Original anecdotes, commentary, rumination, and occasional pontification.
NOVEMBER 20, 2019 – I apologize, or more precisely, I confess: I am a veritable political junkie; always have been and always will be. I go at it much as my in-laws go at sports. But there’s one big difference: my in-laws are die-hard fans of certain teams, whereas I’m more a fan of the …
NOVEMBER 18, 2019 – I wonder what my father, an arch conservative who died in 2010, would’ve thought about Trump. Dad never ever voted for a Democrat. I’m sure he wouldn’t have voted for Hillary in 2016, and I know he would’ve dismissed out of hand, every Democrat seeking the presidency in 2020. However, I …
NOVEMBER 17, 2019 – In college I had friends who took the foreign service entrance exam—a grueling three-hour written test about every conceivable subject, a personality profile, and an oral exam, not to mention physical and security clearances. I knew people who took both the LSAT and the foreign service exam and reported that the …
NOVEMBER 15, 2019 – Let’s understand: impeachment and trial are political procedures conducted according to rules set by the House (impeachment) and Senate (trial). Impeachment/removal proceedings are not legal proceedings subject to the Federal Rules of Evidence, which render hearsay testimony inadmissible (subject to certain exceptions) . . . and to the Rules of Civil/Criminal …
NOVEMBER 13, 2019 – My friends who support Trump offer the following reasons: Tax cuts; Deregulation; Court appointees; Attempted invasion by illegal immigrants; Democrats are so corrupt. Among my Trumpster friends, their pick of the foregoing reasons outweighs Trump’s “unlikability.” Meanwhile, friends who share my disdain for Trump struggle to explain his support. The most …
NOVEMBER 9, 2019 – With every new business client, I like to elicit background information. It facilitates rapport, and rapport gives me greater broader, deeper insight into the client’s needs, concerns, flexibility, and level of sophistication—so I can calibrate my communication accordingly. Plus, I’m curious about what makes people tick. Everyone has a story, and …
NOVEMBER 8, 2019 – As to all things Ukraine . . . the country fractures thusly: One-third (“First Estate”), knows facts and truth, panics; One-third (“Second Estate”) knows better, denies; One-third (“Third Estate”) knows nothing, cares little. However likely impeachment, conviction is equally unlikely. It will be Trump vs. [Democrat] in 2020. As it turns …
NOVEMBER 6, 2019 – Each of us is born with a hard-wired power unit that lights up ambition and aspiration and powers all plans and actions. The power runs constantly, fueled by will, wind, or whim, depending on individual disposition, experience, and circumstance. Evolution gave us the power unit for survival. In most of us, …
NOVEMBER 3, 3019 – Recently on Facebook I saw a Barron’s post recommending recession-proof stocks. Lots of comments followed, many by “investors” with nasty, hyperbolic attitudes toward Elizabeth Warren. Take this one, for example: Has anybody listened to one word Pocahontas [sic] has said about what she wants to do to our economy? No stock …
NOVEMBER 1, 2019 – Yesterday, in his column, The Point, CNN commentator Chris Cillizza explained Trump’s support. Cillizza boiled it down to the attitude, “I’m fed up with the [corrupt, do-nothing but ignore me] government and won’t take it anymore!” Trump played on that in 2016 and will hammer at it for re-election. Cillizza cited …
OCTOBER 31, 2019 – Every legal case has two parts—facts and law. Sometimes the facts are in the bag: the other side is blind, deaf, and dumb regarding the facts OR both sides stipulate to the facts. The case then turns on the law—given irrefutable or stipulated facts, how should the law be applied? From …
OCTOBER 29, 2019 – ME: I propose a ground rule: I won’t use the word “ass”; you won’t use the words, “sham” and “witch hunt.” Deal? REPUBLICAN: Deal. You go first. ME: Impeachment contemplated by the Constitution is an extraordinary remedy to be applied only when the president has committed a seriously wrong act—a high …
OCTOBER 27, 2019 – An acquaintance running for mayor of his town recently told me he’d been labeled “racist” in a hard-fought campaign. “Being called ‘racist,’” he told me, “is the next worst thing to being called a pedophile.” He, of course, denies being racist. According to Merriam-Webster’s, “racism is a belief that race is the …
OCTOBER 25, 2019 – When it comes to impeachment, the Democrats worry me. So do the Republicans. But more precisely, “we the people” worry me. Why? Because “we the people” are no longer “we.” One could fairly argue that we’ve never been “we.” Exhibit A: the institution of slavery, which pre-dated by over 150 years, …
OCTOBER 24, 2019 – Yesterday I went to the doctor for my flu/pneumonia shots and annual physical. Because I’m now 65, the sign-in questionnaire was quite different from the form used on younger adults. The “old folks” form includes such questions as, “How many times did you fall last year?” with a choice between “0-1” …
OCTOBER 23, 2019 – A Republican Facebook friend of mine recently asked me three questions about the Democratic candidates for president in 2020. I’ve elected to post the questions—and my responses—here. QUESTION #1: Which Democratic candidate for president would you support in 2020? The short answer is, I’d support any of them ahead of Trump. …
OCTOBER 22, 2019 – Ironically, my family’s retreat—our place away from it all—is in the middle of Trumpland, in far off rural America; “ironically,” because my wife and I can’t stand anything “Trump.” For three years, our morning routine has involved going out-loud ballistic over the latest headlines about a guy with no business being …
OCTOBER 17, 2019 – I watched snippets of Tuesday evening’s “debate” among 12 Democrats running for their party’s nomination for president. Snippets were all I could handle. Here’s why: For many election cycles, presidential “debates” have been a platform for policy billboards pushing non-existent products. Moderators, commentators, and we the people have become swept up …
OCTOBER 16, 2019 – Anyone who was awake for The Great Recession is familiar with the Michael Lewis book entitled, The Big Short. The movie version followed. “Short,” of course, referred to selling borrowed mortgage-backed securities on the bet that the securities would drop in value. We all know how the bet played out. More …
OCTOBER 15, 2019 – . . . two guys in their early 20s, one wearing a MAGA cap, the other a camo-jacket and camo-cap. I found them standing behind the main protest crowd. “You’re Trump supporters?” I asked. “Yeah,” said MAGA. They looked nervous and wanting to slip away. I worked to gain their confidence. …
OCTOBER 14, 2019 – . . . an attorney hoisting a large sign listing the federal statutes that he believed Trump had violated. They were framed as “Suggested Reading.” “Ultimately it gets down to rule of law, doesn’t it?” I said. “Yes it does,” he said. We exchanged a ‘thumbs up,’ as we moved in …
OCTOBER 13, 2019 – Last Thursday Trump came to town . . . and we who oppose him went to town. If the “rally” inside Target Center (where the Timberwolves play) was highly regimented, the gathering of thousands outside was thoroughly organic. My office is six blocks from Target Center. For nearly three hours, I …
OCTOBER 1, 2019 – Today’s post features an experiment. Quick quiz (with no “correct” answer): How would you prioritize the issues listed below? Impeachment (Or, “Democrats’ war against the president” (if you’re a Republican)/”The need to halt foreign interference in our elections” (if you’re a Democrat)); Responding to climate change; Keeping out hordes and rounding …
SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 – I’ve devised an impeachment quiz for supporters of the president: 1. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land: ____ Yes; see next question. ____ No; we’re done. 2. Have you read the background to Article II, Section 4 (impeachment) of the Constitution? ____ Yes; see next question. ____ No; …
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 – Like you, I trust, I’m scandalized by the incessant gush of the president’s corruptionfecklessnesserraticismselfdealingnepotismvindictive behaviorsupportfordictatorscontemptforalliesscornforsciencedisregardfortheruleoflawinhumanetreatmentofdesperatehumanbeingspersonalderisionofothersetceteraadnausem. Now the latest serious infraction: Ukraine-Bidengate, a much simpler case of wrong than the Byzantine record of prior offenses. Finally, Pelosi says enough is enough. Yet some Democrats still oppose impeachment on grounds the process would …