There's a strange parlor game out there among pundits where any time Donald Trump or some other polarizing figure says or does something outrageous and stokes up a big old culture war backlash, that it will all somehow play into Trump's hands. Steve Bannon says he'd love to argue about Confederate monuments or flags! The liberal media got suckered into siding with unpopular … [Read more...] about Trump, Polarization and the Culture Wars
Reflections of “A Nation of Immigrants” – Part 5
No discussion of America being a “melting pot” would be complete without mentioning the significant contributions made by descendants of the African men and women who were brought to America as slaves. We would have loved to include in this series about “A Nation of Immigrants,” the stories of African American readers and authors and their ancestors who have helped make this … [Read more...] about Reflections of “A Nation of Immigrants” – Part 5
Alabama Win for Moore is Victory for Steve Bannon
Washington Republicans were startled on Tuesday and President Donald Trump was dealt a political setback as his chosen candidate to win the U.S. Senate race in Alabama was defeated by an insurgent candidate backed by his former chief strategist Steve Bannon. Roy Moore, the 70-year-old former Alabama State Supreme Court Justice, defeated the incumbent senator, Luther… … [Read more...] about Alabama Win for Moore is Victory for Steve Bannon
Trump Will Never Pivot
Ezra Klein explains that Donald Trump is beloved by the Republican base because he is one of them on vox.com. It’s become a joke on politics Twitter that Trump’s pivot is always around the corner, that the media can’t stop announcing that this is the moment Trump finally became president. But there will be no pivot. There will be no moment Trump suddenly and permanently grows … [Read more...] about Trump Will Never Pivot
In Defense of immigrants
In the past year we’ve seen an obvious hostility towards immigrants, from “rapists and murderers” to the pointless and counterproductive travel ban. Because native-born Americans by definition aren’t immigrants, they often have some whacky ideas about the processes and circumstances attendant to starting one’s life anew in the United States. The further right one’s … [Read more...] about In Defense of immigrants
Cartoon: Disrespecting
Senate Republicans pull plug on latest Obamacare repeal bid
US Senate Republicans have aborted their latest plan to dismantle Obamacare, they said Tuesday, after it became clear President Donald Trump's party did not have enough support to pass the measure. Grim-faced lawmakers, who hoped to hold the vote this week, made the announcement shortly after a Republican luncheon in which senators discussed the impasse, and… … [Read more...] about Senate Republicans pull plug on latest Obamacare repeal bid
The Cost of Attracting New Jobs
By now most of you know about the race between cities and states to attract a new Amazon headquarters that will involve a $5 billion investment and 50,000 jobs. Governors and mayors are falling all over themselves trying to get the message to Jeff Bezos –“me, me, me”. State and local politicians are even trying outrageous stunts to attract Bezos attention, including Tucson … [Read more...] about The Cost of Attracting New Jobs
Trump’s fumbling grasp of democracy (GUEST EDITORIAL)
The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Monday, Sept. 25: ——— For most of last week, the country had anticipated a typical fall Sunday of NFL football games. That changed after Friday night when President Donald Trump issued a bizarre challenge that turned every National Football League pregame ceremony into a referendum on the… … [Read more...] about Trump’s fumbling grasp of democracy (GUEST EDITORIAL)
Cartoon and Column: TAKE A KNEE
If you were fine, or silent, over the first three panels but lost your shit over the last one, then you need to take a knee. You’re just as disgusting as the man-baby troglodyte who made these statements. What Donald Trump is doing is not uniting people. It’s purposely being divisive to suit his own political ambitions. Trump claims athletes who are protesting are … [Read more...] about Cartoon and Column: TAKE A KNEE
Can we avoid a health care horror?
WASHINGTON -- It is difficult to decide which is the worst aspect of the Republicans' latest try at repealing Obamacare: the irresponsibility, the cruelty or the lies. There is only one reason the Senate is even considering a vote this week on the catastrophically flawed proposal from Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy. The GOP base wants repeal. So never mind what … [Read more...] about Can we avoid a health care horror?
The Unanimity of the Grave
You have this amazing writing service that your taxes have paid for and to which, as a result, you have a permanent subscription. I'll tell you what it is in a moment, but first, listen to the clueless Authoritarians: John Kelly is not pleased with Trump's NFL culture war, but ‘appalled’ by players' lack of respect Washington (CNN) White House chief of staff John Kelly was … [Read more...] about The Unanimity of the Grave
Afterlife snack: Jar of toads popped open in 4,000-year-old Canaanite tomb dig
A 4,000-year-old Canaanite “burial kit” has been found in Jerusalem and includes an afterlife snack pack of nine decapitated frogs. Discovered in a salvage excavation near Jerusalem’s Biblical zoo, a set of intact jars and their contents shed new light on funerary rites of the Middle Bronze period — and give a window into an ancient… … [Read more...] about Afterlife snack: Jar of toads popped open in 4,000-year-old Canaanite tomb dig
How Trump is helping to save our democracy
By E.J. DIONNE JR.,THOMAS E. MANN,NORMAN J. ORNSTEIN The election of Donald Trump could be one of the best things that ever happened to American democracy. We say this even though we believe that Trump poses a genuine danger to our republican institutions and has done enormous damage to our country. He has violated political norms, weakened our standing in the world and … [Read more...] about How Trump is helping to save our democracy
Cartoon: Trump Pigskin
Reflections of ‘A Nation of Immigrants’ – Part 4
Over the past two weeks, we have read the “immigration stories" of several readers and authors at The Moderate Voice (TMV). As the one who had the privilege of putting together the stories from the excellent inputs I received, I have come to one conclusion and one observation. First, as I had anticipated, our relatively small group of regular readers and authors is truly … [Read more...] about Reflections of ‘A Nation of Immigrants’ – Part 4
Where Robert Mueller Might Have The Goods On Trump & Where He Might Not
Trump had his fun the night he beat Hillary . . . But the fun you had the night before ends up looking different in the morning. And right now, it’s morning in Bob Mueller’s America. ~ LUCIAN TRUSCOTT IV After four months in the saddle, we are able to make some educated guesses about Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the Russia scandal: He has ample … [Read more...] about Where Robert Mueller Might Have The Goods On Trump & Where He Might Not
As Trump continues his attacks, NFL players protest by kneeling or locking arms
Watching the National Football League on weekend afternoons became the latest American tradition drawn into the relentless vortex of controversy that surrounds President Donald Trump, as players from London to New England to Carson, Calif., knelt or linked arms Sunday while others stayed in the locker room during the national anthem. As Trump's opponents and allies… … [Read more...] about As Trump continues his attacks, NFL players protest by kneeling or locking arms
Merkel wins but empowers a monster
Angela Merkel handily won the German elections today but also empowered a monster that has already upended domestic politics and could disrupt liberal democracy for years. Her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) are expected to take around 34 per cent when results are finalized, followed by the Social Democrats (SPD) with about 22 per cent. Each has lost about nine points … [Read more...] about Merkel wins but empowers a monster
Classic Comedy: Jack Benny And “The Landrews Sisters”
Classic vaudeville style comedy (this was broadcast in 1956 before my real TV watching-time). I study comedy and this is one of my favorite bits. Notice the superb timing, from beginning to end. … [Read more...] about Classic Comedy: Jack Benny And “The Landrews Sisters”