US Opinion and Commentary

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From Russia Without Love

Posted December 12th, 2016 at 11:47 am (UTC-4)
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By Barbara Slavin Almost everything about this political year has shattered precedent. Still, the CIA’s conclusion that Russian government-instigated cyber warriors actively promoted Donald Trump’s victory throws our system into truly frightening, uncharted territory. It has been known for months that Russian hackers stole emails from the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, […]

The United States Needs to Hold Russia Accountable for Its Aggression

Posted November 17th, 2016 at 9:19 am (UTC-4)
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[W]e need to send a resolute message that Russia’s domestic tyranny and international belligerence have consequences. And we must make abundantly clear that there is a cost to attacking the United States, whether accomplished by a MiG or a mouse.

WikiLeaks Is Exposing Clinton’s Duplicity, but It’s No Hero

Posted October 24th, 2016 at 3:14 pm (UTC-4)
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These conservatives seem to have forgotten that before Assange was revealing Clinton campaign emails, he was serially leaking stolen, classified national security information that has endangered the United States and its allies across the world.

After the Debates

Posted October 20th, 2016 at 4:47 pm (UTC-4)
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Hillary Clinton called Donald Trump a “puppet” of Vladimir Putin. Trump said Putin has “outsmarted” Clinton “every step of the way.” She said Trump “choked” when he didn’t tell Mexico’s president that his country will pay for the wall. He suggested the recently launched offensive in Mosul was timed to advantage Clinton.

Trump called for a repeal of Obamacare. Clinton said payroll taxes will rise for the wealthy to replenish Social Security. Trump refused to say whether or not he will accept the outcome of the election. She called that “horrifying.”

In between, the third presidential debate in Las Vegas was peppered with the candidates positions on gun rights, abortion, immigration and growing the economy.

How will what we have heard from Trump and Clinton impact the election on November 8, and afterwards?

Trump v. Clinton: Round 3 in Vegas

Posted October 19th, 2016 at 2:33 pm (UTC-4)
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Las Vegas has been home to some of boxing’s most famous prize fights. It makes all the sense then that the final Clinton-Trump debate should take place there.

Since the previous debate, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have more to answer for: emails WikiLeaks says was hacked from Clinton’s campaign chairman that include potentially embarrassing conversations about political strategy and texts of Clinton’s speeches to Wall Street bankers; and sexual assault accusations against Donald Trump by 10 women who came forward after Trump said his 2005 video recorded Access Hollywood conversation was just words, not actions.

Sitting ringside in Trump’s corner will be mother of a NAVY Seal stationed at the Benghazi embassy, who blames Clinton for her son’s death. President Obama’s Kenyan half-brother, Malik, will also be there at Trump’s invitation. Clinton invited a pair of titans of business, Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman and NBA team owner Mark Cuban, both vocal critics of Trump.

The two candidates come into this debate bloodied, but unbowed. This is their final chance to land a knockout blow.

Conventional Unity for Clinton?

Posted July 25th, 2016 at 4:00 pm (UTC-4)
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Simmering tensions that ran through the primary campaign between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders grew to a full boil Monday as the Democrats began their national convention.

Hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee show party leaders were not necessarily neutral brokers, seemingly tilting the scales toward Clinton’s candidacy. The revelations cost the chairwoman of the Democratic Party, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, her job.

Sanders has not withdrawn his endorsement of Clinton, and is expected to reiterate his support in a speech Monday night. But will Sanders’ supporters follow suit?