I’m enough of traditional conservative (Republican brand has been co-opted) to proudly claim I’ve been consistent on voting against the liberal Kennedy clan. Raised in Mass before I left for college out west, remained a registered MA voter through Teddy ‘82 (campaign). Old enough to proudly vote against an RFK aligned Trump campaign.
It is a generalization to assume Republicans support Kennedy and for those taking logic, we know the validity of a generalization. Despite being a forsaken Republican by a party divided, I detest RK as do most of my Republican friends. I detest most people in the Trump administration but being a Republican doesn't mean I support the most corrupt President in history. It also doesn't mean I must vote Republican which is good because I live in WA State and Republican candidates are a common as T-Rexes. Rome had both good and bad leaders as has every country in the world. The US is going through a bad time with bad leadership from both parties and a voting populace looking for answers but not educated enough to know what questions to ask. The sidelines are fine for me as I can't make much of a difference in a deep blue state which is stacked toward one party domination.
I've seen people argue sincerely that one must distinguish between a person's private life and public contribution. But it depends on what kind of public contribution we're talking about. For example, I could appreciate Alain Delon as a fine actor, or Ronnie O'Sullivan as a compelling presence at a snooker table, even if they were/are not men of particularly admirable character. (Fill in your own sports heroes.)
But someone who holds a position of public power, with responsibilities to many other people, ought to have at least an average level of trustworthiness. Someone who casually flouts rules of decency and ethics in private life, with a totally untroubled (or totally absent) conscience, is probably not going to be more respectful of ethics or law when handed a great deal of power, and therefore a greater sense of impunity.
I don't need to elaborate on how that self-evident truth is being demonstrated before our eyes.
My dad was an uneducated (quit school go to work at age 16) son of Irish immigrants. When the depression made him jobless in 1932, he became a policeman. When I was about as old as he was when he quit school, he gave me book and sternly instructed me to read it: "God and Man at Yale."
Speaking of character, here are two heartening examples:
In November 2024, I bought a hardcover copy of Caspar Weinberger’s memoir, “In the Arena: A Memoir of the 20th Century,” because I wanted to “spend time” with a Republican who led an exemplary life of public service. And, for me, it was time well spent. The book, which I highly recommend, is available on Amazon.
More recently, I watched Wilfred Frost (son of David Frost) interview Jamie Dimon, who underscored the importance of character for those in leadership roles. This engrossing interview (watch it to the end) could be subtitled: Lessons in Leadership.
Thanks for making me feel old by explaining why Dan Rather mattered. The high point of his career (in my eyes) was his colorful commentary the night of the 2000 election.
“There is NOTHING like America and it still remains the last BEST hope”…Words against despair spoken by my former Rabbi who, if I believed in Karma, got less then he deserved selling out his soul to Heat Miser in the flesh…like so many of your former colleagues at the formerly estimable National Review…I can still see the ogre R.F.K.Jr on the last episode of D.P.’s “Fireside Chat” I ever watched just, off the cuff, still declaring the election was stolen…2004 that is…and the D.P. Show host “Truth is NOT a liberal value” saying “Hold on, you mean to tell me George W. Bush was an illegitimate President of the United States for FOUR YEARS!…Who, how did the ‘November criminals’ get away with it and where are they now!?” Of course Dennis Prager pushed back against his former fellow talk radio host about as much as one of The Dons creatures of the night for hire. Some of the most dishonest, I mean cowardly people I ever looked up to have sold their souls out to the Devil Incarnate, but at least it is safe to say Peter Navarro never had one, like his mob boss he is representing in peace negotiations with our not so benign anymore but still blessed neighbor
When is the White House Press corps going to finally take a brutal jab at The Trump Show and turn their collective backs on the biggest pig ever and walk out of the room and stop broadcasting Idiocracy live…and let him go back to his mean, mean tweets on Anti Truth Sociopath corporate media. Gotta run on. Thanks for taking my rant Onward and Upward. All bad things must come to an end. Peace through superior mental firepower
* Anyway, someone responded to me by saying, “Mother Nature, doing her thing.” *
As Suzanne Simard's most recent book, "When the Forest Breathes", explains, there's much more to the Canadian wildfires than just "Mother Nature". Canada is far from unique. Sophie Pinkham's "The Oak and the Larch" tells a similar story about Russia. Others have explained similar phenomena in the United States. There is a clear cause and effect sequence leading up to recent wildfires.
George Schultz, very late in life, had an unfortunate role in the Theranos scandal.
George Schultz got played by that woman just as there is no such thing as Mother Nature…but it sure is nice to be lie eve in something you wish to be true (à la George Schultz)
He was very old. I remember reading the WSJ reporting at the time and being surprised by George Schultz's involvement ... but then seeing how old he was.
I’m enough of traditional conservative (Republican brand has been co-opted) to proudly claim I’ve been consistent on voting against the liberal Kennedy clan. Raised in Mass before I left for college out west, remained a registered MA voter through Teddy ‘82 (campaign). Old enough to proudly vote against an RFK aligned Trump campaign.
Keep up the great consistent work, Jay!
Thank you, John!
It is a generalization to assume Republicans support Kennedy and for those taking logic, we know the validity of a generalization. Despite being a forsaken Republican by a party divided, I detest RK as do most of my Republican friends. I detest most people in the Trump administration but being a Republican doesn't mean I support the most corrupt President in history. It also doesn't mean I must vote Republican which is good because I live in WA State and Republican candidates are a common as T-Rexes. Rome had both good and bad leaders as has every country in the world. The US is going through a bad time with bad leadership from both parties and a voting populace looking for answers but not educated enough to know what questions to ask. The sidelines are fine for me as I can't make much of a difference in a deep blue state which is stacked toward one party domination.
I've seen people argue sincerely that one must distinguish between a person's private life and public contribution. But it depends on what kind of public contribution we're talking about. For example, I could appreciate Alain Delon as a fine actor, or Ronnie O'Sullivan as a compelling presence at a snooker table, even if they were/are not men of particularly admirable character. (Fill in your own sports heroes.)
But someone who holds a position of public power, with responsibilities to many other people, ought to have at least an average level of trustworthiness. Someone who casually flouts rules of decency and ethics in private life, with a totally untroubled (or totally absent) conscience, is probably not going to be more respectful of ethics or law when handed a great deal of power, and therefore a greater sense of impunity.
I don't need to elaborate on how that self-evident truth is being demonstrated before our eyes.
Beautifully stated, Carol. Thx.
I wonder if the world will ever see another fellow like George Shultz in Government again?
Or Reagan, or Thatcher, or Mulroney, for that matter.
My dad was an uneducated (quit school go to work at age 16) son of Irish immigrants. When the depression made him jobless in 1932, he became a policeman. When I was about as old as he was when he quit school, he gave me book and sternly instructed me to read it: "God and Man at Yale."
'Nuff said?
Speaking of character, here are two heartening examples:
In November 2024, I bought a hardcover copy of Caspar Weinberger’s memoir, “In the Arena: A Memoir of the 20th Century,” because I wanted to “spend time” with a Republican who led an exemplary life of public service. And, for me, it was time well spent. The book, which I highly recommend, is available on Amazon.
More recently, I watched Wilfred Frost (son of David Frost) interview Jamie Dimon, who underscored the importance of character for those in leadership roles. This engrossing interview (watch it to the end) could be subtitled: Lessons in Leadership.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNbY8kR6-j0
Don't forget Shultz was in the Council of Economic Advisers in the Eisenhower administration. In my mind he ranks up there with George Marshall.
Your sour notes strike a chord regardless, Jay.
Thanks for making me feel old by explaining why Dan Rather mattered. The high point of his career (in my eyes) was his colorful commentary the night of the 2000 election.
Trump has no business criticizing anyone's appearance.
I love grammar. I love seeing poor grammar called out. I would have described it harsherly.
Made me smile :)
Ha! I believe the correct phrasing would be “more harsher”.
“There is NOTHING like America and it still remains the last BEST hope”…Words against despair spoken by my former Rabbi who, if I believed in Karma, got less then he deserved selling out his soul to Heat Miser in the flesh…like so many of your former colleagues at the formerly estimable National Review…I can still see the ogre R.F.K.Jr on the last episode of D.P.’s “Fireside Chat” I ever watched just, off the cuff, still declaring the election was stolen…2004 that is…and the D.P. Show host “Truth is NOT a liberal value” saying “Hold on, you mean to tell me George W. Bush was an illegitimate President of the United States for FOUR YEARS!…Who, how did the ‘November criminals’ get away with it and where are they now!?” Of course Dennis Prager pushed back against his former fellow talk radio host about as much as one of The Dons creatures of the night for hire. Some of the most dishonest, I mean cowardly people I ever looked up to have sold their souls out to the Devil Incarnate, but at least it is safe to say Peter Navarro never had one, like his mob boss he is representing in peace negotiations with our not so benign anymore but still blessed neighbor
When is the White House Press corps going to finally take a brutal jab at The Trump Show and turn their collective backs on the biggest pig ever and walk out of the room and stop broadcasting Idiocracy live…and let him go back to his mean, mean tweets on Anti Truth Sociopath corporate media. Gotta run on. Thanks for taking my rant Onward and Upward. All bad things must come to an end. Peace through superior mental firepower
* Anyway, someone responded to me by saying, “Mother Nature, doing her thing.” *
As Suzanne Simard's most recent book, "When the Forest Breathes", explains, there's much more to the Canadian wildfires than just "Mother Nature". Canada is far from unique. Sophie Pinkham's "The Oak and the Larch" tells a similar story about Russia. Others have explained similar phenomena in the United States. There is a clear cause and effect sequence leading up to recent wildfires.
George Schultz, very late in life, had an unfortunate role in the Theranos scandal.
George Schultz got played by that woman just as there is no such thing as Mother Nature…but it sure is nice to be lie eve in something you wish to be true (à la George Schultz)
He was very old. I remember reading the WSJ reporting at the time and being surprised by George Schultz's involvement ... but then seeing how old he was.