“I WILL NOT SEEK NOR WILL I ACCEPT THE NOMINATION Of MY PARTY……”

Those were the words President Lyndon Baines Johnson used on March 31, 1968 when he recognized that it was over for him as President of the United States of America. The Vietnam War had devoured him and he had no chance of uniting his Party, The Democratic Party, under his leadership. Johnson’s choice to succeed

NANCY PELOSI: SIMPLY THE BEST

I’ve been fascinated with politics since I saw Jack Kennedy’s limousine pull up the back ramp of the Boston Garden Election Eve 1960. By sheer luck, I was given an opportunity to work as an intern in the US Senate in 1963. Later, as a lawyer, I testified a few times before Congressional Committees. I’ve

WRONGFOOTING THE BEAR

The Bear is Putin and he can’t quite get his story straight. He feels, in his gut, that Ukraine is really part of Russia but he doesn’t know how to say so, convincingly. Every time he gets ready to find a reason to start some high-intensity pushing and shoving in Ukraine, Jake Sullivan stools the

QUOTES FOR FUN

I love quotes from the famous and infamous. They stimulate the mind and spring me loose from my default state of…who knows. There’s a great quote written in cement in front of the building in Washington housing the originals of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence, “What’s Past is Prologue.” It’s from Shakespeare, modified, in

TRUMP: TALKING TO HIMSELF

Kennedy drew 60,000 at 3AM in Waterbury; Obama, 150,00 in Denver; Trump 6,200 in Tulsa, including staff, secret service, assorted flunkies, wannabees, and, supernumeraries. That’s about right. The universe is starting to make sense. The Trump Act is getting stale and tired. The “cover story” of shaking things up does’t wash. Deep state, Antifa (anyone

GOTTA GO WITH JOE

I’m not jumping up and down about Biden. He doesn’t do that for many people. I’m not looking to send him a check. I sent a couple to Tulsi, but that’s another story. If Joe was speaking to a group across the street (and mass meetings were allowed) I wouldn’t go. I’m afraid if I

I KNOW I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE

I know I’m not the only one who likes and has supported Barack Obama and ended up supporting Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation as a Justice of the Supreme Court. How could that be you ask. Easy. In politics, hate (or dislike) is a far stronger motivator than love (or like). That’s not my bright idea, it’s

HIT HIM IN THE BASE

You want to beat Trump? Hit him in the base. But in a nice way. Sort of like how Reagan beat Carter and Kennedy beat Nixon and Obama beat Romney. Cheerful, with a bit of self deprecating humor, not angry. More mensch not momzer. (Harry Truman was a mensch, Rick Santorum a momzer). What we

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

Is it not enough outrage or not enough responsibility? Or both? The answer is both. Benjamin Franklin pointed us in the right direction on September 17, 1787. The Constitutional Convention had just concluded its work. A citizen called out to Franklin as he was exiting the hall …”what have you given us Dr. Franklin?” Franklin’s

BACK TO BASICS

When things get crazy slow everything down and go back to basics. The great truths have not been repealed….ignored, yes…but not repealed. Consider: NATURE (AND POLITICS) ABHORS A VACUUM (PARMENDIES, PHILOSPHER, GREECE, 485 BC) The Office of President of the United States is essentially vacant. The occupant is happy to spend his days at parades