08/02/2015 archive

This is your morning Open Thread. Pour a cup of your favorite morning beverage and review the past and comment on the future.

August 2 is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 151 days remaining until the end of the year.

On this day in 1776, members of Congress affix their signatures to an enlarged copy of the Declaration of Independence.

Fifty-six congressional delegates in total signed the document, including some who were not present at the vote approving the declaration. The delegates signed by state from North to South, beginning with Josiah Bartlett of New Hampshire and ending with George Walton of Georgia. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania and James Duane, Robert Livingston and John Jay of New York refused to sign. Carter Braxton of Virginia; Robert Morris of Pennsylvania; George Reed of Delaware; and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina opposed the document but signed in order to give the impression of a unanimous Congress. Five delegates were absent: Generals George Washington, John Sullivan, James Clinton and Christopher Gadsden and Virginia Governor Patrick Henry.

The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were now independent states, and thus no longer a part of the British Empire. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration is a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The birthday of the United States of America-Independence Day-is celebrated on July 4, the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress.

The Declaration justified the independence of the United States by listing colonial grievances against King George III, and by asserting certain natural rights, including a right of revolution. Having served its original purpose in announcing independence, the text of the Declaration was initially ignored after the American Revolution. Its stature grew over the years, particularly the second sentence, a sweeping statement of individual human rights:

   We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

This sentence has been called “one of the best-known sentences in the English language” and “the most potent and consequential words in American history”.

After finalizing the text on July 4, Congress issued the Declaration of Independence in several forms. It was initially published as a printed broadside that was widely distributed and read to the public. The most famous version of the Declaration, a signed copy that is usually regarded as the Declaration of Independence, is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Although the wording of the Declaration was approved on July 4, the date of its signing has been disputed. Most historians have concluded that it was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed. The sources and interpretation of the Declaration have been the subject of much scholarly inquiry.

The famous wording of the Declaration has often been invoked to protect the rights of individuals and marginalized groups, and has come to represent for many people a moral standard for which the United States should strive. This view was greatly influenced by Abraham Lincoln, who considered the Declaration to be the foundation of his political philosophy, and who promoted the idea that the Declaration is a statement of principles through which the United States Constitution should be interpreted.

“Punting the Pundits” is an Open Thread. It is a selection of editorials and opinions from around the news medium and the internet blogs. The intent is to provide a forum for your reactions and opinions, not just to the opinions presented, but to what ever you find important.

Thanks to ek hornbeck, click on the link and you can access all the past “Punting the Pundits”.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

The Sunday Talking Heads:

This Week with George Stephanopolis: The guests on Sunday’s “This Week” are: Donald Trump; Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT); former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA); and RNC Chair Reince Priebus.

At the roundtable are: Democratic strategist Maria Cardona; former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA); Republican strategist and pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson; and ABC News’ Cokie Roberts.

Face the Nation: Host John Dickerson’s guests are: former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR); and CBS News Aviation and Safety Expert Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.

On a panel to discuss money in politics are: CBS News Correspondent Julianna Goldman; former FEC commissioner Trevor Potter; Washington Post‘s Matea Gold; and Steven Law, American Crossroads.

The guests on the political panel are: Molly Ball, The Atlantic; Ron Fournier, The National Journal; Dan Balz, The Washington Post; and Reihan Salam, The National Review.

Meet the Press with Chuck Todd: The guests on this Sunday’s “MTP” are: RNC Chair Reince Priebus; DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz; GOP presidential contender Dr. Ben Carson; and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey.

At the roundtable, the guests are:  Gerald Seib, The Wall Street Journal; Kathleen Parker, The Washington Post; Helene Cooper, The New York Times; and Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball.”

State of the Union with Jake Tapper: Mr. Tapper’s guests are: GOP presidential contenders Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

His panel guests are: Former Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS); Brianna Keilar, CNN senior political correspondent; Jennifer J. Jacobs, Des Moines Register; and Van Jones, Rebuild the Dream.

In a tribute to the departing host of “The Daily Show” Jon Stewart, Mr. Tapper speaks with Samantha Bee.

Turkish troops killed in ‘Kurdish PKK suicide blast’

 

BBC

Two Turkish security troops have been killed and 31 wounded in a suicide attack by Kurdish PKK militants, the regional governor’s office says.

A tractor laden with explosives was driven at a military police station, reports by Turkish media say.

The attack happened early on Sunday near the town of Dogubayezit in Agri province, near the border with Iran.

Since 24 July, Turkey has carried out hundreds of air raids on PKK bases on both sides of the Iraq-Turkey border.

The Turkish state news agency, Anadolu, said that the tractor was carrying two tons of explosives that were detonated by a suicide bomber.

Welcome to The Breakfast Club! We’re a disorganized group of rebel lefties who hang out and chat if and when we’re not too hungover  we’ve been bailed out we’re not too exhausted from last night’s (CENSORED) the caffeine kicks in. Join us every weekday morning at 9am (ET) and weekend morning at 10:30am (ET) to talk about current news and our boring lives and to make fun of LaEscapee! If we are ever running late, it’s PhilJD’s fault.

Breakfast Tune: Draft Dodger Rag – Smothers Brothers and George Segal

Published on Dec 25, 2014

From 1967, the Smothers Brothers stood virtually alone, among contemporary performers of that time, opposing the Vietnam War (Conflict, or whatever you want to call it). This was their version of a Phil Ochs’ song, “Draft Dodger Rag”, with guest star George Segal.

Today in History

Published on Aug 1, 2012

Highlights of this day in history: The Tonkin Gulf incident sparks U.S. escalation of the Vietnam War; Saddam Hussein’s Iraq invades Kuwait; JFK’s PT-109 boat sunk; President Warren G. Harding dies; ‘Wild Bill’ Hickok killed in Deadwood. (Aug. 2)

Something to Think about, Breakfast News & Blogs Below