David Brooks: Compassion, Myopia and Paternalism
The New York Times’ David Brooks is a compassionate conservative. I’m not being sarcastic: in contrast to many of his brethren on the right, who are neither compassionate nor conservative but mean-spirited and reactionary, Brooks really does care about people, ...
Read MoreIt’s not Just the Bridge
If you’re like me, you’re probably tired by now of hearing and reading about Chris Christie. But if you can’t get enough of it, or if you doubt that the guy is an utter sleaze, and/or if you are interested ...
Read MoreClinton Hatred: An Added Note
In my last post, I suggested that Obama-hatred and Clinton-hatred were not much different in intensity and number of adherents, but that there are other reasons to explain Clinton hatred, leaving racism as a major explanation for the right’s crazy ...
Read MoreYes: Obama Hatred is Largely Racist-Based
The foregoing assertion might seem obvious, but for a long time I had some doubts. Certainly, the frothing, irrational hatred of Obama that is so widespread on the right in this country demands an explanation, and racism is the most ...
Read MoreHillary Comes Out
Since I ended my last post with a reproach for Hillary Clinton, it is only fair that I pass on the news—which doesn’t seem to have gotten a lot of attention– that she has in fact come out against threatening ...
Read MoreIran Diplomacy Affirmed
I agree with The New Republic’s John Judis that the boldest part of President Obama’s SOTU address was his firm pledge to veto any bill to increase sanctions on Iran while negotiations are in progress. I couldn’t help but notice ...
Read MoreRoe v. Wade at 41 and the Case for Abortion Rights
Several thousand anti-abortion protesters marched in Washington yesterday on the 41st anniversary of Roe vs. Wade—just a small manifestation of the attack on abortion rights taking place across the country these days. I have no doubt that abortion rights will ...
Read MoreThe Congressional Threat to Obama’s Iran Diplomacy
Unprecedented: two posts from me in one day! But this one is really important. A détente with Iran would be one of the Obama administration’s major foreign policy achievements—reducing the danger of war in the Middle East and opening up ...
Read MorePacker on Christie
Just a quick note: George Packer’s New Yorker piece on Chris Christie is so good I really have to bring it to your attention. In my last post I compared Christie to Rudy Giuliani. Packer makes a more significant comparison—to ...
Read MoreChristie in Crisis
Here I go again writing about Republicans, but how could I not do a post about Chris Christie’s current problems? Full disclosure: I can’t stand the guy, and I enjoy seeing him squirm. I’ve long thought of him as an ...
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