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November 2015

Blog No. 86 Racial Protests On Campus: A Curious Phenomenon, Part I

A few weeks ago, we were trying to collect our thoughts with a view to writing something about race relations in the United States. Specifically, we were thinking of the ways in which blacks and whites view, and often misunderstand, each other and how that relates to issues of racial injustice involving, for example, discrimination in housing and employment and distortions of the criminal justice system. Then we were interrupted by the events at the University of Missouri and the ensuing wave of protests at campuses across the country. Perhaps in common with many readers of RINOcracy.com, we had trouble deciding what to make of it all. We are still not certain, but thought we would share a few tentative observations in hopes that they would be of interest and with the thought of returning in a later blog to perhaps more significant racial issues.

It has seemed to us that the campus protesters may have something in common with the supporters of Donald Trump, a comparison, we recognize, that will not please either group. In the case of each, however, we think that there are genuine reasons for their members to be upset, and even angry, but that their response has not been particularly constructive. We can understand Trump supporters who feel that the government has not functioned well, has not listened to their concerns, and has favored others at their expense. We think, however, that they err in channeling their anger and frustration into support of a candidate who, in our view, is manifestly unqualified, by experience or temperament, to be president. As for the campus protesters, we do not doubt that many have observed or been the recipient of some form of racial animus. Such experiences are at best regrettable and at worst deplorable. We do not believe, however, that the protesters serve their own cause, or the cause of the larger minority community, by noisy or even violent demonstrations in support of demands that often appear extravagant.Read More »Blog No. 86 Racial Protests On Campus: A Curious Phenomenon, Part I

Blog No. 85 After Paris and Between Debates: Whither the GOP?

If anyone here remembers the Fourth GOP Debate with Fox Business News on November 10, please raise your hand.  Ah, that’s what we thought.

Given the passage of time, the intervening events of Islamic terrorism in Paris and Mali, the debate over refugees and the almost daily embarrassments from Donald Trump, it was inevitable the Fourth Debate would not have a lengthy shelf-life. Nevertheless, the issues raised at the debate, and the candidates’ approaches to them will continue to hover over the campaign. So perhaps it is useful to refresh some recollections to better appreciate the next debate (scheduled for December 15 in Las Vegas and to be sponsored by CNN and Salem Radio).Read More »Blog No. 85 After Paris and Between Debates: Whither the GOP?

Special Bulletin. Terrorism in Paris

We were drafting some comments on the most recent GOP debate and the troubling questions as to the direction of the Party. We expect to post those comments in a day or so, but when the news of the terrorist attacks in Paris began to come in, those comments seemed for the moment considerably less urgent.

Whenever a mass killing in this country occurs, and prompts cries for gun control, those demands are met with a reproach not to “politicize” the event. Yet politicizing—a call for political action—is exactly what we believe is called for in response to such tragedies. So Read More »Special Bulletin. Terrorism in Paris

Blog No. 83. Marco Rubio, Hillary Clinton and Benghazi: The Dance of the Pinocchios

2 pinnochiosAfter Hillary Clinton testified before the Benghazi Committee, the consensus was that she had clearly had the better of it. In general, we are inclined to agree with that consensus. In our view, the committee demonstrated once again that such bodies seldom do a good job of interrogating witnesses. Simply as a matter of structure, it is next to impossible to conduct a coherent examination by dividing it into five minute sound bites distributed among questioners with varying skills and levels of preparation and beset by conflicting political motives.Read More »Blog No. 83. Marco Rubio, Hillary Clinton and Benghazi: The Dance of the Pinocchios

Special Bulletin. Can a Future GOP Debate Be More Informative and Entertaining? A Modest Proposal.

In our last blog, we were critical of the format and the performance of the moderators at the debate conducted by CNBC. Since that time there has been extensive discussion and “debate about the debate.”  While numerous suggestions have been made by the candidates and various observers, most of them have been little more than tweaking. We have something a bit more radical (or “modest” in the Swiftian sense).Read More »Special Bulletin. Can a Future GOP Debate Be More Informative and Entertaining? A Modest Proposal.