News - A Tippling Philosopher (Page 19)

"Trying to Protect Christian Europe"

Europe is an interesting place at the moment, to say the least. We have Brexit at the top left, rising populism in the middle with Marie le Pen, as well as a rebuttal of Geert Wilders the other day, and in the bottom right we have a huge humanitarian challenge

Democratic Party

Staggeringly Good - Separating Blue States from Red: A Letter about Bluexit

There is a fabulous piece of writing at New Republic. I would love to post it all here, but alas, fair use and all that. It is long, but written so well, with so many nuggets. Well done, Kevin Baker! I include a few snippets. (H/T Alan Duval for

right-wing

Dutch PM Rutte Sees off Populist Surge. For Now.

I have been one, amongst many, who has been worried about the surge of right-wing populism in Europe. The Netherlands were the first country in the EU to seriously challenge the political union, with their right-wing tweeter-in-chief, Geert Wilders, stoking up popular gripes amongst the electorate. But the standing PM

Brexit

Richard Dawkins on Brexit

Go Dawks!

climate change

US Democracy under Attack from the “uninhibited use of lies, false statements and bad science”

There is a fascinating article (drawing from another in Wired) in the Independent concerning the rise of dangerously illiterate (in terms of epistemology) people in positions of power in the US government. This is threatening science and scientists, and the world at large, considering climate denialism is prevalent in the

Trump

Quote of the Day: Kevin K on Mango Mussolini

Love it: So, here's the thing. Mango Mussolini is the most inept person to occupy the Oval Office since before there even was an Oval Office. His "ideas" are laughably inane, outright racist, xenophobic, and backwards. There is not one proposal that he has put forward

crime

VOICE - Trump's Disgusting Speech Minute

I didn't know about this. Oh dear, this is terrible. Especially since, as Business Insider state: But the facts suggest the president's rhetoric is wrong. Recent social science research underscores that the relationship between immigration and crime or terrorism is likely the opposite of what Trump

Democratic Party

"Happy people never become Nazis." Sam Harris and David Frum on Trump

This is well worth a listen for so many things. I could sit here and type out the many nuggets, but better you go straight to the horse's mouth. Stick your comments below about what you think were the most important or interesting talking points. Frum is a

fake news

Trump Edging Ever Closer to Authoritarian Dictatorship

Trump is becoming more controversial by the day. I have been worried of his intentions to dismantle democratic processes and institutions. For example, only the other day Sean Spicer decreed that certain news media were not allowed into a press gaggle, including the BBC, CNN and others. Now we have

UKIP

The Insanity of the UKIP Christian Group

This leaflet from the Christian Soldiers of UKIP says it all: Wow, wanting to remain in the EU is spiritual treason. Interesting how God always seems to align his political beliefs to whatever a particular Christian believes. "Sword of truth" and "shield of Faith"... I didn&

fake news

Trump's Defensive Ruse - Tweeting "FAKE NEWS!"

Trump appears to be "flailing like a man who fears he’s about to go under". Well, I hope so. What is extraordinarily fascinating about Trump is seeing his childish tweets. Not only do we know he has the language of a third grader, but we can quite

The News

Trump and His Sources of News

John Oliver had a really tough task the other day in his first episode back after the break. So much to talk about, so little time. How best to spend that time when Trump has provided such incredible stimulus. it is hard to find the episode yet online. Here is

The News

Reuters Compares the US Administration to Authoritarian Regimes

Reuters news agency is warning its reporters to expect many reactions, including physical intimidation. The management have sent out an advisory letter. The letter from Reuters, sent to its staff, advises them on how to report on the administration, drawing on experience and techniques gleaned from experiences with authoritarian regimes

AGW

It's a Climate Change Conspiracy!

It's such a ubiquitous claim, and it winds me up because it is so naive. It looks something like this, as made by the endlessly facepalming See Noevo on this thread: Granted, the opportunity for big profits in teaching evolution is not as great as with, say, the

Skepticism

America Is the Greatest! Pt 1: Standard of Living.

Over on another post, there are some raging threads about a number of topics from gun crime to how great America is. It is on this last topic that I want to dwell. When I was at uni in the '90s, I knew an American student who was over

Donald Trump

Meryl Streep's Stunningly Good Speech

I love this, from the Golden Globes last night. Heartfelt and powerful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxyGmyEby40

Trump

Regret Voting for Trump - Check out "Trumpgrets"

Trumpgrets - it is delightfully brilliant. Check it out. There are even some tweets in the category of "Coultergrets" as polemicist Ann Coulter herself has recently attacked Trump, even though she is the author of a book on him (In Trump we Trust: E Pluribus Awesome!).

equality

San Francisco's "Middle Finger" to Incoming Administration

Kron reports: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution earlier this week that’s being hailed as a ‘middle finger’ to President-elect Donald Trump. The resolution, which passed with nine votes in favor and zero against, was a response to the election and the incoming Trump administration. The

COVID crisis

Oh Dear, America. Oh Dear.

This is what I have learnt today, and recently. 1. Trump is assembling the richest cabinet in history. Indeed, "Wall Street Wins Again as Trump Picks Bankers, Billionaires". 2. Patraeus gave classified information to his mistress and is up for Secretary of State, thus rendering Clinton's

Trump

Former White House Ethics Lawyer Says Trump Can't Be President

In an interesting development, The Independent reports: Donald Trump “could be in violation of the US Constitution the moment he takes the oath”, the White House’s former chief ethics lawyer said. Norman Eisen, who served as Special Envoy for Ethics and Government Reform during Barack Obama's first

persecution

Quote of the Day: Dirk Niemand on Liberal Bullies of Christians

This corker is, well, a corker. Have a go at what you think is wrong... I'm sure you've heard of the saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend? Obama and his liberal cohorts have been attacking Christianity in the schools, the work place and

Donald Trump

Is an Impeached Trump Worse than Pence?

Okay, so I will have some readers who are pro-Trump. Personally, for what it's worth, I am not for him. At all. Remotely. But neither would I remotely vote for Mike Pence. He's the rabid and demonic pimple growing on the arse of a megalomaniacal narcissist.

Trump

An Awesome Video on Trump - Do You Agree?

This was posted by DanH on another thread. I love it. Do you? [vimeo]https://vimeo.com/191751334[/vimeo]

Trump

Is Trump a Comedian?

I know that Trump has become an obsession for, well, everyone, but I thought this was an interesting quote (from facebook) from a former blogging colleague of mine, Staks Rosch: I have said it before and I will say it again. Trump is like a stand-up comedian testing out material.

evangelicals

Why Did the Religious Vote for Trump?

Yes, this has been widely discussed, so I thought I'd throw my tuppence in. I recently posted about how Trump pretty universally failed when compared against the teachings and actions of Jesus. All other things remaining equal, Christians should have steered as far away from the moral black