Category: US

By micoots
26/07/2016 0

Sanders supporters boo calls for party unity

The first day of the Democratic National Convention was marked by boos, shout downs, and loud protests on the part of Bernie Sanders supporters whenever a speaker called for the party to unite behind Hillary Clinton. They even booed Sanders when he said that!
From Sanders delegates revolt on convention floor – POLITICO:
The Democratic National Convention began Monday with a frantic — and failed — attempt to stave off discord and disorganization, as aides to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders str..

By micoots
25/07/2016 0

“Conscientious objection against the state”

Hillsdale professor and LCMS member Korey Maas has an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal about the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod convention action to allow women facing combat and registering for the draft to claim conscientious objector status. He goes into the legal implications of this decision, as well as the larger phenomenon of how the state has been picking fights with religious people and their institutions over issues of conscience.
He closes by quoting LCMS president Matthew Harri..

By micoots
25/07/2016 0

What to watch for at the Democrats’ convention this week

Now it’s the Democrats’ turn to have a convention, beginning today and lasting through Thursday. Here are some things to watch for:
(1) Both the Republicans and the Democratic contests featured an insurgent arrayed against the party establishment. In the Republican case, the insurgent won. In the Democratic case, the party establishment beat down the insurgent. But his followers are not happy. Though socialist Bernie Sanders has endorsed Hillary Clinton, lots of Democrats on the left are bitter ..

By micoots
25/07/2016 0

The Democrats’ embarrassing e-mail leaks

Someone hacked into some 20,000 e-mails from members of the Democratic National Committee, and they have been posted on Wikileaks. They reveal embarrassing details about how the party officials were trying to rig the primaries for Hillary Clinton. This included a plan to use Bernie Sander’s religion–he is a Jewish agnostic–against him. (See the article excerpted and linked after the jump.)
The Wikileaks searchable DNC site is here.
Here is a list of some of the more embarrassing e-mails.
Wikilea..

By micoots
23/07/2016 0

Terrorist attack in Germany

A terrorist shouting “Allahu Akbar” began shooting children in a McDonald’s at Munich. He then went on a rampage through a shopping mall, killing at least 9 and wounding more than 20.
From Munich shopping centre shooting leaves several dead and injured as police hunt gunmen | Daily Mail Online:
A gunman shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ opened fire at children in McDonald’s before rampaging through a shopping mall, killing at least nine people.
Munich is in lockdown, as a major police operation is ongoing..

By micoots
23/07/2016 0

Clinton picks Tim Kaine for vice president

Hillary Clinton picked former Virginia governor Tim Kaine as her running-mate. She could have picked someone from the left wing of the Democratic party, so as to placate Bernie Sanders supporters, but instead she chose a widely-experienced government official with the reputation as a moderate. Perhaps her strategy is to reach out to those, including Republicans, who are alarmed by Donald Trump.
What do you think of her choice? Does this apparent move to the center calm any apprehensions you may ..

By micoots
22/07/2016 0

A theology of writing/a theology of fiction

My daughter Mary Moerbe, over at her blog Meet, Write, & Salutary, is trying to think through a theology of writing and a theology of fiction. She is seeking input and possible contributors. See where she is with this after the jump.
From Mary Moerbe, Theology of Writing – Meet, Write, & Salutary: Conversation & Community for Lutheran Writers
I may or may not be a little obsessed with the power of words. As Lutherans, receiving God’s gifts of faith through them, shouldn’t we be? So, I would star..

By micoots
22/07/2016 0

Trump may not defend NATO allies

Donald Trump said that he may or may not come to the defense of a NATO ally if it were attacked. Never mind the treaty commitment that an attack upon one is an attack upon all. He said that the US action would depend on whether or not the country “fulfilled their obligations to us.”
He was referring specifically to what he would do if one of the Baltic Republics (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) were invaded by Russia.
Remember that Trump and Vladimir Putin have something of a mutual admiration socie..

By micoots
22/07/2016 0

Ban Russia from the Olympics?

An arbitration court confirmed that Russia’s track and field team, which was caught in a major doping and cover-up scandal, can be banned from the Olympics. The ruling also opened the door to banning the entire Russian delegation, if the International Olympics Committee so decides.
Do you think Russia should be banned from the competition?
From Russia Loses Appeal of Olympics Ban for Track-and-Field Athletes – WSJ:
An appeals court on Thursday opened the door to a ban on the entire Russian deleg..

By micoots
22/07/2016 0

“I AM YOUR VOICE”

Donald Trump gave a stemwinder of a speech in accepting the Republican presidential nomination. Promising to make us safe, add millions of jobs, defeat terrorism, fix our economy, solve poverty, and relieve all of our grievances, Trump said “I alone can fix it.” He repeated, “I am the law and order candidate.” “I am going to make our country rich again.” He said, in all-caps in the text of his speech, “I AM YOUR VOICE.”
Did you hear the speech? You can read it after the jump. What do you think a..