Don Rickles Makes Racist, Unfunny Obama Joke

Insult comic Don Rickles told a joke about President Obama being a janitor. Like most of Rickles’ material over the last several decades, it wasn’t funny.

Why Doesn’t The Middle Class Revolt?

Why isn’t the American middle class and working class angrier at the 1 percent?

Teacher Suspended After Screaming at Students for Criticizing Obama

A North Carolina teacher screamed and cursed at students for criticizing President Obama.

There Is No Such Thing As “Traditional Marriage”

Marriage has always been an evolving institution.

Romney Accused of Vicious Hair-Cutting

The day after President Obama expressed his personal support for gay marriage, a report has surfaced of his presumptive general election opponent engaging in a mean, anti-gay “prank” back in 1965.

Nicholas Katzenbach Dead at 90

Nicholas Katzenbach, a central figure in the civil rights fights of the 1960s, has died.

What Today’s Scholars Can Learn From Watson and Crick

The famous “double helix” article was published 59 years ago today. It’s worth a look.

This Campaign Has Gone To The Dogs

Last week, an absurd campaign became even more absurd.

Once Again, The United States Has Not Abandoned Space Exploration

The arrival of Discovery in Washington D.C. has led to another lament about “national greatness.”

Chair of House Subcommittee on Higher Education not a Fan of Student Loans

It would be nice if people in power would be a bit more introspective and thoughtful.

Republican Candidates Trailing Obama Among Hispanics By Wide Margin

A new poll shows just how badly the GOP is doing among Hispanic voters.

Lead singer of the sixties rock band The Monkees, Davy Jones, sings on stage at the Newcastle Arena March 7 1997. Credit: Reuters/Dan Chung Lead singer of the sixties rock band The Monkees, Davy Jones, sings on stage at the Newcastle Arena March 7 1997. Credit: Reuters/Dan Chung

Davy Jones, Monkees Frontman, Dead at 66

Davy Jones, the face of The Monkees, has died.

Is There An American Cultural Divide?

Have Americans divided themselves into what are becoming increasingly different cultures?

Ron Paul’s Phony “Chickenhawk” Attack On Newt Gingrich

Last night, Ron Paul decided it was a good idea to bring back the ghosts of the Vietnam War era.

The Death Of Kim Jong-il: Intelligence Failures And What Comes Next

How can we know what happens next in North Korea when we didn’t even know Kim Jong-il had died?

Time’s 2011 Person Of The Year: “The Protester”

Time Magazine has chosen “The Protester” as its Person Of The Year. Let the outrage ensue.

Rick Perry Declares War On The First Amendment

In a desperate bid to save a floundering campaign, Rick Perry is willing to sacrifice important freedoms.

Did Congress Declare Pizza A Vegetable? Not Really

Another meme debunked, plus some thoughts on policy.

Police Violence and Perpetual War

Why we shouldn’t be surprised that police are using tools of violence against protestors.

Green Beret 50th Anniversary

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the green beret as the official headgear of US Army Special Forces.

Bachmann Needs a Comparative Politics Class (and Some History and Logic, too)

Apparently, we should be more like China. Or something.

Can Occupy Wall Street Win?

The Occupy Wall Street movement faces obstacles its Tea Party counterpart didn’t.

Occupy Wall Street Hurting the 99 Percent

The Occupy Wall Street protests are, ironically, hurting small business owners and others in the 99 percent.

Former Dallas Cowboys flanker and author Peter Gent poses with copies of his bestseller, "North Dallas Forty," in New York. (Associated Press / August 26, 1974) Former Dallas Cowboys flanker and author Peter Gent poses with copies of his bestseller, "North Dallas Forty," in New York. (Associated Press / August 26, 1974)

Peter Gent, ‘North Dallas Forty’ Author, Dead at 69

Pete Gent, the former Dallas Cowboy and Michigan State player best known as the author of “North Dallas Forty,” has died at 69 from pulmonary illness.

John Lewis’s Ridiculous Arguments Against Reasonable Voting Regulations

Ensuring the integrity of the voting process is a worthy goal, not evidence of discrimination.

Mark Hatfield Dead at 89

Former Oregon governor and long-time US Senator Mark Hatfield has died.

The Debt Ceiling and the Imperial Presidency

Congress failing to raise the debt ceiling would involve abrogating an enormous amount of power to the Executive.

Professor Bias and Student Perception

Do ideologically radical professors impose their biases on their students?

One of the Many Problems of the Health Care Debate

We need to stop talking as if the Medicare debate is a question of the Ryan Plan v. the Status Quo.

Republicans Push to Tighten Voting Rules

Across the country, Republicans are pushing laws that will make voting harder.

Democrat Wins Special Election In NY-26

It’s just one Congressional District out of 435, but that won’t stop everyone from trying to turn the results in NY-26 into a national referendum on Medicare reform.

Political Derangement Syndrome

Whenever I despair at the current state of the Republican Party, I remind myself that things aren’t much better across the aisle.

Public Acceptance Of Same-Sex Marriage At All-Time High

Two new polls reflect the extent to which public attitudes on same-sex marriage have changed dramatically over the past twenty years, and it’s only a matter of time before that’s reflected in the law.

Cutting Federal Workforce Costs Money?

The most likely cuts in federal spending are likely to actually increase the deficit over time.

Academia’s Liberal Bias

Yet another study finds conservatives wildly underrepresented in higher education.

Revolutions are Rare

If Mubarak is driven from power, will that make Egypt a case of “revolution”?

Transatlantic Plane Wars

European subsidies have given Airbus a competitive advantage over America’s Boeing in commercial aircraft salesboein. The reverse is true on military aircraft.

Jared Loughner And The Sorry State Of Mental Health Care

There’s a lesson to be drawn from the tragedy in Arizona, but it isn’t the one the media is talking about.