Author's archive
A Tune for the Times 0
Mangy sings of Trump’s promises.
This New Gilded Age 0
Thom looks at the elitest reasoning behind the “Reagan Revolution” and at how it has backfired big time.
Republican Family Values 0
Michael in Norfolk calls out the con.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another random act of politeness claims yet another child.
The Scofflaw 0
At the Las Vegas Sun, Leonard Green looks at Donald Trump’s practice of using songs at his rallies, even after being served legal notice by the songs’ copyright holders not to do so.
He closes his article with a suggestion for the next song’s copyright Trump should infringe.
Follow the link and name that tune.
What’s in a Name-Calling? 1
At Psychology Today Blogs, Loriann Oberlin explores the psychology of name-calling, which has become an increasing aspect of dis coarse discourse. A snippet (which sounds a lot like someone in the news):
Those who do not have much ego strength build themselves up by tearing down innocent others. It’s a maladaptive pattern that could stem from learned behavior—that is, witnessing others do this in childhood. It may also arise from unresolved emotional issues.
Follow the link for her suggestions for dealing with this pestilence upon the polity.
And Now for a Musical Interlude 0
A great performance, but a tenuous premise . . . .
(I had this tune in my head because I recently heard it sampled in a BBC episode of Agatha Christie’s Crooked House at The Old Time Radio Theater–link on the sidebar.)
Lies and Lying Liars Dance a Walz 0
The speed with which Republicans have moved to misrepresent, besmirch, and smear the record of Minnesota governor Tim Walz takes one’s breath away. Indeed, it might lead an optimist to conclude that Republicans are afraid that he might attract votes in November.
At the Idaho State Journal, Mike Murphy debunks de bunk spread by Idaho Republican Party chairwoman Dorothy Moon in a recent column about Walz. Here’s one bit of the bunk he debunks; follow the link for the others.
Moon begins her scrutiny of Walz by saying “Under Walz, Minnesota put tampons in boys’ bathrooms….”
Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop right there, Chairwoman Moon. You are off to a bad start. This is not what happened at all.
The bill Gov. Walz signed was a budget item providing free menstrual products to all students who needed them beginning in fourth grade, making Minnesota one of 28 states that currently require schools to provide period products.
Two female students, ages 14 and 16, proposed the idea to the Minnesota legislature. The girls had been taking extra tampons to school to share with classmates who could not afford them.
One of the girls summarized their efforts: “It wasn’t part of a political agenda. It was to make students feel safe.” Too bad our adult political leaders often fail to be so levelheaded.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
It is not a good idea to go to bed with politeness.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
At the Tampa Bay Times, history Charles B. Dew contemplates a couplet.
_________________
*Mark Twain.
A Tune for the Times 0
“Block number” is your friend.
A Notion of Immigrants 0
The Arizona Republic’s E. J. Montini highlights the hypocrisy. A snippet:
Earlier this year, Republicans in the U.S. Senate bowed to Trump’s demands and killed a bipartisan security bill introduced by Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
(snip)
The bipartisan bill was not bad for border security. It was not bad for those looking to stop the flow of illegal drugs. It was not bad for those working to solve the asylum problem. It was not bad for the border patrol, since it included more officers and enhanced security.
In essence, the bill was not bad for America, just the opposite.
The border security bill was only bad for one thing — Donald Trump’s campaign..
“So Your Source Is ‘Trust Me, Bro’?'” 0
The Pillow of the Community loses an argument with a 12-year-old. And other stuff.
Aside, Accessory after the Fact Dept.:
Yesterday, First Daughter, her son, and I visited Norfolk’s Gardens by the Sea (which is a marvelous place which you should visit if you are ever in these parts). As we entered the visitors’ center, we saw an old white guy–maybe even older than I–wearing a tee-shirt that read “I’m voting for the felon.”
Honest to Pete, it made me ashamed to be an old white guy.