The last time I flew on a C-130 Hercules aircraft was from RAF Mildenhall, England, to Diyarbakir Air Base, Turkey. It was not a very comfortable flight. But the C-130 is not necessarily built for passenger comfort. The last time I wrote about that magnificent aircraft was not a happy occasion. It was about the tragic May 2018 crash of a Puerto Rico Air National Guard … [Read more...] about Wishing the C-130 Hercules a Happy Anniversary
Louisiana woman criticizes AG Murrill over comments about her abortion story
A Louisiana woman who spoke at the Democratic National Convention about being denied miscarriage care in the wake of Louisiana’s abortion ban is criticizing Attorney General Liz Murrill and anti-abortion leaders for their reactions to her speech. Kaitlyn Joshua was about 11 weeks pregnant when she started miscarrying in the fall of 2022, just a few months after the U.S. … [Read more...] about Louisiana woman criticizes AG Murrill over comments about her abortion story
Rich Lowry’s Rich Re-Definition of ‘Character’
In a long, rambling essay at the New York Times today, Rich Lowry not only attempts to besmirch Kamala Harris’ character (“... Ms. Harris is weak, a phony, and doesn’t truly care about the country or the middle class”), but also excludes Trump’s personal life from his (re-)definition of character in order to semi-seriously make the argument that “Trump can Win on … [Read more...] about Rich Lowry’s Rich Re-Definition of ‘Character’
ELON MUSK, PLEASE COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH
ELON MUSK, PLEASE COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH You’re up there in space creating, brainstorming, dreaming and whatever else you do to achieve as you float around bringing the future into our lives, today. That’s not to suggest that your accomplishments are anything but meaningful. Your success is unparalleled. Whatever time you spend down here it’s with mixed results. The … [Read more...] about ELON MUSK, PLEASE COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH
Thanks to the aging criminal and his cult, Kamala seizes the American mainstream
Amidst all the damage Donald Trump has wreaked on the supine GOP, one political felony stands out: By narrowing and shrinking its ranks to assorted cultists, dolts, and insurrectionists, he has ceded the American mainstream to Kamala Harris. She had only one month to get her act together, an unprecedentedly herculean task all by itself, but the aging criminal made her job … [Read more...] about Thanks to the aging criminal and his cult, Kamala seizes the American mainstream
What pundits don’t get about the Harris “price gouging” proposal
One week ago, Vice President Kamala Harris told a North Carolina audience that she planned to propose a federal ban on price gouging for food. https://twitter.com/fightmonopolies/status/1824526947596038520 In criticizing Harris, the Washington Post editorial board demonstrated its lack of basic economic theory. Then various news organizations jumped from "price gouging" … [Read more...] about What pundits don’t get about the Harris “price gouging” proposal
AN INSIDE PEEK INTO MAR-A-LAGO. BONE SPURS?
AN INSIDE PEEK INTO MAR-A-LOGO. BONE SPURS? This is confidential. Please don’t share this information. I have to protect my source. There’s a truck parked in front of the Delivery Entrance. There’s two words on it: TOWELS. DIAPERS. Why is that confidential? It turns out the Big Man is not sleeping at night. The perspiration is dripping off him like a raging river. And … [Read more...] about AN INSIDE PEEK INTO MAR-A-LAGO. BONE SPURS?
Pin-Ups for a Noble Cause
Twelve years ago, when I was a young septuagenarian, I penned a piece on an organization called "Operation Calendar." As the name implies, the group published calendars featuring stunning models. “A project designed to raise money for charities assisting wounded troops.” Depictions of attractive women, “pin-up girls,” have been around since times immemorial. In military … [Read more...] about Pin-Ups for a Noble Cause
America’s future is up for grabs and so is the world’s.
A ripple of relief is spreading over most European capitals and a few others at the astonishing rise of Kamala Harris but the undertow is still an anxious groan at Donald Trump’s seduction of acolytes to “Fight, fight, fight” and “Win, Win, Win”. Harris, too, exhorted her admirers at the Democratic National Convention, “When we fight, we win.” To her running mate Tim Walz’s … [Read more...] about America’s future is up for grabs and so is the world’s.
Pot. Kettle. Black. Trump whines about DNC speakers getting “personal.”
Barack Obama is a native born United States citizen. Yet in 2011, Donald Trump “wield[ed] his trademark innuendos and falsehoods” that Barack Obama was not a native born American and that he was secretly Muslim. The conspiracy theory was fake news, but that didn't stop Trump. Fast forward through 14 years of “Birdbrain” (Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley); … [Read more...] about Pot. Kettle. Black. Trump whines about DNC speakers getting “personal.”
Michelle Obama, superstar
Former first lady Michelle Obama wowed the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, with more than one observer call it "one of the best" convention speeches. She threw a bit of shade at Donald Trump when she asked, “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?” She was alluding Trump's comment last month, when he told … [Read more...] about Michelle Obama, superstar
Democracy Decline
Democracies are in trouble both globally and domestically. Freedom House, a non-partisan organization that tracks global democracy, states that democracy on the planet peaked in 2006, and has consistently declined for the last 18 years. In 2006 eighty-nine countries were democratic, and in 2024 the number of democracies has dropped to seventy-four. Domestically, Americans are … [Read more...] about Democracy Decline
KAMALA HARRIS JOY SUNSHINE FLOWERS AND RAIN (CARTOON)
America’s Iran policy is a failure – piecemeal deterrence and sanctions can go only so far
Arie Perliger, UMass Lowell The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran in recent months is frequently explained as another extension of Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza. After all, Hamas enjoys a close relationship with Iran, and both share the goal of eliminating the Jewish state. But there’s more to it than that. As a scholar of security studies who has … [Read more...] about America’s Iran policy is a failure – piecemeal deterrence and sanctions can go only so far
America’s Growing Knowledge Deficit
When people generally think of a deficit, they are usually considering a business or a nation’s financial status. And it is true that the United States has been accumulating deficits and now has a huge national debt because the government spends more than it takes in with taxes. But the deficit I’m concerned about is not financial, but the deficit in knowledge and information … [Read more...] about America’s Growing Knowledge Deficit
President Joe Biden’s valedictory speech
If you are an east coast person who didn't want to stay up past midnight, you owe it to yourself to watch President Joe Biden's valedictory speech in toto. Grab a tissue; I did. https://youtu.be/Mxx69UtF0E4 Reading a transcript does not do it justice. Nor do any short clips. But this closing: Folks, all of us carry a special obligation. Independents, Republicans, … [Read more...] about President Joe Biden’s valedictory speech
Trump to hold “crime and safety” rally in Michigan city known for White Supremacy
PUBLISHED Aug 18; UPDATED Aug 20 Reuters picked up the story. The Harris campaign highlights Trump rally at "KKK capital of Michigan" Associated Press does not mention the notoriety associated with Howell On Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is holding a "crime and safety" rally in Howell, Michigan. Howell is the site of a White … [Read more...] about Trump to hold “crime and safety” rally in Michigan city known for White Supremacy
The sudden political rise of Kamala Harris echoes that of another female politician, New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern
Kamala Harris’ quick, unexpected transformation from a low-profile vice president to the headline-dominating Democratic presidential nominee has upended the 2024 election in just a few short weeks. Across the Pacific Ocean, Harris’ story may resonate with New Zealanders, like myself, who see parallels with Jacinda Ardern, a young, politically astute liberal, and her sudden … [Read more...] about The sudden political rise of Kamala Harris echoes that of another female politician, New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern
Heroes, Veterans, Others Speak Out on Trump’s Slander of Medal of Honor Recipients
The backlash to Trump’s recent comments belittling the Medal of Honor and its recipients continues unabatedly – as it should. Harris spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a statement: Donald Trump knows nothing about service to anyone or anything but himself. For him to insult Medal of Honor recipients, just as he has previously attacked Gold Star families, mocked … [Read more...] about Heroes, Veterans, Others Speak Out on Trump’s Slander of Medal of Honor Recipients
