The New School Year: History Will Guide the Future

New school years always bring new challenges for children, parents and teachers. This school year, though, promises to be much trickier, because we are now debating United States History. Remember history? That’s the class that isn’t tested at the end of the year by the great national testing monopoly, Pearson. The PARCC tests focus on… Continue reading The New School Year: History Will Guide the Future

Pardon Our Appearance While We Crash and Burn

In the Trump Administration’s best approximation of Friday Night Lights, the president (shudder) treated two of his main constituencies to a Shabbat treat. First by throwing civil rights and equal opportunity to the floor when he banned transgender Americans from serving their country in the armed forces, and then when he pardoned convict Joe Arpaio,… Continue reading Pardon Our Appearance While We Crash and Burn

Robert De Niro Calls Trump a “Flat-out Blatant Racist!”

An outspoken critic of Donald Trump spoke in a recent interview and called #45 a “flat-out blatant racist!” Robert De Niro tore into President Trump in an interview published this week, calling him a “flat-out blatant racist.” “If he was smart, he’d be even more dangerous. He’s dangerous as it is,” the “Wizard of Lies” actor told Deadline. “He’s… Continue reading Robert De Niro Calls Trump a “Flat-out Blatant Racist!”

Our President: The Hate That Keeps on Hating

With all that Charlottesville means now and will mean in the future, this much is clear: Donald Trump is probably the most genuine president we’ve ever had. He is a genuine racist. He is genuinely ignorant of United States History. He genuinely believes that there is a moral equivalency between those who hate and those… Continue reading Our President: The Hate That Keeps on Hating

The Trump Doctrine: Shoot Off Mouth, Then Foot

At this point, the main difference between President Trump’s (shudder) relationship with Kim Jong-un and Mitch McConnell is that Trump has asked only McConnell to resign. Kim just gets the bluster treatment. Of the two, McConnell is in the biggest trouble. Here in New Jersey, and only about 10 miles from the president’s retreat in… Continue reading The Trump Doctrine: Shoot Off Mouth, Then Foot

Sometimes, America, It Takes a Leak

Thank goodness for government leaks and the leakers who leak them. From the Pentagon Papers to the transcripts of President Trump’s (shudder) conversations with the leaders of Mexico and Australia, leaks of government information have overwhelmingly benefited the country. They serve the interests of democracy. They uncover that which the ruling class would like to keep… Continue reading Sometimes, America, It Takes a Leak

Chris Christie Get’s in Fan’s Face – Didn’t Even Spill His Nachos – Video

Everyone is concerned. They want to know what New Jersey governor Chris Christie said to the fan at a Milwaukee Brewers game in Wisconsin. But I’m not. I don’t care about that. I want to know about the skills Christie demonstrated in his left hand. A bowl filled with nachos and cheese and the like, or… Continue reading Chris Christie Get’s in Fan’s Face – Didn’t Even Spill His Nachos – Video

The Trump Cycle: Blather, Reince, Repeal

American Heroes Week is firmly in the rear-view mirror. But as we celebrate our heroes – Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, John McCain and every Senate Democrat – it’s important to remember that every American can be a hero every day simply by living a positive, moral, thinking, compassionate, empathetic, reflective life and acting on those… Continue reading The Trump Cycle: Blather, Reince, Repeal

Beg Your Pardon? I Can’t Fear You.

If the past six months is any guide, then most politicians – corporate executives and foreign leaders – have little to fear from Donald Trump. He has turned out to be a wildly ineffective manager, deal maker and communicator, and with turnover in his administration expected to be high over the coming months (Sean Spicer… Continue reading Beg Your Pardon? I Can’t Fear You.

Kill (the Trumpcare) Bill, Part I: And the Magic Number Is…?

I’m curious. Just how many people have to lose their health insurance before the Republicans in Congress shout, “Eureka! We have done it?” Obviously 22 million people is too many. But what happens if the Congressional Budget Office comes back this week and says that the new, not-really-improved Trumpcare bill will only result in 19 million… Continue reading Kill (the Trumpcare) Bill, Part I: And the Magic Number Is…?