The silence of the Republicans NEW YORK — Once Donald Trump locked up the nomination, Republicans were confident about his next moves. He would tone down his rhetoric and pivot to the center. “Donald Trump understands that this is not a primary season anymore,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. Trump aide Paul Manafort […]
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The problem with Congress might not be fixable
Congress is in the midst of a breakdown in longstanding institutional norms. The latest example is the Senate’s refusal to hold confirmation hearings for Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court — a refusal that is probably without precedent. But something broader is occurring, and it threatens to undermine the federal government’s […]
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Move ahead on North Woods Monument
As a lifelong resident of the Katahdin region, fully supportive of the proposed Maine Woods National Monument, I thank U.S. Sen. Angus King for hosting his meeting in Orono, helping further discussion about the proposal and the opportunities it would provide. After graduating from Katahdin High School and before settling in Patten with my wife […]
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Will Orlando drive us from our corners?
It only compounded the horror that the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history called forth talking points that had been composed long before 50 innocents were murdered early Sunday. The immediate reactions on social media to the killings at Pulse Orlando, a popular gay dance club, etched a portrait of our national divisions, our mutual […]
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British favor leaving European Union
WASHINGTON — Brexit is winning — that is, Britain’s exit from the European Union. As the June 23 referendum approaches, public opinion has swung toward “Leave” the EU as opposed to “Remain” in the EU. This has fueled anxieties about the global economy and the fate of Europe. Brexit could compound economic pessimism, leading to […]
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Orlando the latest ISIS battleground
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the June 12 early-morning terror attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Terrorist Omar Mateen murdered at least 49 people and wounded 53. He held hostages for three hours, until a police SWAT team killed him. Mainstream media have focused on Orlando’s proximity to Disneyland. A war is on, […]
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Can’t trust all social media offerings
“The Bernie Bros are out in full force harassing female reporters,” according to a recent headline on The Washington Post’s website. Why did the author conclude that the “Bernie Bros” were acting badly? Several respected female journalists had written that they’d been subjected to vulgar and threatening emails, phone messages and tweets — purportedly from […]
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Hillary Clinton has been bought and paid for
“Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life.” — Frank Sinatra, as Maj. Bennett Marco “His brain has not only been washed, as they say … It has been dry-cleaned.” — Khigh Dhiegh, as Dr. Yen Lo These lines from the 1962 classic film “The Manchurian […]
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What we can be; what we too often are
I am supposed to be writing about a shooting in Orlando, but my thoughts keep circling back to a funeral in Louisville. About the shooting, you have doubtless already heard your fill of grisly details. Suffice it to say that in the dark hours of Sunday morning, a Muslim man armed with a military-style assault […]
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The absurd availability of assault weapons
A man walks into a nightclub with an AR-15. It is similar to the weapon I was trained on in the Army. It was designed for combat, to kill as many of the enemy as possible in the shortest amount of time. I was pretty good with it, even earned a marksmanship badge, but when […]