Spoiled children stink at birthday parties. Tantrums follow such egregious offenses as having to wait in line (as opposed to waiting one’s turn) or not getting the red popsicle (be happy you got one at all). Spoiled children cannot handle that the world does not bend to their desires. And while they are not the…
Category: Donald Trump
Joe Biden, Tara Reade, & Morality “Rightly” Understood
Sexual assault allegations against Joe Biden will undoubtedly be exploited by the Republicans as a way to reduce progressive voter turnout. Interestingly, their own candidate’s far worse sins will not dampen right wing exploitation of this allegation against Biden, which will succeed in helping convince some progressives to stay home or to cast a “protest…
Trump and Voter Suppression
An odd byproduct of Donald Trump being extremely stupid is that he sometimes says the quiet parts out loud. He did that the other day when he all but admitted that Republican electoral prospects depend on voter suppression. From the Washington Post’s Aaron Blake: In an interview on “Fox…
Coronavirus and Charlie Baker’s Party Problem
Back in the serene days of fall 2019 some in the Massachusetts political class were discussing whether Governor Charlie Baker should remain a Republican, go Independent, or even start a new party. The coronavirus crisis has exposed an even knottier conundrum for Baker. That has to do with the state’s need for federal aid. In…
Congress Needs to Wake Up to the Coronavirus Threat
The recent outbreak of novel coronavirus is one of the most alarming public health emergencies of the twenty-first century. Nancy Messonnier, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), called the situation “unprecedented” adding that the CDC is “preparing as if this is the next…
It’s Time For Warren to Lead Democrats Away from Bernie’s Rhetoric & Revolution
The ongoing spat between the two most progressive Democratic candidates for president is likely a pre-view of things to come. Bernie Sanders’ campaign playbook is not a “who dun it.” Everyone knows that he will rely on attacking his Democratic opponents with rhetoric that is virtually indistinguishable to that he levels at Republicans. Senator Warren…
It’s time to stand and be counted.
President Donald J. Trump will be impeached today for abusing his office for personal gain and for obstructing Congress’ ability to investigate his conduct. The evidence against him is clear and overwhelming. So clear and overwhelming is the evidence that Republicans on Capitol Hill concluded that they had to deny everything. Any acknowledgement of guilt…
Mass Pols for President Have the Right Training & Temperament
Deval Patrick’s decision to join the race late looks to me like an expression of determination that I share. Patrick, a two-term governor of Massachusetts, understands American politics, which is to say, he understands the necessity of practical, non-ideological, political leadership. I think Governor Patrick, Senator Warren, and even Governor Weld are determined to take…
Day One: Impeachable Offenses
Every American should be watching the impeachment investigation. The realities of jobs, family, and other responsibilities preclude that for most. And that’s too bad because when it comes to the health of this American democracy the importance of this hearing cannot be overstated. This is a test for our democratic experiment. Can Americans put on…
The 2019 Bolivian Crisis – A Brief Explainer
What did we just see happen overnight in Bolivia? The answer is complicated, so let me give some background. Evo Morales, the Bolivian President who resigned last night, was first elected in 2006. At the time, his elevation to the highest office was hailed as a major victory because he was the first indigenous person…