This week I have the privilege of hosting a half dozen former employees of what used to be the Prudential Service Bureau of Louisville, Kentucky. They are visiting New York City and I’m in effect their free hotel. The Service Bureau was an outsourcing company I started a few decades ago to handle mundane tasks for large employers as well as for some Prudential functions. One of … [Read more...] about The Underbelly of America
The ominous decline of social democracy
The rise of Donald Trump was shocking but it was not a one-off. The forces that brought him to power have parallels across democracies as fears about immigration, inward-looking nationalism and discontent over economic globalization push an ever-larger share of voters to the far right. For American progressives, it is especially disturbing that social democracy, one of the … [Read more...] about The ominous decline of social democracy
For centuries, anonymous insider accounts have chipped away at ruling regimes – and sometimes toppled them
Copies of Bob Woodward’s ‘Fear: Trump in the White House’ are displayed for sale at a Costco in Virginia. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais Rachel Carnell, Cleveland State University Bob Woodward’s new book, “Fear: Trump in the White House,” seems to contain scant new information. Like Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” … [Read more...] about For centuries, anonymous insider accounts have chipped away at ruling regimes – and sometimes toppled them
In Texas, a Democratic template for national victory in 2020
by George Will Washington Post Writers Group Columnist HOUSTON -- Nationally, the Democratic Party, which gave indispensable assistance ("Basket of deplorables"!) to the election of today's president, seems intent ("Impeach!"; "Abolish ICE!"; "Free stuff!", "I am Spartacus!") on a repeat performance. Here, however, in the 7th Congressional District, in what might turn … [Read more...] about In Texas, a Democratic template for national victory in 2020
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump and Puerto Rico
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Trump says Puerto Rico death toll rose 'like magic' and was in 'no way' possible --Trump Tweet Jeopardizes Bipartisan Puerto Rico Bill Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political and comic strip cartoonist. His favorite expression “WHAT A HOOT” certainly sums up his … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump and Puerto Rico
Why the Russians might hack the Boy Scouts next
Civic groups like the Boy Scouts are likely under attack by Russian agents – and likely don’t know it. Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock.com Susan Landau, Tufts University In the two years since Russia made headlines for targeting an American political organization – the Democratic National Committee – and undermining Hillary Clinton’s race for the presidency, … [Read more...] about Why the Russians might hack the Boy Scouts next
Beto VS Creepo (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic candidate for the Texas U.S. Senate seat is being accused of pretending to be Latino by supporters of Senator Ted Cruz, a guy many accuse of pretending to be Caucasian. O’Rourke is currently representing Texas in Congress. His first name is Robert, which is where the nickname “Beto” came from, as it’s often short for “Roberto” in Mexico. It was … [Read more...] about Beto VS Creepo (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Manafort Flips on Trump: Total Cooperation Agreement With Mueller
President Donald Trump has had not had a stellar few weeks -- in fact, to call them lousy would be an understatement. Today, things got a lot worse with what many pundits are calling the "stunning" development that hia former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has "flipped" and will now be cooperating extensively with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. President Trump’s former … [Read more...] about Manafort Flips on Trump: Total Cooperation Agreement With Mueller
Death count debates overshadow the real story: Hurricane Maria was partly a human-made disaster
Morten Wendelbo, American University Last September, President Donald Trump told Puerto Ricans they should be grateful Hurricane Maria had not caused a “real catastrophe like Katrina.” However, mounting evidence now reveals the death toll for Maria far surpasses initial estimates. New research puts the number close to 3,000, adjusted up from just a few dozen when the … [Read more...] about Death count debates overshadow the real story: Hurricane Maria was partly a human-made disaster
All Talk, No Action: A Republican Metaphor
The junior Republican senator from Nebraska has been furrowing his brow about Trump ever since the 2016 campaign, tut-tutting in high-minded language about how the paranoid narcissist is a clear and present danger. But rarely in modern times has such eloquent rhetoric been twinned with such hapless inertia. He talks like a sane person, but whenever the chips are down, he … [Read more...] about All Talk, No Action: A Republican Metaphor
What is Mankind’s greatest peril?
What is Mankind's greatest peril? People have different answers to that question, but which is the correct answer? What follows are possibilities of what imperils Mankind the most. 1. The Sun's Death From NBC News, 08 May 2018: "New research by an international team of astronomers shows that once it exhausts its hydrogen fuel in 5 billion years or so, our host … [Read more...] about What is Mankind’s greatest peril?
Trump falsely denies 3,000 death toll in Puerto Rico: Suggests Democrat Conspiracy
President Donald Trump has just denied the 3,000 death toll from last year's Hurrican Maria -- coming on the heels of his own assertion that he deserved an A+ for his handling of that hurricane. He's suggesting some of the deaths may be to "old age" and that there is some kind of Democrat conspiracy. This tweet from CNN's John Avlon says it all: Let’s not simply dismiss this … [Read more...] about Trump falsely denies 3,000 death toll in Puerto Rico: Suggests Democrat Conspiracy
The Mounting Anti-Trump Backlash Is Beginning To Cause Problems For Putin
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I value your comments, especially when they add to or smartly counter my arguments. Dissenting views always are welcome. But I am no longer able to reply because of a well-known glitch in the Disqus system that Joe and Tyrone have been unable to interest the clowns at Disqus in addressing. My sincere apologies. Vladimir Putin is not a happy … [Read more...] about The Mounting Anti-Trump Backlash Is Beginning To Cause Problems For Putin
The Women Chasing Trump Now are Florence, Stormy and Nancy
By Colleen O'Connor Donald Trump may have spent most of his life chasing and allegedly sometimes even threatening women. This week, the once fictional “Females Furies” have all escaped the pages of the 1970s DC comics and become serious and possibly even fatal threats to his administration. The midterm elections have already been dominated by, for and about women. … [Read more...] about The Women Chasing Trump Now are Florence, Stormy and Nancy
The grassroots revolt against Kavanaugh
PORTLAND, Maine -- Exceptional dangers require exceptional and sometimes unusual responses. This was the spirit animating the volunteers at a phone bank Tuesday night in Portland. They were asking citizens to urge their state's popular Republican senator, Susan Collins, to oppose the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. And if they found a … [Read more...] about The grassroots revolt against Kavanaugh
Cartoon: Pieta Rico
EPA Proposes Rolling Back Methane Rule
PHILADELPHIA – Clean-air advocates are vowing to fight the latest proposal to roll back regulations on methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Acting Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler wants to reduce the frequency of monitoring for methane leaks at oil and gas facilities that is required under the 2016 New Source Performance … [Read more...] about EPA Proposes Rolling Back Methane Rule
Our shared reality is fraying
Have we lost our grip on the truth? Shutterstock Arie Kruglanski, University of Maryland The concept of truth is under assault, but our troubles with truth aren’t exactly new. What’s different is that in the past, debates about the status of truth primarily took place in intellectual cafes and academic symposia among philosophers. These days, … [Read more...] about Our shared reality is fraying
Cartoon: FEMA gets ICY
How many Benedict Arnolds can one administration hold?
WASHINGTON -- "I'll write the real book!" says President Trump, vowing to counter the "scam" Bob Woodward has just published. This is no idle threat. By the time his presidency is over, he may be the only one left to write a book. The rest of us will have gone to the gallows. Trump has, by now, declared that virtually all those who have criticized him are guilty of the … [Read more...] about How many Benedict Arnolds can one administration hold?