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Kurt F. Stone

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Kurt Stone is a rabbi, writer, lecturer, political activist, professor, actor, and medical ethicist. A true "Hollywood brat" (born and raised in the film industry), Kurt was educated at the University of California, the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University and the Hebrew Union College, Stone holds a B.A. in American Political History, a Master of Hebrew Letters, and a Doctor of Divinity. A resident of South Florida for nearly 30 years, he is currently spiritual leader of the North Broward Havurah in Coral Springs.

Kurt has published 2 major works in the field of American political history: the 2001 best-selling "The Congressional Minyan: The Jews of Capitol Hill," (KTAV) and most recently, "The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Members of Congress" (Scarecrow Press.) This latter work investigates the lives, careers, and accomplishments of the 200 Jewish men and women who have served in Congress throughout American history. Kurt contributed nearly 40 essays to the Encyclopedia of Jewish American Popular Culture (2009, Greenwood Press), and has written extensively for the new Encyclopaedia Judaica.
From the late 1960s to the late 1970s, Kurt served on the staffs of various office holders including Alaska Senator Mike Gravel and California Governor Jerry Brown. In this latter position, working in conjunction with Bill Press, he published "As Their Land Is: A Theology of Ecology."


Stone teaches courses in American Political History, Biography and Cinema at both Florida Atlantic and Florida International University. He received Florida Atlantic University's "Lecturer of Excellence" Award in April 2005.

A widely sought-after lecturer, Stone gives more than 175 lectures a year. Anyone wishing to book Kurt should contact his agent, Art Galietti at One Take Productions, 954-493-7889
.

www.kurtfstone.typepad.com

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SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, June 24, 2012
Chiaroscuro: The Art of Rembrandt . . . and Romney? Chiaroscuro is a technique by which shadow and darkness blend to give a hint of substance and light. In the world of art, as practiced by say, Rembrandt, it can add up to works of genius. In the world of political rhetoric, as practiced by Mitt Romney, it spells disingenuous disaster. Especially when it comes to Israel . . .
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, January 19, 2011
About Rep. Gabrielle Giffords "About Gabrielle Giffords" presents what is likely the first full-scale biography of the heroic representative who is, among other things, first cousins (once removed) with actress Gwyneth Paltrow
(33 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A Memo to Sarah Palin "A Memo to Sarah Palin" attempts to explain to her precisely what is meant by the horrifying expression "blood libel," and why her use of those two words likely knocks her presidential aspirations into a cocked hat.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, February 19, 2012
Is Rick Santorum Running for POTUS or POTMA? Now that he's become the flavor of the month, Rick Santorum is being vetted six ways to Sunday. Question is: is he running for POTUS (President of the United States) or POTMA (Pope of the Middle Ages)?
From ImagesAttr
(8 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, May 19, 2013
Health Insurance in America: Legalized Extortion Just got a letter informing me that our health insurance premium is going up 25%. We will now be paying $34,934.88 per year . . . more than we pay for our mortgage, two cars and tuition for graduate school. HELP!!
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, January 14, 2012
Where Has All the Propofol Gone? Between 2006 and 2010, drug shortages in America have incrased by more than 200%. Many of these shorted meds can mean the difference tween remission and metastasis, between life and death. The question is: where have they gone, and why?
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The Hijacking of Israel Last week, six Republican presidential hopefuls paid a visit to a gathering of the Republican Jewish Coalition. By the end of the evening, it was hard to tell if the six were running for POTUS President of the United States or Prime Minister of Israel. All that was missing were the sterotypical Israeli shorts, sandals and raful hat.
From ImagesAttr
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, July 21, 2012
To the People of Minnesota's 6th Congressional District A plea to the voters of Minnesota's 6th Congressional District: Put Michele Bachmann out to pasture. Grandma Anne and F. Scott Fitzgerald will thank you . . .
(18 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, June 5, 2011
The Evil That Will Not Die It now appears that there is far, far more than "personal freedom" behind the move to make circumcision for anyone under the age of 18 a misdemeanor. Can you say "anti-Semitism?"
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, August 21, 2011
Luddites and Dominionists -- Like the Rich -- Are Different From You and Me Just as the "average" reader of OpEdNews hangs out with billionaires, so too do few of us count among our friends and acquaintances those who deny Evolution, believe Global Warming is a hoax or hold that Christians are commanded to take over virtually every facit of government and society until the Second Coming. And yet, they are out there . . . and growing . . . and supporting presidential candidates.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, April 15, 2011
The Chairwoman Who Carries Crayons Florida Rep. Debby Wasserman Schultz is already well known to political junkies and those who watch MSNBC. She is about to become a whole like better known; she has just been appointed Chair of the DNC, and now becomes, in effect, the "face" of the Democratic Party for the 2012 election. But who is she? This in-depth profile is taken from my book, "The Jews of Capitol Hill."
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 2, 2011
What Some People Won't Believe In 1928, millions of Americans believed that if elected president, Al Smith would build a tunnel beneath the Atlantic, linking America to the Vatican so he could receive orders from the Pope. In 1958, millions of Americans believed Pres. Eisenhower was a conscious agent of the Soviet Union. Today, more than half the Republicans believe Pres. Obama is an alien and bent on launching an attack against Israel. Oy!
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, May 30, 2011
After the Rapture Noq that the Rapture has once again been put on hold, its time to get back to the more mundane aspects of life . . . like the ballot iniatives in San Francisco and Santa Monica to make the circumcision of any male under the age of 18 a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. What is the world coming to? Or is this merely a way to guarantee that the next Rapture won't be a rupture?
From ImagesAttr
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, October 18, 2012
Arlen Specter: "One Tough Hombre" Former Senator Arlen Specter passed away this week. Love him or hate him, he was, in the words of Barack Obama, "One tough Hombre." Adapted from Kurt F. Stone's 2010 book, "The Jews of Capitol Hill"
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, January 9, 2012
Lies to Live By From Rome's conquering of Carthage to Washington's chopping down of the cherry tree, history has frequently had a tendency to be "full of it." In this essay, we add three more "lies to live by."
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, September 4, 2011
The Speech President Obama OUGHT TO Deliver This Week If I were the president's speechwriter, this is the text I would urge him to use this coming Thursday when he address Congress and the American people . . .
From ImagesAttr
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, August 5, 2012
Next Year in Tel Aviv Ever presidential candidate promises that once elected, they will move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. No one has -- or will -- do it . . . and for good reason.
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Warren Rudman: Blunt, Egotistical, Unflappable and Tenacious" Word has just come in that former New Hampshire Senator Warren Rudman passed away. In many ways, he was the least typical Washington "insider" I ever met; plain-spoken, independent and guided by what always struck me as an unerring moral compass. What follows is adapted from my pages 350-355 of my 2011 book The Jews of Capitol Hill
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, October 3, 2011
They Shoot Americans, Don't They? The targeted killing of Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Kahn has many Americans standing and cheering. But what of the Constitutional questions these assasinations raise? Anyone who thinks there is a simple answer is indeed mistaken . . .
From ImagesAttr
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, June 23, 2013
The 9th Century Comes 'a Calling The Shiites are pouring into Syria in order to fight against the Sunnis. In other words, the 9th Century has come 'a calling. But what is it that has divided them for so long? Read on and learn . . .
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, December 19, 2011
Mt. Rushmore After Dark The other night, the four presidents enshrined on Mt. Rushmore were all suffering from insomnia. Their collective sleeplessness led to a fascinating conversation about the state of American politics. . .
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, January 28, 2012
Coupon Clippers of the World Unite! As a society of voyeurs, we are addicted to the so-called "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." As citizens, however, we must resist the impulse. Mitt Romney is a great example of why. We need leaders despite how much wealth they have earned -- or not -- can identify with real people, living real lives, facing real challenges. And this is NOT Mitt Romney . . .
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, November 27, 2011
This Week's Guest Columnist: God Much of the media have lambasted Barack Obama for not giving thanks to God in his recent Thanksgiving Day message. Wonder what God would have to say about this . . .
(6 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, February 12, 2012
An Essay With Something For Everyone to Dislike Consrvatives are morons; liberals are cowards. The former is scientifically verifiable; the latter, anecdotally conjectural.
From ImagesAttr
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, August 27, 2012
Simply a-PAUL-ing Romney, Ryan and the Republicans are giving a tribute to Ron Paul in Tampa and still claiming that they are better for Israel than Obama. It simply does not pass the smell test.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, December 30, 2011
Facts: A Cure for Foxification? As John Adams noted a long time ago, "Facts are stubborn things . . ." Closer to our time, there was Ronald Reagan's "Facts are stupid things." Sad to report, the way things stand today, Reagan is closer to the truth than Adams. Herein, we present some hard, fast facts on employment and the economy which hopefully can be used to counter the dreck broadcast by FOX . . .
New London Bridge, From ImagesAttr
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, June 3, 2013
They May Not Be London Bridge, But They Sure as Hell Are Falling Down The original London Bridge was in use for nearly 650 years; America's bridges should be so well-built!
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, August 13, 2011
Skin in the Game One of the most daunting problems in America is that tens upon tens of millions of people do not see that they have "skin in the game" -- that they have a vested interest in what is being planned, proposed and passed in their name. Historically, self-interest has always been a key ingredient to progress.
(7 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Things They Never Taught Us in Grad School It's amazing what passes for "fact" these days . . . so many things they never taught us in Grad School!
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, April 9, 2012
If a Tree Falls in the Forest . . . According to physicists, even if there is no one to hear it, a tree falling in the forest does make a sound. Question: if the president speaks a great truth which few understand (like characterizing the Ryan budget as "social Darwinism") does it matter? Can anyone hear -- let alone understand -- it?
From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, November 4, 2012
An Urgent Message From Mother Nature and Father Time Now that seemingly everyone has weighed in on Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath,isn't it about time we find out what Mother Nature and Father Time think about it?
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, July 1, 2012
Buzz Windrip is Alive and Well The various responses to the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision has me thinking about Buzz Windrip, the folksy tyrant from Sinclair Lewis' "It Can't Happen Here." Hmmm . . .
Tiepolo's The Procession of the Trojan Horse, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, May 7, 2012
Amendment 8: Beware of Creeps Bearing Gifts Come November, Floridians will be voting on a change in the state constitution. Although it is being pushed as a measure to further religious freedom, it is precisely the opposite -- a Trojan Horse meant to divert taxpayer dollars to religious institutions, especially parochial schools. Beware!
Aaron Alexis, From ImagesAttr
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, September 17, 2013
When is a Terrorist Attack Not a Terrorist Attack? After yesterday's massacre at the Washington Navy Yard, there will no doubt be calls for greater gun controls which in turn, will be blunted by the NRA. At the same time, they support any and all measures to thwart acts of terror. Question is, when is a terrorist attack not a terrorist attack?
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, March 13, 2011
Let There Be (Florescent) Light Historically, we are a nation of "kvetchers" -- of groaners and complainers. Whether its complaints over taxes, tea or now light bulbs, we always manage to find something that galls us. The latest flap over florescent-vs-incandescent light bulbs is a prime example. It is such a "serious" issue that it has even led Michelle Bachmann to become "pro-choice!"
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, March 23, 2014
Fred Phelps Meets His Maker . . . Sort Of The Rev. Fred Phelps passed away on Thursday. I wonder what HIS reception will be like in the world beyond . . .
From ImagesAttr
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, June 2, 2012
Beware of R.A.T.S. There is one area in which presidents can -- and do -- continue exercising tremendous influence long after they leave office -- appointments to the federal bench. Which brings us to R.A.T.S. -- namely, Roberts, Alito, Thomas and Scalia . . .
From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, October 1, 2012
Mitt Romney's Faustian Bargain In order to secure the Republican nomination, Mitt Romney had to make a pact with the devil -- on a host of issues abortion, healthcare, immigration, and gun control to name but a few. The worst, by far, is global warming . . .
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, March 3, 2012
To Believe or Not To Believe Who is more dangerous? The politician or shaper of public opinion who will do or say anthing to get elected or improve their ratings, or the true believer?
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, May 15, 2011
A Banquet of Consequences At no time since America's Gilded Age has this country had such a wide and glaring gap between the hyper-wealthy and the rest of us. The 400 wealthiest families made on average, $345 million apiece in 2009 and had an effective tax rate of just 16.6%. Meanwhile, the Republicans push for even greater tax cuts. As the middle class succumbs, we become nothing more than beggars at the banquest.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, January 22, 2012
A Keystone Comedy From where I sit, the president's denial of the Keystone XL pipeline permit has all the hallmarks of a no-so-silent Keystone Comedy . . . an election year pie-in-the-face on the part of the Republicans. The question is: how good are the president's reflexes?
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, November 11, 2012
Patriotism: It's More Than Shopping or Waving Flags Washington Hawks used cars; Lincoln fronts for Home Depot; even MLK sells pizzas. Whatever happend to national holidays and national icons? A few thoughts on Veteran's Day . . .
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, April 30, 2012
Clueless What do Mitt Romney and Thurston Howell III have in common? They are both clueless.
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, July 21, 2013
Follow the Bees With political uncertainty in Egypt, civil war in Syria and utter chaos in Washington, who should care about the plight of bees? Everyone that's who. And here's why . . .
From ImagesAttr
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, December 25, 2012
What's In a Name? First there was "gerrymander," named after an American vice president; then there was "borking," named for a ailed Supreme Court nominee; the lastest -- and perhaps worst -- verb is . . . guess what?
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, March 19, 2011
Get a Life! What with all the enormous issues and challenges facing Congress and the American public, what has been consuming the time, efforts and energies of many Tea Party folks? Japan? Libya? Jobs? The deficit? No way! Why its legislation proclaiming that "In God We Trust" should replace "E Pluribus Unum" as the national motto, that's what! As a result, another motto comes to mind: "GET A LIFE!"
From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, August 25, 2013
Vin Scully: Shakespeare Wtih a Mic The Dodgers just announced that Vin Scully will return to the radio booth for a 65th season in 2014. Vin is to radio what Shakespeare was to literature: simply the best there ever has been.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, March 4, 2011
Mouseland Revisited The current political situation -- especially what is transpiring in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and Capitol Hill, brings to mind the late Canadian politician Tommy Douglas' parable "Mouseland," which tells the tale of mice who keep electing cats to rule over them and then wonder why the cats don't treat them well. . .
From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, July 9, 2013
What the Tea Party Can Learn From the Muslim Brotherhood An ancient sage once taught that a truly wise person is the one who can learn something from anyone. Perhaps its time for the Tea Party to be wise and learn something . . . from the Muslim Brotherhood.
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, June 17, 2012
Eat Me Even if NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's call for a ban on the sale of sugary drinks never becomes law in the Big Apple, his proposal does shine a mega watt spotlight on an extremely crucial issue: the ever-increasing level of obesity in America. Let's face it: we are a nation of indolent couch potatoes, and that's bad for our health bad for the national economy and bad for our national security.
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, October 28, 2012
The Closest Thing to Immortality A sobering fact: of the 193 judges FDR appointed to the federal bench, eight were still wielding a gavel in the late 1980s. Talk about immortality! Let Mitt achieve immortality through his church, not the court . . .
Alan Alda, From ImagesAttr
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, April 16, 2013
To Be Sincere Or to Fake It: That Is the Question The Republican National Committee has decided that the problem isn't with their positions . . . it's how they express those positions. Reminds me of Hawkeye, B.J. and the gang from M*A*S*H. . .
From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Recycling Wood Allen Now that the conventions are over, a few random thoughts demographics, rastacaps, Romney and Obama, Eastwood and Woody Allen . . . Woody Allen?
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, April 25, 2011
With Friends Like These . . . Glenn Beck's "transitioning" off of Fox has brought about glee in many quarters. Then too, it has drawn tears and regrets from many who are willing to give this latter-day Father Coughlin a pass on all of his nutty, right-wing positions, because he "stands with Israel." It would appear that for some, the old saw about "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" even extends to Glenn Beck. What a pity . . .
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, January 1, 2012
Traveling at the Speed of Life The ever-increasing speed of life is like a narcotic; we can never get enough of it. That which was considered to be "faster than a speeding bullet" just yesterday, is no better than a snail's pace today. Could this have something to do with our collective anger, impatience and frustration?
From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, September 2, 2012
The Slings and Arrows of Obnoxious Fabrications Political lies, fabrications and half-truths are as American as apple pie. The problem is that today, when the facts prove you've lied, all you have to do is attack the fact-checker. Result? No one believes anything anyone says . . .
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, April 22, 2012
The Sky is Not Falling -- The Horizon is Rising When Nancy Pelosi mentioned her support of the DISCLOSE Act -- calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn the court's the Citizens United decision, conservatives went nuts, proclaiming that "The sky is falling!" Actually, the sky is NOT falling; rather, the horizon is rising. Just ask legislators in Hawaii, Vermont and New Mexico . . .
Jamie Dimon, From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Of Bullies and Banks While President Obama's "coming out" in favor of gay marriage and revelations about Mitt Romney's having bullied a gay student 48 years ago have captured much public attention, it is the mess surrounding J.P. Morgan/Chase that is going to matter come November . . . Talk about bullies!
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, July 2, 2011
A Memo to Micele Bachmann Of late, Michelle Bachmann has been receiving a ton of press coverage. And whether one considers her to be canny or coy, credible or crazy, serious or just plain certifiable, depends on one's political starting point. Although she will not be the Republican presidential nominee, she will have a place and a voice at the table . . . which makes her extremely DANGEROUS . . .
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, October 17, 2011
Herman & Hillary: The Simple Solution vs. The Hard Truth Last week, two people with identical initials -- H.C. -- gave speeches. Herman Cain unveiled "9-9-9" a simple slogan for dealing with a terribly difficult problem: the economy. Meanwhile Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke the hard truth before the Economic Club of New York. Prlblem is, everyone covered Herman Cain's fluff, while Secretary Clinton's wisdom went largely unreported.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, January 28, 2011
The Best Thing in the World More than a year after the earthquake, and the Cholera outbreak, and Hurrican Tomas, Haiti is still in dire straits. What needs to be done cannot be accomplished with money alone. What is truly needed is a government . . . something in which the Haitian people themselves have a stake.
From ImagesAttr
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, October 14, 2012
Quick Quick, Tell Us What to Think The more I hear people discuss the upcoming election, the debates, the issues, etc., the more I wonder how many people still are capable of thinking for themselves . . .
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 4, 2011
The Eastern World, It is Exploding It used to be said, "When England sneezes, the rest of the world catches cold. Today it may well be that "When Tunisia sneezes, the Middle East reaches for a thermometer." It is indeed hard to develop a consistent understanding of what is currently transpiring; it is a totally fluid situation.
From ImagesAttr
(16 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, October 8, 2012
Which is Worse? Almost as soon as the new jobs numbers were made public, the conspiracy theorists went to work, proclaiming that the figures were all a lie. So many conspiracies . . . Sure, there are people who actually buy into them. The question is, do those who promulgate and publicize conspiracies really believe what they are saying?
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, March 20, 2011
Junior Moments It never ceases to amaze how the Republicans and their Tea Party acolytes are continually positing that defunding Planned Parenthood and NPR, not to mention denying public service worker unions the right to collectively bargain is all part of a program of fiscal responsibility. Am I having a "junior moment," or did they actually campaign on "jobs, jobs, jobs" last Fall?
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, December 4, 2011
There's Something About the Name Newton Leroy Gingrich: the name sounds like it was invented by Charles Dickens. Too bad he has a political persona that is just as Victorian.
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, January 21, 2011
A Time to Speak Seems like not a day goes by without someone introducing either Nazi or anti-Semitic imagery into their political discourse. This sin is by no means confined to folks on the right; just the other day Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen did the unthinkable, and tied GOP claims about health care reform to the "big lie" theory propounded by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. Aren' we supposed to be more civil in our discourse?
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, December 3, 2012
A Time to Run and a Time to Stand IN America, politicians spend so much time campaigning that they've forgetten a salient truth: eventually you have to stop running for office and start standing for something. It's called governance.
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, January 20, 2011
Head and Heart Are liberals smarter than conservatives? If so, why do conservatives have so much more success at getting their message across? Could it be because liberals and progresives aim their messages toward the brain while conservatives and regressives aim theirs toward the gut?
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, January 20, 2011
Andy Hardy Gets a Hickey According to a recent international study, the average American 15-year old knows next to nothing; we rank near the bottom in every conceivable field when compared to students in the 34 principle industrialized countries in the world. And now that Republicans are in charge in the House, that situation is not likely to get any better.
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, June 13, 2011
Just Because She Smiles . . . Seems that no matter what Republicans on Capitol Hill or in the various states do, they claim "That's what the American people elected us to do." Seems to me that during campaign '10, not a peep was heard about their intentions vis-a-vis abortion, drug testing or placing extraordinary stumbling blocks in the path of unions. So how in the hell do they know that that's what America voted for?
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, April 2, 2012
The Oil of Politics The Oil of Politics deals with what is likely to be the central issue of the 2012 presidential campaign: the price of gasoline. It poses 5 questions (two multiple choice, three true-or-false) as a means of preparing us for the inevitable onslaught of simple-minded solutions to a highly complex problem. Of all the possible answers as to what we must do to bring down the price of oil, "Vote for ME!" surely isn't one.
From ImagesAttr
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, July 28, 2013
Where is the Outrage? Every time Kobe Bryant sinks a free throw he earns more than $14K. Every time the 113th Congress enacts a law, it costs we, the taxpayers more than $141 MILLION. So where is the outrage?
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, September 27, 2012
For Romney Ryan and the Republicans, September is the Cruellest Month For T.S. Eliot, April was "the cruellest month." For Romney, Ryan and the Republicans, it looks like September is turning out to be more than cruel . . .
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, July 15, 2012
If At First You Don't Succeed If insanity is defined as "Doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results, what is the definition of doing something over and over, failing each time, and then doing it yet again, hoping and praying to fail once again? The definition, in two words is "Congressional Republicans."
Will Rogers, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, February 18, 2014
The Rechanneling of Will Rogers Will Rogers -- the John Stuart of 1920s-30s America -- once quipped that he belonged to no organized political party . . . that he was a Democrat. Seems like today's Republicans have rechanneled Rogers. Boy, are they ever disorganized!
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, February 7, 2012
When Good News is No News Last week the Dept. of Labor announced the addition of 243,000 new non-government jobs and a jobless rate of 8.3%. It's pretty good news -- unless you're a Republican. They are in the position -- once again -- of having to deny reality.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Pianists: A Fable "The Pianists" is a fable about creation, history, traditions, grandeur and eventual dissolution of a people. There is an ancient expression in an equally ancient language which goes: "ha-mahskile yahveen," which means, "Those with insight will understand . . ."
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, July 10, 2012
What Ever Happened to Shame? On June 29th Breitbart.com ran a piece stating that President Obama was going to be fundraising in Paris on the 4th of July. Despite the fact that it was quickly proven untrue, the right wing continued on with their shameless attack. While it is obvious that they have no shame, it could very well be that the blame rests as much with we the public as with they, the progenitors . . .
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, July 10, 2011
Let 'em Call You Pisher How much longer can progressives go until we give up on President Obama and his "reasonableness?" When will he begin to be more like Lyndon Johnson and less like Chaucer's "Wife of Bath," who was "somdel deef" -- "deaf in both ears."
Mark Sanford -- Apparently being an adulterer trumps being a Democrat, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Sanford & Sin William F. Buckley once noted "The only two sins which should disqualify a person for public office are pederasty and virginity." I wonder whether the sins of Sanford, Weiner, Vitter, Ensign et al would have changed his mind . . .
From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, October 20, 2013
Los Teaparty Berrincheros In colloquial Spanish Tea Party folks on Capitol Hill would be referred to as "los berrincheros" -- spoiled brats who throw tantrums in order to get their way. Question is, what do we do about 'em? Read on . . .
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, April 15, 2012
A Whale of Two Pities So you tell me: who's more dangerous, divisive and delusional -- CNN contributor Hilary Rosen or U.S. Representative Allen West? Based on their past declarations and history -- plus a judicious Google search -- I'd have to say Allen West by about twelve thousand furlongs.
From Images
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, March 19, 2012
Trash Talk? "Trash Talk?" is partly memoir, partly a call to arms. Is all society demands of us that we be good complacent consumers, or is there more? One small area where we can re-empower ourselves is in the matter of all those tens of billions of bottles of "spring water" we buy each year. In the words of John Lennon, "Say 'ya want a revolution?"
From ImagesAttr
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, June 9, 2012
Have Sum, Will Cavil "Have Sum, Will Cavil" deals with one of the most deeply troubling aspects of modern political discourse -- it's utter lack of civility. In recent weeks, we have seen speakers associated with President Barack Obama hooted down, disinvited and even have the microphone ripped from their hands. In several cases, it was a case of "Gold's Law" -- namely, the guy with the gold made the law.
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, May 23, 2011
"If I Were a Candle Maker . . ." On Thursday May 19, 2011, President Obama delivered a 5,677-word speech at the State Department on the Middle East and North Africa. Nearly all of the commentary has been on 15 of those 5,677 words. On the basis of that half-sentence, he has been accused of everything from "Throwing Israel under a bus" to ". . . making a very dangerous demand." But what did he truly say, and was it all that different from his predecessors?
Kansas State Seal, From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, April 8, 2013
If Lifeb Begins at Fertilization . . . Kansas just enacted aaw which declares that life begins at fertilization. Am I the only one who suspects that for many pro-lifers, life begins at conception (or fertilization), but ends with birth?
From ImagesAttr
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, August 18, 2013
Naming Names A Tennessee Magistrate says a woman can't name her kid "Messiah." What about Jesus Alou?
.The Myth of the 20th Century, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, June 13, 2013
One Fella's Fact is Another Fool's Fable Some people deny that the Holocaust ever happened. We call them crazy, hateful, deluded . . . and worse. Some deny the reality of man-made global warming; we call them members of Congress. Indeed, "One Fella's Fact is Another Fool's Fable."
From ImagesAttr
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, August 20, 2012
Wieder . . . Shon GENUG! The use of Holocaust rhetoric -- of likening people you don't agree with to Hitler and government agencies you don't like to the Gestapo, is not just bloodless, cruel and beyond the pale; it is growing by leaps and bounds. As they say in German, "Wieder . . . shon genug!" (Again, enough already!)
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, July 13, 2013
When It Comes to Filibusters, Everyone's a Hypocrite When you're in the minority, the filibuster is a fiat from Mt. Sinai. When you're in the majority, it is the work of the devil. And when it comes to filibusters, everyone's a hypocrite.
From ImagesAttr
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, August 15, 2013
Ground Your Stand As an essay title "Ground Your Stand" is a bit too kitschy and obvious. Nonetheless, this piece deals with a serious topic: that too many people are getting their "news and views" from people and sources who really don't know what they're talking about.
Obama and Crist, From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, November 3, 2013
Crist Almighty What do Boston's victory in the World Series and Charlie Crist's running for governor have in common? Read on . . .
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Counterintuitive Want a definition of counterintuitive? How about the lack of any intelligent discussion concerning gun control in the days and weeks following the Aurora massacre? Or claiming -- as many NRA-niks do -- that the proof that Barack Obama is going to confiscate everyone's weapons is the fact that he hasn't done so up till now? It's more than counterintuitive; it's just plain nuts . . .
Iranian Pres. Hassan Rouhani, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, September 23, 2013
It Was the Best of Weeks, It Was the Worst of Weeks Last week was filled with both lousy and potentially hopeful news. The question is, have we become so jaundiced that we must look for the lousy in the potentially hopeful?
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, March 25, 2012
"The Destination, Not the Arrival Matters" The one argument people use to "prove" that Obama is bad for Israel is that he has yet to go there. Well, George W. Bush didn't make it to Israel until near the end of his second term -- and without so much as a peep. Then Mitt Romney claims that he will make Israel his first stop once elected. it might sound great in a political campaign; as practical policy, it is utterly sophomoric.
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, August 13, 2012
The Ryan Factor Paul Ryan's ascension gives both conservatives and progressives something to crow about . . . and also makes one wonder if perhaps Mitt Romney's advisors aren't really working for the reelection of Barack Obama.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Issa Man Cometh Whenever the gavel of the House Government Oversight Committee is wielded by someone from the party that does not control the White House, subpoenas fly like the Swallows over Capistrano. Now that Californian Darrell Issa is in charge of the committee, he is poised to become President Obama's "worst nightmare . . . like Henry Waxman on steroids." Meet the new committee chair . . .

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