Tag archives: Donald Trump
Trump famously asked why we can’t have more immigrants from Norway and fewer from “shithole countries.” But what makes a country a shithole country? I have often approached this from the other end: What makes a country civilized? I have generally offered two minimal requirements: 1) True universal healthcare 2) Good public transportation (especially high-speed […]
“Most of what passes for ‘investment advice’ is nothing more than speculation about an unknowable future.” – Joe Calhoun III, Alhambra Investments. “Economics is an entire scientific discipline of not knowing what you’re talking about.” – P. J. O’Rourke. “What passes as sensible economic commentary by politicians, pundits, and preachers is but a torrent of […]
On the day this article reaches the newsstands it will be the 19th day of the WAR in Iran. Things are still uncertain and moving fast. My Part I article on the war yielded a lot of comments, good and bad. I’m accused by critics of a lot of things – mainly that I ignored […]
Oh, my dear Jeff!I’ll be the first to confessYour acerbic finesseSinges my skin like a spark to a dress. But your piece on Ms. Flagg–Well, on that I will brag!I laughed out loud–truly cackled, by gag!Every phrase, every turn,Had a bright comic burn;What a picture you painted–what language! What swag! So bravo, good Wing–Let the […]
Our country seems very divided now. But who are the sides in this divide? It turns out that the 2024 election would have gone to Harris over Trump in a 58-40% landslide. If just one group were removed from the electorate. Which group? White evangelical and born-again Christians. Of which, 82% voted for Trump. We […]
Since my last column two weeks ago a lot has been going on in the world, but nothing as significant as the war against Iran. At the time of writing this article (Sunday) it’s moving too fast and it’s far too early to come to any conclusions as to its outcome. Regardless of what you […]
Many immigrants have come to our country as desperate refugees, some fleeing for their lives. The fact is most immigrants are honest, hardworking people, and this group has a lower crime rate than U.S. citizens. Unless you’re a Native American, you’re an immigrant or come from immigrants. Many of the immigrants we came from were […]
In the 1980s, Reagan was waging wars around the world that most Americans were blissfully unaware of. One of those was in El Salvador. Yes, the same El Salvador that kept delivering refugees to our doorstep. And that Trump lawlessly uses as a torture prison. Our Central America Response Network raised awareness and direct aid […]
You might be surprised that the short answer is: Yes. How can that be? There are no tanks or soldiers rolling down the streets of our major cities. Oh, wait. Yes there are. But we have elections. And legislators and courts. And private institutions and billionaires with their own power. And private media. When we […]
My editors invited me to offer my predictions and/or hopes for the year ahead. I claim no special talent for making predictions. Nixon and Reagan were fond of psychics, notably the Republican Jeane Dixon. Dixon gained fame by claiming to predict the assassination of President Kennedy. Sort of. She also predicted that Nixon would win […]
Making prognostications about the future of 2026 is, I admit, a stupid thing to do. No one can predict the future. Those who say they can are mostly just lucky. But, what the heck, maybe my guesses are just as good as anyone’s. We will see on January 1, 2027. Here goes. Mid-term Elections and […]
Trump has ordered the military to blow up boats in international waters based on a claim that they are part of a drug “war” against the U.S. He has presented no evidence for this claim. A debate began after a September 2 attack when the U.S. military destroyed a boat and then killed the survivors. […]
Trump has lawlessly used Federal agents in U.S. cities and against law-abiding immigrants. Many protests have resulted. At one August protest in D.C., Justice Department employee Sean Dunn threw a sandwich at one of the heavily armed and armored federal agents. Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi went after Dunn with the full force of prosecution […]
Alastair Su, Westmont assistant professor of history, expounds on Tariff Nation: The Rise, Fall, and Return of America’s Most Contentious Tax on Monday, Dec. 8, at 5:30 pm at the Community Arts Workshop, 631 Garden Street, in downtown Santa Barbara. The Westmont Downtown Lecture is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations […]
Recent politics looks like a bad movie we’ve seen too many times. Not quite a disaster movie, and some of it borders on comedy, but more like the Gong Show (for those of you who can remember it). I realize this may sound like disgruntled sarcasm on my part. Mea culpa. But, how could one […]
On September 20, Trump posted a lengthy demand on Truth Social that Attorney General Pam Bondi prosecute former FBI Director James Comey, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and New York Attorney General Letitia James. “They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done,” he claimed, adding, “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing […]
American politics has devolved into a meaningless Red and Blue Punch and Judy show. You know, the puppet show where all Punch and Judy do is argue and beat each other with sticks. Look at it as a metaphor for contemporary politics. Politicians at the state and federal level can’t get beyond their need to […]
Seven million Americans rallied across the country on Saturday to declare “No Kings” for a second time. A reference to Trump ruling lawlessly by executive order since January. Under the Constitution the president only has two minor powers. He does not legally get to send masked thugs to kidnap and deport people without a hearing. […]
Vote YES on Proposition 50 — the Use of Legislative Congressional Redistricting Map Amendment — in California’s November 4 special election. You can vote in person on November 4 or return your mail-in ballot, which you will receive in the next few days. Send your YES vote early so campaign volunteers can reach others who […]
Our condominium complex recently had a “meet your neighbors” pool party. One woman “Barb” realized I was on the Board of the homeowner’s association (HOA) and she expressed concern that the HOA fees were rising too much. I explained that our HOA insurance rate had doubled in the past few years due to the Climate […]
