A lot of people have said a lot of things about Donald Trump's deficiencies, but the most succinct may be this: “beyond repair.” What loose cannon would say such a thing about Trump? Surely it is someone swimming in partisan passion, blinded by bile. Ah, but no, the description comes from one of the more…
DetailsWe interrupt non-stop coverage about what happens during an NFL national anthem to bring news that actually might matter. (By the way, ending that national anthem crisis is simple, says my wife: Stop televising it. Three national annoyances go away at once: pop stars butchering it, sports stars protesting it, and media fixating…
DetailsHe was in a pinch, on a deadline, and short on cash. So the employer hired undocumented workers. Working day and night, they demolished a building that the employer ultimately would replace with a structure that would make him a lot of money. When the workers complained about pay and dangerous conditions,…
DetailsMore sad tidings for all you “law and order” types, particularly you candidates and elected sorts who think shortcuts to order are what law entails. Another court has affirmed what long has been settled: police profiling is unlawful. One twist: In this case, the traffic-stop criterion deemed illegal and pernicious isn’t the…
DetailsLyndon Johnson's aides were n a celebrating mood the day in 1965 when he signed the Voting Rights Act. They were surprised, then, when Johnson interjected this sobering advisory: “It’s also the day we gave the South to the Republicans for the rest of our lifetimes." Civil rights legislation indeed would serve to drive southern…
Details“I got some bad ideas in my head.” So acknowledged Travis Bickle, the sad loner-turned-mad gunman in “Taxi Driver.” We know Travis Bickle had issues. What’s happening in Donald Trump’s top floor? The Secret Service, for one, wants to know. A study in poli sci psychosis — that’s what the…
DetailsFor the purposes of this discussion, let’s think of Congress as a fetid pool of ideologues. In frosty February, many weeks before mosquito season, President Obama foresaw an emergency and acted on it. He requested $1.9 billion in funds to combat a disease seen as threatening Americans. Time was on our side. Came spring’s thaw,…
Details“Don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country is not great, that somehow we need to make it great again. Because this right now is the greatest country on Earth.” So said Michelle Obama in a speech so powerful as to have no rejoinder, aside from Bill O’Reilly’s attempt to commend slaves’ dining options…
Details“Don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country is not great, that somehow we need to make it great again. Because this right now is the greatest country on Earth.” So said Michelle Obama in a speech so powerful as to have no rejoinder, aside from Bill O’Reilly’s attempt to commend slaves’ dining options…
DetailsFrom a mass media perspective, let’s look at what brought us Donald Trump. Once upon a time we had television networks that were truly mass media – they had something for everybody, and none of it patently offensive. Things changed with cable, satellite and online programming, many choices – some good, and a lot of…
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