Thank you, John Nichols, for reminding us once again how central Wisconsin is to understanding the paradox of U.S. history. As the birthplace of both Progressivism and McCarthyism (Joseph – not Kevin), your home state is a microcosm of both the best and worst in national politics. In this festival of absurdity that has brought … Continue reading Wisconsin Politics is the Heart of America: A Response to John Nichols
The Spirit of ’72
On this Thanksgiving weekend, one of the things for which I am most grateful this year was the WUHS class of 1972 50th reunion. When the planning committee asked me to be one of the emcees for the event, I prepared a brief introductory statement. The right moment for making this statement, though, never seemed … Continue reading The Spirit of ’72
Brittney Griner is a Victim of Christian Nationalism
As the embodiment of what the Christian Right fears and despises, Brittney Griner has become a useful part of Vladimir Putin’s strategy to return the Party of Trump to power. Griner is thus another casualty of Putin’s global aspirations; a martyr who stands on a pedestal with the growing number of political prisoners in Russia … Continue reading Brittney Griner is a Victim of Christian Nationalism
Putin Is on The November Ballot
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy recently signaled to his far right base that the Republican Party will abandon Ukraine as soon as Republicans take control of Congress. This move will once again align his party with the subservient position that Trump maintained with the Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin. A Republican victory will fully surrender U.S. … Continue reading Putin Is on The November Ballot
Endorsements for the November 8 General Election
Upon the request of a friend, I have decided to present how I voted in a different format than was presented in the June primaries. First, a “cribbed” version of my endorsements will be presented. Then I will explain a little bit about my methods and the choices I made. The Cribbed Ballot Governor: Gavin … Continue reading Endorsements for the November 8 General Election
Jay Chen for Congress
Over the next few weeks, voters in the newly redrawn 45th Congressional district will have the opportunity to send Jay Chen, a uniquely gifted lawmaker, to Washington. His resume is beyond impressive. Details of his various policy positions can be found on his website, http://www.ChenForCongress.com. On Sunday, September 25, I experienced the joy … Continue reading Jay Chen for Congress
Ten Political Questions the Answers to Which MUST Be an Unequivocal “Yes!”
As the midterms approach, it is important to remember that we are still in the midst of an ongoing effort by the vast majority in the Republican Party to overturn the results of the last election. It is the party whose foundational tenet remains the Big Lie of election fraud. It is also the party, … Continue reading Ten Political Questions the Answers to Which MUST Be an Unequivocal “Yes!”
Asif Mahmood
The NYT Editorial Board has rebuked various Democratic Party institutions for actively supporting election-denying and otherwise extremist Republicans to the detriment of allegedly more moderate voices within the Republican Party. The problem, however, is that the Republican Party has utterly failed to address the attempt of Donald Trump to destroy the republic on January 6. … Continue reading Asif Mahmood
Why Ukraine Matters: A Response to Andrew Bacevich
Introduction For decades Andrew Bacevich, Professor Emeritus of History and International Studies at Boston University, has written compelling warnings about the militarization of US foreign policy. In books and articles that persistently echo Dwight D. Eisenhower’s cautions against the military-industrial complex (MIC), Bacevich has shone a revealing light on how the corrupting militarization of politics … Continue reading Why Ukraine Matters: A Response to Andrew Bacevich
Evil is Always a Choice, Never a Necessity
The general context of this post relates to a brief response I gave to John Nichols’ excellent defense of Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Mandela Barnes’ speech addressing problems in US history that placed a particular burden on Blacks and Native Americans from the very inception of the Republic. The article and the commentary it elicited can … Continue reading Evil is Always a Choice, Never a Necessity
We Are All Ukrainians Now
The current moment is one of those that arises in history when patterns of evil are brought into stark relief. In simple and absolute terms, the choice between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky is clear. It is the choice between right and wrong, life and death, dictatorship and democracy, good and evil. There is no … Continue reading We Are All Ukrainians Now
Plagiarized Endorsements for the June Primary
By now, all registered voters should have received their California State and County Information Guide and Official Vote-By-Mail Ballots. In retirement, I have decided to comb through these guides a little more carefully than before and to share some thoughts as to why I have made my choices. I will suggest some candidates, but I … Continue reading Plagiarized Endorsements for the June Primary
The High Treason of the Global Right: A Story from Poland
A friend from Poland sent me a recent statement from a conservative politician in Poland named Roman Giertych. The statement alleges a conspiracy between Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and the leading conservative party in Poland, the Law and Justice Party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, hereafter PiS). The secret agreement would have rendered the … Continue reading The High Treason of the Global Right: A Story from Poland
German Conservatives
Thom Hartmann The routines in my retirement often include listening to Thom Hartmann, a provocative and insightful commentator based in Portland. While folding clothes or chopping bell peppers, I regularly listen to his show weekdays on Sirius XM channel 127, from 9 a.m. to noon. He recently posted an article explaining how German conservatives operate … Continue reading German Conservatives
Raisin Prophecies
In 2019, Mark Arax published the definitive work on the story of water in California, The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California. He has recently published what might be seen as a distillation of this magnificent book in an article for the MIT Technology Review. As a distillation, the most essential themes from … Continue reading Raisin Prophecies
Thank you, Myoviches of Montenegro
February 17, 2020 Dear Mijovići of Montenegro (as well as other friends and family): This letter began as an effort to send New Year’s wishes to all the Mijoviches of Montenegro and thank you once again for the hospitality shown us during our time with you. This letter also intended to convey further information that … Continue reading Thank you, Myoviches of Montenegro
Rules of the Road Runner
Chuck Jones created the brilliant Looney Tunes series, “The Road Runner.” The 9 rules that guided the cartoon express a moral gravity worth considering. Rule 3 seems particularly relevant to our time!
Etiologies 