Copyright 2018 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Hush Money
Malaria Is One of the Most Serious Public Health Crises Facing the World
When many people think of malaria, they form a mental picture of people in Panama hats hacking through the jungle way back in colonial times. Many Americans assume malaria is a disease of the past, or at least of a faraway somewhere. However, this could not be further from the truth. Indeed, malaria remains a major public health threat endangering the lives of millions of … [Read more...] about Malaria Is One of the Most Serious Public Health Crises Facing the World
U.S.-Russia Relations: The More Things Change The More They Remain The Same
There has been one drearily reliable constant in U.S.-Russian relations over the past 25 years: The Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations have come into office committed to improving relations with Moscow and each has not merely failed, but failed spectacularly, while the Trump administration also is well on the way to going off the rails with America's former Cold War … [Read more...] about U.S.-Russia Relations: The More Things Change The More They Remain The Same
I, too, am a real American
WASHINGTON -- The most offensive and corrosive idea in our politics today is that some Americans are more "real" than others. Don't you dare buy it. Republicans are cynically peddling this un-American conceit. "Real Americans" elected and continue to support President Trump, they claim, in defiance of snooty "coastal elites" who are hopelessly out of touch with the country. … [Read more...] about I, too, am a real American
Cartoon: Embassy
Why bullshit hurts democracy more than lies
Why is bullshit so harmful? Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA Michael Blake, University of Washington Since the inauguration of Donald Trump as president, members of his administration have made many statements best described as misleading. During the administration’s first week, then-press secretary Sean Spicer claimed that Trump’s inauguration was the most well … [Read more...] about Why bullshit hurts democracy more than lies
Stop with Demands for Trump to Apologize (With a ‘Non-Edit’)
“Non-Edit” A book by Major A. J. Straley refers to George Washington as an “Exemplar-in-Chief” because of the “indelible influence on the nature and character of the early Continental Army [Washington had], an influence that set the precedence and affected how the United States military would interact with civil authority under the new institution of a democratic … [Read more...] about Stop with Demands for Trump to Apologize (With a ‘Non-Edit’)
Dissing McCain (Cartoon, Column and Video)
In a White House meeting on Thursday, Trump aide Kelly Sadler reacted to news that Senator John McCain opposed Gina Haspel for CIA Director by saying, “he’s dying anyway.” Three sources confirmed Sadler’s comment to the press. The White House has refused to deny the comment was made. They’ve also refused to discipline or fire Sadler, or even apologize for the comment. And … [Read more...] about Dissing McCain (Cartoon, Column and Video)
‘Hamilton’ is an unexpected chorus to America’s original values
Aaron Burr is glacial; Alexander Hamilton is overwrought; King George has skinny legs and a hilarious voice; Eliza Schuyler (Hamilton’s deceived wife) is heartbroken and enraged. The unprecedented and prize-winning musical, Hamilton has been touring far and wide—I finally had the chance to see and hear it here in Southern California. Invigorating, wonderfully brazen, … [Read more...] about ‘Hamilton’ is an unexpected chorus to America’s original values
Thinking about America after Trump
PITTSBURGH -- In the imaginations of his hopeful defenders, Donald Trump was supposed to transcend left and right. He'd break the Republican Party from the shibboleths of the Reagan Era and create a new ideology mindful of the interests of the party's working-class supporters. Trump signaled this regularly. He touted a big infrastructure program. He insisted he would never … [Read more...] about Thinking about America after Trump
Great Music – Chapter 17
This will we continue our examination of more obscure works of Great Music. This week I present Malaguena, piano music written by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona. Don’t be surprised when you play the YouTube of this music that it will sound somewhat familiar. You know you’ve heard it before but can’t quite place where. The reason for the familiarity is that the music has been in … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 17
What torching Iran deal says about US commitment to nuclear security
Iranian demonstrators burn a picture of the U.S. President Donald Trump. AP Photo/Vahid Salemi Scott L. Montgomery, University of Washington President Donald Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal flies in the face of hundreds of inspections that showed Iran was meeting its end of the bargain. It’s a move that many leaders in the … [Read more...] about What torching Iran deal says about US commitment to nuclear security
Cartoon: Why Trump hated the Iran deal
Trump & Putin By The Book: Five Outstanding Must-Reads About Two Deeply Evil People
The problem with writing a definitive history of the Russia scandal is that the scandal is still writing itself. Revelations come thick and fast, sometimes daily. What authors are left with is writing primers that background the scandal, and with publication last week of Seth Hetenna's Trump/Russia: A Definitive History, there are now five books in particular that … [Read more...] about Trump & Putin By The Book: Five Outstanding Must-Reads About Two Deeply Evil People
‘Cheyenne Mountain’ and I When We Were Both Young, or ‘Claustrophobes Need Not Apply’
One of the most fascinating and rewarding tours of duty during my Air Force career was my assignment to the NORAD Combat Operations Center (the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain “Complex”) just outside Colorado Springs, Colorado, a facility deep inside Cheyenne Mountain, able to “withstand a nuclear blast that would shake the mountain as fiercely as any earthquake could.” The latter … [Read more...] about ‘Cheyenne Mountain’ and I When We Were Both Young, or ‘Claustrophobes Need Not Apply’
Trump White House’s political debasement continues unabated
Just when you think there's a new bottom, some comment comes out intentionally or leaks out from the Trump administration that sets a new low standard for the nose-diving decline of our political "discussion" and the articulation of political differences. The Washington Post's Aaron Blake perfectly describes it: The White House probably thinks it cannot punish Kelly Sadler … [Read more...] about Trump White House’s political debasement continues unabated
Mad Magazine’s clout may have faded, but its ethos matters more than ever before
The magazine taught its readers to never swallow what they’re served. Nick Lehr/The Conversation via Jasperdo, CC BY-NC-ND Michael J. Socolow, University of Maine Mad Magazine is still hanging on. In April, it launched a reboot, jokingly calling it its “first issue.” But in terms of cultural resonance and mass popularity, it’s largely lost its … [Read more...] about Mad Magazine’s clout may have faded, but its ethos matters more than ever before
Godspeed, John McCain. You are my hero.
WASHINGTON -- At long last, have they left no sense of decency? White House official Kelly Sadler, during a meeting Thursday, had this to say about Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for opposing President Trump's CIA nominee over her failure to condemn torture: "It doesn't matter, he's dying anyway." Also Thursday, on Fox Business Network, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas … [Read more...] about Godspeed, John McCain. You are my hero.
American Waterloo
Hilariously, I was listening to Erick Erickson on All Things Considered, on NPR, with some inside-the-beltway journo and the obligatory, obsequious* NPR moderator. And Erickson ticked off the misconstruction that Trump has created, and noted that Trump had paid "no consequences." And I wondered why those dead, unarmed Palestinians weren't "consequences" -- the current Kent … [Read more...] about American Waterloo
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump and Iran
OF RELATED INTEREST: --How Trump’s Iran deal decision may lead to war --Is Trump repeating the mistakes of the Iraq War in Iran? --“ALL EGO, ZERO STRATEGY”: HAS TRUMP SET THE U.S. ON A PATH TO WAR WITH IRAN? 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 … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump and Iran