Category Archives: Government

Commentary on Day One

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Somehow the Trump cartoons don’t seem funny to me anymore. They reflect the negativity that is now reality and evoke sadness rather than humor. Historian Heather Cox Richardson helps me see the present in an historical context. As … Continue reading →

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In Praise of California

Posted on January 21, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Paul Krugman in Krugman Wonks Out (thanks to Kate B.) One of the unwritten rules of American politics is that it’s OK to sneer at and smear our big cities and the people who live in them, while it’s an … Continue reading →

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How Trump “Won”

Posted on January 20, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Michael Podhorzer (thanks to Kate B.) With all the ballots counted and all the races decided, in today’s post, I want to unpack what we already know about how Trump “won” the popular vote.1 I use quotes around the word “won” … Continue reading →

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Two great presidents’ masterful inaugural speeches

Posted on January 20, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By David Adler in the Seattle Times Special to The Idaho Statesman When Donald Trump assumes office Monday, as the 47th president of the United States, he will mark the solemn occasion with an inaugural address. While not required by the … Continue reading →

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An American tragedy: how Biden paved the way for Trump’s White House return

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Jim deMaine

From The Guardian by David Smith – Thanks to Frank C. To admirers, Biden will remain one of the most consequential one-term presidents in US history – to detractors, he was undone by a fatal flaw His back straight, his … Continue reading →

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How Jimmy Carter’s love of music helped launch his presidential campaign

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Abi Inman (thanks to Pam P.) July 21, 1978: President Jimmy Carter greets Willie Nelson, left, after watching the star country and western music singer perform in a concert at the Merriweather Post Pavillion at Columbia, Md. Charles Tasnadi/Associated Press … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Music | 1 Comment

A note from Liz Cheney

Posted on January 4, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F. — From Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter 1/3/25 … Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, given to those “who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens,” to twenty Americans including former … Continue reading →

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Buckle up: Navigating the noise around routine vaccination

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Katelyn Jetelina Thanks to Barb W. The arguments against routine vaccination are already escalating. Just last week, it was unearthed that a prominent lawyer on the RFK Jr. transition team questioned the safety of the polio vaccine, and the long-debunked measles-autism … Continue reading →

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The Honeymoon Won’t Last

Posted on December 16, 2024 by Jim deMaine

by Adam Kinzinger in Substack It’s always a temptation to feel like the current state of facts or misery will continue unabated into the foreseeable future. This is a bias of our minds and souls; it’s difficult for us to … Continue reading →

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Boasting is Easy, Governing is Hard

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Jim deMaine

By Joel Connelly in Post Alley (thanks to Mary M.) One of the best presidents America never had, Adlai Stevenson, put it bluntly when he said: “The ability to govern is the final test of politics, the acid, final test.”  Stevenson … Continue reading →

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Important News Updates by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Jim deMaine

The sudden collapse of the Assad regime in Syria yesterday took oxygen away from the airing of President-elect Trump’s interview with Kristen Welker of NBC’S Meet the Press. The interview told us little that we didn’t already know, but it … Continue reading →

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Update on Syria

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Jim deMaine

by Heather Cox Richardson Late last night, the White House said in a statement that “President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners.” Early this morning, the … Continue reading →

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MORE PAVING, FEWER TREES. SO MUCH FOR A GREEN ‘ONE SEATTLE’

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to MaryLou P. – from the Seattle Times For Seattleites who appreciate trees, Mayor Bruce Harrell’s “One Seattle” comprehensive plan ought to spark grave concerns. The city’s proposed 20-year blueprint for growth contains major changes for residential neighborhoods, paving … Continue reading →

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How Do You Like That Filibuster Now?

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Jim deMaine

by Michele Cottle in the NYT As Republicans prepare to take control of both chambers of Congress and the presidency, Senator Joe Manchin, the conservative West Virginia Democrat turned independent, has a question for his former Democratic teammates: “How do … Continue reading →

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Global plastic talks collapse as oil states rebel

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Jim deMaine

by Esme Stallard in BBC News (thanks to Mike C.) More than nine billion tonnes of plastic has been produced globally with less than 10% recycled Countries have failed to reach a landmark agreement on tackling plastic pollution after more … Continue reading →

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The history of liberal democracy

Posted on December 1, 2024 by Jim deMaine

by Heather Cox Richardson (thanks to Mary M.) Cas Mudde, a political scientist who specializes in extremism and democracy, observed yesterday on Bluesky that “the fight against the far right is secondary to the fight to strengthen liberal democracy.” That’s … Continue reading →

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Mr. Trump, Do You Realize How Much the World Has Changed Since You Were President?

Posted on November 27, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Friedman raised has legitimate concerns that an unfocused chaotic Whitehouse will not have the bandwidth to deal with, let alone understand, the major changes in Iran and Israel. Perhaps more importantly he won’t understand the coming explosion of … Continue reading →

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November 12th – a fateful day

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Jim deMaine

by Heather Cox Richardson “It all began so beautifully,” Lady Bird remembered. “After a drizzle in the morning, the sun came out bright and beautiful. We were going into Dallas.”  It was November 22, 1963, and President John F. Kennedy … Continue reading →

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A note from Robert Reich

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mike C. Friends, What do card sharks, magicians, pickpockets, and tyrants do to hide their tricks? They deflect your attention. “Look over here!” they say, as they create a commotion that preoccupies your mind while they bamboozle you.  … Continue reading →

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It Can Happen Here: Reckoning with Donald Trump’s 2024 Election Victory

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Everyone who realizes with proper alarm that Trump’s reelection is a deeply dangerous moment in American life must think hard about where we are. By David Remnick in The New Yorker (thanks to Ed M.) On the morning after Donald … Continue reading →

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Masterpiece Story: Statue of Liberty

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Anastasia Manioudaki (thanks to Ann M. who notes I think the Lady must now be weeping. Please note her imagined damage (head knocked off) in the WW1 poster on display in our Art of the Month + her history below. … Continue reading →

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Against Panic: A Survival Kit

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Jim deMaine

By Margaret Renkl in the NYT (Thanks to Ed M.) Ms. Renkl is a contributing Opinion writer who reports from Nashville on flora, fauna, politics and culture in the American South. I had an elaborate itinerary for Election Day that I … Continue reading →

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No, democracy isn’t dead

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Jim deMaine

by Steve Iskeep in Substack My mailbox this week included a note with the subject line, “Democracy Without America.” The writer was sharing a link to an article with a slightly less stark headline, given its punctuation: “Democracy without America?” … Continue reading →

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Borowitz — “What Happens Now?”

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Nixon’s landslide victory in 1972 made him appear invulnerable. He wasn’t. (Cindy Yamanaka/MediaNews Group/The Riverside Press-Enterprise via Getty Images) Maybe you’ve been asking yourself: 1. “How could Donald Trump have won 51 percent of the popular vote?” 2. “How hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Politics | 1 Comment

What should Trump’s opponents do next?

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Jim deMaine

by David French in the NYT (thanks to Put B.) There is no mystery about what happened Tuesday night. Unlike 2016, when the anticipation of Hillary Clinton’s victory turned into the shock of defeat, every smart analyst I know not … Continue reading →

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