Blog
Democracy Takes Time, Even in the Middle East
June 27, 2012
Last week’s Wall Street Journal ran a sobering piece by Bret Stephens about the disappointing results of democratic elections in Egypt the previous weekend. It’s true that democracy’s defenders have lately been mugged by reality.
On...
Nora Ephron, a writer for all seasons, dead at 71
June 27, 2012
A few thoughts on the death, last week, of screenwriter, journalist, essayist, film director, and playwright Nora Ephron at age 71. Nora Ephron defied the conventional wisdom that you can only do one thing well in life.
Born into a...
Democracy is not a panacea – but with real commitment, it is a possible future
June 19, 2012
Last week’s Wall Street Journal ran a sobering piece by Bret Stephens in about the disappointing results of democratic elections the previous weekend. It’s true that democracy’s defenders have lately been mugged by...
Up up and away with JICNY
June 14, 2012
Last night I was fortunate to attend the yearly gala for Jewish International Connection New York (JICNY). Founded by Gavin and Jodi Samuels and Steve Eisenberg, the organization holds over 200 free and low-cost events a year and provides a...
Calling out Jewish self-haters
June 13, 2012
Interesting piece in today’s Jerusalem Post about self-hating Jews. Of particular value is the psychologist’s perspective in the piece that, just as an abused child will sometimes internalize the abuser’s...
Senator Dick Lugar Departs with a Statesman’s Warning
May 27, 2012
It’s a departing statesman’s job to share what he has learned. George Washington famously cautioned Americans to take advantage of a “detached and distant situation” to “pursue a different course” from that of Europe and avoid...
Ay Caramba! Berkley Weeps for Workers–While Her Hubby’s Trust Collects Wal-Mart Dividends
May 27, 2012
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), the liberal Democrat Senate candidate trying to unseat Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) in November, is a gung-ho supporter of labor unions who highlights her tight relationship with Big Labor in her...
Cory Booker’s spring
May 26, 2012
With Newark’s mayor in the headlines for braving a burning building to rescue a neighbor and more recently characterizing as “nauseating” efforts on both sides of the political aisle to demonize the other...
Conservatives imagine Lugar has a ‘tude –when he’s simply making a point
May 9, 2012
Full disclosure: with yesterday’s defeat of Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, this independent political commentator believes the American people lost a decent and experienced legislator. As I wrote in two previous posts here and here...
Too bad the American family is enjoying no such surplus
May 8, 2012
In April, the federal government notched its first budget surplus since President Obama took office, according to today’s news.
Too bad it would appear that American families aren’t seeing any such surplus.
I’m no...