WASHINGTON -- What Gary Cohn, Steven Mnuchin and Jared Kushner did last week -- or, rather, what they didn't do -- is a shanda. They'll know what that means, but, for the uninitiated, shanda is Yiddish for shame, disgrace. The three men, the most prominent Jews in President Trump's administration, could have spoken out, to say that those who march with neo-Nazis are not … [Read more...] about The Trump administration’s three ‘court Jews’ disgrace themselves
Cartoon: Eclipse
Jerry Lewis comedian, actor and director dies at 91
Jerry Lewis, the manic, rubber-faced comedian who burst onto the post-World War II show-business scene with partner Dean Martin to form the hottest comedy team of their era before launching his own highly successful solo career a decade later, died Sunday. He was 91. Lewis died of natural causes in Las Vegas with his family by… … [Read more...] about Jerry Lewis comedian, actor and director dies at 91
The ongoing self-defining of Donald Trump
Mo Udall once quipped, "Everything that needs to be said has been said - but not everyone's said it." The comments about President Trump's response to the crisis in Charlottesville have inspired reaction from everyone, and virtually none have been in the president's defense. There's a reason for that. His handling on multiple occasions during the past week have ranged from … [Read more...] about The ongoing self-defining of Donald Trump
‘Bannon and Bailey’ Is No More
You can bet your bottom dollar that today’s “Sunday shows” will be analyzing and dissecting ad nauseam the clownish and not-so-clownish acts that have been presented during the past week at what so many are now calling the “White House Circus.” With the unceremonious departure of the Ringmaster (sorry Mr. Trump) rumors are rampant that Mr. Bannon will start a second Big … [Read more...] about ‘Bannon and Bailey’ Is No More
Cartoon: Trump Tweet
What to Know About the Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse will march across the United States on Monday, casting a shadow from Oregon's Pacific Coast, across the U.S. heartland, all the way to South Carolina's Atlantic Coast. Why is this eclipse so anticipated? This will be the first time in 38 years that the mainland United States will experience a total eclipse,… … [Read more...] about What to Know About the Solar Eclipse
God and inclusiveness
God and inclusiveness The star studded skies, a prairie full of life, remind me of God and inclusiveness each time. As we embark on Hajj in submission to God, here are some lines from across several faiths in this light. Talbiyah (the prayer of Hajj, a once in a lifetime mandatory pilgrimage to Mecca for financially and physically able Muslims) Labbayka Allahumma … [Read more...] about God and inclusiveness
What makes one a hero?
What makes one a hero? I learned the answer to that question when the traveling version of the Vietnam War Memorial - the Wall - was displayed in my community. While visiting the Wall, I talked to a veteran of the Vietnam War, during which time he told me just who were the heroes of the Vietnam War. The heroes were the men whose names were written on the Wall. In … [Read more...] about What makes one a hero?
Cartoon and Column: Buh Bye Bannon
The narcissistic uncontrollable racist has been kicked out of the White House. No, not that one. Calm down. The other racists in the White House. OK, one of the other racists in the White House. Steve Bannon is out. Anthony Scaramucci said in an interview that he didn’t realize was an interview, that Steve Bannon was “sucking his own cock.” Of course, Bannon doesn’t have the … [Read more...] about Cartoon and Column: Buh Bye Bannon
Bannon and the fall of ‘populism’
WASHINGTON -- Is President Trump a populist or a corporatist? Is he appealing to white supremacists as a form of political opportunism -- or because, deep down, he sympathizes with their views? Is he the hard-core "fire and fury" hawk of his North Korea statements? Or is he actually a non-interventionist who disdains foreign engagement? The answer to all these questions … [Read more...] about Bannon and the fall of ‘populism’
Closing Time: GOP Begins its Push for Trump to Resign
It's one thing when former Vice President and ex-officio former President-elect Al Gore called for the future ex-President to resign. It's quite another when, the following day, two GOP Senators - prospective jurors in any impeachment proceeding - smacked him on the snout, saying that he has demonstrated a lack of the moral authority to be President. It says that he has lost … [Read more...] about Closing Time: GOP Begins its Push for Trump to Resign
GOP leaders must overcome their timidity and denounce Trump
WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump has dropped all pretense and proudly raised the banner of white racial grievance. The time has come for Republicans in Congress to decide whether this is what they signed up for. Business leaders decided Wednesday that they'd had enough, quitting two presidential advisory councils before Trump quickly dissolved the panels. Military leaders made … [Read more...] about GOP leaders must overcome their timidity and denounce Trump
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Nazis and Donald Trump
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Watch Arnold Schwarzenegger Denounce Nazis in the Way Trump Has Failed to Do --As he coddles neo-Nazis, Trump’s political isolation increases --If you still support Donald Trump --Fox News backs Trump. Trump backs Nazis. Awkward Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Nazis and Donald Trump
Anti-Semitism: Two Versions and Two Letters, 73 Years Apart
My ancestors are Jewish. Most of my relatives live in the Netherlands, in Belgium and in Ecuador. A few years ago, a Dutch relative performed an exhaustive genealogy of the Levy-de Wind family. I already knew that some of the de Wind family members had been murdered by the Nazis at their killing camps during the Holocaust. A close Dutch relative, Loekie de Wind, had … [Read more...] about Anti-Semitism: Two Versions and Two Letters, 73 Years Apart
Fox CEO James Murdoch sharply criticizes Trump over response to Charlottesville
James Murdoch, chief executive of Fox News' parent company, became the latest corporate leader to blast President Donald Trump over his response to the recent racially charged attack in Charlottesville, Va. "hat we watched this last week in Charlottesville and the reaction to it by the president of the United States concern all of us as… … [Read more...] about Fox CEO James Murdoch sharply criticizes Trump over response to Charlottesville
Cartoon: Fascist Test
Details and Consequences of Deadly Navy Destroyer Collision
In the early morning hours of June 17, the Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with the Philippine-flagged merchant vessel ACX Crystal off the coast of Japan, 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka. Seven sailors died in the accident. The Navy has completed and released a supplement to its line of duty investigation of the USS Fitzgerald collision. The grim, … [Read more...] about Details and Consequences of Deadly Navy Destroyer Collision
(UPDATES) No Moral Equivalence with Top U.S. Military Brass
UPDATE II: Except for the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the only ranking member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who had not yet commented on the Charlottesville racism and bigotry was the Chairman himself, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford. As pointed out here, Dunford has been busy toning down the bellicose rhetoric on North Korea spouted by his boss. The General has now … [Read more...] about (UPDATES) No Moral Equivalence with Top U.S. Military Brass
The Straw Men of Confederacy Apologists
A disturbing trend has been taking place among the apologists for the old Confederacy. The latter have been using straw-man arguments against relocating of statues that honor the Confederacy. What these apologists don’t understand is that the Confederacy was a shameful part of U.S. history and should not be honored. Nor should members of the Confederacy be honored for being … [Read more...] about The Straw Men of Confederacy Apologists