An odd byproduct of Donald Trump being extremely stupid is that he sometimes says the quiet parts out loud. He did that the other day when he all but admitted that Republican electoral prospects depend on voter suppression. From the Washington Post’s Aaron Blake: In an interview on “Fox…
Category: Donald Trump
Coronavirus and Charlie Baker’s Party Problem
Back in the serene days of fall 2019 some in the Massachusetts political class were discussing whether Governor Charlie Baker should remain a Republican, go Independent, or even start a new party. The coronavirus crisis has exposed an even knottier conundrum for Baker. That has to do with the state’s need for federal aid. In…
Congress Needs to Wake Up to the Coronavirus Threat
The recent outbreak of novel coronavirus is one of the most alarming public health emergencies of the twenty-first century. Nancy Messonnier, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), called the situation “unprecedented” adding that the CDC is “preparing as if this is the next…
It’s Time For Warren to Lead Democrats Away from Bernie’s Rhetoric & Revolution
The ongoing spat between the two most progressive Democratic candidates for president is likely a pre-view of things to come. Bernie Sanders’ campaign playbook is not a “who dun it.” Everyone knows that he will rely on attacking his Democratic opponents with rhetoric that is virtually indistinguishable to that he levels at Republicans. Senator Warren…
It’s time to stand and be counted.
President Donald J. Trump will be impeached today for abusing his office for personal gain and for obstructing Congress’ ability to investigate his conduct. The evidence against him is clear and overwhelming. So clear and overwhelming is the evidence that Republicans on Capitol Hill concluded that they had to deny everything. Any acknowledgement of guilt…
Mass Pols for President Have the Right Training & Temperament
Deval Patrick’s decision to join the race late looks to me like an expression of determination that I share. Patrick, a two-term governor of Massachusetts, understands American politics, which is to say, he understands the necessity of practical, non-ideological, political leadership. I think Governor Patrick, Senator Warren, and even Governor Weld are determined to take…
Day One: Impeachable Offenses
Every American should be watching the impeachment investigation. The realities of jobs, family, and other responsibilities preclude that for most. And that’s too bad because when it comes to the health of this American democracy the importance of this hearing cannot be overstated. This is a test for our democratic experiment. Can Americans put on…
The 2019 Bolivian Crisis – A Brief Explainer
What did we just see happen overnight in Bolivia? The answer is complicated, so let me give some background. Evo Morales, the Bolivian President who resigned last night, was first elected in 2006. At the time, his elevation to the highest office was hailed as a major victory because he was the first indigenous person…
Senator Warren’s Linguistic Stand Deserves Thoughtful Attention
Is it dishonest to refuse to tell a murderer where his next intended victim is hiding and instead to explain how we can reduce murder rates? If someone did reveal such information to a murderer, would Senator Warren’s critics applaud them for “at least being honest about their plan?” The effort to discredit Elizabeth Warren’s…
Be Grateful: In Massachusetts politics we can still have nice things
I’m on all the mailing lists, electronic and otherwise. The communications from the MassGOP have never been particularly impressive, but under its current leadership the MassGOP has become a laughingstock. The MassGOP, perennially ineffectual, has understandably employed snark and disingenuousness as a regular feature of its rhetorical portfolio for a long time, but the strategic…