One Sunday evening during the mid 1990s, I attended a service taking place at my little church. A few minutes before the service started, I slipped into a pew that was second from the front. In the pew in front of me sat a well-dressed visitor who was to be that night's guest speaker. The visitor stretched his arms across his pew, which allowed me to see a ring that he was … [Read more...] about Super Bowl Rings
Johnson’s UK triumph: is the left doomed in the U.S. in 2020 too?
Is Boris Johnson's major victory in the UK and the-to-many shocking big defeat of UK's left a harbinger of what will happen in the United States in 2020? In recent months, I've gotten a sinking feeling about what I read and hear about many assuming that Donald Trump's shattering of norms, testing and in some cases ignoring laws, defiance of Congress' role and legitimacy as … [Read more...] about Johnson’s UK triumph: is the left doomed in the U.S. in 2020 too?
Democrats Should Pay Heed To UK Vote
I'm not sure how many of you are really interested in my UK election posts, but there won't be another election for about 5 years so I may as well get them in now The most surprising thing about the election is how many bedrock Labor seats have switched to the conservatives There are seats that have literally never been represented by a conservative, that have been with … [Read more...] about Democrats Should Pay Heed To UK Vote
Banana Art or ‘One Banana, Two Banana…’
Disclaimer: The writer is neither an art connoisseur nor a regular reader of Vogue. About a week ago, Art Basel Miami Beach displayed a work of art that had people admiring it, ridiculing it, laughing at it and, eventually, eating it. It was the duct-taped-to-the-wall-ripe-banana production by Italian artist and “absurdist” Maurizio Cattelan, the same artist who in … [Read more...] about Banana Art or ‘One Banana, Two Banana…’
Boris triumphs but Britain and EU are still at loggerheads
Embed from Getty Images Boris Johnson’s huge win as predicted by exit polls in the historic British elections today could change Europe as much as the United Kingdom, especially if the Scottish nationalists who also won massively demand independence from Britain after Brexit. Johnson, who has regularly been the butt of mocking jokes in Britain and Europe, has dealt a … [Read more...] about Boris triumphs but Britain and EU are still at loggerheads
WILL IMPEACHMENT HURT TRUMP IN 2020? HERE’S THE CASE FOR OPTIMISM.
Most Americans, exhausted by Trump’s demagogic lying and relentless pillaging of the values we hold dear, are understandably skeptical that impeachment will cleanse the stench and quash the nightmare. Indeed, that day of reckoning won’t come any time soon. His fact-averse authoritarian enablers in the Republican Senate will likely rig his escape from accountability, and he’ll … [Read more...] about WILL IMPEACHMENT HURT TRUMP IN 2020? HERE’S THE CASE FOR OPTIMISM.
Articles of Mitchment
David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Articles of Mitchment
Trump’s ambivalence brings NATO to a momentous turning point
NATO, America’s 29-nation military alliance, reached a turning point on the day that distinguished legal experts at congressional hearings hammered nails into President Donald Trump’s impeachment process. Trump left the London summit of NATO leaders early to underscore annoyance because some allies like Emmanuel Macron of France and Justin Trudeau of Canada were caught on … [Read more...] about Trump’s ambivalence brings NATO to a momentous turning point
USA TODAY Comes Out For Impeachment
There it is, just hot off the pixel presses: USA TODAY's Editorial Board: Impeach President Trump The president's Ukraine shakedown and stonewalling are too serious for the House to ignore: Our view — “Put your own narrow interests ahead of the nation's, flout the law, violate the trust given to you by the American people and recklessly disregard the oath of office, and … [Read more...] about USA TODAY Comes Out For Impeachment
Why Don’t They Teach Them Logic?
By Robert P. Coutinho “'Why don't they teach these children logic'? the professor asked.” C. S. Lewis “The wisdom of man is not the wisdom of God.” “To be, or not to be. That is the question.” W. Shakespeare Many people are asking questions in this political climate. Those questions often come back to the basic quotes above. We are, collectively, now dealing with a … [Read more...] about Why Don’t They Teach Them Logic?
FUN WITH FAUX OUTRAGE (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The party that gave us baby jails is outraged that a liberal college professor would inject Trump’s youngest child, Barron, into politics and make jokes at his expense. Except the college professor didn’t do that. Constitutional law expert Pamela Karlan was testifying before the House Judiciary Committee to give her opinions on impeachment. While answering a question from … [Read more...] about FUN WITH FAUX OUTRAGE (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Courts have avoided refereeing between Congress and the president, but Trump may force them to wade in
< Congress and President Trump are engaged in a power struggle that historically has been avoided by the courts. AP/J. Scott Applewhite Kirsten Carlson, Wayne State University President Donald Trump’s refusal to hand over records to Congress and allow executive branch employees to provide information and testimony to Congress … [Read more...] about Courts have avoided refereeing between Congress and the president, but Trump may force them to wade in
Presidential Qualifications
Since the beginning of the Republic there have been just three required qualifications to become President of the United States: be a natural-born citizen, be at least 35 years of age, and be a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. That’s it- for a job that is arguably the most difficult job in the world. It is time to drastically increase the necessary … [Read more...] about Presidential Qualifications
GROUPIE OF PUTIN (Cartoon)
Democrats announce “high crimes and misdemeanors” impeachment articles against Trump
House Democrats have announced two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump: 'high crimes and misdemeanor" for trying to pressure the Ukraine to get political dirt on Democratic Senator Joe Biden and for obstructing the House's investigation. Standing alongside Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Nadler said Trump committed “high crimes and misdemeanors” by soliciting … [Read more...] about Democrats announce “high crimes and misdemeanors” impeachment articles against Trump
Bridging the Great Divide
Is it possible? With partisanship and tribalism dominating America’s political landscape, is it possible to bring the parties together? Assuming that most knowledgeable and intelligent members of both the Democrats and Republicans agree in private that Donald Trump is a criminal who has done a number of illegal things, it would mean that these GOP men and women in the House and … [Read more...] about Bridging the Great Divide
What the Roman senate’s grovelling before emperors explains about GOP senators’ support for Trump
> Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky speaks to the media with members of the Senate Republican leadership, Oct. 29, 2019. AP/Jacquelyn Martin Timothy Joseph, College of the Holy Cross Unhinged leaders, dynastic intrigue, devastation and plunder: For 15 years I have been researching and teaching the ancient … [Read more...] about What the Roman senate’s grovelling before emperors explains about GOP senators’ support for Trump
A Nation of Men and Not of Laws
Here is the full transcript of AG Billy Barr's rejection of the Inspector General's report that the FBI had done nothing wrong in opening an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election (warning, he uses his own "facts"): … [Read more...] about A Nation of Men and Not of Laws
IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO
Everyone has their own narrative of what has taken place in the last three years of the Trump Presidency. It's a dark web of multiple conspiracies intended to effectuate a soft coup on American democracy and establish a Republican plutocracy. It's a moment in time when America finally has its manly Caesar who will fearlessly expand our glorious empire across the globe. There … [Read more...] about IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO
Meditation apps might calm you – but miss the point of Buddhist mindfulness
The market has been flooded with apps related to Buddhism and most of them claim to teach meditation. akiragiulia (pixabay.com) Gregory Grieve, University of North Carolina – Greensboro and Beverley McGuire, University of North Carolina Wilmington In today’s stressful world, mindfulness – a type of popular spirituality that strives to focus on the … [Read more...] about Meditation apps might calm you – but miss the point of Buddhist mindfulness