We failed to meet the higher calling of a vision of America that seemed within reach during the Obama years, which will seem like time out of mind before long. Our constitutional democracy has a legacy of bloody violence, but with…
Politics
Thomas Piketty: We must rethink globalization, or Trumpism will prevail – The Guardian
The main lesson for Europe and the world is clear: as a matter of urgency, globalization must be fundamentally re-oriented. The main challenges of our times are the rise in inequality and global warming. We must therefore implement international treaties…
Harold Pollack: The Democrats’ biggest mistakes – The Reality-Based Community
Throughout 2016, our party triumphantly presented itself as the embodiment of America’s multi-cultural, multi-racial demographic future. Of course, our national convention was the peak expression of that triumphalism, featuring Mothers of the Movement, the electrifying speeches by Mr. Khan and…
“The Kremlin Didn’t Elect Trump – Obama Did”: Outline of Implications of Russian Information Operations in the 2016 Elections
Observers from center right to left, and including recognized security experts as well as pundits or political intellectuals, are now claiming that the Russian government under Vladimir Putin made war upon the United State of America; that the government and people of the United States, under the presidency of Barack Obama, failed to offer a serious defense; and that we in America as well as friends and allies have suffered an historic defeat.
Posted in International Relations, notes, Operation American Greatness, Politics, War Tagged with: Obama, Russia, Trump
Mark Lilla: The End of Identity Liberalism – NYTimes.com
We need a post-identity liberalism, and it should draw from the past successes of pre-identity liberalism. Such a liberalism would concentrate on widening its base by appealing to Americans as Americans and emphasizing the issues that affect a vast majority…
Marianne Constable: When Words Cease to Matter – Amor Mundi – Medium
Deliberate disregard of language poses a worse danger to political discussion and to the public realm than do ignorance and lies. Ignorance can be met with education. Falsehood and deception can be called out as illusion; they can be challenged…
Posted in Noted & Quoted, Operation American Greatness, Political Philosophy, Politics Tagged with: Trump
This Is How Steve Bannon Sees The Entire World – BuzzFeed News
Questioner: What do you think is the major threat today, to the Judeo-Christian Civilization? Secularism, or the Muslim world? In my humble opinion, they’re just trying to defend themselves from our cultural invasion. Thank you. [Question restated by Harnwell] Bannon:…
Posted in Noted & Quoted, Operation American Greatness, Politics, War Tagged with: Alt-Right, Steve Bannon
Ben Mathis-Lilley: Richard Rorty predicted election of Trump-like figure in 1998 – Slate
Here’s one of the very next lines in that book after the crazily prescient ones above: “After my imagined strongman takes charge, he will quickly make his peace with the international superrich.” Here’s a headline from Thursday in the Huffington…
Paula Dwyer: Why Obama should pardon Hillary Clinton – Chicago Tribune
[H]alf the country now worries, and the other half hopes, that Trump will make good on his threat. More likely, he’ll contract the job out to House Republicans salivating over the prospect of televised hearings, starting with Clinton raising her…
Mark Penn: The Hillary Clinton of 2000 would have beaten Donald Trump – TheHill
She defended rather than apologized for her vote in 2008, willing to pay a political price for standing by her principles and decisions. Partially as a result of that, she was universally seen as the leader who could answer the…