By John L. Micek Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf hit the nail on the head last week when he refused to play along with the Trump administration's invasive and unwarranted request for unfettered access to his state's voter rolls. "The right to vote is absolute and I have no confidence that you seek to bolster it," Wolf, a Democrat, wrote to Kris Kobach, vice chairman of … [Read more...] about Republicans and Democrats Pushing Back Against Trump
‘Assassin’s Screed’, or Why Ted Nugent Fears Me Part ii.
UPDATED BELOW This is part ii. Part i is here. Our Story So Far: July 3, 2007, Ted Nugent writes a vicious screed tossing the entire "60s" generation on the bonfire of his own vanity. I respond on July 3. Joe Farah's scrofulous WorldNetDaily anonymously attacks me for "waxing my eloquence." "As a die-hard musician, I terribly miss these very talented people who … [Read more...] about ‘Assassin’s Screed’, or Why Ted Nugent Fears Me Part ii.
Punch-drunk Trump (Guest Voice)
by Kathleen Parker Washington Post Writers Group WASHINGTON -- As the nation was preparing to celebrate its storied independence from the British crown, the president secured his place as history's greatest jester. Or America's first toddler president. Take your pick. Trump did so by tweeting a doctored video clip of himself from several years ago in which he takes … [Read more...] about Punch-drunk Trump (Guest Voice)
America’s Political Center – Part 1
In a 09/01/1996 article for the Brookings Institution, Sarah A. Binder writes, “In a political system that demands compromise and accommodation to bring about change, the center is considered vital to the moderate, bipartisan public policymaking generally preferred by the American public. Absent a political center, increased partisanship and ideological polarization are … [Read more...] about America’s Political Center – Part 1
An Essential Piece Of The Russia Scandal Falls Into Place From Beyond The Grave
THE INTERMEDIARY, THE OPERATIVE AND THE PRESIDENT Peter W. Smith was a longtime operative in the alternate universe occupied by Bill and Hillary Clinton haters, and at the height of the 2016 presidential campaign, the holy grail and ultimate gotcha in their relentless decades-long effort to smear the former president and his wife had become the 30,000 emails that apparently … [Read more...] about An Essential Piece Of The Russia Scandal Falls Into Place From Beyond The Grave
A Frat Boy In The White House
It didn’t seem possible a few years ago, but now it’s happened. Against all odds, America has a seventy-one year old frat boy in the White House. (This statement is probably demeaning to fraternity members.) Instead of spending time learning about how government works and what he can do to make it more efficient and more helpful for the nation’s citizens, the president spews … [Read more...] about A Frat Boy In The White House
Civis Americanus Sum
In ancient times the strongest words a person could utter was “Civis Romanus sum” or “I am a Roman citizen”. You could, according to legend, walk the length and breadth of the known world protected only by those words. People would refrain from harming you simply because they knew if the smallest harm came to you that the response of your government would be swift, sure, and in … [Read more...] about Civis Americanus Sum
This hothouse flower will wilt, but the star-spangled banner will yet wave
WASHINGTON -- The signers of the Declaration of Independence were highly imperfect men. Thomas Jefferson and his fellow Southerners were rank hypocrites for declaring "all men are created equal" while owning men, women and children as their slaves. John Adams was sour and disputatious, and later as president would sign the Sedition Act outlawing criticism of the government. … [Read more...] about This hothouse flower will wilt, but the star-spangled banner will yet wave
‘Assassin’s Screed’, or Why Ted Nugent Fears Me Part i.
No: this is exactly what they did to Clinton, and if we allow it, they’ll steal another legitimately elected presidency. Did you know that less than HALF of Obama’s top appointees are in office yet? The GOP strategy is to completely stymie the art and practice of governance until they can (they hope) retake the government by WHATEVER means, and you who were born before the 2000 … [Read more...] about ‘Assassin’s Screed’, or Why Ted Nugent Fears Me Part i.
Cartoon: Trump and July 4th
Copyright 2017 David Donar. All rights reserved.Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Trump and July 4th
Is Trump’s Attraction to Russia About Shaping the U.S. Version of Putin’s 21st-Century, Postmodern, Authoritarian, Kleptocratic Regime? (Guest Voice)
The links between President Trump and Russia will prove to be deeper and darker than many Americans now believe. This is according to Timothy Snyder, a noted historian of the 20th century's tyrannical regimes in Eastern Europe, who said the U.S. is now moving down a cultural and political path that has much in common with… … [Read more...] about Is Trump’s Attraction to Russia About Shaping the U.S. Version of Putin’s 21st-Century, Postmodern, Authoritarian, Kleptocratic Regime? (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: Son of a beach
You really can’t blame Chris Christie too much for wanting to go to the beach on his day off from making Big Mac runs for Donald Trump. You also might consider it in the public’s best interest to close the beach if Christie plans to wear a speedo. Nevertheless, it’s really bad optics to exercise your privilege while the beaches are closed to the public. New Jersey’s state … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Son of a beach
North Korea Claims To Have Launched ICBM
North Korea claimed Tuesday to have successfully launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), hours after the United States and South Korea said the reclusive state had fired an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM). The reclusive state launched several IRBMs in the recent months, and while it claimed to have developed an ICBM, it never fired… … [Read more...] about North Korea Claims To Have Launched ICBM
Happy Independence Day
One of the best versions of our anthem. … [Read more...] about Happy Independence Day
Six things you may not know about voting
The Trump election integrity commission thrust voter registration records into the spotlight last week. The gnashing of teeth that followed that request sparked this review of voter registration lists, vote by mail, what the U.S. constitution says about elections, same day voter registration, open primaries, and voter fraud/voter suppression. (Links jump to each subject.) 1. … [Read more...] about Six things you may not know about voting
It’s A Gift (1934) – One of W.C. Fields’ Best
Review by Steve D. Stones It's A Gift, from Paramount, is one of comedian W.C. Fields' best films. The funny gags in this film will have you rolling in the aisles. Watch for a hilarious shaving scene by Fields early in the film. Fields plays a humble middle class New Jersey grocery store owner named Harold Bissonette who is constantly hounded by his overbearing wife … [Read more...] about It’s A Gift (1934) – One of W.C. Fields’ Best
United and divided by history
NEW ORLEANS -- During a week when we try to put aside our divisions to celebrate a shared love for our country, we should ponder that we are as badly fractured in approaching history as we are in confronting the present. There is, of course, a case for using the holiday to shelve our differences altogether. This would be a useful reminder that politics is not everything. … [Read more...] about United and divided by history
Advantages and Disadvantages of Popular Culture (Guest Voice)
by Lucy Adams Popular culture has made significant icons and symbols to be used for the modern generation to indicate how they characterize with the various social elements. Popular culture is defined as a mainstream approach to consuming these social elements. It is often cited as temporary and evidently, only existent when there is a high demand for its popularity. Every … [Read more...] about Advantages and Disadvantages of Popular Culture (Guest Voice)
Healthcare – Is There A Solution?
I spent the bulk of my 32 years at Prudential managing their Health Insurance and HMO products. Donald Trump is correct in one regard – health insurance is complicated. However, politicians are making everything worse because they are making proposed laws based on little, if any, actual knowledge of the product. This same lack of knowledge affects political pundits also. … [Read more...] about Healthcare – Is There A Solution?
Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve
A perfect commentary on how government works these days … [Read more...] about Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve