Trump Alarming On So Many Levels Being President is not a debating contest any more than it's a golf game. But it's one thing to have a bad debate, and as a former debater I know how that feels, and another to reveal things that alarm folks.
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.
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 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.
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.
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!
art The Road Goes On Forever and the Potty Never Ends "There's nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos"... and apparently a black crapper with blue LED lighting.
US History What Kind of an American Are You? "Trump’s anger is not likely to be constrained by a courtroom. He will send emails to supporters, many of whom struggle to pay their own bills, begging to give him money because he’s a victim. They will send their cash and credit card payments to a man who claims to be among the world’s richest."
International Politics My Melancholy Bibi I have lost a couple of Palestinian friends due to what they perceive as my Israeli bias. I will no doubt see the opposite effect among my Jewish friends. But politics is politics, here or there.
Science The Sun is in Tune If you monitored social media and certain "news" sources, you might have thought that Jesus was spontaneously planning the eclipse as a bit of divine retribution. Or if you listened to certain MAGAts, it was some kind of globalist conspiracy.
national politics Alternate Facts, Yeah, That's the Ticket. It seems the lies don't matter if it's your guy or gal. It has ever been thus. Add a polarized press to the mix and you have a recipe for some really lousy goulash.
Trump Happy Easter and Vote for Me Come unto me all ye who travail and are heavy laden, and I'll relieve you of the weight of all that money.
Trump Make the Bible Great Again Your "God Bless the USA Bible" will ship with a copy of the Declaration of Independence, AND the Pledge of Allegiance! You will never have to worry about the separation of church and state again!
Trump We Need a Break from Spring Break Paxton's droopy eyelid isn't the only thing limp at home. Could the Texas Porn boycott be driving the lecherous Attorney General into the arms of another mistress?
Economy A Broken Land We are convinced the only two kinds of people in this nation are millionaires and those who will very soon be millionaires. There is little accommodation for failure. You are expected to pull yourself up by your bootstraps even if you were born into a family that cannot afford boots.
Texas Politics I Find Your Lack of Imagination Disturbing Texas keeps turning ever rightward, and this last set of primary elections continues the trend. It would be nice to keep public education, but it's not a given. Imagine turning off Friday Night Lights in Texas.
Trump The Borderlord: Chapter Two Abbott is brazen about using state resources to promote his political agenda, and nothing is more important to him than the border. He has no desire to solve the immigration problem. Instead, he has created a multi-billion $ issues platform to raise his profile, and Texans are paying for it.
Trump We've Been Here Before "The fear of speaking ill of Putin is so great that when Vlad killed his chief critic, Alexei Navalny, the only mention from Donald J. Trump was to compare his legal troubles to Navalny. One more reminder, Mr. President, Navalny is, uh, dead."
national politics When Life is Like a Story in the Onion "The party that once called the President a fascist and dictator, now wants him to solve the border crisis by Presidential decree. The folks who were adamant they needed a border bill, now say, Joe could have solved this all by himself."
Baseball It's February, People. Spring Training has Started I'm having trouble focusing on politics. I mean, come on, baseball's coming.