[NOTE: Yesterday I wrote about literary style vs. substance. I concluded that it’s possible to have the first while lacking the second, especially in the realm of politics. Today I’m writing about a work that undoubtedly has both style and … Continue reading →
In trying to understand what about Obama appeals so powerfully to his supporters, I’ve decided that some—perhaps even much—of it is style. He gives a good speech. He has a deep voice. He’s tall. He’s slender. He knows what a … Continue reading →
Tim Russert died two days ago, and he’s been mourned and eulogized by many since then. Quite a few of the tributes have made glowing mention of two books he’d written, both on the theme of fatherhood. The first, Big … Continue reading →
Hillary Clinton’s become persona non grata to Democratic leaders and the pundits sympathetic to them, who’d like nothing better than for her to go away and make nice to the new nominee, Obama. Why oh why won’t she just fall … Continue reading →
Did you ever notice how often Obama uses the word “silly” to describe questions he doesn’t want to answer and issues he doesn’t want to address? It’s an interesting ploy, a way to escape being pinned down while attempting to … Continue reading →
Founding father and renaissance man Thomas Jefferson amassed a huge collection of books that became the basis for one of our early Libraries of Congress. Unfortunately, much of the collection was destroyed in a mid-nineteenth century fire, but intrepid librarians … Continue reading →
Old snowmen never die, they just melt away. …do not ask me in the whole week Where they are—neither in this whole year, Lest I bring you back to this refrain: Oh, where are the snows of yesteryear!
Continue reading →I’ve written previously about Barack Obama’s masterful use of words as a smokescreen. His lawyerly skills serve him well in this regard. But Peter Wehner has been on his case lately as opposing counsel. Obama has been spending time distancing … Continue reading →
It’s not news that in times of economic strife, grownup children often go back to live with their parents, if they’re desperate enough or shameless enough and the parents are kind enough to have them. And since this is a … Continue reading →
Yesiree, that’s their motto in Brattleboro: “Where it can ALL happen.” I’m not exactly sure what the ALL is about, although the slogan is vaguely reminiscent of Barack Obama’s. But one thing that has indeed happened is that Vermont is … Continue reading →
A recent commenter, a teacher, asked for my recommendations for poems for 6th-8th graders to memorize. The thought appealed to me. But when I tried to tackle it, I realized it’s harder than it sounds. Poems with cadence and rhyme … Continue reading →
I write some poetry from time to time, And gravitate to forms, I must confess. I crave some meter and a bit of rhyme. Free verse can be illusory progress. The sonnet with its prescribed fourteen lines Presents a special … Continue reading →