WASHINGTON -- We lost two mavericks within a week. Last Saturday, we lost the legendary John McCain. On Tuesday, we lost his loyal sidekick, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham. Graham remains alive and well, but after serving for two decades as Robin to McCain's Batman, Graham buried whatever remained of his own reputation for iconoclasm even before his partner's funeral. On … [Read more...] about Rest in peace, Lindsey Graham
Washington Post/ABC News Poll: 60 percent disapprove of Trump, while clear majorities back Mueller and Sessions
Donald Trump was recently braggging on Twitter that he had a 52% favorable rating...a slight "mistake" (that was his disapproval rating.) And, also for Trump -- and possibly for the GOP in the mid-terms --the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll finds he has a 60 percent disapproval rating. Plus, there are some other tidbits of bad news for Trump, suggesting that his campaign … [Read more...] about Washington Post/ABC News Poll: 60 percent disapprove of Trump, while clear majorities back Mueller and Sessions
Why Is Democracy So Difficult?
In 5000 years of recorded history the vast majority of governments have been non-democracies. Some have resulted from strongman power struggles, and others have been hereditary monarchies, but few have been democratic. Historically democracy has been a brief flame that has sputtered and died. The classical Greek city-state of Athens is known as ‘the cradle of democracy’. … [Read more...] about Why Is Democracy So Difficult?
Why The President Of The United States Sulks While We Pay Our Respects To McCain
Let's be very clear why Donald Trump will not be attending the memorial service for John MccCain at the Washington National Cathredral on Saturday. He probably will be playing golf and that, of course, has much to do with the refusal of the man Barrack Obama called "the lion of the Senate" to kiss his ring. But the biggest reason writ plain and simple is that Trump has failed … [Read more...] about Why The President Of The United States Sulks While We Pay Our Respects To McCain
Labor Day Reflections
The work we do matters, and Labor Day is the perfect time to reflect on why it’s important, how we think about work and the way we as a society treat those who do it. Going to work is about more than just clocking in and doing what you have to do to collect your paycheck. Labor Day is a celebration of the deeper meaning of work. It recognizes the massive societal and … [Read more...] about Labor Day Reflections
Ethnocentrism, Race and Culture
Whenever one grows up in an environment with limited interaction with people of other races and cultures, one becomes guilty of ethnocentrism without being aware of it. As anthropologist Ken Barger explains, "Everyone is ethnocentric, and there is no way not to be ethnocentric... it cannot be avoided, nor can it be willed away by a positive or well-meaning attitude." No, … [Read more...] about Ethnocentrism, Race and Culture
The Democrats are a menace to public safety
WASHINGTON -- So President Trump is worried there will be violence if the Democrats win in November. "They will overturn everything that we've done, and they'll do it quickly and violently -- and violently," Trump reportedly told evangelical Christian leaders at a private White House dinner Monday. Citing Antifa (anarchists, not Democrats) and "some of these groups," Trump … [Read more...] about The Democrats are a menace to public safety
Can we escape 1968?
CHICAGO -- "Get the thing straight once and for all: The policeman isn't there to create disorder," said the late Mayor Richard J. Daley in explaining the riots in the streets of his city in the summer 1968. "The policeman is there to preserve disorder." Daley's verbal jumble became the butt of jokes and the source of claims, inspired by Freud, that Da Mayor had … [Read more...] about Can we escape 1968?
Our Screwed Up Healthcare System
There was a story this morning about a teacher in Texas who had a heart attack and was flabbergasted at the financial impact his hospitalization would cost him. The teacher, Drew Claver was taking out the garbage one morning when he had a Heart Attack. His 7 year old daughter managed to contact his wife via cell phone and she arranged for an ambulance to take Drew to a … [Read more...] about Our Screwed Up Healthcare System
How John McCain Was Remembered in Arizona
Vice president Joseph Biden, NFL star Larry Fitzgerald, McCain’s former chief of staff, Grant Woods, and others gave moving tributes honoring the life of senator John McCain at a memorial service at North Phoenix Baptist Church in Phoenix. A common thread throughout the eulogies, weaving its way through humor and tears, were words and sentiments that have already been voiced … [Read more...] about How John McCain Was Remembered in Arizona
The Loss of John McCain Is Personal
The loss of Senator McCain is deeply personal for me. When John McCain ran for President in 2008, I was fascinated with his service to the country and he quickly became a personal hero, which has remained so all these years later. During this time, I had been developing a passion for politics and involved myself with campaigns, ranging from local races to a contentious U.S. … [Read more...] about The Loss of John McCain Is Personal
Even With Microscopic Democratic Loss, Ohio-12 Shatters Idea That Precision GOP Gerrymanders Will Help Party This Year
A few weeks ago, a nationally watched race was held in Ohio’s Twelfth Congressional District. After all of the returns reported in roller-coaster like fashion, Republican Troy Balderson eked out a win by just under 1,700 votes over Democrat Danny O’Connor. Sound impressive? It is. For O’Connor. Republicans have predictably spun the Ohio-12 result as Democrats failing to pick … [Read more...] about Even With Microscopic Democratic Loss, Ohio-12 Shatters Idea That Precision GOP Gerrymanders Will Help Party This Year
Will John McCain be the last Republican leader in the Senate to address climate change
Tim Profeta, Duke University “He was just doing his job.” When I asked a longtime staffer to Sen. John McCain why the senator battled to address climate change in the early 2000s, that was his answer. A simple answer, but one essential to understanding how McCain led those early efforts to combat the challenge when no one else would step forward. Although others … [Read more...] about Will John McCain be the last Republican leader in the Senate to address climate change
Congressional Inefficiency
Though this week America is focused on John McCain’s death, and is otherwise mesmerized by Trump, Cohen, Mueller and Manafort, regular life in Washington goes on. The government’s lack of accomplishment under Trump falls squarely on the shoulder of a barely functioning Congress. Given that the last several sessions of Congress have been among the least productive in history, … [Read more...] about Congressional Inefficiency
Ugliness from the GOP
Ugliness from the GOP keeps popping up all over the place. If you want to see some if it, then just read the vile things that some so-called "Republicans" said about John McCain before he died. McCain understood that he served the citizens of Arizona first, which is why he refused to kowtow to Donald Trump and the Party of Trump (the latter which pretends to be … [Read more...] about Ugliness from the GOP
The Law Finally Catches Up To Trump, His Family & Pals, But It’s Not Over Until Its Over
Given Donald Trump's long career as a scam artist and all-around crook, there was no chance that he, his family and associates in his orbit would escape legal jeopardy once the criminal justice system got its teeth into them, although that has seemed like so much wishful thinking over the nearly two years since he stole the 2016 presidential election. But lost in the rush of … [Read more...] about The Law Finally Catches Up To Trump, His Family & Pals, But It’s Not Over Until Its Over
Chronic pain after trauma may depend on what stress gene variation you carry
More than 100 million American suffer from chronic pain – in which pain signals continue in the nervous system for weeks, months, or even years. pathdoc/Shutterstock.com Sarah Linnstaedt, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Unfortunately, almost every individual in the world will experience at least one traumatic event, such as a car crash, … [Read more...] about Chronic pain after trauma may depend on what stress gene variation you carry
GOP should honor McCain’s legacy by showing a spine
WASHINGTON -- Much of the nation will spend the coming days honoring the late Sen. John McCain. The Republican Party, however, will only pretend to do so. Donald Trump's GOP could not care less about the ideals McCain stood for, such as honor, service and community. The party is shamefully molded in Trump's image now, with his enormous corruption, monumental selfishness and … [Read more...] about GOP should honor McCain’s legacy by showing a spine
McCain conspiracists say his brain cancer was a hoax
WASHINGTON -- President Trump displayed his innate grace and decency Saturday by spiking a White House statement honoring the late Sen. John McCain's life. Monday morning, the flag over the White House was (until criticism poured in) back to full staff, six days before protocol says it should have been. Even for Trump, this seemed churlish. Unless there is another … [Read more...] about McCain conspiracists say his brain cancer was a hoax
McCain Part Deux (Cartoon, Column and Video)
I know most publications won’t be able to run the previous cartoon I drew on John McCain, but would still want a cartoon on the subject. To show my clients I’m not entirely insane, I drew another that’s a bit safer. While it may not be a sappy, sentimental, Heavenly Pearly Gates cartoon (which editors love), it’s something they can use without being over the top and it makes an … [Read more...] about McCain Part Deux (Cartoon, Column and Video)