The President is in trouble. How do we know? International news organizations, disposed to like the President, are beginning to worry about him. And yet what American would wish for another failed President? By a failed presidency, I do not mean policy or decisions. I never voted for this President and I oppose his agenda, but by a failed presidency I mean atotal incapacity    to serve as head of state. Within a year, President Obama will be a lame... Read more

If you love Mark Sanford, primary him. Mark Sanford is unfit to serve in Congress and it is shame that the voters of South Carolina were faced with such dismal choices in the last election: a vacuous leftist versus a verminous righty. Of course, Republican primary voters brought it on themselves by not voting in the lower-turnout primary for his opponent. For all we know his opponent would have been forced to resign in disgrace, but at least we would... Read more

Forty-two years ago, almost exactly, I went to my Dad and asked to be introduced to you. I was a boy, but I knew the difference between my thoughts and your Voice. Your voice in my heart cannot be confused with my own, because that sweet voice is nobler, purer, more charitable than any thought I have ever had left to myself. My own thoughts argue, dissect, and look to my advantage. I judge myself harshly, excuse myself slyly, and... Read more

Al Geier, the closest person to Socrates I know, was leading class at HBU a few weekends ago and someone (it could have been me) said, “We need to think for ourselves and encourage others to do the same.” He looked at someone (it could have been me) and said, “No. We need to think well and encourage others to do the same.” And I knew he was right. Platitudes are dangerous, because they discourage thought, but thinking is dangerous,... Read more

My daughters are particularly insightful. When they met met the person who runs the Provost’s office at HBU, they knew that they had met a most excellent person and began to refer to her as Saint Linda. Really, since she is very much alive, she should be called Saint-In-the-Making Linda, but their message to me was clear: listen to Saint Linda. And I try. I am so trying that Saint-In-the-Making Linda is getting to sanctity  faster. I am so loud... Read more

Tenth grade was bad enough without adding forced cheerfulness. She arrived when I was in tenth grade and was very, very smart, virtuous, and lovely. I sent her a note, because that was what I did in tenth grade when overwhelmed by holiness or hormones. She turned me down for some very good reasons: I was immature, hasty, overly romantic, and did not know her well enough to have any opinion of her. In the midst of making her case,... Read more

The Warren family lost a son. I wish there was something I could do to comfort this family, but cannot form any helpful words. Should I reach out? I wonder if it is appropriate for me to write publicly about their private pain, until I see that this pain has become public. They have no need for any wisdom from me and I would not insult grief by pretending a parent can be talked out of the pain of losing... Read more