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May 31, 2016 - Hillary Clinton - An Endorsement with a Difference
An endorsement of Hillary Rodham Clinton for President of the United States; a wholehearted endorsement with what I believe is a unique difference.
May 22, 2016 - While BDS is NOT a Gastric Condition, It IS a Bloody Pain in the Rear
Ever hear about the "BDS" movement? Don't confuse it for "IBD" -- Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This piece, by the way, is NOT about medicine . . . it's about Israel.
May 16, 2016 - Life Without Asterisks
What would Life Without Asterisks be like? Answer: Either one heck of a lot more truthful or one hell of a lot more mendacious - take your pick.
May 9, 2016 - George Katzman Lionizing a Liberator
Professor George Katzman passed away at age 96. He was a mentor and a mensch, a student and a warrior, and likely, the man who shot the lock off the gate at the Dachau concentration camp. This week, a remembrance of one of the greatest members of "The Greatest Generation"
May 2, 2016 - Trump and Cruz - The Difference Between a Diarrhetic and an Emetic
A choice between having Montezuma's Revenge or barfing. What are Republican voters to do? I have an either/or suggestion . . .
April 26, 2016 - Pesach and Foreign Policy
This posting deals with the Jewish celebration of Pesach (Passover) and the many, many, modern lessons this ancient holiday has to teach . . . including a most prescient one about foreign policy.
April 17, 2016 - The Narcissism of Small Differences
Ever get the gnawing feeling that civilization is becoming unhinged? Believe it or not, Sigmund Freud predicted it about 100 years ago. Read on...
April 12, 2016 - A Memo to Those Who Believe It's Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
Frequently, I am asked to respond to an essay or article - what do I think? I rarely do because of extreme time constraints. However this time, I will respond to one.
April 3, 2016 - Mitch McConnell - Hoist With His Own Petard
To be "hoist with one's own petard" means to fall prey the very trap one set for one's enemies. Just ask the current Senate Majority Leader what that means - especially when it comes to the Supreme Court vacancy.
March 25, 2016 - Who's to Blame - We All Are
How in the world did we get to the point where Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are serious contenders for president?
March 22, 2016 - Thinking Can Be Nothing Short of Miraculous
A tale from theMiddle Ages which is not only true, but has a message and lesson most suitable for this season, this week, today and tomorrow.
March 14, 2016 - Fighting BS With a Marshmallow
By now, we all know that The Donald deals in as much B.S. as anyone on the political scene. Sometimes the best way to deal with it is with a marshmallow.
March 4, 2016 If a Picture's Worth a Thousand Words, What About Two
A very brief piece featuring less than 50 words, two very meaningful pictures and one important question. See if you can answer the question.
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February 29, 2016 Send in the Clowns - With Apologies to Stephen Sondheim
I've had Steven Sondheim's Send in the Clowns playing again and again in my head. Could this have anything to do with Donald Trump? Maybe yes, maybe no.
February 23 - Pete Gizinski for President
Who is "Pete Gizinski" that we should vote for him? Then too, who in the world is Donald Trump that anyone would vote for him?
February 14, 2016 - Constitutional CPR
The death of Justice Antonin Scalia has added a dimension of urgency that wasn't there 36 hours ago. The future of the SCOTUS is truly at stake.
February 08, 2016 - On My First Day, I'll
Seems to me that in order for presidential wannabes to fulfill their "first day" promise, that day will have to consist of a minimum of 15,000 hours? How's that?
February 01, 2016 - A Memo to Members of the Fourth Estate
If, G-d forbid, Donald Trump manages to win the Republican nomination for President of the United States, it will have as much to do with the media as with those who cast ballots.
January 24, 2016 - Weather Is Not The Same Thing As Climate
Climate change is a terribly important issue for everyone on planet Earth. And yet many of those seeking to become POTUS deny it is occurring.
January 19, 2016 - Criminal Intent
Targeting all Muslims - as current Republican presidential candidates have suggested - is an act fraught with potential criminal intent.
January 6, 2016 - Give Me Imbruvica or Give Me Death
Unconscionably high prices for life-preserving drugs continue. For many, it's become a question of life or death.
December 28, 2015 - History May Not Repeat Itself, But It Certainly Does Rhyme
American politics in the last days of 2015 has a lot in common with politics of the 1780s, 1840s, early 20th century and 1940s . . . to our peril.
December 20, 2015 - Every Breath He Takes
There is less oxygen, less sanity, less reporting on things that truly matter, like the potentially planet-saving covenant agreed to in Paris. But the media persists in covering 45's every wheeze and sneeze, while neglecting news and notes we need to know.
December 14, 2015 - Chanukah 101
Chanukah is a very minor, almost secular celebration. At the same time, it teaches a truly valuable political lesson or two. Explore the real history behind the myth.
December 07, 2015 - Shame - A Soul Eating Emotion
Years and years ago, psychiatrist Carl Jung referred to shame as "A soul-eating emotion." Were he around today for the Republican primaries, he would undoubtedly have pointed to Donald Trump as a prime example.
December 1, 2015 - When One Person's Terrorist is Another's Hero
Yet another act of domestic terror. And yet, even before all the evidence is in, even before the gunman's motive has been made clear, some are calling him a hero!
November 23, 2015 - Thanksgiving - The Ultimate Repast for Refugees
This Thanksgiving, most of us will be gathering with family and friends to celebrate, this most American of all holidays. You can bet that one of the major topics of conversation will be what to do about all those Syrian refugees.
November 15, 2015 - Will We Always Have Paris
Victor Hugo once wrote "Whoever plumbs the depths of Paris is seized with vertigo." Today, his words are more fraught with meaning then he ever could have imagined.
November 8, 2015 - The Subtext
Bibi Netanyahu flies to D.C. for an official meeting with Pres. Obama. But, "The Subtext" of the talks have changed all due to a fellow named Ram Baratz.
November 2, 2015 - Manatech, Menshevik and the Great Wall of China
The most recent Republican debate was short on enlightened responses, long on sophomoric questions and devoid of serious challenges. Neither the candidates nor the moderators came off very well.
October 25, 2015 - Amateurism's Allure
While one may understand why the two leading contenders for the Republican nomination are, politically speaking, rank amateurs, it is nonetheless daunting and a cause for great concern.
October 18, 2015 - Which Debate Did You Watch?
This past Presidential Debate had its' moments, however in monitoring what the various media sources had to say about it, it would seem that there were at least two terribly different debates going on.
October 11, 2015 - Thinking Outside the Box
There is an ancient Chinese (or more likely, modern British) curse which goes "May you live in interesting times." We certainly are. Think about the current historic political logjam in the House. Who in the name of Henry Clay is going to be the next Speaker? Who in Hell would want that toxic gavel?
October 04, 2015 - Definitely Not Ready For Prime Time
Yogi Berra, Sam Goldwyn and future House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are all masters of the malaprop. The only difference is that unlike Berra and Goldwyn, McCarthy is Definitely Not Ready For Prime Time.
September 28, 2015 - Cat Crap and Capitalism
How is it possible that a pill, which costs less than a dollar to produce and until recently cost "only" $13.50, now will setyou back $750.00?
September 20, 2015 - Laudato Si
This blog post is adapted from my sermon for Kol Nidre. For nearly 40 years it has been my custom that at Kol Nidre, I address G-d directly while the congregation essentially eavesdrops on the conversation. This year's sermon deals with Pope Francis' Encyclical on Climate Change.
September 15, 2015 - A Fool and His Questions
"Touchstone," a character in Shakespeare's As You Like It deftly claimed that "The fool doth think he is wife, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. It is in that of being a wise man who knows himself to be a fool that I pose several questions.
September 05, 2015 - The Lord Made Me Do It
Back in the 1970s, Flip Wilson's catchphrase, "The Devil made me do it!" was all the rage. Seems like today, the phrase has changed. . . xcept it isn't at all funny.
August 30, 2015 - Of Redwings, Tylenol and Other Deadly Weapons
One failed attempt at a shoe bomb and we all have to take off our shoes at an airport. 259 mass shootings since 1/1/15 alone and no change in the regulation of guns.
August 23, 2015 - Inspect This
A headline in a recent AP story claimed that the Iranians will be inspecting themselves. If it were true, it would be terrible. But is it true? . . . only if you care to believe it is. The facts seem to paint a different picture of reality.
August 16, 2015 People Who Live in Glass Houses . .
So DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz cannot explain the difference between Democrats and socialists. Well neither can those who hate Democrats . . . or firmly believe that Democrats are socialists.
August 10, 2015 - A Single Brushstroke Does Not a Mural Make
Ever notice that in many cases, a single act in a lifetime of activity can be used to define - if not tarnish - an individual forever? Just ask Jane Fonda . . . or John Kerry . . . or Jerry Brown . . . or just recently, Chris Christie.
August 2, 2015 - Sister Joan Explains It All in 85 Words
Well, the Republicans are at it again; trying to outdo one another in their hatred of - and gross desire to destroy - Planned Parenthood. They call themselves "pro-life." In reality, they are merely "pro-birth" - anything after that is of lesser interest or importance. That's the sum and substance of Sister Joan Explains it All in 85 Words.
July 21 2015 - Go Set a Watchman
This week, a long piece that's a little Harper Lee and a lot Ali Khamenei. Believe it or not, there is an ironic connection between Lee's Go Set a Watchman and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- the Iranian nuclear deal.
July 12, 2015 - Trump . . . Harrumph
This is the first -- and so help me God the last - piece I will ever devote to Donald Trump.
July 4, 2015 - Celebrating the 4th of July With Jefferson Monroe Levy
This is the 4th of July; a day which should cause the chest to swell and the heart to skip a beat as we contemplate the audacity, the will, the sheer brilliance of people like Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Hamilton and Hancock. And then there is the marvelously-named Jefferson Monroe Levy, who in his own way, played a pivotal role. His story and what he accomplished form the basis for Celebrating the 4th of July With J.M. Levy.
June 29, 2015 - The Week That Was . . . And the Week to Come
A couple of days ago, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the historic case Obergfell et al v. Hodges, making gay marriage legal. Predictably, there were a lot of people cheering; even the White House was blazoned with the LGBT colors. And just as predictably, there were a ton of people predicting the end of the world.
June 21, 2015 - A Nation Sits Shiva
With the horrific terrorist act at Emanuel AME church, we are all, once again in shock and disbelief. We are indeed, a nation in mourning. This blog post, we delve into the pain, the anger and the welter of different responses.
June 14, 2015 - The Fertile Cresent -Hardy
From the "Where-in-the-Hell-Do-These-People-Come-From-and-How-in-the-Hell-Do-They-Ever-Manage-to-Get-Elected-Department," meet Nev. Rep. Cresent Hardy.
June 7, 2015 Ted Cruz and Larry Pratt - You Can Tell a Man Who Boozes By the Company He Chooses
From almost the moment he came on the national scene, Barack Obama was scored for his so-called relationships with Bill Ayers and JeremiahWright; that since he knew and associated with them, he must think just like them. Well, if what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, what are we to make of Senator Ted Cruz and Larry Pratt. Larry who?
May 31, 2012 -- Rick Santorum - Doin' the Wingnut Walk
He's baaaack! Yes indeed, once again, Rick Santorum is running for president. Despite all the new-found populist rhetoric, he's still the same wing nut he's always been. Some in depth opposition research on the man who would be Pope . . . uh President.
May 24, 2015 -- Can You Say Cognitive Dissonance
"Cognitive dissonance" is a term most of have heard of . . . even if you're aren't sure how to define it. It plays a big role in explaining modern politics . . . especially when it comes to the politics of climate change.
May 17, 2015 -- A Memo to His Holiness, Pope Francis
The Pope has made several pronouncements within the past days and weeks that have ruffled quite a few feathers. And although I do not agree with everything he has said, in the main I say "more power to you." In making these statements, he may well have performed his first miracle.
May 11, 2015 -- What Some People Won't Believe
For every conspiracy, there are tons of "true believers." But for the most part, no matter how weird the conspiracies may be, they are generally rather benign when it comes to public safety. Now comes Jade Helm 15, which could become quite serious.
May 3, 2015 -- All 'Bout Bernie
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is now officially in the race for the Democratic nomination for POTUS. In random chat with about 2 dozen people, I've found that aside from saying "Oh, he's a Socialist," hardly anyone knows squat about him. Much of this long essay is culled from my 2010 book The Jews of Capitol Hill. Sen. Sanders' entry in the race is a very, very good thing . . . but not necessarily for reasons that are at first apparent.
April 26, 2015 -- A Memo to Gov. Brown
California is now in the 3rd year of a historic drought; experts say it is "extreme to exceptional." The last time it was this bad (the 70's), I was on Governor Brown's staff, working as an environmental ethicist. I address my old boss with a handful of suggestions as to what he and his administration might consider doing to address this looming catastrophe; things we never considered nearly 40 years ago.
April 20, 2015 -- The Endangered Super Majority
History records tons of cases in which majorities oppressed and annihilated minorities. Occasionally, as with modern Iraq and Syria it's the opposite: the minorities runs roughshod over the majority. Here in America, today, we have a super majority who claims they are endangered by the minority. How's that . . . and who are they?
April 12, 2015 -- Silly Season is Upon Us
Back in 1861, London's The Saturday Review ran an anonymous essay entitled "The Silly Season." For decades, Silly Season connotedthat time of the year when news was slow and stories weird. Nowadays, it isn't a season; it's all year long. And in reality, its just another name for "campaign season."
April 5, 2015 -- Three Cheers for Nancy Detert
State SenatorNancy Detert (R-Venice) is hardly a household name. 'Tis a pity, 'cause she should be.
March 30, 2015 -- Everybody Hates Obamacare -- Just Ask Ted Cruz and Cathy Rogers
Two members of Congress who keep up the anti-Obamacare drumbeat despite the fact that Senator Cruz has announced he's going to be accepting Obamacare for himself and his family, and Rogers has received more than 8,500 Facebook postings from constituents who swear by (not at) the Affordable Care Act. So what do they have in mind to replace it with? In the single word of Buster Keaton, Damfino . . . Haven't they ever heard of inconsistency?
March 22, 2015 -- Edna Ferber -- The Triumph of Archetype Over Stereotype
This blog post we delve into one of America's greatest, most prolific writers, and perhaps figure out a thing or two about ourselves
March 10, 2015 -- Old Doc Logan Must Be Spinning In His Grave
I don't know about you, but I'm livid over the letter those 47 Republican senators sent to the leaders of Iran. It seems to show that their hatred of President Obama may be greater than their fear of Iran possessing nuclear weapons. It may also be that in sending that letter -- and in inviting P.M. Netanyahu to speak before Congress without prior presidential assent, they are in violation of the Logan Act -- a veryserious matter.
March 9, 2015 -- I'm Not a Scientist, But . . .
There are all kinds of extraordinary discoveries being made in astrophysics, quantum mechanics and astronomy that are incredibly humbling. And from where I sit, being humbled ever now and again is much to be desired.
March 1, 2015 --Congressional Republicans Are All a Bunch of Marxists
In 2014, Republicans promised that if elected to take over Congress, their theme song would be Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to work we go. Well, they got their wish, but now they've taken to singing a Marxist refrain.
February 22, 2015 --A Memo to All Those Contemplating Throwing Their Hat Into the Ring
The late Mario Cuomo once sagely noted that "We campaign in poetry. We govern in prose." It's a good lesson for those who contemplate throwing their hat into the ring.
February 15, 2015 -- The Punter
G.B. Shaw once noted that "America and England are two countries separated by the same language." When Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker "punted" on the question of whether or not he believed in evolution, he unknowingly proved Shaw correct.
February 9, 2015 -- Barack Obama Channels Augustine of Hippo and Gets Scourged For His Efforts
President Obama addressed the annual National Prayer Breakfast and had "the audacity" to mention the Crusades, the Inquisition, American slavery and Jim Crow as examples of Christianity being perverted for inhumane reasons. Predictably, he had his head handed to him by his detractors, who seemed to have paid attention to a mere 51 words of a 2,878-word address.
February 2, 2015 -- It's Still Ironic
Nearly 5 years ago, I wrote a piece entitled "Ironic, Isn't It? dealing with Mike Huckabee's position on gays and gay marriage. Yesterday, he held forth on the same issue on State of the Union with Dana Bash. After watching him, I felt compelled to write an update
January 25, 2015 -- The Politics of Beauty . . . The Beauty of Politics
Many people are fed up about the kerfuffle over Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel appearing in a selfie together . . . that it's stupid, childish, etc. ; That's the politics of beauty. Then there's Speaker Boehner's invite to Israeli P.M. Netanyahu to address a joint caucus of Congress; that's the beauty of politics.
NOTE: From this point and going deeper into the historical past, we will give the names of the original blog posts for each month and then one link to view and download all the blog posts for that particular month. As always, if you have any questions, just click on contact and we will get back to you.
December 1, 2014 -- The Only Democracy in the Middle East -- But For How Much Longer
December 08, 2014 -- What I Dislike Most About Democrats
December 14, 2014 -- Of Giants and Pygmies
December 22, 2014 -- North Korea, Cuba and Sir Charles Chaplin
Download all HERE.
November 2, 2014 -- The Midterm Elections -- The Worst Thing in the World Might Not be That Bad
November 9, 2014 -- Should Political Lies Be Protected Speech?
November 17, 2014 -- The People Have Spoken . . . Or Have They?
November 24, 2014 -- Sam Cooke Must Be Spinning in His Grave
Download all HERE.
October 6, 2014 - OPR-Remembrance of Things Future
October 16, 2014 - Blame It on the Villainovans
October 27, 2014 - The Politics of Ebola
Download all HERE.
September 7, 2014 -Sinning While Wearing a Halo
September 14, 2014 -The Fine Line Between Heroes and Hooligans
September 22, 2014 - E Unum Pluribus
September 27, 2014 - Awake Awake
Download all HERE.
August 4, 2014 - A War No One Can Win
August 11, 2014 - Income Inequality or, The Horse-and-Sparrow Theory
August 17, 2014 - Islamophobia For Fun and Profit
August 24, 2014 - And There's A Rose in a Fisted Glove
August 30, 2014 - What's It Going to Take
Download all HERE.
July 5, 2014 - Anti-immigranteitus Virulentis
July 12, 2014 - In Praise of Glenn Beck
July 20, 2014 - Addicted to Simplicity
July 28, 2014 - It Pays to Administrate
Download all HERE.
June 7, 2014 - This Just In From a Parallel Universe
June 14, 2014 - Dubito ergo cogito
June 22, 2014 - If Money is Speech and Corporations Are People . . .
June 29, 2014 - Howard Baker-Last of the Eloquent Listeners
Download all HERE.
May 04, 2014 - The Prescience of Andy Warhol
May 10, 2014 - Divide and Conquer
May 18, 2014 - Not the What . . . But the How
May 24, 2014 - And You Thought Louie Gohmert Was Nuts
May 31, 2014 - The Last Refuge of the Unimaginative
Download all HERE.
April 05, 2014 - Things Don't Go Better With Koch
April 13, 2014 - Not All Resident Aliens are Foreigners
April 22, 2014 - I'm Shocked . . . Shocked
April 27, 2014 - Sedition is Not a Fashion Statement
Download all HERE.
March 02, 2014 - The Peril of Manicaeism
March 09, 2014 - Putin Envy Or, What in the Hell Are Man Jeans
March 13, 2014 - An a Capella Purim
March 23, 2014 - Fred Phelps Meets His Maker . . Sort Of
March 30, 2014 - Be Careful What You Litigate For
Download all HERE.
February 01, 2014 - Henry Waxman-First and Last in His Class
February 07, 2014 - Where There is Smoke
February 16, 2014 - Rechanneling Will Rogers
February 23, 2014 - Galileo Must Be Spinning
Download all HERE.
January 03, 2014 - A Roster of Democratic Possibilties
January 09, 2014 - A Roster of Republican Possibilities
January 18, 2014- -Denying Reality for Fun and Profit
January 26, 2014 - Eventually Everything Gets Outsourced -- Even Ethics
Download all HERE.
December 02, 2013 - Anything But Anodyne
December 08, 2013 - Worse Than the First
December 23, 2013 - Just Ducky
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November 03, 2013 - Crist Almighty
November 10, 2013 - General Sheridan Was Right
November 16, 2013 - The Enemy of My Enemy is Not Always My Friend
November 25, 2013 - Ka-Boom
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October 06, 2013 - Overheard at Mt. Rushmore
October 13, 2013 - Cruz Control
October 20, 2013 - Los Berrincheros
October 27, 2013 - Have a Heart
Download all HERE.
September 08, 2013 - The Absurdity of Life
September 17, 2013 - When Is a Terrorist Attack Not a Terrorist Attack
September 23, 2013 - It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times
September 29, 2013 - A Memo to Speaker John Boehner
Download all HERE.
August 05, 2013 - If I Were King . . .
August 11, 2013 - Ground Your Stand
August 18, 2013 - Naming Names
August 25, 2013 - Vin Scully -- Shakespeare With a Mic
August 31, 2013 - What Is to Be Done
Download all HERE.
July 01, 2013 - Heels on Wheels
July 08, 2013 - What the Tea Party Can Learn From the Muslim Brotherhood
July 13, 2013 - When It Comes to Filibusters, Everyone's a Hypocrite
July 21, 2013 - Listen to the Bees
July 28, 2013 - Where is the Outrage
Download all HERE.
June 03, 2013 - They May Not Be London Bridges, But They Sure as Hell Are Falling Down
June 04, 2013 - Frank Lautenberg-Horatio Alger Writ Large
June 12, 2013 - One Fella's Fact is Another Fool's Fable
June 23, 2013 - The 9th Century Comes 'a Calling
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May 05, 2013 - Syria-Oy
May 13, 2013 - Clackity Clack, Clackity Clack
May 18, 2013 - Health Insurance in America-Legalized Extortion
May 27, 2013 - Sanford and Sin
Download all HERE.
April 07, 2013 - If Life Begins at Fertilization
April 13, 2013 - To Be Sincere Or to Fake It-That Is the Question
April 21, 2013 - Amateurs With Answers 'R Morons With Mics
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March 04, 2013 - Sequestration-Abdication, Desecration, Indignation and a Whole Lot More
March 10, 2013 - Time to Exhale
March 17, 2013 - Patience-That Most un-American of Traits
March 24, 2013 - Publico Damnari
March 31, 2013 - A Letter to President Xi Junping
Download all HERE.
February 01, 2013 - Ed Koch-An American Original
February 10, 2013 - Marco Rubio-Savior of the Week
February 17, 2013 - Riddle Me a Riddle
February 24, 2013 - One Man's Elitist is Another Man's Rube
Download all HERE.
January 07, 2013 - The Perpetual Ulcer
January 14, 2013 - If Only America's Voters Were More Like America's Baseball Writers
January 20, 2013 - You Schmooze, You Lose
January 27, 2013 - The Adults in the Room
Download all HERE.
NOTE: From this point and going deeper into the historical past, we will list the year only and offer one larger PDF file that covers that particular years original blog posts. Just click on the link provided for this file for download. As always, if you have any questions, just click on contact and we will get back to you.
2012 - ALL blog posts - one single PDF file - Download HERE
2011 - ALL blog posts - one single PDF file - Download HERE
2010 - ALL blog posts - one single PDF file - Download HERE
2009 - ALL blog posts - one single PDF file - Download HERE
2008 - ALL blog posts - one single PDF file - Download HERE
2007 - ALL blog posts - one single PDF file - Download HERE
2006 - ALL blog posts - one single PDF file - Download HERE
2005 - ALL blog posts - one single PDF file - Download HERE