“The horror. The horror. . .” – closing lines from “Apocalypse Now.” I didn’t think of contrasting the Republican Party’s current situation with Francis Ford Coppola’s movie masterpiece until the New York Times editorialized about Donald Trump’s ascendancy and the Republican Party’s “trek into darkness.” “Apocalypse Now,” based on Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” is…
DetailsEeyore’s Birthday Party has come and gone in Austin again without scads of arrests. This is testament once again to the fact that our nation’s marijuana laws are silly. Not just silly. Sillier than your Aunt Vidalia on the wacky weed. If marijuana laws were serious, the nation’s jails this week would…
DetailsEver since his rise from political obscurity in Texas, observers have used words for Ted Cruz like “smart” and “shrewd.” Watching him on the campaign trail, I’m thinking, “Not so much.” Here’s how smart Ted Cruz is. His “New York values” snideness in the pre-Iowa debate, which helped him win a whole eight delegates there,…
DetailsThe current Texas Monthly is a special issue – a .38 Special, if you will. It’s about guns. Page after page, see and hear about Texans and their rods. A cover shot and photo gallery show people and their beloved rifles, carbines and sidearms. See former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson pose with his Colt…
DetailsAt first glance, HB 16-1396, passed recently by the Democratic-controlled Colorado House, looked like one of those pointless and petty bills — like Congress’ designating National Tap Dance Day (May 20). However, I’ve thought about HB 16-1396 a little more. I now realize it isn’t pointless, it isn’t petty, and it’s not a small matter.…
Details“Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I’m a dog chasing cars. I wouldn’t know what to do with one if I caught it.” Donald Trump in 40 words or fewer. Understand, now: Those words aren’t from The Donald. They’re from The Joker, lines cackled by the…
DetailsThe other day a bearded man planted himself in a treetop along a busy Seattle street, forcing police to shut down traffic for hours in both directions, afraid of what he’d do. I scanned the headlines later to see what Sen. Ted Cruz recommended we do to protect us from bearded men…
DetailsWe’re told that women’s health is the concern motivating increasingly restrictive laws bearing on abortion providers. No, it’s not. We’re told that voter fraud is the concern behind increasingly restrictive voter I.D. laws. No, it’s not. We’re told that more efficient and cost-effective government motivates privatization. Again, no. These lies have been sculpted into truths…
DetailsAs corrections go, this was Page 1 material, at least for the circulation that Hillary Clinton targets. Magnanimous at a tender time, she had offered praise Nancy Reagan did not earn – of having been a prominent voice in the effort against AIDS. No, no, a thousand times no. If Ron and…
DetailsAt the onset of this soapbox derby, one outcome seemed scariest of all for the GOP: that Donald would go third-party. Well, brethren, that outcome has come. Don’t let the ballot confuse you. How else to explain the following headline on CBS.com? “Inside Republicans’ failed attempts at blocking Trump’s rise.” Republicans blocking Trump? He’s a Republican,…
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