With a government shutdown looming — and potentially a debt ceiling showdown after that — John Boehner’s position as Speaker of the House may be on the line. A Republican Congressman from North Carolina has introduced a resolution to declare the Speaker’s chair vacant essentially as a warning to Boehner — “Cross us by ignoringContinue reading “The Future of John Boehner”
Category Archives: Politics
Is Captain Kirk a Republican?
The New York Times Magazine ran an interview with Ted Cruz yesterday. It’s an interview to promote his new book, but he segues into pop culture — Spider-Man, Star Wars, and Star Trek. While it’s interesting to read a sitting United States Senator talk about Darth Vader, it’s his Star Trek comments that have garneredContinue reading “Is Captain Kirk a Republican?”
Jeb Bush and Reckoning with the Iraq War
Now that the Iraq War — and why it happened — has been put back on the radar thanks to Jeb Bush, we need to keep an important fact in mind about how it happened. The whole “if we knew then what we know now” formulation that various Republicans are trying to flaot is besideContinue reading “Jeb Bush and Reckoning with the Iraq War”
The Republican Veneration of the Undead Reagan
Over the weekend, a reporter for CNN asked several actual and potential GOP presidential candidates a simple question — Who is the greatest living president? Let’s look at our choices. Which former presidents are still living? Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush. Who did Bobby Jindal, Ted Cruz, and Donald TrumpContinue reading “The Republican Veneration of the Undead Reagan”
More on Frum and the GOP in 2016
On Saturday, I wrote about a piece David Frum wrote for The Atlantic in whihc he discussed the lessons the can learn from David Cameron and the Tories. I called Frum’s piece “misguided,” as it seems to have been written in complete disregard for who today’s Republican Party is. “It’s as though Frum has neverContinue reading “More on Frum and the GOP in 2016”
David Frum on David Cameron and the GOP
David Frum, the former George W. Bush speechwriter, wrote a piece for The Atlantic about David Cameron’s general election victory and the lessons today’s GOP can take from it. I found the article misguided and unintentionally funny. Frum’s argument is that the GOP needs to make peace with Obamacare, reject politics of racial resentment, pursueContinue reading “David Frum on David Cameron and the GOP”
Paul Krugman, Baltimore, and Portents of the Future
In the last week, when considering the riots and protests in Baltimore, a recurring thought came to me. “This is what we all have to look forward to. This is a sign of the future.” What prompted this thinking was an interview with libertartian economist Tyler Cowen on an NPR program a few years ago.Continue reading “Paul Krugman, Baltimore, and Portents of the Future”
The Ben Carson Campaign
Thursday morning, on York Road, I saw a Cadillac slightly ahead of me bearing a “Ben Carson 2016” bumper sticker. If I could have jumped out of the Beetle, knocked on the window, and engaged the driver, a man of retirement age, in conversation, I would have asked him, “Why Ben Carson? What is itContinue reading “The Ben Carson Campaign”
Ted Cruz Needs a Dictionary
I’ve been saying this for years — Republicans are like Vizzini, the words they use do not mean what they think they mean. Writes Steve Benen at MSNBC: “Look, there’s no reason for ‘socialism’ to serve as a synonym for ‘stuff Republicans don’t like.’ It’s an actual word with a fairly specific meaning, involving publicContinue reading “Ted Cruz Needs a Dictionary”
Protecting John Boehner’s Speakership
There has been chatter the past week about a potential move by House Republicans to unseat Speaker John Boehner. I’ve laughed at this chatter, because it simply isn’t going to happen. I’ve laughed at Republicans who think that Ted Yoho or Louie Gohmert could become the next Speaker. I’ve laughed at Democrats who think thatContinue reading “Protecting John Boehner’s Speakership”