Well, the “F-word” of American politics is finally being brandished by both sides in a classic game of rubber v. glue. But there is danger in simply writing the battle off as a food fight, in objecting “BZL2 !” (as I might) or saying “a pox on both your houses” (as William Shakespeare might). When …
In the first part of this argument, I tried to persuade you that conflict is a normal part human interaction, and that it can be good for us if done in a constructive way. I distinguished a constructive form of conflict, which I called “arguing”, from a destructive form, which I called “fighting.” I then …
What This Country Needs is a Good Argument! – Part Two Read More »
The conventional wisdom is that nothing gets done in this country because we are constantly arguing with each other. In particular, nothing gets done in Congress because our elected representatives argue too much. To the contrary, I claim that we don’t argue enough, and especially that Congress does not argue nearly enough. I believe that …
It begins with a lie. An annual lie, repeated year after year, by President after President, whether Republican or Democrat. The President stands before a joint session of Congress and begins the State of the Union emphatically: “The state of our union is strong!” We know that the President is lying, but we feel …
Before we look at issues peculiar to the impeachment for inciting an insurrection, let’s remember some key ideas from the first impeachment. Impeachment is a political proceeding, not a criminal or civil proceeding. What must be proved is not a crime, as defined by criminal statutes, but a “high crime or misdemeanor” – basically, an …
A Primer on Legal Issues in Trump’s Second Impeachment Trial Read More »
Recently, the word “unity” is being brandished by Republicans in the wake of the January 6th riot in the Capitol to ask the country to look past what happened and why it happened. But real unity requires agreement, agreement on basic principles and agreement on basic facts. Republicans offer neither and, in fact, turn their …
One thing has become abundantly clear over the past year – there is, in fact a Deep State. Government employees who are not elected by anyone are limiting the ability of our elected officials to control our elections, our pandemic response, and even our military. Thank God. I am not talking about the distorted view …
That is what we can expect Republicans to offer as an explanation as to why a COVID relief package cannot be more robust, at a time when record numbers of Americans are flocking to food pantries, not just for Thanksgiving dinner, but for survival. To put things in context, we might look to some of …
This Thanksgiving all Americans should join together in being thankful for the presidency of Donald John Trump. Trump supporters can be thankful that the wall has been built and the immigrant threat thereby averted, that the economy has reached new heights, and that the swamp has been drained. And for Trump supporters who don’t live …
The President clearly has a problem with premature elation, as shown by his inability to control his unwarranted triumphal twittering. It started on the first day after his inauguration when he tweeted that his crowd size was bigger than Obama’s. As if. It became more serious when we went overnight from “the slowest economic recovery …
The abiding touchstone for conservative voters has been to elect the candidate who better embodies conservative beliefs and values. Because the term “conservative” has varied meanings, it would not be appropriate to call a belief “conservative” because a few self-described conservatives believe it. So, for example, the QAnon conspiracy theory does not represent conservative values …
There is a pandemic raging in the United States. No, not that one. I’m talking about a pandemic of pointless political argument – argument that does not lead to resolution or action, but only divides people, and thereby makes effective action to deal with problems less likely. When those arguments occur within families or among …
Donald Trump to Teresa May: “I would rather follow than lead” Many business books advocate “leading from behind” or “leading from the sidelines”. But, for those who want credit without accepting any responsibility or blame, nothing beats “following from the front.” The big advantage to being in front is that you automatically get the …
Donald Trump claims to be concerned about anarchists; someone needs to warn him that the call is coming from inside the house. Recently we have been hearing a term that has fallen out of favor over the past forty years or so – “anarchists.” The term has been so loosely applied that is often little …
With the Republican convention starting this week, we can expect to hear lots about the terrible economy that Donald Trump inherited and the tremendous job he has done creating jobs and growth. For the most part, the Republican argument will depend on lying about the state of the economy when Trump took office, and on …
WHAT THE 2018 ELECTION IS REALLY ABOUTDonald Trump says that the 2018 election is about Kavanaugh, the Caravan, and a promise of a middle-class tax cut. In this, as in many other things, the president is wrong. The 2018 election is about four things: Healthcare, Corruption, Collusion, and perhaps most importantly, Courage.Healthcare. When Donald Trump …
I have heard about a new startup, currently seeking investors. It may be worth checking out. The company name is Corporate Christi, Inc. It is a business consulting firm designed to help companies take advantage of the 2014 Supreme Court decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. You may recall that in that case the Supreme …
There is a lot of handwringing in Republican circles these days. How could someone like Donald J. Trump end up as the nominee? Why is there so much tension within the party? Here is a hint: what used to be known as “the party of Lincoln” is now touted as “the party of Reagan”. Thirty …
Reaganism isn’t the Solution; Reaganism is the Problem Read More »
I have two rules that I apply in the voting booth. I recommend them for your consideration. 1. Anyone who says that government can never do anything right should never be put in charge of the government. They will only prove themselves correct. 2. Anyone who thinks that government can do no wrong should be …
I have just seen an advanced screening of Bill Maher’s latest film “Scienticulous” and it is not to be missed. It follows the same format as his earlier film “Religulous”, with a review of nutty ideas of science past, and with interviews with colorful characters espousing zany ideas. But this time, there is much more. …
Supreme Court watchers are speculating on whether Obama’s nomination of Elena Kagan to replace Justice John Paul Stevens will affect the Court’s position on a man’s reproductive rights, as articulated in Richard Everwood v. Jane Does 1 through 3, 413 U.S. 110 (2006), a case that has received surprisingly little attention to date. The lower …
Will Obama’s high court selection impact a man’s right to choose? Read More »
Liberals are the kind of people who need imaginary friends. Conservatives are the kind who need imaginary enemies. Comment.
Republican is to Democrat as: a) Conservative is to Liberal b) Tweedledee is to Tweedledum c) Pilate is to Judas d) All of the above.
You have all seen e-mail “bumper stickers” — those mottos and sayings appended to the end of e-mails, like: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Conservatives seem to have a monopoly on this practice. I have a simple suggestion for liberals who would …