Dems first debate: too soon for judging winners and losers?

Did we really shift from a Biden-someone to a Warren-Castro  to Harris-Buttigieg "winning" ticket overnight?  Unlikely. We are at a blip in time. There's a long way to go. Remember the lack of poll and pundit support Donald Trump had after his first debates?  Remember George W. Bush "lost" a major presidential debate to John …

Continue reading Dems first debate: too soon for judging winners and losers?

Supreme Court decision on gerrymandering profoundly disappoints

So now, in time for the July 4th celebration of our democracy, the Supreme Court has ruled that elected officials shall pick their voters rather than the other way around.  It's probably a worse decision that Bush v. Gore because the Court said in 2000 that there was no precedential value to that decision.  Not …

Continue reading Supreme Court decision on gerrymandering profoundly disappoints

Trump for Ireland is no laughing matter

Despite our desire for a Trump-free ten days in Ireland, our  President was on too many minds over there. Landing at Shannon Airport, we had to pass the VIP Lounge where just days before Trump and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar  met because Varadkar  didn't want an official visit to be at Trump's golf course, …

Continue reading Trump for Ireland is no laughing matter

Ireland: where Trump is not, on climate change

We hadn't even finished unpacking from a vacation in Ireland when we were accosted by headlines that the Environmental Protection Agency has finalized its plans to undo years of modest progress on climate change, especially the Obama Clean Power Plan. The Trump Affordable Clean Energy Rule's bow to the U.S. coal industry (among other fossil …

Continue reading Ireland: where Trump is not, on climate change

Beyond impeachment: thwarting Russian interference

Tension grows between those clamoring to impeach President Trump now and those believing that, however warranted such a move is as a way to increase accountability, it could end up helping Donald Trump to a second term if the Democrats too far ahead of the rest of the country. Constitutional law professor Larry Tribe came …

Continue reading Beyond impeachment: thwarting Russian interference

Recent graduates give hope

For people who believe in the inevitability of the progress of civilization,  the last two to three years have been a tanker truck full of cold water. Global trends toward narrow-minded, border closing, mind numbing bigotry have been magnified here at home, with the President of the United States playing to fear and hatred, sowing …

Continue reading Recent graduates give hope