After years of writing to Senator Elizabeth Dole, today I at last received a response. I’d written to Senators Burr and Dole several weeks ago, to ask for their support of an increase in the minimum wage. Senator Hillary Clinton of New York had sponsored legislation to raise the minimum wage (and tie future CongressionalContinue reading “On Receiving a Letter”
Category Archives: Politics
On Ending the Party
It surprises people who know my political leanings that I have a necktie that proudly celebrates the history of the Republican Party. The print is a collection of campaign buttons, stretching from the 1880s through “I Like Ike.” I wear the tie often, perhaps twice a month. I like to wear it. The surprise comesContinue reading “On Ending the Party”
On the President's Early Morning Speech
I awoke this morning, fixed a cup of coffee, sat down at the computer, and turned on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” only to discover that President Bush would shortly be giving a speech on the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a high-ranking al-Qaeda leader in Iraq. Listening to the speech, without the President’s image, to distractContinue reading “On the President's Early Morning Speech”
On Economic Indicators
Today the dollar’s slippage against the Euro became crystal clear to me. Why? Because I noticed that the price on Guinness has gone up. First, imported beer. What next? Is this the start of an inflationary trend?
On the President's Speech
President Bush addressed the nation tonight in a rare address from the Oval Office on the subject of immigration reform and border security. In other news, I received Neil Young’s new CD, Living With War in the mail today–Living With War is an anti-Bush album, with tracks decrying the war and calling for Bush’s impeachment.Continue reading “On the President's Speech”
On the Minimum Wage
Senator Hillary Clinton of New York introduced a bill last week, the Standing with Minimum Wage Workers Act of 2006, that would provide for an increase in the federal minimum wage, from its current $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour within two years and then index future minimum wage increases to Congressional pay raises.Continue reading “On the Minimum Wage”
On the Important Things
What does President Bush rate as the best moment of his Presidency? The best thing that’s happened to him in the last five years? According to an interview in a German newspaper Bush cited catching a fish as the best moment of his Presidency. “You know, I’ve experienced many great moments and it’s hard toContinue reading “On the Important Things”
On Buying Rolling Stone
On Friday I bought the latest issue of Rolling Stone. I used to be an avid reader of Rolling Stone, but a few years ago I stopped for reasons I couldn’t begin to explicate. Oh, there was the feeling that the magazine had ceased to have any relevence to me or my tastes in music,Continue reading “On Buying Rolling Stone”
On Writing More Letters
Today, another letter goes in the mail to the Raleigh News & Observer. Our topic today? Presidential signing statements and absolute monarchy.
On Why Republicans Can't Criticize the President, Either
Jane Smiley, the novelist, wrote an article at The Huffington Post on the recent Republican criticism of and distancing from the President. Her thesis? Democratic opponents of President Bush and his policies have been arguing for years that the President’s policies are misguided and flawed all to no avail. But several Republican commentators and theoristsContinue reading “On Why Republicans Can't Criticize the President, Either”