As a fiscal conservative–and someone who believes in fiscal responsibility–I would normally applaud efforts by any elected official to demand an accounting for how taxpayer dollars are spent. I’ve seen way too many budget workshops, public hearings and final votes that saw nobody question four percent increases in spending in one department’s budget and two…… MORE
Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That
We have a new controversy separating the country. No, it’s not repressed memory accusations against a Supreme Court nominee or what show should have won an Emmy for best comedy. The nation is now engrossed in an argument over whether Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie are gay. The firestorm was lit by former Sesame…… MORE
The Show Trial of the Century
A couple of weeks ago, I played for you the opening statement of Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse during the Brett Kavanaugh nomination hearings where he lamented the Legislative Branch’s abdication of its powers prescribed in the Constitution. It was Sasse’s point that such Supreme Court nominations have taken on a life or death hysteria because…… MORE
It’s Only Going to Get Worse
If it’s any consolation to Packers’ fans, eventually every fan base in the NFL will be as angry with the league as you are this morning. As long as the rules of the league continue to be reactionary, capricious and arbitrary, every team will eventually lose a game because an official tried to enforce a…… MORE
Left Standing To Rot
Urban decay is often blamed on social causes. Working class whites fleeing the inner city for the suburbs. Manufacturers closing down large production facilities that were the lifeblood of cities. Increasing poverty and failing schools are usually cited as well. I prefer to go political, blaming the election of Democrats to run cities for decades…… MORE
It’s Not the Booze’s Fault
Court hearings are often among the most-emotional events that I cover. The loss of life due to a criminal act often generates anger, passion and grief that gets brought up again and again with each hearing. The ante is increased now that the State requires victims, survivors and family members to get their say in…… MORE
The Thin Line
I’ve gotta say that I am not surprised in the least by the revelations contained in Bob Woodward’s new book about the inner workings of the Trump White House called Fear. A celebrity that gained his greatest fame by mocking other celebrities, that built his business on intimidation of contractors and local government officials, and…… MORE
The Cannonization of Ruth Bader Ginsberg
With apologies to the egos of the Kardashians, there is no woman hotter in America right now than Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. There is not one but two movies coming out about her life–one a documentary by CNN that premiers on Sunday night–and another starring Felicity Jones being made in Hollywood. There are…… MORE
The 2020 Republican Nominee for President
In 2016, I wrote-in House Speaker Paul Ryan both during the August Presidential primary and in the November General Election for President. In November, I also wrote-in Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse for Vice President–and on Tuesday, in the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Sasse all but guaranteed he was getting my vote…… MORE
Dear Class of 2032
A lot of pundits like to write “graduation speeches” in the spring for the poor, unfortunate newbies heading into the “real world” for the first time. But today, I’d like to address the incoming kindergartners with a “welcome speech” to get them ready for the next 13 years: Dear Class of 2032 (doesn’t seem super-futuristic…… MORE
