Top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine William Taylor, left, and Foreign Service officer George Kent are sworn in before the House Intelligence Committee during the first public impeachment hearing. AP/Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool Photo Kirsten Carlson, Wayne State University and Chris Edelson, American University School of Public Affairs Editor’s note: Wednesday was the … [Read more...] about Impeachment: Two quotes that defined the first day of public hearings
Gun Violence White Noise
Yet another school shooting and no doubt members of Congress (Republicans in particular) will rush forward, roll up their sleeves and do absolutely nothing to address the problem. Of course in this case it appears the gun rights side can take advantage of the fact that the shooter used a handgun and therefore new legislation would not have prevented this incident. Never mind … [Read more...] about Gun Violence White Noise
“Country Before Party” for Democracy and Brexit
In the books that shall be written about how the United Kingdom became again a self-determined, democratic nation, Nigel Farage will be identified as the sine qua non of Brexit. We forever owe him a great debt of gratitude. Given the importance and nature of his achievement, his likeness in bronze would not be out of place within striking distance of parliament. When I … [Read more...] about “Country Before Party” for Democracy and Brexit
Impeachment and Patriotism
America and its democracy are currently facing the greatest crisis since the Nixon years. It all comes down to Republican partisans putting party before country. Led by President Trump who maneuvered to get out of the draft during the Vietnam War and who has always placed his business interests and himself before his country, the GOP is almost unanimous in its support of this … [Read more...] about Impeachment and Patriotism
Waltzing Matilda – An In Depth Impeachment Analysis
Sometimes the past is prologue, or so it is said. After watching today's House impeachment hearings I was reminded most of "Tom Traubert's Blues", the 1976 Tom Waits song often called "Waltzing Matilda". I found myself filling in the speaking parts from Trump to Schiff to various witnesses and Republican defenders. Take a listen and see if it generates a response in your … [Read more...] about Waltzing Matilda – An In Depth Impeachment Analysis
Memoir explores the books of John D. Fitzgerald, Utah storyteller
Review by Doug Gibson There are many fans of the late writer, John D. Fitzgerald. I agree with the description of him as "Utah's Mark Twain." 60-plus years ago he wrote a trilogy of novels about the Fitzgerald family, where a transplanted Pennsylvanian emigrated to Utah to find his wayward brother and also found love with a young Mormon woman. "Papa Married a Mormon" and … [Read more...] about Memoir explores the books of John D. Fitzgerald, Utah storyteller
Impeachment Hearings (Cartoon)
House impeachment inquiry may help restore the political and social norms that Trump flouts
Trump has broken a lot of norms. AP Photo/Seth Wenig Sunita Sah, Cornell University President Donald Trump regularly uses blatant violations of long-established social and political norms to signal his “authenticity” to supporters. Asking foreign countries to investigate and deliver dirt on his political opponents, which prompted an impeachment … [Read more...] about House impeachment inquiry may help restore the political and social norms that Trump flouts
George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four Is Upon Us
On the eve of historical impeachment hearings against Donald Trump, many believe that we are living through times that can be described as the fulfillment of George Orwell’s Dystopia. We seem to be living Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four in a bizarre Orwellian Trumpian Oceania, where up is down, down is up, untruth is truth, life imitates satire and alternative facts replace … [Read more...] about George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four Is Upon Us
Our Veterans: Who Are They?
Today we are pausing to honor and thank the men and women who have served and sacrificed in all branches of our military. We know that there are approximately 18.2 million living veterans. But what else do we know about them? To learn more about these men and women, we go to USAFacts, "a non-partisan, not-for-profit civic initiative” with no political agenda or … [Read more...] about Our Veterans: Who Are They?
Great Music – Chapter 55
This week I am going to write a slight twist on the usual music article. This week the article will focus primarily about the performer, rather than the actual music. This week I feature Ittzhak Perlman who is generally regarded as the world’s best violinist. Perlman represents many aspects of Life which are very meaningful to me personally. Perlman was born in Tel Aviv in … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 55
Cartoon: Non-disclosure
Mike Slosberg is a cartoonist and novelist. He lives with his wife and hundreds of drawing pens on the Upper Westside of Manhattan, New York. You can see more of his cartoons and learn about his books by going to: mikeslosbergbooks.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Non-disclosure
Why tyranny could be the inevitable outcome of democracy
At the dawn of democracy, Plato foresaw an unfortunate end. vangelis aragiannis/Shutterstock.com Lawrence Torcello, Rochester Institute of Technology Plato, one of the earliest thinkers and writers about democracy, predicted that letting people govern themselves would eventually lead the masses to support the rule of tyrants. When I tell my … [Read more...] about Why tyranny could be the inevitable outcome of democracy
In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow…
Every Memorial Day and every Veterans Day we read essays meant to explain the differences between the two Days; to clarify whom exactly these Days honor and celebrate; to clear up “misconceptions” about them; to provide historical and legislative context; to compare them to similar Days in other countries -- even to clear up confusion about the correct spelling of Veterans … [Read more...] about In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow…
BIDEN WILL WIN DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION, IF ONLY BY DEFAULT
Joe Biden is going to win the Democratic nomination for president. I wouldn’t run to your bookie with this information. My track record is spotty, at best. But I’ll be shocked if I’m wrong and I’ll have plenty of company, including many Democrats. I don’t believe Biden is going to win because he’s putting together a great campaign or because he has the best ideas. In fact, … [Read more...] about BIDEN WILL WIN DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION, IF ONLY BY DEFAULT
Where to now for ISIS?
Editor's note: This was mistakenly run under the wrong byline. We have fixed the error and also updated the publishing date. We regret the error. It was no surprise last week to watch our Orange Leader crowing at the podium and boasting how he personally helped killed Ibrahim al Baghdadi: “We moved very, very quickly.” Did you ? How about that! But let's leave the … [Read more...] about Where to now for ISIS?
FIRST PERSON SINGULAR
Donald Trump seethed, “Where’s my Roy Cohen?” and found William Barr. Hitler had his Hermann Göring. Julius Caesar had his Mark Antony. It’s easy to find a collaborator when you’re a dictator, and even in a democracy like ours, it’s hard to find a patriot among a dictator’s sycophants, a patriot who will risk his own future to defend his country. In the Republican controlled US … [Read more...] about FIRST PERSON SINGULAR
How Biased Scientists Bamboozle The Public
Members of the general public are vulnerable to being bamboozled by biased scientists. That is because such scientists aim for a Wow! effect in order to profit personally. In a study published by the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, social psychologist Lee Jussim and other social psychologists explain how bias in science ends up influencing the … [Read more...] about How Biased Scientists Bamboozle The Public
The forgotten mass destruction of Jewish homes during ‘Kristallnacht’
A looted Jewish shop in Aachen, Germany on the day after Kristallnacht, Nov. 10, 1938. Wolf Gruner and Armin Nolzen (eds.). 'Bürokratien: Initiative und Effizienz,' Berlin, 2001., Author provided Wolf Gruner, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Every November, communities around the world hold … [Read more...] about The forgotten mass destruction of Jewish homes during ‘Kristallnacht’
CROSS HAIRS FOR WHISTLEBLOWER (Cartoon, Column and Video)
There’s only one reason Republicans like Donald Trump and Rand Paul want the whistleblower to be revealed. It’s because they can’t attack the context. Listen to what Trump says about the guy and, if you’re not a Republican, you’ll notice he only has lies. Monday night, at a Trump hate rally in Kentucky, Rand Paul demanded the media do its job and reveal the whistleblower. … [Read more...] about CROSS HAIRS FOR WHISTLEBLOWER (Cartoon, Column and Video)