The Fictional Mr. Trump By Andrew Feinberg In Four Score and Seven, my recently published novel about the 2016 election, there is a character who, some say, resembles Donald J. Trump. Which raises the question: How do you fictionalize a character who already seems made-up? First, exaggerate his flaws. How would one do that? Well, it is difficult but not impossible. When … [Read more...] about The fictional Mr. Trump (Guest Voice)
Is Brexit a Harbinger of Trumpism?
With apologies to the climactic song in "Les Miserables," here are the self-destructive Brits who voted yesterday to exit the European Union. Cue the music! Do you hear the people sing Singing the song of angry men We will crash the British pound Against the dollar and the yen, When the pounding in our brains Echoes the poison in our guts That is when the … [Read more...] about Is Brexit a Harbinger of Trumpism?
Rubio’s Re-Entrance A Boon For GOP But Will It Hold Through November
Rubio This week, Florida Senator Marco Rubio yielded to the pleas of months of entreaties from colleagues, former rivals and fellow Republicans by agreeing to stand for re-election to his Senate seat. While no one could predict what Rubio would ultimately do leading up to the announcement, few on either were ultimately surprised. Still, because he did leave people guessing … [Read more...] about Rubio’s Re-Entrance A Boon For GOP But Will It Hold Through November
On Political Poetry
I don’t know anything about poetry. I understand that some of the basic elements of poetry are (I had to look these up): rhyme, rhythm, meter and stuff called “alliteration,” “assonance,” etc. Now, that is not to say that I don’t enjoy reading poems. I regularly receive poems from a couple of friends. One friend’s poems are more traditional. That friend writes … [Read more...] about On Political Poetry
Cartoon: Donald Trump’s fundraising
Mike Slosberg is a cartoonist and novelist. He lives with his wife and hundreds of drawing pens on the Upper Westside of Manhattan, New York. You can see more of his cartoons and learn about his books by going to: mikeslosbergbooks.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Donald Trump’s fundraising
UK ship ‘needs new captain’ after Leave vote – Cameron
Hot on the heels of the seismic vote for the UK to leave the EU came the dramatic announcement from David Cameron that he will step down as prime minister by the autumn. He had pledged the referendum and led the campaign to remain in the EU. Cameron appeared outside Number 10 Downing Street at breakfast… … [Read more...] about UK ship ‘needs new captain’ after Leave vote – Cameron
Trump’s Political Suicide
Republican political consultant Mike Murphy examines the train-wreck that is the Trump campaign in The Washington Post. Forget, for a moment, all of Trump’s epic character flaws. A new question has seized the campaign: Can the self-proclaimed world-class business wizard actually manage anything? His campaign’s spiral into collapse proves he cannot. Let us count the … [Read more...] about Trump’s Political Suicide
Will sit-in make Congress stand up on gun control?
WASHINGTON -- The extremely rare sit-in by Democrats in the House chamber may have been, as Speaker Paul Ryan claimed, a "publicity stunt." But it was a righteous one that may improve the prospects for meaningful gun control. It won't happen immediately. Even after 49 innocent victims died in the Orlando massacre -- the worst such shooting in modern U.S. history -- … [Read more...] about Will sit-in make Congress stand up on gun control?
Supreme Court deadlock on immigration will have far-reaching implications
WASHINGTON — A deadlocked Supreme Court decision that blocks President Barack Obama from granting amnesty to the parents of legal U.S. residents who are in the country illegally will deprive many of those people of the right to sign up for health insurance in California, analysts of the decision said Thursday. Most immigrants who are in… … [Read more...] about Supreme Court deadlock on immigration will have far-reaching implications
Brexit: the earthquake has begun
The earthquake has begun. About 52 percent of British voters have decided to leave the European Union while about 48 percent voted to remain in the EU. These are not definite figures but close to the final calculations. An EU summit is likely next week to work out how Britain might actually leave since the process of untangling ties might take several years. Exit by any … [Read more...] about Brexit: the earthquake has begun
Why More Countries Need to Back Sustainable Tourism
With France's air-traffic controllers in constant disputes with their government about issues like salary, staffing and retirement, these workers have been on strike for an average of one in every 12 days since the beginning of 2016. Not only has the strike cost international airlines millions of dollars in revenue, but it's also affecting tourists as more and more flights have … [Read more...] about Why More Countries Need to Back Sustainable Tourism
Donald Trump’s Lies
Non-partisan fact-check website Politifact.com calls it like they see it on Donald Trump. We’ve fact-checked Trump about 160 times. We have rated 76 percent of those statements Mostly False, False or Pants on Fire. (See his entire PolitiFact file, which updates as we post new fact-checks.) As we noted when we awarded Trump our 2015 Lie of the Year award for his portfolio of … [Read more...] about Donald Trump’s Lies
Thanks, Mitch!
A lot of talking heads will shake their shaggy manes and harrumph and blither and blather and suchlike, as talking heads are wont to do. Supreme Court deadlocks, thwarting Obama's immigration actions Josh Gerstein / Politico: The Supreme Court has thwarted President Barack Obama's drive to expand his executive actions on immigration by making as many as five million … [Read more...] about Thanks, Mitch!
Britain’s Choice: Suicide or Freedom, and Nothing In Between
For 1000 years, British men, women and even children, have fought and died to move power from elites to people, to increase their liberty, and to ensure that those to whom they delegate political power can be booted out when they do something wrong or stupid. It started in 1014, with the Anglo-Saxon charter, went through Magna Carta in 1215, the Petition of Right, the Bill of … [Read more...] about Britain’s Choice: Suicide or Freedom, and Nothing In Between
Another Look at VP Potential Julián Castro (Update)
Update: According to Politico.com, “Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine is emerging as the leading candidate atop Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential short list…” Politico: Sen. Elizabeth Warren and HUD Secretary Julian Castro are also top prospects for the Democratic ticket — both representing nods to important Democratic constituencies. But they have serious … [Read more...] about Another Look at VP Potential Julián Castro (Update)
For Trump, fringe conspiracies take center stage
WASHINGTON -- Nobody brings the crazy quite like The Donald. For years, the conspiracy-minded have been trying to prove that Hillary Clinton gave "stand-down" orders blocking the military from helping ambassador Chris Stevens and other U.S. personnel in Benghazi the night of the 2012 attacks. But Donald Trump asserts the opposite: Clinton was unconscious. … [Read more...] about For Trump, fringe conspiracies take center stage
Cartoons: No bill no break
This cartoon by Clay Jones is from his website www.claytoonz.com … [Read more...] about Cartoons: No bill no break
Brexit: good riddance or a new Europe?
Today is the day! German Chancellor Angela Merkel says British voters will decide “Europe’s destiny” on this day. Others in the European Union cry “good riddance” to a country that was never a part of Europe at heart. Whatever the British decide, the EU will never be the same again. It may not break up or weaken significantly if Britain leaves. But even leaders most … [Read more...] about Brexit: good riddance or a new Europe?
Trump’s Potemkin village
WASHINGTON -- Not long ago, Donald Trump set a $1 billion fundraising goal for his presidential battle against Hillary Clinton. Now he says there's "no reason" to raise that much, and his operatives fear they will struggle to raise even $300 million. He brought in only $3.1 million in May to Clinton's $27 million, leaving him with $1.3 million in the bank to her $42 … [Read more...] about Trump’s Potemkin village
Democrats stage House “sit in” over guns, despite Republican rebuke
By Susan Cornwell and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives descended into chaos on Wednesday after Republicans refused demands by Democrats, who staged a "sit-in", to bring up gun control legislation in the wake of the nation's worst mass shooting in modern history. Scores of Democrats flooded the chamber for more than 12 hours, sitting … [Read more...] about Democrats stage House “sit in” over guns, despite Republican rebuke