Four Political Cartoonists Weigh In on the Migrant Children Fiasco

by Nomad

This month, the editors of the New York Times' decided to close down all political cartoons from its newspaper. That decision came as a result of a controversial cartoon critical of Benjamin Netanyahu and which some considered anti-Semitic. Here's the item in question. Judge for yourself.

The elimination of this feature sparked widespread protests with one cartoonist calling it “chickenshit and cowardly.”

This move by the NYT actually follows a long term trend. As one source notes:

A 2012 report by The Herb Block Foundation found that there were fewer than 40 editorial cartoonists with newspaper-staff jobs in America, a steep decline from more than 2,000 such positions in the beginning of the 20th century. 

Sanity Sunday - Soul Mix

by Nomad

Thought I would drop a Sanity Sunday on you today. The theme is soul groups from the early 70s. The period linking soul and the disco era produced some fantastic music.

Populus vult decipi: How Another Trump Supporter Finally Sees the Light

by Nomad

During the 2016 election campaign, Kraig Moss followed Donald Trump all across the United States singing his praises- literally. Following the candidate from rally to rally, Moss strummed his guitar and belted out his pro-Trump ballads. He even recorded a CD with hits that included Save Our Nation, Build the Wall and Trump Train.

Images from the Hong Kong Protests

by Nomad

Hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong residents took to the streets in mass demonstrations against a proposed extradition law that would allow residents to be tried in mainland China.

Empathy on Trial: Trump Admin Targets Those Who Help the Undocumented Stay Alive

by Nomad

A controversial case in Arizona illustrates the Trump administration's zero tolerance policy on humanitarian assistance for undocumented migrants.

Humanitarians on Trial?

A jury in Tucson Arizona went to deliberations on Friday in the criminal trial of Scott Warren. Warren, a volunteer for the humanitarian aid organization No More Deaths, is charged with two felony counts of harboring illegal immigrants and one count of conspiracy to transport the two men. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Lunatic President: Donald Trump, the Moon and Fox News

by Nomad

Trump's Gibberish about NASA

Last Friday,  President Trump sent a tweet about NASA that had a lot of people screaming into their pillows.  

For all of the money we are spending, NASA should NOT be talking about going to the Moon - We did that 50 years ago. They should be focused on the much bigger things we are doing, including Mars (of which the Moon is a part), Defense and Science!

Almost every news outlet focused on the Mars /Moon confusion- which was probably more of a problem with Trump hackneyed phrasing than anything else. Trump (probably) does not believe Mars is a part of the Moon but part of the "bigger things we are doing."
But that very generous interpretation opens a new can of worms for Trump.

Backlash from the Past: One Angry Ex-Reagan Supporter Turns Her Back on the GOP

by Nomad

Sanity Sunday - In Memory of Leon Redbone

by Nomad

On Thursday of this week, news came that singer-songwriter Leon Redbone had passed away at the age of 69. He has been called "perpetually anachronistic," "mysterious" and "a man out of time, a vaudevillian who tottered along in a television age."

Will Deepfake Technology Become the Ultimate Weapon in the Disinformation War?

by Nomad

Last week, there was a lot of agitation made about Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's faked video. If you missed it, a viral video emerged on social media which- through digital manipulation- appeared to show Pelosi three sheets to the wind.
As a method of digital deception, the video was, in fact, extremely crude but apparently sophisticated enough for most Trump supporters.
And if Trump tweeted it, it had to be true, right?

Sanity Sunday: Middle Eastern Gypsy Jazz of Mohammed Rashid

by Nomad

Video: When Abortion was Illegal- The Untold Stories

by Nomad

Three Surprisingly Good News Stories on Tackling Climate Change

by Nomad

For good reason, climate change has been called “challenge of our generation.” Experts have been warning us that the possibility that a runaway warming of the planet will make vast areas of the planet uninhabitable is real. And the window of opportunity is slowly closing. The world needs US leadership on the issue. Unfortunately, the only thing America seems to have to offer is Donald Trump.
In the midst of this glum forecast, we can still find some positive signs.

Paying the Price: Why American Farmers Have Become Trump's Trade War Casualties

by Nomad

There are always casualties in war, even in trade wars. As tit-for-tat tariff hikes between Trump and China begin to spin out of control, US farmers are already starting to feel the pinch. And it is likely to get much much worse.

Looking back at Alistair Cooke's "Letters from America"

by Nomad

A Letter from Home

Many many years ago, when I first came to Turkey, I lived in a small and very conservative town. Those first two years were not easy ones and I often felt as isolated and lonely as a space explorer. I was very likely not only the sole American in town, but the only foreigner.

Even though I never mentioned it to my kind hosts, I often craved the sound of a speaker without a Turkish accent. I had to travel two hours by train to Istanbul just to purchase an English book or a cassette of American music. Letters from my parent took two weeks - or more- to arrive.
As far as official news from home, a civil war could have broken out in the states and I would have been none the wiser.

Why Trump's Evocation of Executive Privilege is a Doomed Act of Desperation

by Nomad

Trump's decision to use executive privilege to defy Congress is a last ditch effort to escape accountability. If history is any guide, it is unlikely to succeed.

Contempt

This week, Attorney General William Barr joined the list of Trump administration officials who have thumbed their noses at Congress by threatening to stonewall House committee oversight.

After a disastrous testimony before Congress, the House Judiciary Committee threatened to hold Barr in contempt for refusing to comply with a subpoena for special counsel Robert Mueller’s unredacted report. Said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the committee.

“Yes, we will continue to negotiate for access to the full report. And yes, we will have no choice but to move quickly to hold the attorney general in contempt if he stalls or fails to negotiate in good faith."

Good faith was clearly in short supply.

Where 2020 Candidates Stand on a Possible Trump Impeachment

by Nomad

Sanity Sunday - Nomad's Chill Mix No. 2

by Nomad

No doubt about it: for anybody following US politics, this has been an exhausting and demoralizing week. We have had front row seats to the dismantling of institutions that we once believed were the safeguards to the American Republic.
And next week is not likely to be any better.

Why the Trump Administration Threatened to Veto a UN Resolution on Wartime Rape

by Nomad

Ever since the human species climbed out of the jungle trees and began throwing rocks at one another, one of the recognized spoils of war was pillaging of the villages, the looting of the valuables and the raping of the women.
For those who subscribed to the adage that might makes right, it was only logical that the weakest should pay the price of the barbarian conquest. 

Throughout our history, women were always at particular risk of sexual victimization during conflict. "To the victor go the spoils" has long been a war cry, and female bodies generally have been classified as part of those spoils of war.

Sanity Sunday - The Music of Schubert and Brahms

by Nomad

For this Sanity Sunday, I want to go back to the Romantic period which is always good for a little mental palate cleansing.

Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Dying at the age of 31, his musical career was short and yet he left the world with quite a legacy. That included "more than 600 secular vocal works (mainly Lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music and a large body of piano and chamber music."

The Sanson Memoirs- 3/3

by Nomad

In this the third and final post of the series, we examine how the curse of the revolutionary madness was lifted, how the family curse came to an end. Finally, we ask: What are the parallels to our time?

End of the Curse

For the next seven years after the execution of the French king, the nation saw a series of rebellions within rebellions and partisan uprisings. The timeline shows a convoluted parade of leaders and groups that came and went.

Eventually, the leader of the revolutions, revolutionary leaders, Georges Jacques Danton and the radical Jacobin leader Maximilien Robespierre, were themselves consumed by the seemingly temporary insanity of the French people.

In Loving Memory of Buffalo Gal

by Nomad

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of one of the members of the group, Ronni Matwijkow, otherwise known as Buffalo Gal. Ronni was much-loved here at Nomadic Politics.

The Sanson Memoirs- 2/3

by Nomad

In the first part of this series, we profiled the Sanson family- the official executioners for imperial France before the Revolution. In this part, we will look at the Charles-Henri's vivid observations of the chaos that overwhelmed France during the revolt.

Your King is Ready to Die

As we noted in Part One, as an eyewitness to historical events particularly those of the French Revolution, Charles- Henri Sanson's diary is both fascinating and horrible.

By January 1792, the guillotine was working at full steam, with a growing - and shrinking- list of the French 1% and members of the royal court. The borders had been closed long before. Those that had waited too long to escape were now trapped and were being hunted down like rats. 

It was the moment, the writer explains, when the history of the scaffold and the history of France combined.

Sanity Sunday - Sylvia Telles

by Nomad

One of the most talented Brazilian bossa nova singer during the 1950s and '60s, Sylvia Telles' vocal style has been described as "smooth, sophisticated, generally understated, yet somehow bursting with raw emotion."

The Sanson Memoirs- 1/3

by Nomad

Not too long ago, I spent about a month reading The Memoirs of  Sanson Family. I am pretty certain you've never heard of it. I myself discovered it accidentally on the "shelves" of archive.org. For history buffs, it is a remarkable and unique find, a truly riveting history.

Written by Henry-Clément Sanson, the last of the family line, the two-volume chronicle tells the true story of a French dynasty of state executioners. It covers the period beginning with the age of the kings and through the horrific revolution. Exactly how accurate it is is, of course, up for debate but most scholars consider it reasonably accurate.

The Dreaded Inheritance 

The family history began with Charles Sanson of Abbeville (1658–1695), a soldier in the French royal army. According to the tale, Charles fell off his horse, breaking his leg and was cared for by a gruff father and his lovely daughter. While nursed back to health, the brutish soldier fell in love with the young woman.
Tenderer feelings were stirred, as they say.

Three News Stories to Brighten Your Day

by Nomad

Photo by Marcin Ryczek

Every day and all around us, there are people turning tragedies into positive stories. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten, those stories go unnoticed or trivialized. In time, hopelessness overwhelms us and I think, gives us a distorted view of what's happening.
In truth, it is entirely up to us which we would like to focus our attention on, the rotten side of life or the good.

The Colorful Mr. Sater: A Few Notes on Trump's Former Business Partner

by Nomad

Donald Trump, Tevfik Arif and Felix Sater in 2007 / Getty

Postponed Times Two

Soon after the Michael Cohen hearings, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff publicly announced that a former Trump business partner would appear at a public hearing March 14 - later postponed to March 27. It was part of Congress' deeper inquiry into “Russian investment in Trump’s businesses and properties.”

Sanity Sunday Musical Break - Meditation Music from India

by Nomad

For this Sanity Sunday, I have arranged something a little different, meditative music for trying times. 
Even though I have never been too much of a devotee of meditation, I did find this music relaxing and- for want of a better word- soulful. Whether that means anything as far as reducing my stress levels or any other health benefits, I can't tell you.

In any event, I hope you enjoy it.

Trust My Summary: Cartoonists React to the Filing of the Mueller Report

by Nomad

Seeds of Republican Decline and the Myth of the Progressive Eisenhower

by Nomad

A quote from the Eisenhower era suggests, when it comes to social programs and taxes, the Republican party has drifted a long way toward the extreme right. That is, of course, true. However, a closer look at the source of that quote tells us that the problem with the GOP began early on.

Fast and Loose with the History of the Party

Republicans have always had an extremely selective memory when it comes to the historical facts of their party. You will hear, for example, that the GOP is the "Party of Lincoln" and the Democrats were the party of slavery, without much in the way of elaboration.

Sanity Sunday Musical Break - Piano Chill

by Nomad

This week's playlist selection contains 19 piano pieces (mostly solo), starting off with the theme from one of my all-time favorite films.
Hope you enjoy the music.  

How a Blanket Decision by YouTube has Impacted the Good Works of One Couple

by Nomad

Chris and Alyssa

Back in October, Nomadic Politics featured a post about a special couple, Chris Ulmer and his fiance, Alyssa Porter.

To refresh your memories, Ulmer and Porter are the brains
behind the 501(c)3 organization called Special Books by Special Kids (SBSK).

They have for several years now, through their YouTube channel been working to give a voice to other unique people born with afflictions and disabilities. Their videos challenge our perceptions and provide them with the respect we all deserve.
If you didn't catch the post, it is well worth your time. As a follow-up to that article, I wanted to let you know the recent developments with SBSK. The news isn't good.

Trump's 1987 Moscow Trip: The Recruitment of Agent Orange?

by Nomad

In 1987, real estate mogul Donald Trump was invited to Moscow by the Soviets- with the approval of the KGB. What this business or was it funny business? Even at the time, the trip and the thing Trump did soon after raised eyebrows.. at least, among conspiracy theorists.

The Stopped Clock of Conspiracy Theories

In its day, the magazine Executive Intelligence Review (EIR) had a deserved reputation for being conspiratorial.
Amid pages and pages of dry - like dust- material such as the IMF forecasts and trade with India, EIR also featured articles on the news that Queen Elizabeth II was the head of an international drug-smuggling cartel and how the Oklahoma City bombing was, in fact, the first strike in an attempt by the British to overthrow the government.

Sanity Sunday Musical Break- Fleetwood Mac

by Nomad

(Norman Seeff, 1978)

This week's sanity break shines a light on one of the greatest groups of the 70s and 80s- Fleetwood Mac. Formed in London in 1967, Fleetwood Mac made its live debut at the Windsor Jazz and Blues Festival in England.

Over the years, both in terms of performing artists and style, this band went through a lot of alterations and members changes. In fact, the most-familiar lineup of Fleetwood Mac, (Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine and John McVie) was actually the 10th lineup of the band.

Why Safe Drinkable Water is Something that Many Kentuckians Cannot Take for Granted

by Nomad

Undrinkable and Unthinkable

Regardless of party affiliation, when you ask a voter what are the responsibilities and duties of a government, the answers are largely uniform.

Polls have found that there is bipartisan agreement that the federal government should play a major role in dealing with terrorism, natural disasters, food and medicine safety, and roads and infrastructure. 

Added to this list, the idea that the federal government should provide protection against environmental destruction has majority support across party lines. In theory, clean water ought to be a guaranteed position for any candidate of either party.

Sanity Sunday Musical Break: Remembering Ethel Ennis

by Nomad

This week's Sanity Sunday is devoted to the late Ethel Ennis, a woman of great talent and irrepressible spirit.

Singer and musician Ethel Ennis died on Feb. 17 at her home in Baltimore at 86 after complications of a stroke. Known affectionally as the "First Lady of Jazz", Ennis rose to national fame in the late 1950s and 60s.

Live: Trump's Lawyer Testifies Before Congress

by Nomad

Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify before the House Oversight Committee. As Vox notes:

While questions specifically about Russia will be off the table due to special counsel Robert Mueller’s continuing investigation, Cohen will be questioned about Trump’s business practices and hush money payments to women who alleged affairs with Trump during the 2016 campaign.

Beyond Charity: How Micro-Financing is Fighting Extreme Poverty Around the World

by Quanda Zhang, RMIT University with a foreword by Nomad

One of the criticisms of international charity organizations is that, despite the best of intentions, the money doesn't always get to the people who need it the most. It is possible to ensure that your contributions do not end up being siphoned off by some corrupt government official or are simply lost in the paper-plagued bureaucracy.

The Logical Connection between America's Imperialist Policy and Police Brutality at Home

by Nomad

The words of a long-forgotten populist politician from Nebraska shed light on the threat (and the unexpected cause) of police militarization in our era.

Bryan's Analogy

In August 1900, the US was in the midst of the political debate about US policy towards the newly-acquired territory of the Philipines.
At the heart of the question was: should America adopt an imperialist attitude? Is that mentality acceptable for a country that portrays itself as "freedom-loving" and a champion for human rights?

Sanity Sunday Musical Break- Elton John

by Nomad

This week's musical sanity break is dedicated to singer, composer and pianist Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight. As his Wikipedia biography notes:

He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriting partner since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums. John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive number one albums in the U.S., 58 Billboard Top 40 singles, 27 Top 10, four which reached number two and nine which reached number one.

That's quite a legacy for any artist.  Since September the 71-year-old John has decided to retire with a farewell tour, consisting of more than 300 concerts worldwide.

This H. L. Mencken Quote about Hypocritical Evangelists Could Hardly be More Timely

by Nomad

About a century ago, writer H. L. Mencken perfectly summed up the problem for politically-minded evangelists:

They have gained (at least transiently) a formidable power over politicians even worse than they are, but they have wrecked their church. They have won a battle and lost a war.

But he also saw the demolition of the church as a reason for optimism.

The wrecking of such churches as these, whether they be spiritual or secular, seems to me to be an excellent gauge of the progress of civilization. For men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.

What It's Like To Be An "Other" in Trump's America

by Nomad

Meet Libya-born Mohanad Elshieky‏, a stand-up comedian based in Portland. With his unique perspective, Elshieky‏ is a rising star in the comedy scene. The laid-back performer has won accolades for his ability to find humor in dire circumstances. 

Weekend Musical Break - Ron Sexsmith

by Nomad

Somehow I had never heard of Canadian singer-songwriter, Ron Sexsmith until just the other day. I can't explain it. He has been laying down tracks and touring for decades.

Film: Love Thy Neighbor

by Nomad

Here at the blog, we spend quite a bit of time bashing phony Christians and evangelicals for their hypocrisy. In fact, we are in good company. Americans have a long and proud tradition of mocking the self-righteous, especially the religious variety. 

One of America's most beloved authors, Mark Twain once wrote:

If Christ were here there is one thing he would not be--a Christian.

As Twain pointed out many times, the major problem isn't so much that there are not enough Christians, but that so many Christians refuse to actually follow the tenets of their faith.

The NRA's Financial Weakness Explained

by Professor Brian Mittendorf, Ohio State University

In August, the National Rifle Association (NRA) made a fairly shocking announcement. According to a recent court filing, the organization was "in grave financial jeopardy" and could soon “be unable to exist… or pursue its advocacy mission.”

Film: America, Also my Home

by Nomad

Things we all take for granted are, for the undocumented immigrant, filled with risk. This short film depicts a situation most of us cannot begin to imagine. The intro explains:

After arriving in the US against her will, a young woman's children are caught in the 35W bridge collapse. As an undocumented immigrant, she is forced to choose between driving without a license, and caring for her kids.

America: Also My Home from The Perennial Plate on Vimeo.

The Coming Schism between Israel and the American Jewish Community

by Dov Waxman, Northeastern University

A protest by ‘If Not Now’ outside the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C., March 2017. Gili Getz

Messy Breakup

This week, The New York Times, ran an op-ed piece entitled "American Jews and Israeli Jews Are Headed for a Messy Breakup." The article highlighted the widening schism between American Jews and their counterparts in Israel. Much of that dissension has to do with the right-wing views and authoritarian tactics of the leaders of their respective countries.

Sanity Sunday Musical Break - Richard Hawley

by Nomad

The Hidden Connections between Racism, Income Inequality and the Demise of Unions

by  Nick Mullins, from Thoughts of a Coal Miner

In his article, former coal miner, lecturer, and writer Nick Mullins offers his unique perspective on the rise of racial inequality in coal country. 
And he draws an unexpected conclusion.

Civil Rights and the All Mighty Economy

When I attended Clintwood High School throughout the mid-90s, there was an amazing lack of ethnic diversity.  Our school was 99.8% white.

It goes without saying that we had a very limited understanding of diversity. What little we did know came in the form of 80’s and 90’s whitewashed television programming pulled in with our 10-foot diameter c-band satellite dishes perched on the hillside.

Sanity Sunday Musical Break - Steel Drum Party

by Nomad

Since it has been a fairly hellish year, I would like to close down 2018 on an upbeat and celebratory note. For that, I put together this collection of tunes played on the steel drums.
Hope it lightens your mood as we prepare to bid farewell to the year.

Lyudmila Alexeyeva's Final Speech

by Nomad

A few days before her death on 8 December, 91-year-old human rights campaigner Lyudmila Alexeyeva sent her along a message to the members of the Moscow Helsinki Group. The organization was originally established in 1976 to monitor Soviet compliance with the Helsinki Accords. After being shut down after the fall of the Soviet Union, it was revived in the 1990s and continues to operate in Russia today.

In her letter, she reflected on the human rights movement in Russia and offered a few words of advice to the younger generations.