War

July 1, 1916

“Boys were falling on either side until there were only two of us left. He got it. He was killed. Then I got it. I got two bullets in me. I dropped. Blood was coming out of me...I stopped the blood as best I could...I said my prayers and I seen my mom, as far as I knew, but I knew she wasn’t there.”

Election

My Debate Prep Involves Whisky

"We are sure to hear the buzzwords that have made our national eyes roll every time some self-described pundit uses them. I'm not by nature a violent man, but I find my grandfather's antique Smith & Wesson mighty tempting when one of them talks about the "Weaponization" of anything."

culture wars

When the Elite Meet to Eat

"You ain't gonna get any nouveau, amandine, thin crust, bottled water, sauteed city food. Food's brown, hot, and plenty of it." -Cookie, the Chuck Wagon cook in "City Slickers"

Trump

The Old Man with a Spray Tan

The notion that anyone can accept the idea that the former president is the last, best hope to save American democracy is repulsive in the extreme. The opposite, in fact, is true.

education

Darwin, Schmarwin. My Kid Ain't Learnin' That!

How about we just call it, "counter-indoctrination?"

After D-Day

The most disturbing memory I had was the day he was angry at my mother and he broke a broom handle in two and stabbed her in the arm. I saw the wooden shaft plunge into her forearm, I tried to stop Daddy - later I woke up on the kitchen floor. What makes a man do such a thing?

Trump

Fact Checking is for Suckers

We continue our seemingly never ending series on gullible politics.

Trump

An Innocent Man?

Republicans are so concerned about Trump’s political ego and their proximity to his putative power that they are willing to toss the rule of law into a ditch flowing with their lickspittle, and further Trump’s destruction of U.S. democratic institutions.

Trump

Man up, Pilgrim

God-damn, I'm the stuff men are made of! -John Wayne

Trump

Trumpus Agonistes

There is, not a pseudo-religious devotion from evangelical clergy and their followers, but it seems genuinely religious. It is indeed as though Trump is seen as a heaven-sent savior for a nation that is actually, cruising along fairly well.

national politics

Inside Our Party Bubbles

Should the big things be of concern? Of course! Social Security, Medicare, the horrors of Gaza. But we're a parochial people and the big picture, foreign affairs, they're far down the list, sadly. Most middle-class folks are more worried about the price of eggs at Kroger.

War

When Johnny Came Home

The odds of Johnny Mata encountering harm or great danger were considered minimal. But Nancili Mata knew her husband, and it made her worry while her family expressed confidence.

Culture

Bears, More Bears, and a Trans Hippo

Do modern Goldilocks have the right to appropriate bear culture? When we last left the fairy tale, the bear family was chasing her out of their house... Mama bear was NOT pleased to catch Goldi in the marital bed! Did anyone ask a damn bear how they felt about all of this?

Trump

A Sham, A Scam and a Witchhunt

Lining up behind a candidate in a show of party loyalty is one thing, but slavish devotion in the face of so much slime is quite another. I make this observation as someone who has actually worked in two political campaigns in my life, one Democratic and one Republican.

Texas Politics

Darlin' of the Devil

Label it evil: the drowning of immigrants, the dismantling of public education, children that go without healthcare, pardoning murderers, and making sure the next school shooter can buy a gun unimpeded. It's the work of a Devil.

Food

We Done Runned Out of Skrimps!

If you live in a town that only had a Sonic, a DQ, and a Billy Bob's Pizza Parlor, it can seem even more ritzy. The Lobster was to many, in a word, "fancy."

Humor

The Laughing Legend

"I sure wasn’t reassured by the flight attendant pointing out emergency exits in the event of a crash. Folks, I’ve seen airplane crashes; there are hundreds of exits.”

Israel

Biden Did What!

On Meet the Press today, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-Belle Reve) was so aflutter when the host mentioned the Reagan precedent, he will need to take to his fainting couch for a spell.

Gaza

The Truth Among Ourselves

As the president spoke of the Nazi’s attempted genocide, Israel’s taking of the Rafah Crossing in Southern Gaza signified a new assault on what international critics are increasingly characterizing as an ongoing genocide of Palestinians perpetrated by the Israelis.

national politics

What's the Matter With Kids Today?

Gang, we've been here before. In spades. At least we can all agree on one thing - the music was so much better back then.

Journalism

The Newsman

Dan Rather's story as a journalist and a Texan is compelling and is the subject of a new Netflix documentary. He was dogged and unafraid and at 92, he is still relevant. His own story might be the best one he’s ever told.

Economy

The War on Youth

The Greatest and Silent Generations understood the importance of a social contract. After having experienced World Wars and the Great Depression, they understood the need to build community. Then their kids (that's us, btw,) got greedy.

Automotive

Big, Bad Trucks and the Suburbanites Who Drive Them

We love to bitch and moan about the price of gas no matter who is President, but what do we do about it? Well, we buy Suburbans.

Travel

The River Road

"The one that calls me constantly is the River Road, Texas Ranch to Market 170, from Presidio to Study Butte. I've worn out a few sets of motorcycle tires riding that pavement through its mesas and volcanic rock formations, stealing glimpses of the Rio Grande between the canebrakes and blind rises."

Trump

Inciteful Analysis, and a Cheap Boob Joke

Read about Israel, Iran, John Kennedy, MTG, Chip Roy, and of course, Trump! Now with a free tacky joke! You're welcome!