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Rites versus rights
A colleague of mine quipped the other day that the only religion he believes in is his own. "Sure," I countered. "You piously believe in your own opinion."
Rites Versus Rights
A colleague of mine quipped the other day that the only religion he believes in is his own. "Sure," I countered. "You piously believe in your own opinion."
Churches: Time to Fight!
You can't win the fight if you don't put on the gloves. A punch-drunk, old heavyweight boxer knows that's a truism, but not the churches of America. The Supreme Court heard arguments this week on the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state by a 52 to 47 margin in 2008 but has since been declared unconstitutional by federal courts. Fox TV, Rush Limbaugh and other talk-show pundits have weighed ...
Sample Some Popular Political Whines
The phone rings in a big warehouse in Oriskiny Falls, N.Y. "Is this Political Whines, Incorporated? " "Yep. Harry Schmidlap speaking. Welcome to the biggest collection of vintage whines anywhere. We have whines popular with Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, and independents." "I have no idea where to begin. Any suggestions? "Sure," Schmidlap says. "Do you want a Jewish whine?" "Yes." "Here's one: I want to go to Loehmann's." " I hope you have better ...
April Fools
The calendar says Monday is April first, but lately it seems that foolishness occurs year-round.
Hey, Is That Butterfly Spying On You?
Salon.com recently ran excerpts of Emily Anthes's book "Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling Up To Biotech's Brave New Beasts," and I may never look at national security the same way again.
Unlimited: The Cult of the Self
According to the Bible, the ancient Israelites strayed from worship of God into idolatry. Today, America has done the same- except rather than placing a golden calf upon an altar, we have erected a mirror.
Not the Devil, but Silver-Tongued
The devil is in the details. Maybe I'd better explain. As it goes, the hit History Channel show, "The Bible," was recently called out because the actor playing the part of Satan, Moroccan-born Mohamen Mehdi Ouazanni, looks eerily similar to President Obama. I don't think Obama is the devil, but he surely has one characteristic that old Beelzebub is known for: a silver tongue. See, many people think that if they met the devil in ...
Without reform, Medicaid expansion will bankrupt Texas
What's the catch? Whenever something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Our country, since the FDR era, has believed in entitlements as an earned benefit that serves as a safety net for all Americans. Unfortunately, those programs, created in the 1940s and only modestly changed since then, are unaffordable, promising more in benefits that the revenue they receive. This leaves two options: reduce benefits for future beneficiaries or increase revenue. To date, ...
It’s better to go to the source
HOLLYWOOD – God bless America, and how's everybody? Starbucks alarmed the food and beverage world Tuesday by announcing it's bought its first coffee bean farm in South America. They believe that this is the best way to get the best-quality coffee beans. The next day, Taco Bell annouced it will buy a horse farm. Carnival Cruises had another generator outage Friday causing toilets to overflow on a ship for the third time. ...
How not to honor St. Patrick
Ah, St. Patrick's Day is upon us. That means but one thing: time for Americans to over-celebrate the Irish tradition. I speak of the goofy Leprechaun hats, the gaudy green buttons and scarves and the propensity to drink excessive amounts of alcohol at fake Irish pubs while trying to be authentically Irish. Though I'm not entirely without guilt. Eight years ago in a gentrified section of Washington, D.C., I visited a fake Irish pub a ...
Rand Paul: GOP’s national salvation or doom?
A national political star is born. Kentucky's' Republican Senator Rand Paul became the political Justin Beiber of libertarians everywhere and a role model for GOPers who want to grab media attention by staging a dramatic "talking filibuster." And, suddenly, Republicans who had steadfastly resisted the idea of bringing back talking filibusters were falling all over themselves to get involved and praise it.
Rand Paul and the New Isolationism
The Republican civil war has so many factions, you need a scorecard to sort them out - tea partyers versus the establishment; conservatives versus moderates; gubernatorial wing versus congressional wing; religious rightists versus tolerants - and even the despairing Republican National Committee, in its newly released autopsy of the '12 campaign, says the party is "driving around in circles on an ideological cul de sac."
Obama Must Convince Israel He is Trustworthy
When Air Force One touches down in Israel for meetings this week, President Barack Obama has his hands full. Iran is about a year away from developing a nuclear weapon and Obama must convince Israel he is trustworthy before he can suggest to anyone that taking a preemptive strike against Iran is a lousy idea.
The miracle of the junk food performed
HOLLYWOOD - God bless America, and how's everybody? Hostess Twinkies were rescued in bankruptcy auction Friday along with Ding Dongs and Dolly Madison cakes. They will be on stores shelves by summer. Americans were amazed that Pope Francis wasn't in office for one day before he performed his first miracle. Pope Francis reportedly impressed his fellow Cardinals in Rome with his devotion to a humble lifestyle. He gave up his house for a studio apartment, ...
Articles by Section - Columnists
Mister, Mister
Here's a little game I invented the other day after phoning the water company to complain about my bill and hearing an overly-chipper woman say, "Hi, Peter. How may I help you?"
Father’s Day: Can It Survive?
My son Gideon (age nine) assures me that he will be a good father someday, but will that be an empty accomplishment? In another 20 years or so will there even be a Father's Day?
How Darrell Issa Undermines the GOP’s IRS Issue
Quick: someone call a chiropractor for California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa. He's overreached so far his arm may separate from his shoulder. Even some key figures in his party are suggesting he needs an adjustment. F-a-s-t.
You’re being audited, no joke
HOLLYWOOD--God bless America, and how's everybody?
The Games Behind the Olympics Games
Washington, D.C., is in the grip of scandals, the economy is stumbling and a host of other challenges are weighing me down - which is why I prefer to dwell on more obscure subjects, such as a battle raging behind the scenes over the 2020 Olympics.
Obama and the Media: Biting the Hand that Feeds Him
Since the Obama administration has confessed to spying on journalists at the Associated Press and Fox News, have you noticed there are more stories about the Obama scandals in the news?
What Is a Journalist?
As amateur news hounds gain power and influence through social media, the definition of "journalist" has ripened for philosophical debate. But now it's becoming a legal issue – one that could hamper efforts to protect the news profession at the very time federal lawmakers are awakening to the need to do so.
