More to come, but I have to start work. . . Here are the numbers, if electoral votes were assigned on the basis of the popular vote: Clinton: 257 Trump: 256 Johnson: 18 Stein: 5 McMullin: 2 Does this mean that Clinton would have “won” the election? She still wouldn’t have had 270 electoral votes. Would an “electoral college reform” include a final Winner Take All rule for such cases? Would this be any more democratic and people-empowering then our... Read more
I suspect my commentary on the election, such as it is, is going to come in bits and pieces as I process it. Unlike Clinton supporters, I’m not devastated at the results, nor am I panicked that the economy and the entire world order will collapse — yes, there’s a risk of that, but we have to work together, and hope that Congress works to avoid that, and hope that worst-case scenarios don’t come to pass. But here’s what I... Read more
Let’s start by saying that I did not expect last night’s results. I think I’m still in shock, really. We watched the election results, switching alternately between CNN & Fox News, while I simultaneously checked my twitter feed (I had to switch to cellular when the wifi stopped working), up until a bit past 11:00, when Michigan and Pennsylvania were still undecided, and when there were a few scenarios in which Trump and Clinton would end up with a tie.... Read more
Also in the USA Today. it was less coherent and outlinable. Drain the swamp. Repeal Obamacare. Fix trade deals. Vouchers. Contract with the American Voter. Blah, blah, blah. I don’t think he’ll win so it’s of little interest to me. Your mileage may vary. Feel free to comment. Image: from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump Read more
As published in USA Today, on Monday. She proclaims her intention to be bipartisan, to be sure. But then she lists her 4 top priorities: “the biggest investment in new jobs since World War II.” Not sure exactly what she has in mind, and I’ve tried to find more details in the past, but it seems to be a matter of massive subsidies for “green jobs” as well as substantial increases in government infrastructure spending. “Comprehensive immigration reform” — meaning... Read more
So, as faithful readers of this blog know, June 23 found us in London, touristing, and on June 24th we observed the Brexit aftermath, with the mass of reporters just outside of the Houses of Parliament. And the Sunday prior, we were at mass at St. Etheldreda’s, chosen because it was the closest church to our rental apartment, but it also happened to have quite a history, being the oldest Catholic church in England — not continuously used as such,... Read more
Because there are things happening in the world besides the election and the Cubs, including this video that was shared by a facebook friend, an upworthy-type item about a girl, Sydney Ireland, who has started a change.org petition asking the Boy Scouts to admit girls and allow them to earn the Eagle rank. I say “update” in the title because a year ago I wrote about another case of girls asking to become Boy Scouts. The petitioner in question is not... Read more
Everyone’s celebrating the Cubs victory — the underdog team, against all odds winning the World Series for the first time in 108 years. And taken in isolation, that is extraordinary, to have been the underdog year after year, and now, in 2016, to emerge from that “lovable loser” status to win the World Series. It’s proof that anything can happen, that impossible dreams can come true, and seen as percursor or metaphor, or somehow connected to our very unexpected 2016... Read more
I’ll start you off: Clinton orders a no-fly-zone in Syria, and knocks a Russian plane out of the sky, causing Russian retaliation. Trump’s footsie with Putin emboldens him to move troops into Estonia, claiming ethnic Russian Estonians are suffering. Or maybe Putin does so in retaliation for the Syrian thing. Clinton shuts down the FBI investigation of the Clinton Foundation and replaces everyone in the FBI who won’t swear allegiance to her. Trump shuts down Trump University lawsuits. Clinton... Read more
Yes, I stayed up past my bedtime (oh, who am I kidding? I often stay up later than I should) watching the World Series, and yes, it’s exciting to see the Cubs win in the 10th inning. Though, to be honest, I feel more happy for all my friends and neighbors and everyone else who has loved the Cubs over the years, than I feel excited about the win itself. And I was playing around with a clever title, something... Read more
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