You can change here for Dysfunction Junction, or take the local, making all stops to Interminable Terminal. Have your tickets ready. If you can afford them. This latest skirmish over the economy and the role of government is highlighting more than just the usual differences between the parties. It’s uncovering the stripped-bare disdain the Republicans… Continue reading The 5:22 to Sequestration Station
Author: Robert I. Grundfest
I am a teacher, writer, voice-over artist and rationally opinionated observer of American and international society. While my job is to entertain and engage, my purpose is always to start a conversation.
The GOP Eats Its Own
Once Chuck Hagel is finally confirmed as Secretary of Defense, he should think twice about accepting any lunch invitations from his former GOP colleagues. My fear is that he will become the meal. Yes, friends, the imploding tsunamic A-bomb that is the Republican Party is trying to claim another trophy for its sagging walls, but… Continue reading The GOP Eats Its Own
The Boy Scouts See The Light
Hey Boy Scouts! Guess what? You’ve had gay scouts and gay scoutmasters for years. You’ve given them badges and congratulated them on excellent fundraising and (get this) rewarded them for exemplary moral behavior, helping others, being patriotic and making their parents proud. These gay scouts have also met legislators, built structures for community organizations, worked… Continue reading The Boy Scouts See The Light
Talking Thomas Jefferson With Author Jon Meacham
I recently had the pleasure and honor of interviewing author Jon Meacham about his book, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power for Audiofile Magazine. The interview is below. Here is a link to my sound review of the book on Soundcloud. Interview by Bob Grundfest Talking With JON MEACHAM Our nation has always had a… Continue reading Talking Thomas Jefferson With Author Jon Meacham
The Liberal Ascendancy
Yes, I know, it’s only been a week and already I’m full of prophecies and predictions about a liberal (say it with me: Lib-er-al) era that’s just beginning. Others have argued with me that it’s too soon or that the conservatives aren’t going away or that I live in good old liberal (say it again:… Continue reading The Liberal Ascendancy
The Second Term Begins
Barack Hussein Obama took the oath of office for the fourth time today, and then let the country know what it voted for and what it could look forward to in a second Obama administration. The speech hit all the right notes. The implementation, though, will take longer than the four years remaining in Obama’s… Continue reading The Second Term Begins
The Tide is Turning For Obama
Whatever happened to the Republican opposition? President Obama hasn’t even taken the oath of office for the second time and already the GOP has caved on the fiscal cliff, the prospect of immigration reform, and Sandy relief. Oh, and their opposition to any and all forms of gun control is going to cost them at… Continue reading The Tide is Turning For Obama
GOP Threat: Stop Us Before We Kill Ourselves!
Can the Republican Party possibly do more to inflict damage on itself? Is this a cry for help from a psychologically wounded group? Perhaps we should give every GOP member of Congress a gun and watch them shoot themselves in the foot. Or form a circular firing squad. The honest truth is that we are… Continue reading GOP Threat: Stop Us Before We Kill Ourselves!
The Fiscal Abe: What Lincoln Can Tell Us About the Cliff
Just when you thought we knew so much, along comes history to teach us a lesson in humility. Of course I’m talking about the present political and fiscal morass, but the history lesson comes from our star attraction of the season, Abraham Lincoln. Neither the left nor the right seems to be happy with the… Continue reading The Fiscal Abe: What Lincoln Can Tell Us About the Cliff
New Teacher Evaluations, Same Old Issues
While most of the rest of New Jersey was shopping and celebrating, I immersed myself in an article that shined some light on New Jersey’s new teacher tenure and evaluation law. The lesson? Principals, supervisors and other district evaluators are going to have to be crystal clear, honest and consistent in their written evaluations or… Continue reading New Teacher Evaluations, Same Old Issues
The Gun Conversation
Why are we still having this conversation? Why are we still debating whether we should regulate assault and military style (whatever that is) weapons and limit large purchases of ammunition? Why are we still beholden to an organization that believes that the United States Constitution guarantees an unlimited, unfettered, absolute right to a gun, despite… Continue reading The Gun Conversation
Alternate Route to Undermining Teaching
It’s not enough that the Christie Administration has bashed teachers as union mules and the source of New Jersey’s fiscal ills. It’s not enough that the governor has promoted private partnerships with public schools to avoid paying the state’s fair share of education aid to school districts in need of money. It’s not enough that… Continue reading Alternate Route to Undermining Teaching