Skittles, Syrians, and Accidental Genius

Last night on Twitter I saw Donald Trump, Jr.’s tweet about Syrian refugees and Skittles. This image says it all. Let's end the politically correct agenda that doesn't put America first. #trump2016 pic.twitter.com/9fHwog7ssN — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 19, 2016 It struck me as a stupid and crass thing to say, and I watchedContinue reading “Skittles, Syrians, and Accidental Genius”

War with Jihadists and the Republican Outrage

Friday night, shortly after I got home from work, my mom called me. She wanted to know what was happening in Paris. My sister had called her, and since she was out and away from any news source, she thought I would know. I gave her a quick rundown of what I knew at theContinue reading “War with Jihadists and the Republican Outrage”

On the Presidency of Al Gore

In less than two weeks the United States will mark a solemn and unfortunate anniversary, the tenth anniversary of 9/11. I bring this up, not to disturb the memories of some who are still traumatized by the incident, but because of a recent poll that asked Americans what they thought the world would be likeContinue reading “On the Presidency of Al Gore”

On Osama bin Laden and Indifference

Like many people, I got up this morning, checked the news websites, and saw that something world-changing happened overnight. Osama bin Laden was dead. And I was utterly indifferent to it. Oh, I read articles on a half-dozen sites, from straight news to instant commentary. And I coudln’t really make myself care. I thought brieflyContinue reading “On Osama bin Laden and Indifference”

On Rudolph Guiliani, Terrorism, History, and Narrative

Rewind two weeks. Mary Matalin, Republican strategist, said President George Bush “inherited the most tragic attack on our own soil in our nation’s history.” Rewind almost a year, back to March. Bush’s former press secretary, Ari Fleischer, chastises Chris Matthews with a “How dare you” when Matthews presses Fleischer on whether or not 9-11 happenedContinue reading “On Rudolph Guiliani, Terrorism, History, and Narrative”

On a Crazy Politician

Either Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo has a serious case of foot-in-mouth disease or he’s batshit crazy. I’d give him the benefit of the doubt and say it’s the former, but it’s looking increasingly likely that it’s the latter. Why do I say that Tancredo off his meds? He said that, to deter Islamic terrorism, weContinue reading “On a Crazy Politician”

On Writing Letters

Yesterday I mailed off a letter to my Congressman, Representative Brad Miller. As I mentioned a few days ago, Representative Miller has sent me e-mails on occasion, and I decided to write to him about the recent revelations regarding the President’s decision to flaunt the courts and the Constitution and institute illegal wiretaps on personsContinue reading “On Writing Letters”

Exterminate!

The Daleks will be returning to the new Doctor Who, thanks to an agreement reached between the BBC and the Terry Nation estate, with “the BBC accept[ing] the arrangement that had been in place for the last 40 years.” While it’s possible the oversized pepper-pots will grace television screens everywhere in the new series’ firstContinue reading “Exterminate!”

More Thoughts on This Week

Keith DeCandido wrote in response to someone else whose name I forget: Not to defend the guy, but he’s sort of right. In 1941, Hawaii wasn’t really “American soil.” They were a U.S. territory, yes, but not a state. It was still part of the United States. The fact that it wasn’t a state yetContinue reading “More Thoughts on This Week”