers. Here are just a few of the lies: 1 - "The 2nd Amendment guarantees the right of all Americans to possess firearms." The meaning of 2nd Amendment has been
- [A Fair Solution For The Debt "Crisis." ](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/16/a-fair-solution-for-the-debt-crisis/) - For the past four years, we’ve heard a lot of whining about the federal deficits and debt, primarily from red states. Although quiet during the prolific spending spree of the Bush administration, once President Obama took office, Teapublican anger swelled throughout the old South and in states like Arizona. Ironically, many of those who scream
- [Yelling "Fire" On Radio And TV.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/14/yelling-fire-on-radio-and-tv/) - Many years ago, the Supreme Court made it a crime to falsely yell "fire" in a crowded room. It was deemed to be a threat to public safety and, therefore, not covered under the First Amendment protection of free speech. At the time (1919), the Supreme Court decision could not have foreseen an even greater
- [Contrary To NRA Claims, More Guns Equal More Violence.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/11/contrary-to-nra-claims-more-guns-equal-more-violence/) - As Vice-President Joe Biden's Commission examines ways to prevent another Newtown massacre, the NRA has continued to spew lies about guns. For example, the organization's leader, Wayne LaPierre, stated that "only answer to a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." He wants us to believe that we should all
- [This Confirmation Hearing Is Going To Be Good!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/08/this-confirmation-hearing-is-going-to-be-good/) - Numerous Teapublicans have already stated that they will not support the nomination of former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense. Set aside for a moment that tradition dictates that a president has the right to choose whom he pleases for his cabinet, it's going to be really entertaining to watch Teapublicans attack one
- [To NRA, Guns Are More Valuable Than People.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/09/nra-believes-guns-are-more-valuable-than-people/) - Literally! On the anniversary of the Tucson shooting which claimed the lives of six people and seriously wounded others, including Congresswoman "Gabby" Giffords, the City of Tucson conducted a gun buyback. The National Rifle Association not only objected. It vehemently opposed the destruction of the weapons collected. The NRA has even threatened to sue the
- [Looking Up To Cockroaches.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/09/looking-up-to-cockroaches/) - Yesterday, Congress reached a new milestone. A survey measuring its approval ratings found that Congress is now less popular than cockroaches, head lice and root canals! The latter seems particularly appropriate for those of us living in northern Arizona as we are represented by a dentist who has a lot to do with our current
- [The Worse-Than-Do-Nothing Congress.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/05/the-worse-than-do-nothing-congress/) - In 1948, President Harry Truman labeled the 80th Congress the "Do Nothing" Congress since it refused to pass most of the bills of the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration and the Truman administration. Instead, it focused on passing a few bills to benefit big business. Believe it or not, the recently ended 112th Congress was worse!
- [Gavel Envy?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/07/gavel-envy/) - Ever notice Speaker of the House John Boehner's enormous gavel? The thing must be a foot and a half long and weigh a couple of pounds. Which leads me to wonder why would he choose to wield a gavel that looks like it belongs to a circus clown, or in a kangaroo court? Certainly he
- [NRA Exposed!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/30/nra-exposed/) - The National Rifle Association began as an organization dedicated to preserving hunting and to support target shooting as a wholesome activity for young people. Its origins go back to a time when our nation was largely rural and hunting was more than a sport. It was a way to put food on the family table.
- ["Fiscal Cliff" Bill Includes More Largess For Wall Street.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2013/01/04/fiscal-cliff-bill-includes-more-largess-for-wall-street/) - Avoiding the "fiscal cliff" should have been a simple matter of extending the Bush tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans. After all, this was the central issue in the presidential campaign. But the GOP (Guardians Of Privilege) have never passed up an opportunity to take from the poor and give to the rich. So
- [From The Age Of Enlightened Minds To The Age Of Dimwits.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/23/from-the-age-of-enlightened-minds-to-the-age-of-dimwits/) - The so-called Tea Party "Patriots" are fond of comparing themselves to the Founding Fathers in order to promote their self-serving, narrow-minded philosophy. Indeed, they named themselves after those courageous souls who dared to stand up to the British at places such as Boston Harbor, Lexington and Concord. Yet today's teabaggers couldn't be more different from
- [NRA Living In Fantasy World.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/22/nra-living-in-fantasy-world/) - Showing a willful failure to grasp reality, the NRA today called for armed guards at every school in America. It's an attempt to set the way-back machine to the 19th century - a time when "justice" came from the end of a gun. It simply doesn't work in the 21st century. Armed guards at schools
- [Is It Finally Time To Talk About Guns?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/14/is-it-finally-time-to-talk-about-guns/) - Every time there is a mass shooting, the National Rifle Association, Fox News Channel, right wing radio loudmouths and the GOP say, "Now is not the time to talk about gun control." They claim that doing so would be disrespectful to the victims. Seriously? Talking about measures to prevent more victims is disrespectful? Given that we've
- [Who's Really Behind Gun Violence?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/21/whos-really-behind-gun-violence/) - Certainly the NRA and other gun rights groups deserve a lot of the blame. Over the past 30 years, they've evolved from organizations intended to preserve hunting and to promote gun safety into lobbyists for gun manufacturers. But the real blame for increased violence belongs to those who have fostered paranoia. Paranoia about crime. Paranoia
- [With Each Mass Shooting, The NRA Has More Blood On Its Hands. ](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/19/with-each-mass-shooting-the-nra-has-more-blood-on-its-hands/) - The National Rifle Association is fond of saying that increased gun ownership reduces gun violence. Indeed, on the day of the Newtown tragedy, the lead story on the NRA website was headed "More Guns, Less Crime in Virginia." The story quoted statistics from a Virginia Commonwealth professor that show gun sales in Virginia have climbed
- [GOP Strategy:  Lie, Cheat, Steal, Suppress And Spend.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/11/05/gop-strategy-lie-cheat-steal-suppress-and-spend/) - Think I'm exaggerating? Consider this: For months, we've been bombarded with commercials from Republicans and their SuperPACS based on pants-on-fire lies, such as Romney's latest gem that Chrysler is planning on moving the production of Jeeps to China. Never mind that the Chrysler CEO immediately denounced the commercial as a blatant lie. Mitt the Twit
- [The Real Makers And Takers.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/11/19/the-real-makers-and-takers/) - Teapublican rhetoric aside, the real makers are in the bluest of states and the vast majority of takers are in the reddest of states. Washington DC, Delaware, Connecticut, Minnesota and New Jersey contribute the most per capita in income taxes to the federal government. On the other hand, West Virginia, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina,
- [Another "Scandal" Blows Up In GOP Faces.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/11/16/another-scandal-blows-up-in-gop-faces/) - Determined to find a scandal worthy of impeachment (or at the very least, a scandal that would cause great embarrassment to the Obama administration), GOP leaders first seized on Solyndra only to discover that the process for the government-backed loan first began during the Bush administration. Frustrated, they then turned to Fast and Furious only
- [The Right Wing Propaganda Machine.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/11/29/the-right-wing-propaganda-machine/) - Since the end of the FCC Fairness Doctrine, we have been subjected to a massive propaganda campaign led by Fox News Channel and the loudmouths on hate radio. But that's just the propaganda that's most noticeable. Billionaire plutocrats have funded a less noisy, much more sinister effort. It involves the use of so-called "think tanks"
- [Fox News Channel's Annual Rant About "The War On Christmas."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/04/fox-news-channels-annual-rant-about-the-war-on-christmas/) - Every year, Fox News Channel devotes hours to the so-called "War on Christmas." It makes a sensational story. It panders to Christians and conservatives. It builds ratings. But it's simply not true. There is no such war. Sure, as a result of the Constitution's establishment clause, Christians are denied the right to place nativity scenes
- [Congratulations, Teapublicans. You won...for now.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/14/congratulations-teapublicans-you-wonfor-now/) - By threatening to filibuster her nomination, Teapublican Senators John "McNasty" McCain and Lindsey Graham forced UN Ambassador Susan Rice to withdraw her name from consideration as the replacement for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But before you begin your celebration, consider this: Rice isn't the only one to lose. Since Rice is the person most qualified
- [Will GOP Lemmings Follow The Tea Party Over The Cliff?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/11/will-gop-lemmings-follow-the-tea-party-off-the-cliff/) - In 2011, the Tea Party led our nation to a fiscal precipice by refusing to raise the debt ceiling unless Democrats agreed to cut so-called "entitlements." The resulting impasse led to a lowering of our credit rating and widespread uncertainty, causing consumers to curtail spending and businesses to suspend hiring. Following that debacle and ensuing
- [GOP Keeps Getting Crazier.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/05/gop-keeps-getting-crazier/) - Embittered by their presidential candidate losing the election to President Obama, Teapublicans are having a snit. They refuse to believe that they lost because of their wacko ideas. Instead, they claim that Obama won only because he promised "to give stuff away" to voters. Adding to the insanity, polls show that 25 percent of Teapublicans
- [Some Elephants Have Short Memories.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/12/04/some-elephants-have-short-memories/) - The symbol for the GOP is the elephant; rather ironic when you consider how short Republican memories seem to be. When George W. Bush was named president in 2000 after Al Gore won the popular vote and the GOP was found to have committed massive voter fraud and voter suppression in Florida giving the electoral
- [The Party Of Lincoln?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/11/20/the-party-of-lincoln/) - Republicans are fond of calling themselves the “party of Lincoln.” Of course, it is true. At least it used to be. But if you watch the Steven Spielberg movie, Lincoln, you discover how far the party has strayed from the principles of its most revered member. Lincoln saved the Union. Today’s Republicans are trying to
- [He's Not Known As McNasty For Nothing.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/11/17/hes-not-known-as-mcnasty-for-nothing/) - Senator John McCain is often referred to as an independent-minded maverick and national hero. The reality is that he's a self-centered plutocrat who has a very distant relationship with the truth. Indeed, when you see McNasty up close as one of his constituents, you realize the man will say and do anything to be elected
- [GOP Racing Toward Oblivion.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/11/09/gop-racing-toward-oblivion/) - According to Fox News Channel and conservative hate radio, President Obama only won a second term because the majority of Americans wanted free stuff and they believe Democrats will give it to them. (In other words, they're assigning blame to the 47 percent as described by Mitt Romney.) In a remarkable show of cluelessness, Teapublican
- [Can We Finally Flush The Trickle Down Theory?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/11/13/can-we-finally-flush-the-trickle-down-theory/) - The notion that cutting taxes for the wealthy somehow creates jobs has never been proven to work. Not once. Never. Ever. In fact, there is much evidence to the contrary. Many economists and non-partisan academic studies have pronounced it a fraud. Not even the Reagan-era budget directors who resurrected the idea from the dust bin
- [A Victory For Truth And Fairness!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/11/07/a-victory-for-truth-and-fairness/) - President Obama's re-election should give us all hope. Yesterday, a significant majority of the American people rejected the hate and lies spewed by Teapublicans for the past two years. Americans rejected a presidential candidate who made many promises with no specifics to back them up. They rejected a presidential candidate who made a fortune in
- [Romney Won The 2nd Debate After All.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/18/romney-won-the-2nd-debate-after-all/) - While most polls and political pundits gave the advantage to the President in the second debate, Mitt Romney did win on two accounts: Disrespect and Lies. Despite having agreed to a long list of rules for the Town Hall Debate, which included an agreement that neither candidate directly address the other or venture into the
- [US Politics Mirror Problems In The Middle East.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/24/us-politics-mirror-problems-in-the-middle-east/) - For decades, western nations meddled in Middle East politics. Despite our “commitment” to democracy, the US and UK used their power to replace democratically-elected leaders with dictators who had promised fealty to our national interests (aka big oil). We supported Saddam Hussein, the Shah of Iran, and Hosni Mubarak, to name just a few despotic dictators.
- [Proof That Tax Breaks For The Rich Do Not Create Jobs.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/11/02/proof-that-tax-breaks-for-the-rich-do-not-create-jobs/) - For years, economists have scoffed at the notion that tax breaks for the wealthy benefit the rest of society. The policy failed in the early 1900s when it was known as Horse and Sparrow economics. And it failed in the 1980s when it was called Trickle Down economics. Indeed, even the architects of Reagan’s economic
- [Race And Politics In America.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/31/race-and-politics-in-america/) - When Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States in a veritable landslide, many Americans believed it signified a post-racist US. But instead of marking the end of racism, Obama’s election revealed it. Look at what’s happened over the past four years. Even before the election results were counted, white right-wingers questioned
- [What Lessons Will Be Learned From This Election?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/26/what-lessons-will-be-learned-from-this-election/) - If Romney and the Teapublicans win this election, it will have been demonstrated that you don’t have to offer better ideas to become president. You can merely lie, cheat and buy your way into the White House. If Romney wins, it will have been shown that the road to the White House begins with questioning your
- [The Difference Between Democrats And Teapublicans.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/26/the-difference-between-teapublicans-and-democrats/) - There are distinct differences between members of our two political parties. Democrats believe in women's rights, racial equality, Medicare, Social Security, healthcare, progressive tax policies, labor unions, education, veteran's rights, appropriate military spending, the environment, clean energy, global warming, common sense gun control, responsible immigration policies, and regulations for Wall Street and multi-national corporations. Teapublicans,
- [The Cultural Pendulum.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/19/the-cultural-pendulum/) - During my 40+ years in advertising, I learned that our culture is like a pendulum. It swings far in one direction then back an equal distance in the other direction. However, it’s on a 360 degree axis, so it never comes back to quite the same place twice. You can see this pendulum effect play
- [“Fraudulent,” “Fantasy,” “Con Game,” “Mathematically Impossible.”](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/17/“fraudulent”-“fantasy”-“con-game”-“mathematically-impossible”/) - These are the words used to describe the Romney-Ryan budget plan by economists, The Washington Post, the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center and Bloomberg News. Mitt says his plan will cut taxes for all Americans, increase defense spending and still cut the deficit. And, get this; he claims that his plan will be “revenue neutral.” He
- [Racism By Design?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/16/coincidence-or-racism/) - Since 2009, a certain percentage of Americans have been outraged that our president is black. In Arizona, knuckledraggers drive around with Confederate flags in the back of their pickups in protest of President Obama. And, throughout the country, Tea Party rallies have been dominated by racist posters and threats. Therefore, it's not surprising that someone recently attended
- [How Should Democrats Respond?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/10/how-should-democrats-respond/) - If President Obama (cringe) loses this election and Democrats (gasp) lose the majority in the Senate, how should Democrats respond? Should they use the filibuster as much as Teapublicans? Should they follow the Teapublicans’ example and automatically oppose everything President (choke) Romney supports. It would be fitting. But Democrats are less wed to ideology than Teapublicans. And they seem
- [Undermining Democracy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/15/undermining-democracy/) - For more than 40 years, the Republican Party has been working to undermine our elections. It first became apparent with the Watergate break-in, which was an obvious attempt to steal an election and subvert our constitution. But the Republican strategy actually began a few years earlier, when Republican Vice-President Spiro Agnew used his position to
- [Ayn Rand And Liein' Ryan.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/12/ayn-rand-and-liein-ryan/) - In the 1950s and 60s, Ayn Rand authored a series of books which focused on the virtues of individualism versus collectivism. Having grown up in Russia and the Soviet Union, she believed that government, religion, social organizations, even charities are evil. For those of us who were raised in democracies during the 1930s, 40s, 50s
- [Hey, Darrell Issa, Investigate This!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/11/hey-darrell-issa-investigate-this/) - Since Teapublicans took control of the House, Congressman Darrell Issa has used the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to conduct investigations (witch hunts would be a more accurate description) intended to embarrass the Obama administration. First, Issa went after Solyndra, but that investigation uncovered no wrongdoing and actually led back to the Bush
- [Why Teapublicans See Cheating Everywhere.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/09/why-teapublicans-see-cheating-everywhere/) - In 2000, voter suppression in Florida gave the White House to George W. Bush. Even though investigations proved the election was stolen, Democrats accepted the results for the good of the country. But after Barack Obama’s landslide victory in 2008, Republicans claimed that ACORN had stolen the election for Democrats. Lengthy investigations found absolutely no
- [Time To Call The Churches’ Bluff.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/08/time-to-call-churches’-bluff/) - Since the formation of the Moral Majority in the late seventies, many churches have immersed themselves in politics. Pastors, particularly evangelical pastors, have implored their flocks to vote for Republicans despite Internal Revenue System rules which prohibit a non-profit 501c3 from engaging in politics at the risk of losing its tax-free status. Yesterday, pastors across
- [Teapublican Echo Chamber.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/05/teapublican-echo-chamber/) - A recent email from the US Chamber of Commerce listed its preferred "pro-business" candidates for the US Senate. Not surprisingly, every single recommended candidate was a Teapublican. That's not because Democrats are anti-business. They're most certainly not. It's because the US Chamber of Commerce is little more than a highly partisan Political Action Committee that supports large, multi-national
- [The Etch-A-Sketch Debate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/04/new-romney-strategy-lie-even-more/) - We should have seen it coming. For months, Mitt Romney ran further and further to the right. Then during last night's debate with President Obama, Romney did an about face. Living up to the Etch-A-Sketch strategy that Mitt's campaign manager promised following the Teapublican primaries, he abandoned most of the right wing rhetoric and ideas he promoted in the
- [More Ugly Politics From Arizona.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/03/more-ugly-politics-from-arizona/) - For many years, Arizona politics have been uniquely corrupt and ugly. Arizona is, after all, home to the finger-wagging Governor Brewer, SB 1070 sponsor Russell Pearce, and birther Sheriff Joe Arpaio. It seems that Teapublicans in the state compete with one another to see who could come up with the next dirty trick. So it’s no
- [A License To Sin.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/02/a-license-to-sin/) - As I passed by a church recently, I spotted the following on its bulletin board: “It is by grace that you will be saved. Not by works, but by faith.” This highly questionable translation of Ephesians 2:8 is a great excuse for people to do whatever they want. Want to steal from someone? Go ahead. Want to
- [Three Amigos Of Corrupt Politics.  (An Unholy Alliance.)](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/10/01/three-amigos-of-corrupt-politics-the-unholy-alliance/) - In college, Jack Abramoff, Grover Norquist and Ralph Reed were young Republican leaders who became known as the Three Amigos. Following graduation, they continued their relationship. Abramoff, of course, became the notorious lobbyist for several Native American tribes and was later imprisoned for bribery. Norquist founded the American Taxpayers League which famously asks Republican congressmen
- [The Trouble With Arizona.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/28/the-trouble-with-arizona/) - In recent years, Arizona has earned a reputation as hot, crazy, extreme and angry. I hate to admit it, but these characterizations are all accurate. Certainly, the "Valley of the Sun" surrounding Phoenix reaches summer-time temperatures that would make Satan drool. But the extreme heat could also refer to Arizona politics. You see, Arizona was settled by
- [Teapublican Obstinance Jeopardizing Economy Again.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/27/teapublican-obstinance-jeopardizing-economy-again/) - Last Fall, Teapublican demands that Democrats make drastic cuts to the so-called "entitlement" programs led our still fragile economy to the very brink, resulting in the first ever downgrade of our credit rating. While Democrats were willing to make cuts, Teapublicans steadfastly refused to consider revenue increases such as letting the Bush tax cuts expire for those who make
- [Obama’s America In 2016.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/26/obama’s-america-in-2016/) - The shockumentary “2016” provides one man’s view of what America will be like in 2016 should President Obama be re-elected. The future it portrays would be dim, indeed, IF this example of Teapublican propaganda were true. But “2016” is based on a false premise...that President Obama is un-American. That he's a socialist out to destroy
- [The Corporatization Of America.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/25/the-corporatization-of-america-2/) - Teapublicans are fond of calling President Obama a socialist, a communist or worse. Of course, there is absolutely no evidence to substantiate their claims. Most likely, the reason for their accusations is to distract voters from recognizing what's really happening to their country. Over the past 40 years, Teapublican policies have given virtually all of the
- [Who’s Really Redistributing Wealth?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/24/who’s-really-redistributing-wealth/) - Following the “Mitt Happens” moment in which Romney was caught on video disparaging the 47 percent who pay no income taxes, Teapublicans have countered, claiming that President Obama and the Democrats are guilty of trying to “redistribute wealth.” Apparently, they believe Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, GI Bill benefits, Unemployment Insurance and Food Stamps
- [A Political Party So Obstructionist It Even Opposes Itself.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/21/a-political-party-so-obstructionist-it-even-opposes-itself/) - For years, GOP governors have asked for changes in the welfare reform bill of 1996. They wanted more flexibility in how states measure work requirements, hoping that changes would help even more people move from welfare to work. Even Governor Mitt Romney supported such changes in 2005. Upon the recommendation of his Health and Human Services department, President
- [In The Public Interest?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/18/in-the-public-interest/) - In 1934, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was given the power to license wire and broadcast communications, demanding that licensees prove they operate “in the public interest.” Not long afterward, the FCC implemented The Fairness Doctrine, which required licensees to present issues of public importance and do so in a manner that was deemed “honest, equitable and
- [Get Yer Guns Before Obama Bans Them!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/18/get-yer-guns-before-obama-tries-to-them-away/) - For the past four years, the National Rifle Association has fomented panic among the pistol-packing, assault rifle-collecting gun nuts that President Obama is going to take away their Second Amendment rights. Of course, this fear has about as much veracity as the claims that President Obama is a foreign-born, un-American, freedom-hating Muslim. But wingnuts and
- [The Real Mitt Romney.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/20/the-real-mitt-romney/) - By now, you probably know that the Teapublican presidential nominee earned hundreds of millions as one of the founders of Bain Capital. But how much do you know about how a venture capital company works? (Hint: It uses roughly the same tactics that made the Mafia one of the most hated crime syndicates on Earth.)
- [It’s Not Just About The 47 Percenters.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/19/it’s-not-just-about-the-47-percenters/) - The video of Mitt Romney’s speech to a Florida gathering of the wealthy shows his utter contempt for much of America. Who are those he considers to be “freeloaders?” They are not the “welfare queens” and lazy louts you might expect. The 47 percent who have not paid federal income taxes in the past few
- [More Evidence Of Teapublican Stupidity.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/14/more-evidence-of-teapublican-stupidity/) - A new poll by the National Hispanic Media Coalition and Latino Decisions has found that more than 30 percent of non-Hispanics believe most Hispanics are undocumented immigrants. Hispanics represent 18 percent of the US population. Yet, of that 18 percent, only 37 percent of Hispanics in the US are actually immigrants. No one knows how many
- [Are We Better Off Than 4 Years Ago?  Let Me Count The Ways.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/13/are-we-better-off-than-4-years-ago-let-me-count-the-ways/) - What an utterly ridiculous question! As a campaign technique, it may have worked in 1980 against Jimmy Carter and in 1984 against Walter Mondale. But it’s completely absurd now. At the end of the Bush administration, the US was losing 800,000 jobs a month. Since President Obama took office, those losses have stopped and our economy
- [Cheney’s 9/11.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/12/cheney’s-911/) - As the most deadly attack on US soil, 9/11 is a solemn occasion for all Americans. What makes it even more tragic is that it likely didn’t have to happen. Many of us knew about the August 6, 2001 presidential daily brief headlined “Bin Laden determined to strike in US.” But few of us knew
- [Do Teapublicans Actually Know Anything?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/11/do-teapublicans-know-anything/) - For several years, surveys have shown that the majority of Teapublicans don’t know that President Obama was born in the United States. The polls have also shown that a significant number of Teapublicans think Obama is a Muslim. Now polls in Ohio and North Carolina show that approximately two-thirds of “very conservative” Teapublicans think former
- [Where Are The Leaders?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/10/where-are-the-leaders/) - Now that both political conventions have ended, I think it's fair to make comparisons. In watching the Republican National Convention, you saw a collection of mostly angry old white men. Moreover, you saw few people who would deserve the title of leader. Not Romney. And certainly not Ryan. As in 2008, the people on display not only
- [Why Romney’s Tax Returns Really Do Matter.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/07/why-romney’s-tax-returns-really-do-matter/) - Mitt Romney has broken with tradition, saying he will not release more than his tax return for 2010 and for 2011 “when it’s ready.” He refuses to release any more returns, saying in other words, “I took a look at the last 10 years and I paid a tax rate of approximately 13 percent.” So
- [Liein' Ryan.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/06/lyin-ryan/) - First, I must credit my friend, Mike Cosentino, for the title. To my knowledge, he was the first to coin the description of the Teapublican Vice-Presidential candidate. And Ryan has certainly lived up to the title ever since. Indeed, his penchant for ignoring the truth was on full display at the Republican National Convention. For example, Paul
- [Ted Strickland Outlines The Stark Differences Between Candidates.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/05/ted-strickland-outlines-the-stark-differences-between-candidates/) - Michelle Obama and Duval Patrick gave great speeches at the Democratic National Convention. But, so far, nobody has done a better job of contrasting the two presidential candidates than former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. In case you missed it, here is the text of his prepared remarks: I'm Ted Strickland, and I come from Duck
- [Romney: A Corporate Wet Dream.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/05/romney-a-corporate-wet-dream/) - Contrary to the belief of the conservative majority of our Supreme Court, corporations are most definitely not people. They are not born. They are created by lawyers. In fact, corporations have little in common with most living, breathing people. They do, however, have a great deal in common with Mitt Romney. Like many large corporations, Romney seems to
- [GOP Convention: Lies, Lies And More Lies.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/04/gop-convention-lies-lies-and-more-lies/) - That's not just my opinion. Surprising as it may be, the media finally seemed to be paying attention and checking facts! Sally Kohn of Fox News summed it up best when she wrote that the convention speech by Teapublican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan was “an apparent attempt to set the world record for the greatest number
- [“Rampant” Voter Fraud?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/22/“rampant”-voter-fraud/) - Teapublicans claim to be concerned about vote integrity. So, in order to assure everyone that there is not massive voter fraud, they have passed strict voter ID laws in a number of states – primarily so-called “battleground” states. In doing so, they are forcing tens of thousands of voters to seek new photo IDs. A
- [America’s Collective Amnesia.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/09/03/america’s-collective-amnesia/) - It seems many Americans have forgotten what happened in 2008. They can’t remember who was at the wheel when our economy was driven into a ditch. They can’t remember who led us into an unnecessary and unfunded war. They’ve blanked out the memory of the second-largest stock market crash in history. They can no longer
- [The Church Of Hate.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/30/the-church-of-hate/) - If, upon reading that headline, you don’t immediately think of the Westboro Baptist Church, you simply haven’t been paying attention. For the few who don’t know, the Westboro House of Hate is the group that pickets military funerals with signs that read “God Hates Fags,” “God Hates All Nations,” and “God Hates Fag Enablers.” One
- [Most Problems With Government Are Local.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/28/most-problems-with-government-are-local/) - It is said that all politics are local. The same could be said for government interference. While Teapublicans rage at the federal government for “over-regulation,” the truth is that most federal regulation is necessary. As with most everything else, the Tea Party's anger is misguided. Without the EPA, our rivers would still be on fire, our
- [GOP Platform Full Of Hate, Fear And Greed.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/27/gop-platform-full-of-hate-fear-and-greed/) - Under the new GOP platform, every fetus will be protected or avenged, and women’s reproductive systems will be controlled by the people who know best male politicians and churches. Under the GOP, our borders will be secure. Those foolhardy enough to cross will be shot or imprisoned. And Latinos will never be without papers. Under the GOP,
- [A Few Questions For The NRA.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/23/a-few-questions-for-the-nra/) - Following a series of mass shootings, I’d like to know how members of the National “Rifle” Association feel. Are they satisfied that military-style assault weapons are now readily available to every disturbed lunatic who has the money to buy them? Do they feel anything when they see bloody corpses of innocent people lying on the
- [Why You Should Hate Teapublicans.  Let Me Count The Reasons.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/20/why-you-should-hate-teapublicans-let-me-count-the-reasons/) - 1 - Richard Nixon's Watergate break-in intended to literally steal an election. 2 – The “Southern strategy” in which the GOP embraced racists. 3 – The “Moral Majority" in which the Party embraced "social" issues. 4 – Reagan's union-busting. 5 – Elimination of loan interest deductions resulting in huge tax increases for the middle class. 6 – Cuts to capital gains taxes and estate taxes on the wealthy.
- [“Legitimate” Rape.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/21/“legitimate”-rape/) - In 2011, Teapublicans introduced a bill that would ban federal funding for abortions through Medicaid except in cases of “forcible” rape, incest, or to save a mother's life. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri and Rep. Paul Ryan (Yes, that Paul Ryan) with the intent of redefining rape. You see, Teapublicans believe that
- [Everything Wrong With Politics All Wrapped Up In One Super PAC.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/17/everything-wrong-with-politics-all-wrapped-up-in-one-super-pac/) - If you watch television news, you’ve probably seen the despicable “birther” ads paid for by the super PAC, Conservative Majority Fund. The anonymous group is also running a commercial “to stop the UN gun grab.” This little gem claims that President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton are set to sign an agreement with the
- ["The Betrayal of the American Dream."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/16/the-betrayal-of-the-american-dream/) - That’s the title of a new book by Donald L. Bartlett and James B. Steele, which I highly recommend. If you’d like to learn more, check out this story from NPR. You’ll also find a link to a podcast of their interview on NPR’s Morning Edition. These are not exact quotes, but here are a
- [Romney's International Policy Experience.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/15/romneys-international-policy-experience/) - For months, Democrats have touted the foreign policy expertise of President Obama. Sure, he ended the war in Iraq and ordered the capture or killing of Osama bin Laden. But that pales compared to Mitt Romney’s international experience. True, Mitt hasn’t dealt with any foreign leaders, but he "saved" the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and he
- [The Most Prescient Satire Ever!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/14/the-most-prescient-satire-ever/) - Recently, I had occasion to re-read The I Hate Republicans Reader by Clint Willis as research for my own book: The Teapublican Book of Lies, Volume 2. One chapter of his book was devoted to a satirical article by The Onion headlined “Bush: Our Long National Nightmare of Peace and Prosperity is Finally Over.” Written
- [Maybe Gun Control Advocates Should Follow The Lead Of Abortion Foes.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/13/maybe-gun-control-advocates-should-follow-the-lead-of-abortion-foes/) - Both abortions and gun ownership are guaranteed by the Supreme Court of the United States. But that hasn’t stopped abortion foes from challenging the law at every opportunity. It hasn’t stopped them from creating a host of restrictions that have all but ended abortions in several states. It hasn’t stopped them from creating lengthy waiting
- [Nausea And Palin Are Synonymous.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/10/nausea-and-palin-are-almost-synonymous/) - Snarky Sarah doesn’t like President Obama’s speeches. She calls them nauseating, probably because he’s using big words she doesn’t understand - like ethics and civility. In the past four years nobody has epitomized snarky attacks more than Palin. From the time she burst onto the national political scene at the 2008 Republican National Convention, she
- [Poorly Disguised Racism.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/09/poorly-disguised-racism/) - Ever since Barack Obama was elected president, conservative white people have decried his lack of patriotism. They say he is a socialist. They say he was born in Kenya. They say he is a Muslim. They say he does not believe in American values and American exceptionalism. Considering that his policies reflect those of former
- [When Will It Be The Right Time To Talk About Gun Violence?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/08/when-will-it-be-the-right-time-to-talk-about-gun-violence/) - In the immediate aftermath of mass shootings, conservative media and the National Rifle Association quickly state, “This is not the time to talk about gun violence. We need to focus on the victims.” The NRA also issues a press release reaffirming its stance that guns are not the cause of the shootings. Within days, the
- [America’s Epidemic Of Head-Up-The-Butt Disease.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/07/america’s-epidemic-of-head-up-the-butt-disease/) - There are many things we know that are detrimental to our society, but for a variety of reasons (mostly political) we refuse to correct them. For example, we know that it’s dangerous to text while driving, but many do it anyway. We know that many military contractors have been found guilty of defrauding the government, yet
- [Juveniles, Liars and Bullies.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/02/juveniles-liars-and-bullies/) - Do bullies become Republicans? Or vice versa? It’s like the question of the chicken and egg. There’s no obvious answer. Bullies and Republicans are synonymous especially here in Arizona. Each election season, Republicans seem to have another treat in store for Democrats. The airwaves and newspapers are filled with even more lies than usual. (Not just exaggerations or
- [Maybe Democrats Should Let Teapublicans Drive Our Economy Off A Cliff.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/06/maybe-democrats-should-let-teapublicans-drive-our-economy-off-a-cliff/) - Don’t say it. I already know what you’re thinking. Republicans already did that in 2008. But they’re not satisfied yet. They want to cut taxes on corporations and the very wealthy. At the same time, they want to increase our military budget. To accomplish that without creating an even larger pool of red ink, they
- [When Did It Become Patriotic To Avoid Paying Income Taxes?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/03/when-did-it-become-patriotic-to-avoid-paying-income-taxes/) - Mitt Romney has been smart and very lucky. The son of a famous father, he has used his privileged childhood and education to make millions – often by bankrupting companies and offshoring American jobs. To make himself even wealthier, he also offshored his money in Switzerland, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg. That allowed Romney to pay income
- [Poll:  At Least 17% Of Americans Are Nitwits.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/30/poll-at-least-17-of-americans-are-nitwits/) - A new poll conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Life has found that 17 percent of Americans believe President Obama is Muslim. Of course, that’s not true. The President is Christian. Indeed, many of the same people who want to believe he's Muslim were originally outraged at statements made by his Chicago Christian
- [Israel Adds Another Clown.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/08/01/israel-adds-another-clown/) - This week, a group of medical clowns gathered in Haifa, Israel. They were there to discuss techniques that may help children relax during medical procedures and keep up their spirits in order to improve outcomes. But they weren’t the only clowns in Israel this week. As they were practicing balloon animals, Mitt Romney was clowning
- ["The American Borat."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/31/the-american-borat/) - Last week, Mitt Romney created a stir by stating that there were "disconcerting" signs that the British were not fully prepared for the London Olympics. His comments led one British publication to call him "Mitt the Twit." In addition, a German publication labeled Romney “The American Borat,” and wondered what Romney would do for an encore during
- [Penn State’s 9/11?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/26/penn-state’s-911/) - Asked by a reporter how he felt about sanctions against the Penn State football program, one fan said, “I just can’t put my arms around it, it’s, to me, it was our 9/11 today." Ummm...no, it was justice. In the Penn State fiasco, the only events remotely comparable to 9/11 were the sexual assaults of
- [Where Are The Real Newsrooms?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/22/where-are-the-real-newsrooms/) - The HBO program called Newsroom is terrific! It portrays a news program that transforms itself from “human interest” style, ratings-driven drivel to a program dedicated to telling the truth. In other words, it’s recreating the style of news that we enjoyed before the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine. You see, under the Fairness Doctrine, broadcast media
- [Let's Help Texas Secede.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/27/lets-help-texas-secede/) - On several occasions, Texas Gov. Rick Perry suggested that the Republic of Texas might secede from the United States. He meant it as a threat, but after first ridiculing the idea, I’ve come to embrace it. Let’s consider the benefits. If Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee (Yes, I
- ["Believe In America."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/18/believe-in-america/) - That’s the slogan for Governor Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. Believe in America? Really, Mitt? Is that why you bought US companies and outsourced their jobs to China, Mitt? Is that why you stashed most of your money in Switzerland, Luxembourg, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands? Did you invest in those tax havens instead of the US
- [Batsh*t Crazy Brotherhood.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/25/batsht-crazy-brotherhood/) - Contrary to Senator McCain’s statements (Welcome back to the high road, Senator), the highest levels of our Government have been infiltrated by a sinister organization. But it’s not the Muslim Brotherhood or any other outside group. It’s by the Batsh*t Crazy Brotherhood, otherwise known as the Tea Party. Michele Bachmann, Steve King, Trent Franks, Louie Gohmert,
- [The Cowardly Russell Pearce.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/24/the-cowardly-russell-pearce/) - Those in Arizona are all too familiar with Russell Pearce for using his position as former Arizona State Senator to push for the ill-conceived immigration bill, Arizona SB 1070. Happily, he was recalled in a special election and sent packing back to the cave he crawled out of. But he’s making news again by blaming
- [Of Bullies And Cowards.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/21/of-bullies-and-cowards/) - For more than 30 years, the bullies at the National Rifle Association have pushed their gun laws on the American public. “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” they say. Well, a whole lot of people have been killing other people with guns lately. And, unless we do something to keep assault weapons and handguns
- [What Mitt Believes In.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/23/what-mitt-believes-in/) - It's ironic that Mitt Romney's campaign slogan is "Believe in America," because he obviously doesn't. What does he believe in? In a word, money. His money. It doesn’t matter if it’s in dollars, francs, pounds, euros, rmb whatever. Mitt believes in possessing it. Lots of it. And he doesn’t like giving any of it away for taxes.
- [Mitt Also Outsourced The Olympics.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/19/mitt-also-outsourced-the-olympics/) - Last week, Congress was in an uproar upon finding out that the uniforms for the US Olympic team were made in China. As it turns out, this is not the first time. Mitt Romney, who counts his experience as “savior” of the 2002 Winter Olympics among his qualifications to become president, outsourced the uniforms for
- [Conservatives Strike Yet Another Blow Against Real Representation.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/18/conservatives-strike-yet-another-blow-against-real-representation/) - I’ve previously written about ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), the organization sponsored by many of the nation’s largest corporations with the intent of writing much of the legislation proposed in state houses across the country. ALEC brags that it writes approximately 1,000 bills a year for conservative legislators to sponsor. This is how Arizona’s SB
- [The Felon-In-Chief?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/13/the-felon-in-chief/) - For some time, I have referred to Mitt Romney as the Panderer-In-Chief based on the corny speeches he has given on the campaign trail - "The trees just seem the right height here." Now I realize that his tendency to lie and pander to any audience is the least of his obvious faults. Recent investigations
- [The Teapublican Book of Lies.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/06/06/the-teapublican-book-of-lies/) - You know those things Teapublicans present as facts that just never quite make sense? The ones that are repeated day after day on Fox News Channel and right wing radio? The conservative ideas that have been tried and failed, but keep coming back? I've taken 50 of those so-called "facts," researched them, and presented my
- [Fast And Furious Lies.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/06/27/fast-and-furious-lies/) - In 2010, Sen. John “McNasty” McCain, Gov. Janet “Finger Wagging” Brewer and many other Teapublican politicians vilified immigrants in order to be elected. The only things that have changed for 2012 are the candidates and the scare tactic. Since the Supreme Court gutted SB 1070, the focus has turned to Fast and Furious. Fast and Furious,
- [What Our Politicians Could Learn From A Lifeguard.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/06/what-our-politicians-could-learn-from-a-lifeguard/) - By now you’ve probably heard the story of Tomas Lopez, the Florida lifeguard who was fired for saving a life. You see, he dared to save someone from a portion of the beach that wasn’t under contract by his employer, Jeff Ellis Management. Of course, this story vividly illustrates the problems of outsourcing traditionally government
- [Conservatives Trying To Steal Elections... Again.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/10/conservatives-trying-to-steal-elections-again/) - For the past two years, Teapublican state legislatures have passed measures calling for photo IDs for voters. They claim that, if you are required to have a license to drive, you should be required to have a photo ID to vote. (Of course, they don't feel the same about those who carry guns.) They say their only interest
- [In Nobody We Trust.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/11/in-nobody-we-trust/) - A new Gallup poll shows that just 21 percent of Americans have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in TV news - a drop of 25 percent since 1993! And only 25 percent expressed confidence in newspapers. But these numbers should come as no surprise when Teapublican nitwits such as Sarah Palin
- [Playing With Fire.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/01/playing-with-fire/) - Following the Supreme Court decision that affirmed the Affordable Care Act is constitutional, Mitt Romney and other Teapublicans are furious. Indeed, the Panderer-In-Chief has said he will repeal and replace "RomneyCare"...er..."ObamaCare" his first day in office. That must be of great solace to those who are fighting our nation's wildfires. You see, most of these firefighters are part-time
- [U...S...A!  U...S...A...er, China!](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/13/usausaer-china/) - Remember those chants after the US Olympic hockey team upset the Soviet Union? We've come a long way since then. Back then, our Olympic team's uniforms were made in America. But, today, our Olympic team's uniforms are made in China like almost everything else we use. The US Olympic Committee hired an American icon, Ralph Lauren,
- [What Roberts Knew About The Healthcare Ruling.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/09/what-roberts-knew-about-the-healthcare-ruling/) - The primary thing that defines a nation is its rule of law, and that was very much in question with the Supreme Court decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. After a long series of 5-4 decisions heavily weighted to the right, Roberts likely knew the very credibility of the Court was on
- [We Know Romney Is Running For President.  But Of Which Country?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/04/we-know-romney-is-running-for-president-but-of-which-country/) - This week, The Huffington Post broke a story that disgraced Barclay’s CEO, Robert Diamond, rescinded an offer to co-host a pricey London fundraiser for Mitt Romney. Apparently, he wanted to keep his own difficulties from tainting Romney. Yet, despite Diamond’s withdrawal from the affair, the fundraiser is expected to go on with other British hosts.
- [The Teapublican Plan For "Repeal And Replace."](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/05/the-teapublican-plan-for-repeal-and-replace/) - When Tom Brokaw forced Rep. Eric Cantor to explain the Teapublican alternative to the Affordable Care Act, Cantor said that the GOP (Guardians Of Privilege) had already presented it. It was the alternative they offered during the healthcare debate in 2009: H. R. 3962. In short, what it calls for are more concessions to insurance
- [The Panderer-In-Chief.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/06/29/the-panderer-in-chief/) - Anyone else amused at Mitt Romney's response to the Supreme Court ruling on Thursday? We were treated to the Panderer-In-Chief attacking the Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act as an unconstitutional over-reach. He called it morally wrong and vowed to repeal and replace it his first day in office. Can anyone believe anything this man says? Does he
- [The Truth About The Great “Job Creator.”](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/03/the-truth-about-the-great-“job-creator”/) - Former Governor and current Panderer-In-Chief, Mitt Romney, claims that he has the experience to put our economy on the fast track. The question is, the fast track to where? In his 15 years at Bain Capital, Romney made tens of millions by buying companies and dismantling them, or firing employees and outsourcing jobs to China.
- [Willing Ourselves To A Better Economy.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/07/02/willing-ourselves-to-a-better-economy/) - As several economists have told me, we get the economy we want. If we think the economy is good, we will buy what we want or need. Our purchases will increase sales for retailers. That will increase manufacturing, and the economy will thrive. As a result, tax revenue grows and our deficits decrease. On the
- [In Contempt Of Congress.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/06/29/in-contempt-of-congress/) - Yesterday, the Teapublican-controlled House of Representatives voted to find Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. If I could speak directly to Mr. Holder, I would offer my congratulations. I think most American citizens are in contempt of this Congress! As I’ve previously written, the charges that Mr. Holder is withholding “vital” information on
- [Clean Coal?  Is That Like A Poor Billionaire?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/06/26/clean-coal-is-that-like-a-poor-billionaire/) - AmericasPower.org (aka American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity) is currently running a television campaign attacking the Obama administration’s evironmental protections. The commercials claim that “clean” coal is an important part of our nation’s energy needs. They ignore the fact that there simply is no such thing as “clean” coal. While it is true that much
- [Liberal Media, Huh?](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/06/19/liberal-media-huh/) - If you’re a media observer, as I am, you may have noticed a change in the political coverage over the past several weeks. The majority of stories are now about Mitt Romney’s rallies and statements. The few stories about President Obama have been largely negative – showing his decline in the polls or supposed “gaffes”
- [More Evidence That Mainstream Media Are Not Liberal (Or Fair).](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/06/24/more-evidence-that-mainstream-media-are-not-liberal-or-fair/) - ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox’s Sunday morning “news” guests between June, 2011 and February, 2012 have been 70% Republican, 86% men and 92% white according to the monitoring agency, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. This is particularly revealing since Sunday morning programs are some of the most-watched programs for government and business leaders. These statistics
- [There's A Reason It's Called Gun Fire.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/06/24/theres-a-reason-its-called-gun-fire/) - Much of the western United States is tinder dry as the result of a prolonged drought. Wildfires are breaking out throughout Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah at an alarming rate; many caused by people taking target practice in remote areas covered in tinder dry grass. The resulting fires have cost millions, yet the
- [Fast And Furious Politics.](https://lamasterscorner.com/2012/06/22/fast-and-furious-politics/) - The name of the failed ATF gun-walking program could also apply to the Teapublican attacks on the US Attorney General and, by association, President Obama. In case you don’t already know, Fast and Furious was a program intended to reach the leaders of the Mexican drug cartels who are using “straw buyers” to obtain assault

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/uncategorized/)
- [Terrorism](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/terrorism/)
- [Cheney](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/cheney/)
- [Environment](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/environment/)
- [Fracking](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/fracking/)
- [Economy](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/economy/)
- [Medicare](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/medicare/)
- [Health care](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/health-care/)
- [Social Security](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/social-security/)
- [Government](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/government/)
- [Politics](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/politics/)
- [Deficit](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/deficit/)
- [Homelessness](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/homelessness/)
- [Labor](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/labor/)
- [Taxes](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/taxes/)
- [Culture](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/culture/)
- [Arizona](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/arizona/)
- [Guns](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/guns/)
- [Education](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/education/)
- [Immigration](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/immigration/)
- [Constitution](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/constitution/)
- [Media](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/media/)
- [Tibet](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/tibet/)
- [Corporations](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/corporations/)
- [President Obama](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/president-obama/)
- [Current Events](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/current-events/)
- [War](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/war/)
- [Military](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/military/)
- [Energy](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/energy/)
- [Tea Party](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/tea-party/)
- [Religion](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/religion/)
- [Supreme Court](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/supreme-court/)
- [Privatization](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/privatization/)
- [Teapublicans](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/teapublicans/)
- [Sports](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/sports/)
- [Voter Suppression](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/voter-suppression/)
- [George W. Bush](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/george-w-bush/)
- [Foreign Policy](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/foreign-policy/)
- [Civil Rights](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/civil-rights/)
- [Romney](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/romney/)
- [Women's Rights](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/womens-rights/)
- [Liein' Ryan](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/liein-ryan/)
- [Racism](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/racism/)
- [NRA](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/nra/)
- [Drugs](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/drugs/)
- [Justice](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/justice/)
- [Banking](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/banking/)
- [Poverty](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/poverty/)
- [Greed](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/greed/)
- [Corruption](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/corruption/)
- [Privacy](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/privacy/)
- [Science](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/science/)
- [Advertising and Marketing](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/advertising-and-marketing/)
- [Democrats](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/democrats/)
- [Republicans](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/republicans/)
- [Discrimination](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/discrimination/)
- [Crime](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/crime/)
- [Elections](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/elections/)
- [Trump](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/trump/)
- [Climate Crisis](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/climate-crisis/)
- [Automation](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/automation/)
- [President Biden](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/president-biden/)
- [Hunger](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/hunger/)
- [Minnesota](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/minnesota/)
- [Law Enforcement](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/law-enforcement/)
- [Police Reform](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/police-reform/)
- [Criminal Justice Reform](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/criminal-justice-reform/)
- [Domestic Terrorists](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/domestic-terrorists/)
- [Propagandists](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/propagandists/)
- [Congress](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/congress/)
- [MAGA](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/maga/)
- [ICE](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/ice/)
- [Bigotry](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/bigotry/)
- [Agriculture](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/agriculture/)
- [Israel](https://lamasterscorner.com/category/israel/)

## Tags

- [Jodi Arias Trial](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/jodi-arias-trial/)
- [Sex](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sex/)
- [Betrayal](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/betrayal/)
- [Murder](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/murder/)
- [Tea Party Patriots; Teapublicans; Republicans; GOP](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tea-party-patriots-teapublicans-republicans-gop/)
- [Benghazi; Congress; Teapublicans; GOP](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/benghazi-congress-teapublicans-gop/)
- [George W. Bush Library](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/george-w-bush-library/)
- [Agenda 21](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/agenda-21/)
- [GOP Conspiracies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gop-conspiracies/)
- [UN](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/un/)
- [False Flag](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/false-flag/)
- [Benghazi](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/benghazi/)
- [Worse Than Watergate](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/worse-than-watergate/)
- [Investigation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/investigation/)
- [Austerity](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/austerity/)
- [Deficits](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/deficits/)
- [Debt](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/debt/)
- [Sen. Warren](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-warren/)
- [College Loans](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/college-loans/)
- [Single Mothers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/single-mothers/)
- [Contraception](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/contraception/)
- [Sex Education](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sex-education/)
- [Bangladesh](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bangladesh/)
- [West Texas](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/west-texas/)
- [Sweatshops](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sweatshops/)
- [Walmart](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/walmart/)
- [Kathie Lee Gifford](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/kathie-lee-gifford/)
- [Neonicotinoids](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/neonicotinoids/)
- [Honey Bees](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/honey-bees/)
- [Agriculture](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/agriculture/)
- [Chemicals](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/chemicals/)
- [Nixon](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nixon/)
- [Watergate](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/watergate/)
- [Presidential Scandals](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/presidential-scandals/)
- [Iran-Contra Affair](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/iran-contra-affair/)
- [Valerie Plame](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/valerie-plame/)
- [Iraq War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/iraq-war/)
- [Torture](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/torture/)
- [Diplomatic Deaths](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/diplomatic-deaths/)
- [Rep. Issa](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/rep-issa/)
- [Guns for kids](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/guns-for-kids/)
- [colored guns](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/colored-guns/)
- [Chris Hedges](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/chris-hedges/)
- [Talk of the Nation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/talk-of-the-nation/)
- [Creationism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/creationism/)
- [Obamacare](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/obamacare/)
- [Affordable Care Act](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/affordable-care-act/)
- [Tea Party Patriots](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tea-party-patriots/)
- [IRS](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/irs/)
- [Issa](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/issa/)
- [Lies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lies/)
- [Jack Abramoff](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/jack-abramoff/)
- [Grover Norquist](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/grover-norquist/)
- [Ralph Reed](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ralph-reed/)
- [Three Amigos](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/three-amigos/)
- [Newt Gingrich](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/newt-gingrich/)
- [Extremism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/extremism/)
- [Sanctioned killing](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sanctioned-killing/)
- [Christianity](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/christianity/)
- [Stephen Colbert](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/stephen-colbert/)
- [Colbert Report](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/colbert-report/)
- [Super PACs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/super-pacs/)
- [IRS Scandal](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/irs-scandal/)
- [Bob Dole](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bob-dole/)
- [GOP](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gop/)
- [Republican Party](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/republican-party/)
- [Ronald Reagan](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ronald-reagan/)
- [Richard Nixon](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/richard-nixon/)
- [President Clinton](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/president-clinton/)
- [Monica Lewinsky](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/monica-lewinsky/)
- [Ken Starr](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ken-starr/)
- [Right Wing Conspiracy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/right-wing-conspiracy/)
- [Scandals](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/scandals/)
- [Olympia Snowe](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/olympia-snowe/)
- [Limited Government](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/limited-government/)
- [Drowning Government In A Bathtup](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/drowning-government-in-a-bathtup/)
- [Corporate Welfare](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-welfare/)
- [Corporate Subsidies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-subsidies/)
- [Corporate Greed](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-greed/)
- [Big Oil](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/big-oil/)
- [Tar Sands](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tar-sands/)
- [US Foreign Policy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-foreign-policy/)
- [Michele Bachmann](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/michele-bachmann/)
- [Oiligarchy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/oiligarchy/)
- [Darrell Issa](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/darrell-issa/)
- [House Oversight and Government Reform Committee](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/house-oversight-and-government-reform-committee/)
- [Government Scandals](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-scandals/)
- [Corporate Tax Havens](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-tax-havens/)
- [Offshore Money](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/offshore-money/)
- [Tax Havens](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tax-havens/)
- [Tax Cheats](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tax-cheats/)
- [Romney Reasiness Project](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/romney-reasiness-project/)
- [Romney/Ryan Fantasy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/romneyryan-fantasy/)
- [President Romney](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/president-romney/)
- [Arizona Legislature](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/arizona-legislature/)
- [Arizona Tea Party](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/arizona-tea-party/)
- [Costco](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/costco/)
- [Arizona Statehood](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/arizona-statehood/)
- [Gallup](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gallup/)
- [Bush Administration](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bush-administration/)
- [Rick Renzi](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/rick-renzi/)
- [Congressman Rick Renzi](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/congressman-rick-renzi/)
- [Immigration Reform](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/immigration-reform/)
- [Douglas Arizona](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/douglas-arizona/)
- [Border Fence](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/border-fence/)
- [Border Patrol](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/border-patrol/)
- [Pope Francis](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/pope-francis/)
- [Catholic Church](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/catholic-church/)
- [Vatican](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/vatican/)
- [Myrlie Evers-Williams](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/myrlie-evers-williams/)
- [Al Sharpton](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/al-sharpton/)
- [Edward Snowden](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/edward-snowden/)
- [Booz Allen Hamilton](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/booz-allen-hamilton/)
- [NSA](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nsa/)
- [Financial Institutions](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/financial-institutions/)
- [Financial Scams](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/financial-scams/)
- [Congress](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/congress/)
- [Abortion](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/abortion/)
- [Gun Safety](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-safety/)
- [Tea Party Parasites](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tea-party-parasites/)
- [Climate Change](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/climate-change/)
- [Veterans' Benefits](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/veterans-benefits/)
- [Seeing Jesus](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/seeing-jesus/)
- [Images of Christ](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/images-of-christ/)
- [Medicaid Expansion](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/medicaid-expansion/)
- [Governor Brewer](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/governor-brewer/)
- [White House Scandals](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/white-house-scandals/)
- [Fast & Furious](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fast-furious/)
- [Gun Manufacturers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-manufacturers/)
- [Police](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/police/)
- [Crime](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/crime/)
- [Water Conservation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/water-conservation/)
- [Wildfires](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/wildfires/)
- [Target Shooting](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/target-shooting/)
- [2nd Amendment](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/2nd-amendment/)
- [Obama's GOP Nominations](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/obamas-gop-nominations/)
- [GOP War On Women](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gop-war-on-women/)
- [Women's Health Care](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/womens-health-care/)
- [Pro-Life](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/pro-life/)
- [SCOTUS](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/scotus/)
- [Supreme Court of the United States](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/supreme-court-of-the-united-states/)
- [Voting Rights Act](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/voting-rights-act/)
- [Syria](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/syria/)
- [Russia](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/russia/)
- [Iran](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/iran/)
- [Health Care](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/health-care-2/)
- [Medicine](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/medicine/)
- [Health Insurers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/health-insurers/)
- [Pharmaceutical Companies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/pharmaceutical-companies/)
- [Corporate Profiteering](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-profiteering/)
- [Solyndra](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/solyndra/)
- [DOMA](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/doma/)
- [Prop 8](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/prop-8/)
- [States' Rights](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/states-rights/)
- [Thomas Jefferson](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/thomas-jefferson/)
- [US Future](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-future/)
- [Advertising](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/advertising/)
- [Creativity](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/creativity/)
- [Television](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/television/)
- [Movies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/movies/)
- [Discrimination](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/discrimination/)
- [Big Brother](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/big-brother/)
- [Choice](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/choice/)
- [Gay Marriage](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gay-marriage/)
- [Women's Health](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/womens-health/)
- [National Security Agency](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/national-security-agency/)
- [Government Surveillance](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-surveillance/)
- [4th Amendment](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/4th-amendment/)
- [GOP Strategy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gop-strategy/)
- [Independence Day](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/independence-day/)
- [Divided Nation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/divided-nation/)
- [Founding Fathers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/founding-fathers/)
- [Proof-Texting](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/proof-texting/)
- [Separation of Church and State](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/separation-of-church-and-state/)
- [Egypt](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/egypt/)
- [President Morsi](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/president-morsi/)
- [Muslim Brotherhood](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/muslim-brotherhood/)
- [Foreign Relations](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/foreign-relations/)
- [Filibuster](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/filibuster/)
- [Senate](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/senate/)
- [Procedural Abuse](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/procedural-abuse/)
- [Senate Confirmation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/senate-confirmation/)
- [Political Tricks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-tricks/)
- [Corporate Politics](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-politics/)
- [Election Finance Reform](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/election-finance-reform/)
- [Monopolies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/monopolies/)
- [Too Big To Fail](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/too-big-to-fail/)
- [Flat Tax](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/flat-tax/)
- [Rand Paul](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/rand-paul/)
- [Estate Taxes](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/estate-taxes/)
- [Tax Avoidance](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tax-avoidance/)
- [War On The Poor And The Middle Class](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/war-on-the-poor-and-the-middle-class/)
- [Egyptian Military](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/egyptian-military/)
- [Foreign Aid](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/foreign-aid/)
- [George H.W. Bush](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/george-h-w-bush/)
- [Morsi](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/morsi/)
- [George Zimmerman](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/george-zimmerman/)
- [Trayvon Martin](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/trayvon-martin/)
- [Stand Your Ground Laws](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/stand-your-ground-laws/)
- [Liz Cheney](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/liz-cheney/)
- [Jeb Bush](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/jeb-bush/)
- [Hillary Clinton](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/hillary-clinton/)
- [Nepotism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nepotism/)
- [Yarnell 19](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/yarnell-19/)
- [Granite Mountain Hotshots](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/granite-mountain-hotshots/)
- [Forest Fires](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/forest-fires/)
- [Federal Budget Cuts](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/federal-budget-cuts/)
- [Sequestration](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sequestration/)
- [Governor Bob McDonnell](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/governor-bob-mcdonnell/)
- [Influence Peddling](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/influence-peddling/)
- [Conservative Pundits](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/conservative-pundits/)
- [Obama Press Conference](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/obama-press-conference/)
- [US Debt Ceiling](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-debt-ceiling/)
- [US Credit](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-credit/)
- [Political Threats](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-threats/)
- [The Boehner Rule](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-boehner-rule/)
- [Economic Policy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/economic-policy/)
- [John Boehner](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/john-boehner/)
- [House Budget Hawks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/house-budget-hawks/)
- [Royalty](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/royalty/)
- [The Royal Baby](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-royal-baby/)
- [Wealth and Privilege](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/wealth-and-privilege/)
- [Class Warfare](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/class-warfare/)
- [Congressional Gridlock](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/congressional-gridlock/)
- [CBO Report on Sequestration](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cbo-report-on-sequestration/)
- [Jobs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/jobs/)
- [Obstruction](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/obstruction/)
- [Income Gap](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/income-gap/)
- [Hunger](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/hunger/)
- [Sequester Cuts](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sequester-cuts/)
- [47 Percent](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/47-percent/)
- [Working Poor](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/working-poor/)
- [Food Stamps](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/food-stamps/)
- [Unemployment](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/unemployment/)
- [Racial Issues](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/racial-issues/)
- [Single Parent Households](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/single-parent-households/)
- [Race-Baiting](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/race-baiting/)
- [Right Wing Pundits](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/right-wing-pundits/)
- [Unwed Mothers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/unwed-mothers/)
- [Black-on-Black violence](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/black-on-black-violence/)
- [Manifest Destiny](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/manifest-destiny/)
- [Christian Values](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/christian-values/)
- [Cost of Immigration Reform](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cost-of-immigration-reform/)
- [Mitt Romney](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mitt-romney/)
- [Governor Romney](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/governor-romney/)
- [Personal Responsibility](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/personal-responsibility/)
- [Illegal Immigration](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/illegal-immigration/)
- [Immigration Data](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/immigration-data/)
- [DHS](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dhs/)
- [ICE](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ice/)
- [Diapers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/diapers/)
- [Families](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/families/)
- [Babies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/babies/)
- [Do-Nothing Congress](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/do-nothing-congress/)
- [AHCCCS](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ahcccs/)
- [Health Insurance](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/health-insurance/)
- [Recess](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/recess/)
- [Congressional Work Schedule](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/congressional-work-schedule/)
- [Corporate Farms](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-farms/)
- [Agribusiness](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/agribusiness/)
- [Animal Rights](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/animal-rights/)
- [Animal Cruelty](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/animal-cruelty/)
- [Andrew Ashcraft](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/andrew-ashcraft/)
- [City of Prescott](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/city-of-prescott/)
- [First Responders](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/first-responders/)
- [Law Enforcement](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/law-enforcement/)
- [Cops](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cops/)
- [The Militarization of Police](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-militarization-of-police/)
- [Sheriff Joe](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sheriff-joe/)
- [Joe Arpaio](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/joe-arpaio/)
- [ALEC](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/alec/)
- [American Legislative Exchange Council](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/american-legislative-exchange-council/)
- [Corporate Influence](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-influence/)
- [Democratic Party](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/democratic-party/)
- [Entitlements](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/entitlements/)
- [Investing in the Future](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/investing-in-the-future/)
- [Leadership](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/leadership/)
- [Racist Protesters](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/racist-protesters/)
- [Missouri State Fair](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/missouri-state-fair/)
- [Racist Rodeo Clown](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/racist-rodeo-clown/)
- [Stop & Frisk](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/stop-frisk/)
- [Voting Rights](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/voting-rights/)
- [Voter Suppression Laws](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/voter-suppression-laws/)
- [Wall Street Crimes](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/wall-street-crimes/)
- [Bob Thorpe](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bob-thorpe/)
- [Ocean Rescue](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ocean-rescue/)
- [Arizona Politics](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/arizona-politics/)
- [Religious Freedom](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/religious-freedom/)
- [Freeman](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/freeman/)
- [de jure Citizen](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/de-jure-citizen/)
- [Detroit](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/detroit/)
- [Motor City](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/motor-city/)
- [Bankruptcy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bankruptcy/)
- [Globalization](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/globalization/)
- [Outsourcing Manufacturing](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/outsourcing-manufacturing/)
- [Detroit Bankruptcy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/detroit-bankruptcy/)
- [Too-Big-To Fail Banks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/too-big-to-fail-banks/)
- [Government Pensions](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-pensions/)
- [Tea Party Politics](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tea-party-politics/)
- [10th Amendment](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/10th-amendment/)
- [Investment in Infrastructure](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/investment-in-infrastructure/)
- [Majority Rule](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/majority-rule/)
- [Federalists](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/federalists/)
- [Infrastructure](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/infrastructure/)
- [Nation Debt](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nation-debt/)
- [Chemical Weapons](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/chemical-weapons/)
- [Middle East](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/middle-east/)
- [US Military Intervention](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-military-intervention/)
- [Gulf of Tonkin](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gulf-of-tonkin/)
- [Iraqi-Iranian War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/iraqi-iranian-war/)
- [Reagan Administration](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/reagan-administration/)
- [Electronic Surveillance](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/electronic-surveillance/)
- [Corporate Spying](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-spying/)
- [Warfare](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/warfare/)
- [Weaponry](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/weaponry/)
- [Geneva Conventions](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/geneva-conventions/)
- [Atrocities](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/atrocities/)
- [March On Washington](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/march-on-washington/)
- [Martin Luther King's Speech](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/martin-luther-kings-speech/)
- [Racism Today](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/racism-today/)
- [Economic Racism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/economic-racism/)
- [Judicial Racism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/judicial-racism/)
- [Corporate Corruption](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-corruption/)
- [Corrupt CEOs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corrupt-ceos/)
- [Tax Scams](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tax-scams/)
- [Corporate Tax Codes](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-tax-codes/)
- [CEO Compensation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ceo-compensation/)
- [Transportation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/transportation/)
- [Shipping Containers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/shipping-containers/)
- [Offshoring Jobs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/offshoring-jobs/)
- [Manufacturing](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/manufacturing/)
- [Distribution](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/distribution/)
- [Assad](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/assad/)
- [Yarnell Fire](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/yarnell-fire/)
- [FEMA](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fema/)
- [Arizona Appeals FEMA decision](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/arizona-appeals-fema-decision/)
- [Natural Disasters](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/natural-disasters/)
- [Disaster Aid](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/disaster-aid/)
- [President Reagan](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/president-reagan/)
- [Solar Panels on the White House](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/solar-panels-on-the-white-house/)
- [Oil Wars](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/oil-wars/)
- [Teapublican Legislators](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/teapublican-legislators/)
- [Job Creation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/job-creation/)
- [Great Recession](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/great-recession/)
- [Economic Recovery](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/economic-recovery/)
- [Gov. Jan Brewer](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gov-jan-brewer/)
- [Sovereign Citizens](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sovereign-citizens/)
- [Political Movements](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-movements/)
- [Tax Protesters](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tax-protesters/)
- [Hate Groups](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/hate-groups/)
- [e-cigarettes](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/e-cigarettes/)
- [Tobacco](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tobacco/)
- [Beer](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/beer/)
- [Gerrymandering](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gerrymandering/)
- [Voter Disillusionment](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/voter-disillusionment/)
- [Moderate Voters](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/moderate-voters/)
- [Mass Shootings](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mass-shootings/)
- [National Rifle Assoc.](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/national-rifle-assoc/)
- [Universal Background Checks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/universal-background-checks/)
- [Columbine](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/columbine/)
- [Sandy Hook](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sandy-hook/)
- [Fort Hood](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fort-hood/)
- [Navy Yard](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/navy-yard/)
- [Aurora Theater](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/aurora-theater/)
- ["The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun"](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-only-thing-that-can-stop-a-bad-guy-with-a-gun-is-a-good-guy-with-a-gun/)
- [Gun Violence](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-violence/)
- [Gun Homicides](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-homicides/)
- [Gun Suicides](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-suicides/)
- [Navy Yard Shooting](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/navy-yard-shooting/)
- [US Debt Ceiling Debate](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-debt-ceiling-debate/)
- [US Budget](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-budget/)
- [US Deficit](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-deficit/)
- [2012 Election](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/2012-election/)
- [US House of Representatives](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-house-of-representatives/)
- [Sen. Max Baucus](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-max-baucus/)
- [Sen. Orrin Hatch](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-orrin-hatch/)
- [Lobbying](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lobbying/)
- [Money In Politics](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/money-in-politics/)
- [Secrecy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/secrecy/)
- [Public Education](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/public-education/)
- [Student Tuition Organizations (STO)](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/student-tuition-organizations-sto/)
- [US-Iran Relationship](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-iran-relationship/)
- [Peace](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/peace/)
- [Statesmanship](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/statesmanship/)
- [Manufactured Crises](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/manufactured-crises/)
- [Debt Ceiling](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/debt-ceiling/)
- [Government Shutdown](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-shutdown/)
- [Health Care Reform](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/health-care-reform/)
- [Tea Party Republicans](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tea-party-republicans/)
- [Government Spending](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-spending/)
- [Political Terrorism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-terrorism/)
- [Federal Budget](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/federal-budget/)
- [Negotiations](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/negotiations/)
- [Walter Cronkite](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/walter-cronkite/)
- [Edward R. Murrow](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/edward-r-murrow/)
- [Journalism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/journalism/)
- [Political Extremism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-extremism/)
- [Congressional Negotiations](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/congressional-negotiations/)
- [Scotland](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/scotland/)
- [Scottish Independence](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/scottish-independence/)
- [Political Debate](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-debate/)
- [Elections](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/elections/)
- [News Media](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/news-media/)
- [Political Name-Calling](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-name-calling/)
- [Today's GOP](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/todays-gop/)
- [Mitch McConnell](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mitch-mcconnell/)
- [Age Warfare](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/age-warfare/)
- [Millennials](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/millennials/)
- [Income Disparity](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/income-disparity/)
- [Income Inequality](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/income-inequality/)
- [Billionaires](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/billionaires/)
- [Koch Brothers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/koch-brothers/)
- [Michelle Bachmann](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/michelle-bachmann/)
- [Sarah Palin](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sarah-palin/)
- [GOP Primaries](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gop-primaries/)
- [Cowardice](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cowardice/)
- [Federal Debt](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/federal-debt/)
- [Reagan](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/reagan/)
- [Bush](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bush/)
- [Debt As A Percentage Of GDP](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/debt-as-a-percentage-of-gdp/)
- [Tea Party Racists](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tea-party-racists/)
- [Civil War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/civil-war/)
- [Tea Party Demonstration](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tea-party-demonstration/)
- [WW II Memorial](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ww-ii-memorial/)
- [Veterans](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/veterans/)
- [Impeachment](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/impeachment/)
- [Anti-Obama Hatred](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/anti-obama-hatred/)
- [Tea Party Lunatics](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tea-party-lunatics/)
- [Political Hypocrisy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-hypocrisy/)
- [House Rules Committee](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/house-rules-committee/)
- [HR 368](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/hr-368/)
- [House Majority Leader](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/house-majority-leader/)
- [Eric Cantor](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/eric-cantor/)
- ["Think" Tanks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/think-tanks/)
- [Outside Influences](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/outside-influences/)
- [Coercion](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/coercion/)
- [Minimum Wage](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/minimum-wage/)
- [Freeloaders](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/freeloaders/)
- [US Default](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-default/)
- [Estimated Cost of the Great Recession](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/estimated-cost-of-the-great-recession/)
- [GOP Hypocrisy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gop-hypocrisy/)
- [$24 Billion Snitfit](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/24-billion-snitfit/)
- [House Intelligence Committee](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/house-intelligence-committee/)
- [Ted Cruz](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ted-cruz/)
- [Michel Bachmann](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/michel-bachmann/)
- [End of Obama](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/end-of-obama/)
- [Greatest Generation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/greatest-generation/)
- [Doomsayers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/doomsayers/)
- [Professionalism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/professionalism/)
- [Experts](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/experts/)
- [Evolution](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/evolution/)
- [Respect](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/respect/)
- [Tea Party Caucus](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tea-party-caucus/)
- [Steve King](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/steve-king/)
- [Joe Wilson](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/joe-wilson/)
- [Paul Ryan](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/paul-ryan/)
- [Zombie Congressmen](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/zombie-congressmen/)
- [John Birch Society Zombies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/john-birch-society-zombies/)
- [Ayn Rand](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ayn-rand/)
- [Halloween](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/halloween/)
- [Federal Default](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/federal-default/)
- [US Debt](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-debt/)
- [Federal Spending](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/federal-spending/)
- [Richard "The Dick" Cheney](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/richard-the-dick-cheney/)
- [Scooter Libby](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/scooter-libby/)
- [Condoleeza Rice](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/condoleeza-rice/)
- [Richard Perle](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/richard-perle/)
- [Donald Rumsfeld](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/donald-rumsfeld/)
- [Republic of Texas](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/republic-of-texas/)
- [Great Britain](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/great-britain/)
- [Political Racism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-racism/)
- [GOP Southern Strategy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gop-southern-strategy/)
- [Voter ID Laws](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/voter-id-laws/)
- [Shrinking Government](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/shrinking-government/)
- [Government Agencies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-agencies/)
- [Livable Wage](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/livable-wage/)
- [Tax Loopholes](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tax-loopholes/)
- [Safety Nets](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/safety-nets/)
- [Paul Wolfowitz](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/paul-wolfowitz/)
- [Osama bin Laden](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/osama-bin-laden/)
- [al Qaeda](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/al-qaeda/)
- [Counter Terrorism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/counter-terrorism/)
- [Project for a New American Century](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/project-for-a-new-american-century/)
- [Neocons](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/neocons/)
- [Food Safety](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/food-safety/)
- [Corporate Responsibility](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-responsibility/)
- [Government Lobbyists](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-lobbyists/)
- [The House I Live In](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-house-i-live-in/)
- [Eugene Jarecki](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/eugene-jarecki/)
- [Sundance Film Festival](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sundance-film-festival/)
- [Mandatory Sentencing](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mandatory-sentencing/)
- [Three Strikes And You're Out](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/three-strikes-and-youre-out/)
- [War On Drugs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/war-on-drugs/)
- [New World Order](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/new-world-order/)
- [LAX Shooting](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lax-shooting/)
- [United Nations](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/united-nations/)
- [Arms Treaty](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/arms-treaty/)
- [The Untold History of the United States](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-untold-history-of-the-united-states/)
- [Oliver Stone](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/oliver-stone/)
- [Peter Kuznick](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/peter-kuznick/)
- [American Empire](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/american-empire/)
- [Military Occupation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/military-occupation/)
- [Slavery](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/slavery/)
- [9/11](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/911/)
- [Oil](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/oil/)
- [Citizens United](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/citizens-united/)
- [Corporations And Politics](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporations-and-politics/)
- [Kathleen Sebelius](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/kathleen-sebelius/)
- [Computerworld](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/computerworld/)
- [The Standish Group](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-standish-group/)
- [IT Failures](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/it-failures/)
- [Gun Ownership](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-ownership/)
- [Gun Control](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-control/)
- [Gun Shows](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-shows/)
- [Gun Deaths](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-deaths/)
- [60 Minutes](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/60-minutes/)
- [CBS News](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cbs-news/)
- [Lara Logan](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lara-logan/)
- [CBS News Legends](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cbs-news-legends/)
- [CBS News History](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cbs-news-history/)
- [News Reporting](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/news-reporting/)
- [Bidder 70](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bidder-70/)
- [Tim DeChristopher](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tim-dechristopher/)
- [Justice Department](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/justice-department/)
- [Interior Department](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/interior-department/)
- [Environmental Destruction](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/environmental-destruction/)
- [Muslim Extremism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/muslim-extremism/)
- [Operation Cyclone](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/operation-cyclone/)
- ["Charlie Wilson's War"](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/charlie-wilsons-war/)
- [Muslim Textbooks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/muslim-textbooks/)
- [USSR](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ussr/)
- [Afghanistan](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/afghanistan/)
- [Pakistan](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/pakistan/)
- [Mujahedeen](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mujahedeen/)
- [HealthCare.gov](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/healthcare-gov/)
- [Cyber-Attacks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cyber-attacks/)
- [Democratic Representatives](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/democratic-representatives/)
- [Congressional Investigations](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/congressional-investigations/)
- [Freedom To Choose](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/freedom-to-choose/)
- [Kennedy Assassination](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/kennedy-assassination/)
- [Conspiracy Theories](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/conspiracy-theories/)
- [Mafia](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mafia/)
- [CIA](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cia/)
- [Cuba](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cuba/)
- [Castro](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/castro/)
- [Jack Ruby](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/jack-ruby/)
- [Lee Harvey Oswald](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lee-harvey-oswald/)
- [Allen Dulles](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/allen-dulles/)
- [Sen. Gary Hart](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-gary-hart/)
- [Warren Commission](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/warren-commission/)
- [Rush To Judgment](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/rush-to-judgment/)
- [Mark Lane](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mark-lane/)
- [President Rouhani](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/president-rouhani/)
- [Prime Minister Netanyahu](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/prime-minister-netanyahu/)
- [Islam](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/islam/)
- [Peace Talks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/peace-talks/)
- [McDonald's](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mcdonalds/)
- [Thanksgiving](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/thanksgiving/)
- [Black Friday](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/black-friday/)
- [Federal Handouts](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/federal-handouts/)
- [Paul Gosar](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/paul-gosar/)
- [SNAP](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/snap/)
- [Taoism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/taoism/)
- [Dependence](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dependence/)
- [Labor Unions](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/labor-unions/)
- [Government Unions](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-unions/)
- [State Policy Network](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/state-policy-network/)
- [Economic Growth](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/economic-growth/)
- [Exporting Jobs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/exporting-jobs/)
- [Pensions](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/pensions/)
- [Nelson Mandela](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nelson-mandela/)
- [Apartheid](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/apartheid/)
- [South Africa](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/south-africa/)
- [Margaret Thatcher](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/margaret-thatcher/)
- [Rush Limbaugh](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/rush-limbaugh/)
- [Bill O'Reilly](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bill-oreilly/)
- [Military Contractors](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/military-contractors/)
- [Private Prisons](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/private-prisons/)
- [Charter Schools](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/charter-schools/)
- [Private Contractors](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/private-contractors/)
- [Customer Service](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/customer-service/)
- [Customer Rage Survey](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/customer-rage-survey/)
- [Bureaucracy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bureaucracy/)
- [Baby Boomers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/baby-boomers/)
- [Post World War II](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/post-world-war-ii/)
- [Robber Barons](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/robber-barons/)
- [Exporting US Manufacturing Jobs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/exporting-us-manufacturing-jobs/)
- [US Military](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-military/)
- [Department of War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/department-of-war/)
- [Department of Defense](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/department-of-defense/)
- [Affluenza](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/affluenza/)
- [Koch Refining](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/koch-refining/)
- [British Petroleum](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/british-petroleum/)
- [Halliburton](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/halliburton/)
- [Power and Influence](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/power-and-influence/)
- [Tent City](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tent-city/)
- [Sheriff Joe Arpaio](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sheriff-joe-arpaio/)
- [Blackwater](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/blackwater/)
- [Dept. of Defense](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dept-of-defense/)
- [Incarceration](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/incarceration/)
- [Criminology](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/criminology/)
- [Prison Recidivism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/prison-recidivism/)
- [3 Strikes and You're Out](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/3-strikes-and-youre-out/)
- [US Prison Population](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-prison-population/)
- [War on Christmas](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/war-on-christmas/)
- [Fox News Channel](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fox-news-channel/)
- [Happy Holidays](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/happy-holidays/)
- [Santa Claus](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/santa-claus/)
- [St. Nicholas](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/st-nicholas/)
- [Winter Solstice](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/winter-solstice/)
- [Pagan](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/pagan/)
- [The Jerk](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-jerk/)
- [Human Dignity](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/human-dignity/)
- [Cold War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cold-war/)
- [Street Gangs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/street-gangs/)
- [Consumerism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/consumerism/)
- [Fair Pay](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fair-pay/)
- [US-Iran Negotiations](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-iran-negotiations/)
- [President Truman](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/president-truman/)
- [Duck Dynasty](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/duck-dynasty/)
- [Phil Robertson](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/phil-robertson/)
- [A&E](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ae/)
- [Free Speech](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/free-speech/)
- [LGBT Issues](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lgbt-issues/)
- [Jim Crow](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/jim-crow/)
- [GQ Magazine](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gq-magazine/)
- [Gentleman's Quarterly](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gentlemans-quarterly/)
- [Sen. Joe McCarthy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-joe-mccarthy/)
- [House Un-American Affairs Committee](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/house-un-american-affairs-committee/)
- [Gilded Age](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gilded-age/)
- [Henry Wallace](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/henry-wallace/)
- [PATCO](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/patco/)
- [Union Busting](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/union-busting/)
- [National Labor Relations Act](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/national-labor-relations-act/)
- [Global Warming](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/global-warming/)
- [Zero Population Growth](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/zero-population-growth/)
- [World Population](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/world-population/)
- [Fossil Fuels](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fossil-fuels/)
- [Rapture](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/rapture/)
- [Paul Ehrlich](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/paul-ehrlich/)
- [The People's Pope](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-peoples-pope/)
- [Bill Moyers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bill-moyers/)
- [Thomas Cahill](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/thomas-cahill/)
- [Dahli Lama](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dahli-lama/)
- [Compassion](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/compassion/)
- [Electric Demand](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/electric-demand/)
- [Population Growth](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/population-growth/)
- [Energy Conservation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/energy-conservation/)
- [Presidential Performance](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/presidential-performance/)
- [Forbes Magazine](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/forbes-magazine/)
- [CBO](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cbo/)
- [Bulls Bears and the Ballot Box](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bulls-bears-and-the-ballot-box/)
- [Bob Deitrick](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bob-deitrick/)
- [Sen. Chris Murphy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-chris-murphy/)
- [Unemployment Benefits](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/unemployment-benefits/)
- [Moochers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/moochers/)
- [Long-Term Unemployed](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/long-term-unemployed/)
- [Right Wing Bloggers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/right-wing-bloggers/)
- [Chain Emails](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/chain-emails/)
- [World Health Organization](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/world-health-organization/)
- [Legal Execution](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/legal-execution/)
- [Death Panels](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/death-panels/)
- [The Washington Post](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-washington-post/)
- [US Chamber of Commerce](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/us-chamber-of-commerce/)
- [Big Pharma](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/big-pharma/)
- [Emergency Unemployment Compensation Bill](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/emergency-unemployment-compensation-bill/)
- [Cost Offsets](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cost-offsets/)
- [Lawrence Katz](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lawrence-katz/)
- [CBS](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cbs/)
- [Leslie Stahl](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/leslie-stahl/)
- [Clean Energy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/clean-energy/)
- ["Cleantech"](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cleantech/)
- [Solar](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/solar/)
- [Wind Energy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/wind-energy/)
- [Green Energy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/green-energy/)
- [Dept. of Energy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dept-of-energy/)
- [Benghazi Consulate](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/benghazi-consulate/)
- [Government Regulation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-regulation/)
- [Capitalism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/capitalism/)
- [Obama's Economy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/obamas-economy/)
- [The Diane Rehm Show](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-diane-rehm-show/)
- [NPR](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/npr/)
- [Federal Court Vacancies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/federal-court-vacancies/)
- [Judicial Nominations](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/judicial-nominations/)
- [Blue Slips](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/blue-slips/)
- [GOP Obstruction](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gop-obstruction/)
- [Sen. Rubio](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-rubio/)
- [Sen. Burr](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-burr/)
- [Gov. Christie](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gov-christie/)
- [Ft. Lee Bridge Closure](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ft-lee-bridge-closure/)
- [New Jersey Politics](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/new-jersey-politics/)
- [Bridge Scandal](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bridge-scandal/)
- [Nancy Pelosi](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nancy-pelosi/)
- [Dan Quayle](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dan-quayle/)
- [Lee Atwater](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lee-atwater/)
- [White House Plumbers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/white-house-plumbers/)
- [Conservative Bible](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/conservative-bible/)
- [Andy Schafly](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/andy-schafly/)
- [Conservative Bible Project](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/conservative-bible-project/)
- [Andy Rooney](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/andy-rooney/)
- [Clean-Tech](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/clean-tech/)
- [Florida Movie Theater Shooting](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/florida-movie-theater-shooting/)
- [New Mexico School Shooting](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/new-mexico-school-shooting/)
- [Freedom Industries Inc.](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/freedom-industries-inc/)
- [Chemical Spill](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/chemical-spill/)
- [West Virginia](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/west-virginia/)
- [Water Pollutionm Citizen's United](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/water-pollutionm-citizens-united/)
- [Tax Evasion](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tax-evasion/)
- [Sex Slavery](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sex-slavery/)
- [Prostitution](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/prostitution/)
- [Sex Trafficking](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sex-trafficking/)
- [ASU](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/asu/)
- [Arizona State University](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/arizona-state-university/)
- [TKE](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tke/)
- [Fraternity Party](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fraternity-party/)
- [Tau Kappa Epsilon](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/tau-kappa-epsilon/)
- [MLK Day](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mlk-day/)
- [Outsourching](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/outsourching/)
- [Offshore Tax Havens](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/offshore-tax-havens/)
- [Food Supply](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/food-supply/)
- [Inequality](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/inequality/)
- [Cheap Labor](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cheap-labor/)
- [Natural Resources](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/natural-resources/)
- [Political Polling](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-polling/)
- [Big Coal](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/big-coal/)
- [Alternative Energy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/alternative-energy/)
- [Fossil Fuel Subsidies](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fossil-fuel-subsidies/)
- [Oil and Chemical Spills](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/oil-and-chemical-spills/)
- [Vietnam War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/vietnam-war/)
- [Afghan War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/afghan-war/)
- [Firearms](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/firearms/)
- [Children and Guns](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/children-and-guns/)
- [Gun Assaults](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-assaults/)
- [Iraq Violence](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/iraq-violence/)
- [Homicides](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/homicides/)
- [Syrian Civil War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/syrian-civil-war/)
- [Gun Laws](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-laws/)
- [Creationist Museum](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/creationist-museum/)
- [Bill Nye](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bill-nye/)
- [Ken Ham](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ken-ham/)
- [Judeo-Christian Beliefs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/judeo-christian-beliefs/)
- [Bible](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bible/)
- [Creation Stories](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/creation-stories/)
- [Mexican Drug Cartels](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mexican-drug-cartels/)
- [PTSD](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ptsd/)
- [NRCC](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nrcc/)
- [National Republican Congressional Committee](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/national-republican-congressional-committee/)
- [Fraudulent Websites](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fraudulent-websites/)
- [Political Dirty Tricks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-dirty-tricks/)
- [Hate Radio](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/hate-radio/)
- [ACA](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/aca/)
- ["You didn;t build that"](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/you-didnt-build-that/)
- ["What difference at this point does it make?"](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/what-difference-at-this-point-does-it-make/)
- [CBO Report on the ACA](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cbo-report-on-the-aca/)
- [SPLC](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/splc/)
- [Southern Poverty Law Center](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/southern-poverty-law-center/)
- [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mikhail-gorbachev/)
- [Nuclear Disarmament](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nuclear-disarmament/)
- [SDI](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sdi/)
- [Soviet Union](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/soviet-union/)
- [Corporatism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporatism/)
- [Monsanto](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/monsanto/)
- [GMO Foods](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gmo-foods/)
- [Big Ag](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/big-ag/)
- [GLBT Issues](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/glbt-issues/)
- [AZ SB 1062](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/az-sb-1062/)
- [AZ SB 1070](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/az-sb-1070/)
- [GLBT Discrimination](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/glbt-discrimination/)
- [Religious Intolerance](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/religious-intolerance/)
- [First Amendment](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/first-amendment/)
- [Freedom of Religion](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/freedom-of-religion/)
- [AZ Legislature](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/az-legislature/)
- [LGBT Discrimination](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lgbt-discrimination/)
- [Steve Pierce](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/steve-pierce/)
- [Al Melvin](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/al-melvin/)
- [Center for Arizona Policy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/center-for-arizona-policy/)
- [Stink Tanks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/stink-tanks/)
- [Evangelicals](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/evangelicals/)
- [Alliance Defending Freedom](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/alliance-defending-freedom/)
- [Focus on the Family](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/focus-on-the-family/)
- [Campus Crusade for Christ](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/campus-crusade-for-christ/)
- [SB 1062](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sb-1062/)
- [Arizona Tourism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/arizona-tourism/)
- [Jack Burkman](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/jack-burkman/)
- [Ted Nugent](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ted-nugent/)
- [Chris Mapp](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/chris-mapp/)
- [Political Compromise](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/political-compromise/)
- [Martin Bashir](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/martin-bashir/)
- [Ukraine](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ukraine/)
- [American Exceptionalism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/american-exceptionalism/)
- [Israel](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/israel/)
- [Palenstine](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/palenstine/)
- [Nuclear Threat](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nuclear-threat/)
- [Iraq](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/iraq/)
- [Libya](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/libya/)
- [Project for the New American Century](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/project-for-the-new-american-century/)
- [Legislatures](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/legislatures/)
- [Deregulation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/deregulation/)
- [Mergers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mergers/)
- [Fraud](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fraud/)
- [EPA](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/epa/)
- [USDA](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/usda/)
- [Corporate Negligence](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-negligence/)
- [Government Oversight](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-oversight/)
- [President Ronald Reagan](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/president-ronald-reagan/)
- [Beirut Attack On US Marines](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/beirut-attack-on-us-marines/)
- [Death Squads](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/death-squads/)
- [Iran-Contra](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/iran-contra/)
- [Grenada](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/grenada/)
- [Iraq-Iran War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/iraq-iran-war/)
- [Saddam Hussein](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/saddam-hussein/)
- [Keystone XL Pipeline](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/keystone-xl-pipeline/)
- [Trans-Canada](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/trans-canada/)
- [Dirty Oil](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dirty-oil/)
- [Reagan Foreign Policy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/reagan-foreign-policy/)
- [Electoral Integrity Project](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/electoral-integrity-project/)
- [National Rifle Association](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/national-rifle-association/)
- [Iowa House](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/iowa-house/)
- [Ohio Legislature](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ohio-legislature/)
- [Dark Money](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dark-money/)
- [Crimea](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/crimea/)
- [NATO Expansion](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nato-expansion/)
- [National Missile Defense System](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/national-missile-defense-system/)
- [Reunification of Germany](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/reunification-of-germany/)
- [President George H.W. Bush](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/president-george-h-w-bush/)
- [Russian Federation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/russian-federation/)
- [Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lilly-ledbetter-fair-pay-act/)
- [Equal Pay For Equal Work](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/equal-pay-for-equal-work/)
- [Taliban](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/taliban/)
- [Woman's Right To Choose](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/womans-right-to-choose/)
- [Sen. Stephen H. Martin](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-stephen-h-martin/)
- ["Legitimate" Rape](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/legitimate-rape/)
- [American Imperialism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/american-imperialism/)
- [Military Spending](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/military-spending/)
- [Campaign Funding](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/campaign-funding/)
- [Lobbyists](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lobbyists/)
- [Hobby Lobby](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/hobby-lobby/)
- [Conestoga Wood](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/conestoga-wood/)
- [Contraceptives](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/contraceptives/)
- [Corporate Personhood](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-personhood/)
- [Karzai Government](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/karzai-government/)
- [Israeli Settlements](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/israeli-settlements/)
- [Military Aid](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/military-aid/)
- [Government Waste](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/government-waste/)
- [Nation-Building](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nation-building/)
- [Health Care Exchanges](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/health-care-exchanges/)
- [Repeal and Replace](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/repeal-and-replace/)
- [Prisons](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/prisons/)
- [duPont](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dupont/)
- [Injustice](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/injustice/)
- [The One Percent](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-one-percent/)
- [Rich versus Poor](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/rich-versus-poor/)
- [McCutcheon v Federal Election Commission](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mccutcheon-v-federal-election-commission/)
- [FEC](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fec/)
- [Buying Elections](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/buying-elections/)
- [Sheldon Adelman](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sheldon-adelman/)
- [PACs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/pacs/)
- [Plutocracy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/plutocracy/)
- [Charles Keating Jr](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/charles-keating-jr/)
- [Keating Five](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/keating-five/)
- ["Taker" States](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/taker-states/)
- [Governor Bryant](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/governor-bryant/)
- [Religious Discrimination](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/religious-discrimination/)
- [The Beckett Fund](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/the-beckett-fund/)
- [Sebelius v Hobby Lobby Inc](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sebelius-v-hobby-lobby-inc/)
- [Gun Lobby](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gun-lobby/)
- [School Shootings](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/school-shootings/)
- [School Attack](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/school-attack/)
- [BLM](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/blm/)
- [Bureau of Land Management](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bureau-of-land-management/)
- [Evironmental Destruction](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/evironmental-destruction/)
- [Grazing On Public Lands](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/grazing-on-public-lands/)
- [Cliven Bundy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cliven-bundy/)
- ["Takers"](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/takers/)
- [Grazing Rights](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/grazing-rights/)
- [Rep. Paul Gosar](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/rep-paul-gosar/)
- [Agenda 21 Conspiracy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/agenda-21-conspiracy/)
- [Ice Melt](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ice-melt/)
- [Cap and Trade](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/cap-and-trade/)
- [Corporate Farming](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corporate-farming/)
- [Carbon Emissions](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/carbon-emissions/)
- [Domestic Terrorism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/domestic-terrorism/)
- [Sedition](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sedition/)
- [Arizona Legislators](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/arizona-legislators/)
- [Militias 18 US Code 2384](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/militias-18-us-code-2384/)
- [Freeloader](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/freeloader/)
- [Deadbeat](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/deadbeat/)
- [Palestine](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/palestine/)
- [Drone Strikes](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/drone-strikes/)
- [Public Option](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/public-option/)
- [Human Trafficking](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/human-trafficking/)
- [Climate Change. Affordable Care Act](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/climate-change-affordable-care-act/)
- [Hamas](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/hamas/)
- [Fatah](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/fatah/)
- [Evangelical Christians](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/evangelical-christians/)
- [Armageddon](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/armageddon/)
- [Middle East Peace](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/middle-east-peace/)
- [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/benjamin-netanyahu/)
- [Occupied Territory](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/occupied-territory/)
- [Gallup Poll](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gallup-poll/)
- [ThinkProgress](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/thinkprogress/)
- [IRS Controversy](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/irs-controversy/)
- [Disregarded Entities](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/disregarded-entities/)
- [Nonprofits](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nonprofits/)
- [Election Integrity](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/election-integrity/)
- [Buddhism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/buddhism/)
- [Physics](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/physics/)
- [Astrophysics](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/astrophysics/)
- [Dr. Robert Lanza](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dr-robert-lanza/)
- [Biocentrism](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/biocentrism/)
- [Reincarnation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/reincarnation/)
- [Consciousness](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/consciousness/)
- [Dr. James Dobson](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/dr-james-dobson/)
- [National Prayer Breakfast](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/national-prayer-breakfast/)
- [Benghazi Hoax](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/benghazi-hoax/)
- [WMD](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/wmd/)
- [Corrupt Media](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corrupt-media/)
- [Ignored 9/11 Warnings](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/ignored-911-warnings/)
- [Selling War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/selling-war/)
- [Smart Guns](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/smart-guns/)
- [Domestic Terrorists](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/domestic-terrorists/)
- [Militias](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/militias/)
- [Sandy Hook Elementary School](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sandy-hook-elementary-school/)
- [Corrupt Gun Lobby](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/corrupt-gun-lobby/)
- [Lois Lerner](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/lois-lerner/)
- [Mid-term Elections](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mid-term-elections/)
- [Sociopaths](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sociopaths/)
- [Segregation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/segregation/)
- [Rep. Paul Ryan](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/rep-paul-ryan/)
- [School Segreation](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/school-segreation/)
- [Affirmative Action](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/affirmative-action/)
- [Capital Punishment](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/capital-punishment/)
- [John Oliver](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/john-oliver/)
- [Voter Fraud](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/voter-fraud/)
- [Gov. Rick Perry](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gov-rick-perry/)
- [VA Health Care](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/va-health-care/)
- [Posse Comitatus](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/posse-comitatus/)
- [Second Amendment](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/second-amendment/)
- [Wealth Inequality](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/wealth-inequality/)
- [Jobs Outsourcing](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/jobs-outsourcing/)
- [Sam Walton](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sam-walton/)
- [Mental Health](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mental-health/)
- [Elliot Rodgers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/elliot-rodgers/)
- [Veterans Affairs](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/veterans-affairs/)
- [Secretary Shinseki](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/secretary-shinseki/)
- [VA Funding](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/va-funding/)
- [Midterm Elections](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/midterm-elections/)
- [Populist Outrage](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/populist-outrage/)
- [War Crimes](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/war-crimes/)
- [Bank Fraud](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bank-fraud/)
- [Wall Street Bonuses](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/wall-street-bonuses/)
- [P.J. O'Rourke](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/p-j-orourke/)
- [Bowe Bergdahl](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bowe-bergdahl/)
- [Prisoner Exchange](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/prisoner-exchange/)
- [VA Hospitals](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/va-hospitals/)
- [Prisoners of War](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/prisoners-of-war/)
- [Gitmo](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/gitmo/)
- [World War II](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/world-war-ii/)
- [D-Day](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/d-day/)
- [Battle of Attu](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/battle-of-attu/)
- [Battle of the Bulge](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/battle-of-the-bulge/)
- [Battle of Okinawa](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/battle-of-okinawa/)
- [Child Immigrants](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/child-immigrants/)
- [Honduras](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/honduras/)
- [El Salvador](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/el-salvador/)
- [Guatemala](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/guatemala/)
- [Border Security](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/border-security/)
- [Guantanamo](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/guantanamo/)
- [Terrorists](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/terrorists/)
- [Jerad Miller](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/jerad-miller/)
- [Amanda Miller](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/amanda-miller/)
- [Las Vegas Police Dept.](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/las-vegas-police-dept/)
- [Glenn Beck](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/glenn-beck/)
- [Sean Hannity](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sean-hannity/)
- [Timothy McVeigh](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/timothy-mcveigh/)
- ["Patriots"](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/patriots/)
- [Hatewatch](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/hatewatch/)
- [Mark Levin](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/mark-levin/)
- [ISIS](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/isis/)
- [Chicken Hawks](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/chicken-hawks/)
- [Warmongers](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/warmongers/)
- [Sen. John McCain](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-john-mccain/)
- [Sen. Lindsey Graham](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/sen-lindsey-graham/)
- [Paul Bremer](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/paul-bremer/)
- [Bill Kristol](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/bill-kristol/)
- [Condoleezza Rice](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/condoleezza-rice/)
- [War Criminals](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/war-criminals/)
- [Indian Wars](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/indian-wars/)
- [Oppression](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/oppression/)
- [Violence Against Children](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/violence-against-children/)
- [Crickett Rifles](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/crickett-rifles/)
- [Nancy Grace](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/nancy-grace/)
- [HLN Network](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/hln-network/)
- [HLN](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/hln/)
- [Punitive Justice](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/punitive-justice/)
- [Restorative Justice](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/restorative-justice/)
- [Genocide](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/genocide/)
- [Juvenile Detention](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/juvenile-detention/)
- [Post-Racist America?](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/post-racist-america/)
- [Wealth Disparity](https://lamasterscorner.com/tag/wealth-disparity/)