Somewhere Robert Bork is chortling. In 1987, his honest articulation of his extremist originalist philosophy was deemed so frighteningly outrageous that, despite his excellent paper qualifications, he was deemed unfit to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Now, unless four Republican senators exercise profiles in courage, Amy Coney Barrett will become the fourth doctrinaire …
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Debate winner, Kristen Welker; runner up,the mute button
Donald Trump apparently listened to his advisers not to be the rabid beast he was in the previous debate. This may have firmed up some Trump voters who had been wavering. But the fact that he was reined in by the mute button didn't hide, and may even have emphasized, how lacking he is in …
Continue reading Debate winner, Kristen Welker; runner up,the mute button
Vote Yes on 2: Ranked choice voting
Question 2 on the Massachusetts ballot would provide voters the opportunity to rank their preferences in a multi-candidate field. The option would apply in primaries and general elections for state offices, legislative districts, and federal congressional offices but not for president, county or regional school district committee members. It's less complicated than it sounds, and …
Trump COVID behavior even more outrageous
Donald Trump just received the best government-financed medical care in the country. He left the hospital while still infectious, still needs monitoring for abruptly deteriorating and possible side-effects of the medication he's on, has given no indication that he'll modify his longstanding flouting of rules for protecting himself and others, and without his doctors having …
Trump debate behavior an embarrassment to the country
Last night's despicable mud-wrestling, schoolyard bullying, name-calling event was neither Presidential nor a debate. Thank you, Donald. The President who violates all norms of behavior, tramples science and facts, lies about virtually everything, foments divisiveness, incites violence, savages all who differ with him, broke the rules of the event to which his campaign had agreed. …
Continue reading Trump debate behavior an embarrassment to the country
Not too late for end-of-summer reading, pt. 2 fiction
Neighborhood barbecues, beach gatherings, blockbuster movies, Fenway Park. Well, that didn't happen. But the few remaining lazy, hazy, crazy days could still pluck summer from COVID and politics with the pleasures of well crafted novels. There's still time to pick up one of the following before the leaves turn color. FICTION News of the World …
Continue reading Not too late for end-of-summer reading, pt. 2 fiction
RNC a gaslight convention
In what universe do Trump Republicans reside? The world embraced by their national convention is the kind of horror show I'd never pay to see, and couldn't sit through if it were free. Cue threatening music: the Democrats will bring carnage. They will kill the suburbs. They are the radical left and will create anarchy. …
The Greek Connection is available – finally!!!!
What do Doris Kearns Goodwin, Sy Hersh, Mitch Zuckoff, and Steve Kinzer and other illustrious authors have in common? They're all high on "The Greek Connection: the Life of Elias Demetracopoulos and the Untold Story of Watergate." Goodwin calls it "a magnificent work..... "a sweeping biography of an absolutely captivating figure who captures our attention …
Continue reading The Greek Connection is available – finally!!!!
Baseball’s return hints at normalcy
Tonight the Boston Red Sox return, in diminished form but a return nonetheless. And, I confess, I'm happy about that. The game against the Baltimore Orioles offers more than a departure from news about COVID-19, corrupt politics and Terrible Trump. Even without fans and with recorded cheering, even with strong hitters undermined by mediocre pitching, …
Donald Trump Deepens Descent into Darkness
Throwing around the word fascist should be as heavy a lift as heaving a manhole cover like a discus. It can't be done lightly. But Donald Trump's love of authoritarian dictators, modeling their behavior, becomes more deeply troubling every day. His sending unrequested federal military personnel into crowds of protesters in Portland, Oregon, evokes images …
