Let’s start by affirming a few points. After a bruising and devastating defeat to Barack Obama in 2008, Hillary Clinton went on to serve his administration ably, loyally and well for four years. It’s also true that it’s entirely natural for a future presidential aspirant to find ways to separate herself from the current president, especially one with flagging popularity. Indeed, it is incumbent on a would-be president to make clear what she would have done differently and what she would do if she were elected. As President Clinton has said many times, elections are always about the future.
Two tweets in the last hour from Antonio French, Alderman of the 21st Ward, St. Louis …
More police on the scene. They are getting shotguns and rifles out of their trunks. pic.twitter.com/l9HR8LXBH6
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 12, 2014
Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to clear the area. pic.twitter.com/TUZPjZGrlv
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 12, 2014
Statement by the President on the Passing of Robin Williams
“Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most – from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets. The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin’s family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams.”
Depression is something so profound it transcends being a comedian (or even happiness itself). It may even be correlated with the profession. But hearing that a Robin Williams took his own life does make you step back for a moment and ponder the entirety of the human enterprise.
A state judge in Tennessee has become the first post-Windsor judge to uphold a ban on same-sex marriage or the right of a state not to recognize one.
Rove: Clinton wants to be the “goldilocks” of foreign policy.
This AP piece looks at the struggles of al Jazeera America, which is celebrating its first anniversary on the air. The upshot is: very, very few people are watching it. So why is that? Let’s start by noting that it’s extremely difficult to break into the US cable news market, which is already pretty saturated or at least seems to be. AJA also faces at least some challenge simply because of the name. But in conversations I had with a few highly placed people in AJA prior to and post-launch I came away with what I think may be a big, big part of the problem.
Guerilla documentarian James O’Keefe films himself crossing the US-Mexico border in an Osama bin Laden mask.
“MOSCOW (AP) — Kremlin says Russia is sending humanitarian convoy into Ukraine in cooperation with Red Cross.”
Steven Seagal performs with band at pro-separatist event in Crimea organized by Russian nationalist biker gang.