It seems to me that Representative Charles Rangel’s suggestion to reintroduce the draft should get some sort of prize for cynical ploys in Congress. Granted, he’s got a lot of competition, but this one is designed to offend almost everyone, … Continue reading →
I’m encouraged by the following: The complexion of the Democratic presence in Congress will change…Party politics will be shaped by the resurgence of “Blue Dog” Democrats, who come mainly from the South and from rural districts in the Midwest and … Continue reading →
[Certain remarks about fear as a motivator for people such as myself (such as this comment, found in this thread), got me to thinking about writing a comprehensive response. I had that response all set in my mind, but then … Continue reading →
The New York Times has tackled a subject near and dear to my heart. In this article that appeared Sunday, October 29, called “The Elephant in the Room,” Anne E. Kornblut faces the fact that politics has become the untouchable … Continue reading →
There’s been a longstanding meme on the Left about the Right, one I’ve written about before. It’s a twist on the old schoolyard taunt, “Fraidy, cat, fraidy cat!” The allegation is that the Right is motivated by fear–and unrealistic and … Continue reading →
Lieberman’s been drummed out of the Democratic Party, the party he refused to abandon on his own. I wrote here about how difficult it is ordinarily to change party affiliation, quoting Zell Miller’s remark that it’s almost like trying to … Continue reading →
And, speaking of friends— Here’s a bumper sticker seen yesterday on a parked car in my very liberal town: Someone’s idea, no doubt, of humor, based on the slogan “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.” But it doesn’t seem all … Continue reading →
I’ve written many times before about conflict with old friends and relatives over post-9/11 politics. I know I’m not alone; many here and elsewhere have similar stories to tell, and some have shared them with me, both on this blog … Continue reading →
I almost didn’t write Part II of “Why this war is so hated.” The reason is that Part I, yesterday, was actually an attempt on my part to imagine some of the best and most reasonable arguments that could be … Continue reading →
There are certain themes I keep coming back to, and one has to do with the mindset of liberals and those on the left (different, but at times related). It may seem to be an obsession of sorts, but I … Continue reading →
I’ve been a bit puzzled as to why neocons have been accused so often of being motivated by fear in taking the policy positions they do (see this, for example). When I’ve written here about the evolution of my own … Continue reading →
Gerard Van der Leun has called our attention to a children’s book that has to be seen to be believed. Actually, scratch that; this book cannot be believed, even after being seen. Take a look. Take a long look. Then … Continue reading →