Here’s some unsolicited advice for Democrats and their supporters: if you want to win the midterms next week (never mind the White House in 2020), figure out how to make an emotional — not intellectual — connection with voters. Think, more Teddy Roosevelt, less Adlai Stevenson. In a nutshell, that was my reaction to Ross...Read More
Balance Sheet vs. Income Statement Effects “It’s too soon to tell.” –Chinese premier Mao Zedong in the late 1940’s, when he was asked what he thought about The French Revolution. I know what Mao Zedong would have said about the gargantuan, $1.3 trillion tax reform bill just passed by the Republicans (zero Democrats voted in...Read More
“When in Rome Minnesota Close to Labor Day . . . ” Sure, Iowa has the nation’s first primary. But, neighboring Minnesota has 10 electoral votes vs. Iowa’s measly 6. Plus, Minnesota’s state fair draws almost twice the people that Iowa’s does (1.8 million vs. 1 million). So, maybe Hillary Clinton — already in town for...Read More
Explanations and Silver Linings (or Not) for Defeated Democrats At least some Democrats seeking solace in the wake of Tuesday’s blowout Republican win are pointing to gerrymandered Congressional districts as the explanation. Exhibit A: liberal Austin, Texas, which is represented in Congress by no less than four Republicans — each of whom represents a district...Read More
Behind the Scenes at the Oscars “There are about 1,100 actors in the Academy, by far its largest branch. Naturally, they don’t all have the same opinion. Some responded more to “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Dallas Buyers Club” or “Nebraska,” all best picture nominees as well. Marking those or the other contenders ” “Her,”...Read More
Are Natural Disasters Partisan? Every time the wire services publish a photo of President Obama comforting a victim of Hurricane Sandy, it’s hard to imagine jaded citizens (and potential voters) not being touched, at least a little bit (and no, I’m not attaching political motives to Obama’s humanitarian actions). In fact, a broader principle seems to be...Read More
