Shrinks Arguing about Trump (cont’d)
Another reputable psychiatrist, Richard A. Friedman, has joined the fray, taking the side that shrinks should not be opining on Donald Trump’s mental fitness. In an op-ed in the NY Times on-line, Friedman makes a strong case for why his professional colleagues ...
Read MoreShrinks Arguing about Trump
Thirty-five psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers signed a letter to the NY Times yesterday opining that “…the grave emotional instability indicated by Mr. Trump’s speech and actions makes him incapable of serving safely as president.” In a letter to today’s ...
Read MoreA Note on Political Language: “Reactionary”
Regular readers might have noted that I very seldom use the term ”conservative” to refer to Republicans and others who hold sharply right-of-center political views. That’s because I think the term “conservative” in most cases is misleading. I explained this ...
Read MoreShort Takes
Trump and the Court Donald Trump has named a man to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court, but that vacancy should not exist–the slot should already have been occupied by President Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, who was blocked by ...
Read MoreMendacity or Delusion?
You already know who this post is about, don’t you? In this blog I have repeatedly pointed to Donald Trump’s habitual, brazen mendacity—an utter disregard for the truth that is surely unprecedented among US presidents. But what if Trump actually ...
Read MoreTrump the Transgressive
There are two broad reasons for being appalled at the Trump presidency. One is that this now appears almost certain to be the most radically reactionary administration in American history. The second is that Donald Trump is a sociopath–psychologically unfit ...
Read MoreObama’s Legacy (II): Foreign Policy
Okay, since you know that I’m going to point to the empty upper half of the glass, I’ll start with the half-full part. President Obama’s foreign policy accomplishments are considerable, and whatever his successor does, they will have lasting value ...
Read MoreObama’s Legacy (I): Domestic Policy and Politics
It’s natural that at this point in his presidency people have started talking about President Obama’s legacy, a topic that takes on particular poignancy in view of the presidential election result. Of course, history may well have a different verdict ...
Read MoreThe Syrian Tragedy
I don’t know if Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut is generally regarded as a rising Democratic star on foreign policy issues, but he should be. His op-ed on Syria in today’s NY Times makes eminent good sense, as he usually ...
Read MoreIsrael, The US, and the World
The UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s colonization of the West Bank–passed by a 14-0 vote– should be uncontroversial. It merely states the overwhelming international consensus that Israel’s land grab is a flagrant violation of international law. Even if you ...
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