Month: March 2016

Modern Do-Nothing Congress: Long On Terrorism Accusations, Short on Action

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Do Nothing Congress

“I’ve been watching the brilliant CNN docuseries, Race for the White House. Episode 4, “Truman vs. Dewey,” is a fascinating piece that captures Truman’s unlikely, come-from-behind victory in 1948. One of the strategies that drove the Democrat’s late-breaking success was an active campaign against the Republican-led, 80th, “Do-Nothing Congress.”  At one train stop and stump speech after another, Truman reminded voters of the House and Senate’s general dereliction of duty – to great effect.

Here’s the irony. The “Do Nothing” crowd passed a total of 906 public bills. By comparison, the 113th Congress passed just 52 bills at the close of 2013. There are no typos here. Just sad evidence of the inaction we’ve learned to accept from our elected officials. What was odious in 1948 is still 94 percent better than what we have today.”

Read the full post at Contemptor.

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Missing in Action: The Week’s Overlooked News Stories

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missing

It’s been a crazy week for the BeckySarwate.com team in so many positive ways. We’ll have more to share regarding those developments soon. It’s also been another busy news cycle. Here’s a few stories that might have escaped your notice during this first week of spring.

  • As this week comes to an end, the world continues to grieve and try to come to terms with the horrific terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium. The images being shared via the media are disturbing and heartbreaking, but necessary in order for people to feel the impact of something that happened “over there.” Yet as someone often critical of mainstream media, I notice gross disparity in covering similar world events. I’m willing to bet many didn’t even know about two terror attacks that took place in Turkey just days before the events in Brussels. We are Paris, we are Brussels, but we are not Turkey?
  • My hometown of Chicago has experienced some high-profile, diverse sports coverage of late. First, the Chicago White Sox Adam LaRoche child fiasco, then Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon balanced the negative equation by announcing his cool team dress code policy. While those stories captured attention, something was brewing in the world of professional tennis. Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore took a Stone Age view on the success of women in the sport, summarized in this disgusting quote: “They are very, very lucky. If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport.” Mr. Moore, you are formally invited to crawl back to the Mad Men era from whence you came.
  • This week, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have been trading barbs about who and what is fair game when it comes to battling in the American political arena. The one thing the two men seem to agree upon is that their wives should be left out of it, that their right to remain above the fray should be protected. It’s so important to Trump and Cruz that they can’t seem to stop talking/tweeting/beating us over the head. Meanwhile, the rights of an entire group are being threatened in the state of Georgia. A bill is headed to the Governor in the Peach Tree State that would allow religious officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. The law would also permit tax-funded groups to deny services to the LGBT community. Has Georgia learned nothing from the PR disasters in Arizona and Indiana over similarly malicious legislation? The good news is, powerful corporations like Disney plan to stop doing business in the state if the bill is signed. Trump and Cruz might not stand for much, but Mickey Mouse champions equality.

What stories from this week do you think deserve more attention?

Joe Maddon’s Populist Management Style Brings Fun to the Field

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Joe M

“Historically, as members of Cubs Nation know, fandom hasn’t always been fun. But Joe Maddon’s time in Chicago has been literally and metaphorically marked by a refreshing change in attitude. A terrific winning season buttressed by a collegial lightheartedness about the silly stuff is beginning to put distance between today and the darker days of Wrigley gone by.”

Read the full post at Wrigleyville Nation.

Kasich’s Garland Confusion Reminds Voters He’s The Clumsy GOP Establishment

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Kasich

“In a bizarre way, Kasich’s tenuous grasp of Garland talking points puts him firmly in step with the general Republican establishment, which has demonstrated vacillating, illogical “strategy” since Antonin Scalia died last month. The fingers in the ears approach to the universally respected Garland is hard to comprehend. The party is clearly worried about Trump as standard bearer and its many implications, including any SCOTUS choice he might render. Why then are they willing to roll the dice, risking a Trump, Clinton or Sanders recommendation? Where is the bravado coming from?”

Read the full post at Contemptor.

This Ain’t 1968

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chicago-1968

“So much has happened this week alone that Donald Trump’s non-rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago on the evening of March 11 feels like ages ago. This incident, in particular, has offered an easy analogy to the 1968 Democratic Convention, also held in the Windy City. Understandable. Student protests, a divisive political candidate and police activity. Same, same right? Wrong.”

Read the full post at Contemptor.