Is Meryl Streep “Overrated?” Put it this way: if Streep threw her hat in the ring, she certainly wouldn’t be the worst actor to run for — or be elected — President.** Depending which way Donald Trump takes the country, look for Ms. Streep — or possibly another Hollywood marquee actor — to step forward,...Read More
What Would Teddy Tweet? [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced.] Would 26th President (“walk softly and carry a big stick”) Teddy Roosevelt have tweeted? Put it this way: I’m pretty sure that a guy who, after being...Read More
First, Carrier. Next: Single Payer Health Care?? “A little muscle judiciously applied can be a unifying thing.” –Peggy Noonan, “Trump’s Carrier Coup and a Lesson From JFK”; The Wall Street Journal (12/2/16). [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other...Read More
The Folly of Forecasting “It will fluctuate.” –Financier JP Morgan, when asked what the stock market will do. At least to me, forecasts by so-called experts invariably fall into one of three categories. One. Extrapolations of current trends (“same old, same old”). So, if housing prices nationally went up an average of 6% the previous...Read More
Serving the Country, or Himself the Next 4-8 Years? Once everyone recovers from our collective, national OMG moment, what’s next? For the approaching Trump Administration, I’d argue that step #1 isn’t making key White House personnel decisions, appointing Cabinet members, or (God forbid), tweeting in response to inane provocations. Rather, it’s putting his business interests...Read More
Updating John-Paul Sartre’s “No Exit” “On eve of election, deep divide.” –Headline, Star Tribune (11/6/2016) Everywhere you look, assorted pundits and talking heads are lamenting how polarized the electorate has become, and how futile any attempts to unify it are. Not me. I know a surefire way to unite the country. Ready? Here goes: Jail BOTH Hillary...Read More
