"Bret Stephens: I agree with you in questioning the necessity for — and with your readers in doubting the constitutionality of — that congressional chaplaincy. Just another case of big government run amok."
-------
Ummm, the Congressional Chaplaincy was established in 1789. Hardly the era of "big government."
6
The more I see and hear of these rallies, I am sickened by the gross, horrible, toxic blathering. Who is paying for these rallies? Where is the outrage that the president of the United States acts like a huckster at a carnival, belittling his adversaries and predecessors? Is the Republican Party responsible? Because whoever is enabling this horrific display of hatred and animosity between Americans deserves to be in prison. This is not what our country stands for. We need leaders who bring out the best in all of us, instead of encouraging our worst behavior. If this is paid for by the taxpayers then it needs to end. If it's paid for by the republicans- SHAME! You will reap what you sow. The Trump debacle is not going to end up well. Karma will catch up to the enablers of this hysteria.
15
So Bush senior is enjoying a moment of esteem. It is easy to forget how eager he was to exploit the racist images of Willy Horton lurking around white women. Let's not confuse an awkward and near desperate politician with a moral paragon or statesman.
5
There are chaplains serving in the armed forces. Should they be separated?
1
Just watched the film 1984 with John Hurt and Richard Burton. The beginning of the film shows a mass of humanity extolling Big Brother's greatness by incessantly shouting "Big! Big!" when a giant screen showed his picture. When the screen changed to show the state's enemy Goldstein the people started yelling "Traitor! Traitor!" I immediately thought of the people at Trump rallies when Trump was on the 2016 campaign trail.
5
Elect a narcissist and you don't get a credible leader. You get a guy continually making things worse tweeting and talking while lacking a normal person's filter. It's beyond ridiculous. Soon no one will be able to stand him. Worst president ever. Impeach or censure or both. Investigate everything. What a mistake he proved himself to be. #Mueller Time
4
I am so sick of Trump, of Trump dominating every conversation, of Trump's pseudo-outrages re-defining outrageousness, of Trump's pathetic outbursts and infidelities, of all-things TRUMP. And most of all, of the media's numbing myopia of viewing everything through the clown glasses of Trump. Please, talk about something else for awhile.
5
Is there a better example of the power of the first amendment than holding an event where a comic trashes everyone mercilessly? I'm never prouder of my country than when Stephen Colbert or Michelle Wolf stands up in front of some of the most powerful people in the world and viciously makes fun of them. (When I lived in China, I showed Chinese people the video of Joe Wong at the Radio TV dinner making fun of US politics -- the Chinese were astonished at the level of freedom this represented, and were delighted by it). The schmoozing represented by the dinner looks terrible. Get rid of the schmoozing, but hire the nastiest comic you can find every year -- it does wonders for America's image abroad and it sends fireworks in celebration of the very soul of the first amendment.
8
Please, please, be passionate about passing the ERA, which concerns the rights and dignity of half of this country’s citizens. And in purely political terms, what better time than now to force public discussion of the equality of women. I think people in both parties should know where their elected officials stand on this basic issue.
2
The H2A program IS the new bracero program.
The farmer pays the worker's transportation from wherever they live, as long as it is 60 miles or more from work, and back to their home at season's end; provide rent free housing and transportation for shopping. And to make sure H2A is not taking jobs from locals, an Adverse Minimum Wage is instituted. WA's is $14.12/hour.
Americans can accept an H2A contract also. For WA we advertise in newspapers in WA, ID, OR and CA, also Work Sources offices.
Yes, it's hot and its tough, but you get to work outside, get in great shape and sleep deeply.
And you will see what it really takes to get fruit on your table.
6
Brett Stephens: Why do you believe Congress was right to slash the corporate rate?
6
Trump reminds me of the grateful Dead (forgive me). Short on new material, but most at home just truckin' around the country giving an unbelievably tolerant fanbase show after show after show, many of very mixed quality, but hey, there is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, right?
Trump is the Dead of the reactionary right. He really only works on tour. Put him in the studio, and it turns out, he doesn't have anything new to say, and is actually pretty awful at that part of the business.
I say, just let Trump keep touring. Unlike the Dead, I highly doubt many will still be revisiting much memorable times for very long.
What a short strange trip it will be.
47
pjc
The Economy is great
Unemployment is down.
Taxes are lower.
Workers are getting very good bonuses.
Families are saving with lowered taxes.
ISIS is almost defeated.
The President is going to North Korea to meet Kim Jon-un.
etc.
Bret Stephens: Cuts in personal rates were modest, so people aren’t coming out of tax season feeling richer and more grateful.
What an obtuse thing to say, and I'm reasonably sure Stephens recognized it when he read it after it was published.
The point?
Obviously people would feel NO effect from the Trump tax cuts in the filing season of April 2018, since they will only experience their implied net effect NEXT April.
1
82% of the tax cuts go to the top 1%. The increase in my property tax eliminates any net gain for me. We are just making the wealthy more wealthy. Bring back the tax rates of the prosperous Eisenhower years.
21
This "conversation" was great fun. And their discussion about "braceros" triggered my recalling genius Tom Lehrer's classic album, "That Was the Year That Was," with its precious satire about the election of former song-and-dance movie star, George Murphy, to the Senate:
"Should Americans pick crops? George says: "No!"
'Cause no one but a Mexican would stoop so low
And after all, even in Egypt, the pharaohs
Had to import Hebrew braceros. . . . ."
12
I thoroughly enjoyed this "conversation". Thank you both for a reasonable civil discourse. It was refreshing.
11
Speaking of repealing constitutional amendments, I submit that the 22nd Amendment was an undemocratic abomination when it was passed, and in 2016, when it barred Obama, possibly brought us Donald J. Trump. Denying the electorate its choice of a chief executive (imagine if the 22nd Amd. had been around in 1940) is an insult to any society that calls itself a representative democracy.
3
Bush did invade Iraq. But he stopped short of Damascus and didn't force a regime change.
2
Bush stopped short of nothing:
Bush presided over the death of Saddam Hussein. You are offering revisionist history. Bush even ensured it would be on live television. Worst thing I ever was exposed to in my entire life. Gruesome and immoral.
4
Now we hear of Trump staffers robbing his medical office two February's ago---Huckabee Sanders claims it is "normal procedure." No, Sara. Normal procedure is to obtain release of medical records, where the originals remain at the physician's office.
Large thugs strong-arming a doctor's office, scaring employees and taking all copies of Trump's medical records seems just like the Nixon-era theft at the psychiatrist's office of a Democratic vice presidential candidate/
This Trump Administration functions like the mob. Now what are they hiding? Hope this grows into yet another scandal for this mafia presidency.
19
Not only did they rifle the file cabinet and steal the records (which belong to the doctor, not the patient), they even took a photo off of his wall and stole it!
4
Normal and procedure are not in Demented Donald's vocabulary - they have more than one syllable.
5
My goodness, Mr Stephens, I almost "let it go" after your qualifier of "editorially" advocating 2nd Amendment Repeal.
But, no. Mr Stephens triple-downed with "might scare them into accepting the kind of sensible restrictions you advocate."
What's revealed by "..you" advocate? Is Mr Stephens a purist? Zero constitutional right for gun ownership? Or only for the purposes of a 'serious' ruse - to make them accept "sensible"? Who's definition?
So, I am zooming-in on this logic (or lack thereof) - right here, right now.
The "serious movement" is going to achieve legislation for background checks and for "defensive" / "hunting" weapons BY GAINING MAJORITIES for like-minded candidates.
Sure, Republican candidates and their cheeleaders WILL CHANT "They want to take away your guns". And some ill-equipped, fringe outfit (with hidden benefactors?) MAY PICK-UP the "Repeal the 2nd" banner. Which is exactly what NRA / GOP wants.
But "enough is enough" and the nonsense is being "called out" - by our students - maybe you noticed them.
3
The amendment begins with the words "Well regulated" I would love to see these words enforced instead of totally ignored.
6
The NRA totally ignores the opening phrase. Wayne LaPierre dodged the draft.
1
Regarding Michelle Wolfe -- the set was funny but served only to preach to three choirs. First the media who have suffered the Trumpian insults to their feelings of impartial rectitude. But second the Trumpers who saw and heard their own biases against the elite media confirmed and third a group who wanted to hear Trump insulted.
Next year try an academic discussion of how the elite media obsession with "fairness" creates a tangle of false equivalency satisfying no one.
5
I have not seen that obsession manifest itself in MSM. I will look for it more carefully.
1
Michelle Wolf was right, the press need to send Trump some money. You're making your livelihoods off of his behavior and he's broke.... Seriously though, what will the press do about Trump? You've helped create this monster, fuel his base and then profiting from it. Talk about 'cringeworthy'.
6
When will Flint get clean water?
19
I think Michelle Wolf struck a nerve by pointing out that Sarah and Kelly Ann are serial liars. Trump seems to be extremely afraid to attend events where the audience may not be totally loyal to him. Had Trump attended the dinner then Sarah and a Kelly Ann may not have gotten too much attention.
15
I hope the current state of the country convinces more than a few people that religion should stay out of government, civil life and politics generally.
12
What I don't get is why conservatives don't stand by the definition of "to bear arms" which was in Webster's until the 40s. According to the old traditional, conservative and reactionary dictionary makers, "to bear arms" meant "to serve as a soldier".
Check this out for yourself. The big Oxford dictionary still stands by that definition.
This is what Warren Burger was talking about when he called the N.R.A. propaganda a fraud.
14
They don't care about "a well-regulated militia" as part of the Amendment, either. It's kind of like their attitude toward the Bible: the whole thing is sacred, and they believe it all. Except for the parts they don't like.
12
"Bret: And, closer to home, I think bikes are becoming a danger to drivers and pedestrians alike in New York City, but I’m not going to spend a column on it. At least until I’m involved in a collision.
Gail: Ah, yes, the bike wars. I never went there either."
Nothing unites liberal and conservative drivers like hatred of bikes. Please educate yourselves on this green mode of transportation. And educate yourselves about the real threat to safe streets, our public health and our environment: the automobile (the numbers back this up, but certainly don't back up Bret's absurd claim).
6
Bret and Gail,
Have you noticed that in every photo of Trump at these rallies there is one black man, this time in a white shirt, visible just below his right elbow. Does Trump's campaign fund really pay this man to go to all his rallies and be placed in a very visible location. I have read that this is true and would love further confirmation.
13
We do need to lighten up once and a while. That is the benefit of this exchange. However, it is essential that we see the extreme danger our nation faces. We now live under a one-party state, owned by ultra-wealthy right wing corporatists and driven by racism and pseudo-religious Christian Evangelists. The fundamentals of our electoral process have been manipulated to such an extreme degree that only massive voter turnout can over come the systematic gerrymandering, voter suppression, Russian hacking and vile fake news accounts that helped place the Trump Clown Show in the Oval Office. .
Reminding voters how critical their participation in all elections going forward should accompany the amusing political banter.
64
Absolutely correct and now irrelevant to what needs to happen in November. Without turning the House and Senate blue the republic may not be able to withstand the multi-pronged attacks on it outlined above.
It is vital that Democrats get a platform that makes sense and benefits people and stick to it. Just running against Trump won't do it. Hopefully they will field candidates who skew young, military and diverse in background and gender in order to attract the voters needed: millennials, hispanic and the rest of the population that tends not to bother with mid-terms.
And those of us who believe the republic is in danger need to start working for those candidates and help get the voters out.
This time the mid-terms may be much more important than the next presidential race.
13
I agree with Gail that we don't need to repeal the 2nd admdndment. The sensible regulation of guns would be a side effect of a more important project.
An intelligent and logical Supreme Court.
"A fraud on the American public.” That’s how former Chief Justice Warren Burger described the idea that the Second Amendment gives an unfettered individual right to a gun. When he spoke these words to PBS in 1990, the rock-ribbed conservative appointed by Richard Nixon was expressing the longtime consensus of historians and judges across the political spectrum. Four times between 1876 and 1939, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to rule that the Second Amendment protected individual gun ownership outside the context of a militia. If ever there was a case where stare decisis applied, this was it.
The Second Amendment was added to the Bill of Rights so that there would always be self-armed citizens whom the national government could call upon to form militias for the purposes stated in Article 1, VIII, 15.
The Second Amendment grants a protection conditionally. The condition is that militias be "necessary to the security of a free state." This is no longer true: we have a standing army, navy, and air force, forming, collectively, the most powerful military force in the history of the human race. The condition on which the Second Amendment grounds protection against infringements of the right to bear arms has disappeared; and so, in consequence, has the protection.
25
I’ll say a word of support for the international space station which is not a waste of money. Research for its own sake has a multi beneficial return that far outweighs the short term costs. Also it’s myopic to ignore the need to reach out beyond our birth planet if we wish to continue as a civilization / species. Don’t believe me, ask the dinosaurs. Oops, can’t.
16
The international scene gets short shrift in this discussion, which is understandable considered how seriously off kilter domestic politics have lately become in the US. However such pushy practices as the Trump admin is engaging with virtually every sovereign power on the globe (apart from Russia) are bound to lead to severest repercussions somewhere, if not on the Korean peninsula, or in the Middle East then in a third world country at the moment, perhaps, not on anyone's radar.
9
When the history is written, video of these "rallies" of Donald Trump's will provide a dramatic visual record of this tragic period in US history. It will be instructive for coming generations. It CAN happen here.
25
It would be an interesting idea for a film-maker to put together a montage of cuts of speeches and audiences from the rallies of the late 1920s and '30s in Europe--you know the ones--with interspersed images from Trump speeches and audiences at those rallies. The one in Oklahoma before the election was televised--such is the grip of the right on our media--on every local channel, preempting the evening news. And I was so shocked that I thought at first it was some bizarre joke. But it was no joke. And I knew from the responses of my fellow citizens that we were in more trouble than I could have dreamed before that day. And much more now, of course. So much now.
16
Thanks for the sanity. And I am rooting for that three-term NY mayor, except I remember hearing someone in Wisconsin asking if he was the one who tried to outlaw soda.
8
Michelle Wolf hit the mark with her edgy jokes. She was an equal opportunity comedian for Democrats and Republicans alike. Meanwhile Trump in his campaign rally in Michigan was doing his standup schtick, insulting and threatening his enemies. He also claimed credit singlehandedly for detente on the Korean peninsula. Nobel? He is delusional.
22
The open hostility to anyone other than white christian nationalists at Trump's revival-like gatherings is by now well documented. If there is horror among some voters, there is glee among twice as many. The left is still without energy and without organization. They wait breathlessly for someone (Mueller) to do something, or something to magically happen.
It may, but in the absence of rock solid evidence, America is well prepared to forgive the president.
Instead, the exact opposite of what the left expects seems more likely. Now that Trump has shown open hostility to truth and justice, I am willing to bet even money that he will gain support among blacks, Hispanics, and women - not less. Because people other than rich republicans in America always to vote against their self-interests.
The center left is culpable in keeping Trumpism alive; what with their endless, breathless deconstruction of everything he says and does, minute by minute, hour by hour.
I have to admire the right wing long step, well oiled, richly funded, heavily embedded machines that makes sure to tell us that Hillary is worse, that what Trump said and did is not what he said and did. Times of Mad hatter seem to favor the unqualified and the openly subversive. Democrats prone to thinking the that the tenor in the general media suggests 2018 and 2020 are going to be cakewalks, are deluding themselves.
4
Bravo, Mr. Stephens. Unlike you, I'm not a never Trump Republican or a Republican of any stripe. However, like you, I find it impossible to support some of the far left positions of some of the loudest (though not the largest) wing of the loyal opposition. We can change the course of the country without forcing the politics of the elite campus, and the divisive culture issues down on the brow of the voters.
We need to talk about health care, fair taxation not just for the monied class, fiscal responsibility, the role of diplomacy and multilateralism, the climate and environment, consumer protection, and most of all, respect, tolerance, and dare I say kindness and empathy. The latter two qualities so absent from our national scene under the demagogue.
Gov. Kasich (if I had to live with a Republican) or Sen. Bennett (D) would be infinitely better than the incumbent though that is a low bar.
5
First Amendment proposes, Congress disposes.
There are only two solutions about the House Chaplain issue. The House Chaplain post should become extinct or the post reincarnated with priests from every faith on the planet.
I agree with Bret totally with regards to Michelle Wolf's barn burning. After all, Sarah Huckbee Sanders and Kellyann Conway are always barn storming us with Trump's lies and deceit. That's justifiable payback.
This dialogue between Gail and Bret is becoming a continuing monologue. There is agreement on almost everything. But I guess that's what happens when the land and weather are bleak whichever way you look at it.
7
Bicycles!?!? Please stick to going after the guys with guns and leave us cyclists alone.
7
I'd give a lot for a "middle" in politics again.
The current crop of "far-to-the-right-of-Republican" legislators, and those who elected them, are enough to give me serious doubt about the viability of democracy in the USA. I never thought I would miss the likes of polite, polished, and patrician Geo. H.W. Bush. When he took office, in 1989, I felt that the world was coming to an end: the USA was engaged in continual assault on the young (students), the poor, the mentally ill, and the "others" (non-white, non-male, non-citizen, non-Christians).
Wait... So, what exactly is it that has changed, again? Oh, yes, there is no voice of reason left in the "middle." While G.H.W. Bush can be appreciated for not engaging in extended LITERAL warfare with the world, that lack of a center has meant no one has been able to extricate us from the disasters wrought since the "Contract with (ON?) America" by the reactionary right wing, either at home or abroad.
Only we can save ourselves.
7
the president is smarter than we give him credit for. he has been smart enough to realize that the computer age, etc has changed the country especially its attention span. he realizes how much of the audience responds to is short, exciting lies. there is a change in the new electronic/computer world. the new world doesn't read the classic books, (or any books it seems) it wants short exciting things and if they're lies, who cares? i sincerely hope this Novembers electors will see through this and vote and sadly hope that the claque will have wandered off on their next bit of excitement.
4
If true at all, this would be an impressive achievement for Donald Trump, a man who struggles with reading and openly admits that he knows absolutely nothing about computers. In truth, Trump is a former reality-tv personality (who portrayed a billionaire and successful businessman) who trolls the shallow waters and who assumes everyone has an attention span as short as his own.
6
Ok. Now that the GOP's Gingrich-to-Trump transformation to "My Way is the Lie-way" is complete, cancel the dinner. The Free Press must maintain its stalwart stance for truth, now more than ever.
Truth: Trump ran to his safe place again; and Michelle Fox excelled at her profession.
Furthermore, if we are looking for comedy, first look in the Rose Garden. On Monday, Trump had a press event with President of Nigeria to to discuss our countries.
But, instead, the world was 'entertained' by another Trump Reality Side-Show: "What I always knew about Iran Deal":
"So no, if anything, it's proven right what Israel has done today with the news conference. And Prime Minister Netanyahu just gave a very - I don't know if everybody's seen it, but I got to see a little bit of it and ... But, I think, if anything, what's happening today and what's happened over the last little while and what we've learned has really shown that I've been 100-percent right."
HILARIOUS that Trump was proven 100-percent right - by today's Israeli news conference that - HIS WORDS - he "got to see a little bit of"?
SO FUNNY that an Israeli news conference and our President's immutable instinct from the campaign trail (which he never left) IS OFFERED as America's intelligence analysis.
7
If the Democrats retake the House, the Democratic Party may become more moderate as it fields representatives from red states like Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, Arizona. Perhaps it will get back to governing.
7
Someone had better get back to governing, because current Congressional Republicans have no interest in doing so. In addition to betraying their oath to honor the US constitution, they could also be charged with a complete dereliction of duty.
5
C'mon, Gail, advocating for a third party candidate will insure that the Trump/GOP machine stays in power. Did the 2000 and 2016 elections not convince you of that yet? #2018Bluewave.
11
I cast my vote with Mr. Stephens when it comes to revamping the constitution. Sure, it is about as possible right now as revamping the Bible, but every new idea begins as an impossibility until it isn't. The 2nd amendment and the electoral college need to go. Gerrymandering needs to be written out and a better way to apportion votes for the senate is needed. At our founding, the largest state, Virginia, had 13 times more population than the smallest, Delaware. The most populated state today has nearly 70 times the population of the smallest. That each state has equal representation in the Senate is bizarre and an insult to the democratic idea.
8
Imagine if Donald Trump described Sarah Sanders in the manner he reserves for his legions of enemies:
"Sarah Hucksterbee Sanders is a big, fat liar. I call her Porky Sarah. Literally. She's such a disgrace! I could say a lot of things about her that are not very good, many of them true, and other things that may not be true, but could be true. She looks like Broderick Crawford in old episodes of "Highway Patrol". I'm telling you, she's not even a 3. I wouldn't hit it, and I hit anything".
20
If anyone is interested, please watch the PBS Frontline show called "Trafficked in America". It talks about the largest egg producers in Iowa for example, and how they go to Mexico, and South America, to smuggle in cheap labor.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/trafficked-in-america/
Labor that they shove into 60ft long squalid trailers, because the owner of the egg farm, thinks that it's a step up from how they live in Mexico. They pay them 650.00 then take back 600.00 for "travel expenses".
If anyone knows their history, the post civil war south, did the same thing to ex-slaves. They held them in indentured servitude, peon, isn't just a Spanish word.
It's not the immigrant worker that those voters in the red states need to fear. It's the labor being imported by corporations via the H-1B visa program, and the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs, to cheap labor countries, that they need to fear. If the voters in those states paid closer attention to what's happening in manufacturing, in terms of jobs leaving the country, Carrier is a good example. They would be quick to realize that the GOP isn't interested in their financial success, or job stability. or raising wages, their elected officials are interested in keeping their paymasters happy, and that doesn't include high paying jobs. Trump, is merely an extension of the policies put forward time after time by the GOP.
Imagine, if all workers around the world united, imagine the power we could wield.
22
Trump went to Michigan, and "Flint still has no water'
No guns at the Pence event, but teachers should have guns," so they can sell them to buy protractors"
Trump colluded with Russia, and "Hillary couldn't even go to Michigan"
She made the attending journalists politicians, and networks squirm, and they deserved it. She called out the liars.
26
I agree with Bret regarding Michelle Wolf's comedy routine. She was funny, biting and right on. The only comment that made me cringe was the line about abortion. Sara Huckabee-Sanders and KelleyAnn Conway deserved every bit of it, as did the rest she jabbed. It is really bad when some of the press objects. She has just as much right to free speech as the press does.
As far as Tester goes, let us not forget that Isakson publicly said the same things as Tester.
Both of them were wrong. They should have brought up the information they received at the Senate Hearing. Obviously Jackson was not qualified to run the Veterans
agency. That is where the truth lies, not whether or not he drank, etc. If they both were so shocked, why did they not get as shocked when it was found out that Sessions lied about a meeting with a Russian Diplomat, in order to be confirmed. If Trump is going to condemn Tester and needs to do the same thing with Isakson. Fair play and all that.
For now, I would say that Immigration will be on the back burner until after the November elections.
Regrading Ryan, just another day in his life in Congress. The man (and I use that word advisedly) is at best a traitor to his Religion and at worse a sorry excuse for a human being.
As far as the Chaplain goes it is too bad he was fired in such a public way, sort of a Trump policy.
It is time for real Separation of Church and State. Of course the Religious Right would lose their power if that happened.
13
RE: the International Space Station comment.
This revives an argument about whether all science that receives public support must be immediately applicable.
Fans of supporting only applied research forget that sometimes the application-based research fails. Do we get our money back then? Of course not. It is part of the scientific process.
The ISS and projects like it are engaged in the quest for fundamental knowledge, the principles that form the foundation of the physical world. And when fundamental knowledge pays off, it pays off big, as evidenced by the fact that I type on laptop, hundreds of miles from the New York Times offices, where a comment will magically appear later. To put it another way, without fundamental research, we'd have no Internet.
10
Speaking as one with 20 years of fundamental research experience, I may confidently state that the ISS is the epitome of Military Industrial Complex pork spending...
I suggest you examine the past 25 years of the most prestigious scientific journals and you will be hard pressed to find any research associated with or relying on the ISS.
Is the ISS "cool"? Sure, but it ain't fundamental research...
Give the me the James Webb Space telescope 3 years sooner at a fraction of the ISS cost...
Don't even mention the SSC....
I want to have coffee with you two!
7
This is like a conversation between two oblivious Victorian aristos in an Oscar Wilde comedy.
2
Actually, it's arch and pretentious comments that drag (no pun intended) Oscar into a discussion of American politics that are like oblivious Victorian aristos. Or one, anyway.
2
Thank you for picking up on the ditch-the-Chaplain position (and expenses) comments. Maybe this is something the new Freethinkers Congressional Caucus can take up. And tell me again why cults/religion groups don't have to pay taxes...at least property taxes...which could fund A+ public schools, etc.
16
Anyone who pines for a Bloomberg candidacy and still lives in NYC must be either blind or very comfortably well off. A billionaire, any billionaire at the helm invariably tailors policy to appease his friends, who all enjoy the same penthouse view of the world, where everyone below is a little ant. We can disparage Trump for choosing vacuous Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary or any other of his frivolous picks but who did Bloomberg choose for School Chancellor? Cathie Black, whose only qualification was that she and the mayor frequented the same cocktail parties. She didn't have the good sense to refuse and he also defended her vigorously until it became untenable. Sound familiar?
Bloomie's policies have so skewed the city towards the wealthy and uncreative, it has become a stultifying, glass-towered ghetto that will never recover its vibrancy. The only thing left to do here is to stuff your face, something this paper epitomizes with its relentless food coverage.
6
I would like to know if these enthusiastic supporters at Trump's rallies are real fans or paid actors sent to prop up his enormous ego. Has anyone bothered to check or are we just accepting truth-in-advertising from someone who has consistently lied about so much?
17
We have never had a president who after a few months on the job, spends his time when not on the golf course, giving campaign rallies. Isnt there something more important that he needs to be doing? We still dont have an ambassador to South Korea.
20
On Gail's "could we invite the base to lunch," do you know what Al Qaeda means? That's right, it's "The Base." Probably we don't want to have them over for lunch. I don't, anyhow. Turning them off would be OK.
3
Lawbreaking bike riders in NYC definitely need to be addressed by the NYPD immediately. You take your life in your hands now whenever you step off the curb to cross the street.
2
"I have to say, I won’t mind at all seeing Democrats take the House." From your lips to God's ear, Brett. I am certain that Brett speaks for many, many disillusioned, disgruntled, even dyspeptic Republicans sick of watching their party apparently taken over by a bully exhorting a white, nationalist base to come out of their militia dens and seize the reins of power in the USA.
17
I have hope for one issue that could make it through the Constitutional amendment process - overturning Citizens United. Whether you're outraged because you think George Soros is paying for votes somewhere or that the Koch brothers are buying members of Congress, we agree that no one should be able to buy their way into our elections and government.
The billionaires would spend a lot to stop it, but the grass roots support from left and right to get their money out of politics could overcome their money. Overturn Citizens United!
27
Bret, on eliminating the Second Amendment, I'm totally with you on it's antiquated foundation and it's modern-day twisted interpretation. But I agree with Gail that we'll never be able to actually rescind it. Instead we should work toward adding a new amendment that clarifies and helps to interpret the existing Second Amendment. Something along the lines of "the first clause comes first because it is the most important part of the amendment. We are not validating all citizens' ownership of guns nor are we validating all types and uses of guns." Only problem is, getting any amendment through is as big a task as rescinding the Second. Sigh.
6
Untruth is the common way of Trump and his lies and distortion play well with his fervent followers who have no interest in Trump being honest---all they want is for him to injure others in any way that he can that hurts and divides people apart in as many ways that let Trump keep huffing and puffing in grand fashion above all.
The presidents of worthy note in the history of our land have been those who in times of great challenge have brought the common folk of outland together in un-common accomplishment. The last of these was FDR, but there have been others and Trump is not in the league of any of them and he holds stagnate sway by promoting division and boasting of how great his accomplishment is in the face of all enemies he makes one group at a time out of this or that faction that serve his purpose to cause friction.
5
Centrist politics? You mean Bernie Sanders? His positions are supported by a majority of voters - not Dems or Republicans - just all voters. Left of center would be Communists - I think there are about a hundred of them in the US.
6
Bernie Sanders is a self-described socialist. That simply is not a "centrist" position no matter how much you try to spin.
Love the guy, but be real!
8
Socialist policies are what the majority of US Citizens prefer. They may not name them "Socialist", but that's what they are.
"Repealing the Second Amendment is totally impossible and talking about it just gives the N.R.A. another paranoia point to exploit. I say focus on the reforms that could actually happen. Like banning assault rifles. Tightening background checks."
Yes, yes, yes!!! Guns shouldn't have ALL the rights ~ give good people without guns a fighting chance!
7
What manner of ignorance is this?
"A third-party challenger who takes New York, New Jersey and perhaps Florida could throw the election to the House and lead to the revival of centrist politics in the United States"
In the House each state would have one vote, and a Republican is elected, and promptly proceeds to govern as if elected by a landslide. See 2001 for example.
5
I wish people would stop using the term "assault rifle," when discussing bans. That was tried already and failed, because it had too many loopholes that gun manufacturers could get around. What exactly constitutes an assault rifle? The ban should be again any semi-auto rifle (automatic rifles are already banned). It should go on to say that bolt action, lever action and pump action rifles are okay. That's all a real hunter should ever need. Also, obviously, single action.
Then we should move further to require a license for anyone to carry a handgun, and with a good reason to carry.
Will any of that ever happen. Maybe someday,
10
I'm with you... Is there any reason for a rifle - ANY rifle - other than to use it to assault something? Guns are made for the purpose of killing things, so the term "assault rifle" is of particularly limited usefulness.
A licensing requirement for gun ownership could help to facilitate background checks, etc., IF the process were structured well. If it's just a pro forma thing - fill in a form, pay a fee (like a fishing license) - it won't do much at all.
2
How about "military-grade firearms"? This is precisely what an AR-15 is. And its military connotation is what is so attractive to those civilians who long to hold and shoot one. Such firearms do not belong in the hands of untrained civilians. The fact that their only rationale for owning and AR-15 is "Because I can!" proves that they are childish and irresponsible.
2
Why, when I click on "Recommend" does it actually SUBTRACT from the number ?
6
You probably clicked twice.
2
It means that you've already recommended it and that you want to retract your recommendation.
2
Quite possibly, this may happen if you recommended the comment already, so your (repeat) click has the effect of subtracting your (prior) recommendation. Occasionally I "double click" instead of making the sole necessary click, and so cancel myself. Life can be complicated.
2
Is DonaldTrump even remotely familiar with the terms: Humility. and Modesty?
7
Think what would have happened if the chaplain had prayed for gun control. Being fired would be the least of his worries.
Getting rid of the 2nd Amendment does not mean that guns would be illegal. It would just make it easier to regulate them. All other countries in the world allow guns to some extent but no constitutional right to them.
I wish God did have some influence over the legislators. He would definitely tell Ryan to take from the rich to give to the poor and that guns that kill people should be illegal.
11
I enjoy these articles. It's nice to see people both agree and disagree, all while remaining civil to one another. Without an overabundance of sarcasm. How unusual.
Thank you!
16
Great dialog making serious points with some opinions I disagree with but presented properly so I did not have to get my usual upset. Great job!
Thanks
5
Mob men specialize and delight in setting groups against one another, arousing passions and hatreds, making empty promises and extolling themselves as leaders.
Trump is a mob man pure and simple and a highly skilled and agile one at that.
History records that mob men frequently remain in power for relatively brief periods of time, but not before they do great and lasting damage to their countries and the world.
21
More diatribe from the woman with a dog in her belfry. She frequent addresses us as "her people" while many of use readers shiver at the the thought. Poor Brett, he tries to carry the load largely alone. It's good to see he gets wiser as he gets older. H.W. was a fine leader. And Gail gets this right, "Nobody's perfect."
1
Although John Kasich may seem like the reasonable adult in the room with respect to his party's potential nominees (a low bar, to be sure), please keep in mind that Kasich is no friend to women or anyone who believes in separation of church and state.
Ohio has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, while it simultaneously boasts one of the nation's highest infant mortality rates. Kasich's strong religious beliefs have helped shape his policies in some good ways (recall his comment, "[St. Peter} is going to ask you what you did for the poor. You better have a good answer."). But mostly, they have just resulted in fewer civil liberties and reduced access to abortion and prenatal care.
33
Thank you! I cringe every time I read a comment about how "presidential" Kasich is...he's a wolf in sheep's clothing, just without the snark.
5
Correct. Beneath the thin crust of normalcy, John Kasich is a doctrinaire Republican. He advances the long discredited "trickle-down" economic policies of his Party and he believes that a woman's reproductive decisions are best left to Republican males. I believe a president Kasich would rapidly lead to buyer's remorse on a national level. But he obviously looks and sounds better than the man currently in the Oval Office who at once defines and destroys the GOP.
5
My first time to read Gail and Bret together, sharing thoughtful exchanges, and funny too.
Will look forward to more of the same and wish our Congress would follow in their example!
10
Dear Gail. I'm sorry you were so disappointed in Wolf's performance last weekend. It wasn't supposed to be funny. It took guts to stand up there and criticize the rogue president who was at one of his crazed rallies. The coward sent his gal pals to take the heat and they got it. She called them out. Not only his sycophants but the press. (She spared the newspapers because they are endangered species). But she said the truth. YOU and your media allies have used the President to your own advantage. Trump gives you good ratings. You the media are as much to blame for promoting the Trump era as his promoters and gang of liars. Sorry it upset you.
32
As long as Collins and her ilk continue to conflate semi-automatic rifles with "assault rifles" and urge bans, those who own them will resist.
Instead of Bret as Gail's foil, I'd prefer to skip the milquetoast conservative in name only and draft a real conservative for these pieces. They've really gone downhill lately. Can I suggest drafting frequent commenter Richard Leutgens to get the snooze out.
1
Well, that would be one way to stop me from reading The Conversation.
9
Mr. Stephens; until you ride a mile in an urban bike rider's shoes you should not comment on something you have no experience at.
6
No, experience sharing the road is enough. Stop living up to the urban bike rider stereotype.
5
During the '90's my middle school daughter won an award and went to the Maine State Legislature to receive it (along with many other students across the state). So there I was, proud mom, sitting in the back of the legislature, when the doors close and a man gets up and launches into a very fundamentalist prayer. It was around Easter and it was off the charts. I was (1) astonished that they started with a prayer! and (2) really offended by this particular, hard-core evangelical prayer. I got up and tried to leave but was told by the Sargent At Arms that I had to sit down, that I could not leave.
I've never forgotten my shock and upset at discovering that this happened at the beginning of each session. I was and still am totally disgusted by it. Religion has no place in our government.
53
The only sane response to hypocritical "snowflake" Republicans complaining about Michelle Wolf not being Politically Correct enough at the Correspondents Dinner is uncontrollable laughter.
Fans of Trump (not to mention Trump himself) spend half of their time complaining about being persecuted and victimized because they can no longer safely bully and terrorize women, minorities, LGBTs, etc., and the rest of the time calling their actual victims "snowflakes,"
When they are called out for their hate they complain they are victims of the "PC police."
Now they are holding a comedian to higher standards than they hold POTUS. They voted for the rudest, crudest, pathological liar they could find, but a comedian that uses the same language as him is the problem?
Sarah Huckabee Sanders took a job spinning Trump lies and insults into gold, but this "sensitive snowflake," is supposed to be off limits? Did saying her make up was made of lies hit too close to the truth? Is it not PC enough to insult the person who made excuses for saying a news anchor was bleeding from he face and her "you know where?"
One more time, Rolling On the Floor Laughing should be the response from everyone, including journalists and pundits, to a Republican Party that thinks the president should be allowed to say anything, because he was only joking, but comedy is a deadly serious attack on political correctness.
In fact anything these hypocritical PC "snowflakes" say should be laughed at.
59
Trump is really scared now, and he should be. The odds are high he will be impeached ... maybe end up in jail.
12
Given what happened on 11/9, I might just take 5-1 on the House flipping. But I do appreciate the analysis of why third party candidates get votes. I agree. Unhappily the last two times the "critical decision" was avoided the results were bad and then horrific.
As I said, post 11/9, I am not an optimist.
2
Bret, please check the statistics before telling us about your "feelings" about bicycle safety in the city:
During the years 2002-2016, 2345 pedestrians were killed by people driving cars, while only 10 people during those 14 years were killed by people riding bicycles.
Last year, in 2017, pedestrian deaths in the city hit their lowest level since records began, in 1910. Still, 101 people were killed by cars, including 23 bicyclists that were killed by cars.
Severe injuries and fatalities for those on bikes have steadily decreased in the last five years, so your chances of colliding with a bicycle are going down, not up as you imply.
5
This is not a relevant comparison. You should compare the number of death per km using a bike vs. a car. This is the only way to tell what is the safest. Maybe the comparison will prove you right.
3
On the subject of the tax cut scam. I have to give the Republican thieves some credit for not saying "A rising tide lifts all boats" this time. It would have been funnier than Michelle Wolf, had they said it yet again.
11
Satire is the only thing keeping me sane during this administration. The fact that his team had to sit there while their ridiculous behavior was being called out is something that needed to be done, that's why POTUS wouldn't attend, he wouldn't have been able to deal with the "criticism"without blowing up. Does anyone doubt that's why he only appears on Fox? He is far worse, as is his administration, and unfortunately the leader of our country that no one will stand up to. I mean think about the praise that his cabinet had to lavish on him in person not that long ago.
You make false claims over and over, you should have to deal with the consequences in some manner. Thank you Ms. Wolf
37
I think that repealing the 2nd Amendment will be the only way to implement any type of gun control. When the Supreme Court rewrote the 2nd Amendment to read "blah, blah, blah, the right to bear arms shall not be infringed" they made any type of gun ownership restrictions unconstitutional. Repealing the amendment will be difficult and take a long time, but it will be the only way to reduce the body count. We might as well start now.
4
I am going out in right field here by speculating that those on the exuberant political right have a different, perhaps very weird, sense of humor. Why?
1. They don't mind, in fact seem to enjoy, making fun of other people, BUT they get all bent out of shape if anyone makes fun of them personally. In other words, they can dish it out, but they can't take it, as my mom used to say.
2. Also, they cannot engage in self-effacing humor--when is the last time either Trump, Paul Ryan, or Mitch McConnell made fun of himself publicly? Yet, compare these stuffed shirts to JFK, Tip O'Neill, Obama, and other Democratic politicians known for their wit and humor, who were/are quick to made fun of themselves.
3. Those on the energetic political right also seem to enjoy making fun of vulnerable people, which most of us find more than cringe-worthy and not one bit funny. Why do they think it is funny?
Anyway, this column/conversation triggered a book I read decades ago by Erich Fromm called "The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness" Fromm discusses how some of the world's most famous dictators in history exhibited a cruel sense of humor that Fromm said stemmed from a deep well of their "malignant aggression."
Trump is not a funny guy, nor does he have a sense of humor. Yet some of our Trump relatives will tell you they think Trump is really a funny guy, really "hilarious." Go figure; I can't.
56
I'd be willing to bet that Trump, if asked, would declare himself the funniest guy in the world--in fact, in history. And we "elites" with our college educations and big-city biases just don't understand his humor. (Nevermind that he's a college grad from NYC.) And judging from the effusive reactions at his rallies for the Base, I guess he'd be right. But if he's funny, it's not my kind of humor.
17
And maybe, just maybe, they'll laugh till they cry....
5
He's a Catskill comic - stream of consciousness insults towards other people. But you are 100% correct: they can dish it out, but they sure can't take it. The worst snowflakes, whiny victims, all of them.
12
The best way out of this debacle is ranked choice voting. It is the only way for a third--or fourth--party candidate to have more of a chance and the electorate to vote for their first choice rather than 'the lesser of two evils.'
14
I miss President Obama at those dinners! If you haven't seen his great performances, see them on YouTube . I miss having a president with a sense of humor...
109
... honesty and morality. I miss him every day I have to read about the dotard who now squats in the White House.
30
And great writers. But he had a great delivery, that's for sure.
9
I miss having a real president, period.
11
Bret is a right winger who finds Trump distasteful. In style only. Policies are another matter.
Bret is generally a Trump supporter in policy, so don't be fooled. David and Ross too.
14
OK, David. Thanks. You did notice, I hope, that the piece is labeled "Opinion."
1
Hey Bret,
You just lost any credibility with the bike comment. Your logic is more than a bit twisted. Really? Closer to home, presuming you're talking elitist NYC, bikes are the big danger to drivers and pedestrians? It couldn't be that drivers and four-wheeled vehicles are the actual danger to pedestrians, and cyclists? Bicycles are the ones causing all that Manhattan traffic and pedestrian deaths? Think again, you sound like that Wiener guy, wanting to tear out all the bike lanes. You should try to evolve a little more.
15
If Bret actually gives a darn about real data and will look here
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/bicycle-crash-data-report-2015...
He will see that in 2015 there were NO bike/pedestrian fatalities.
Cars killed 137 pedestrians and 14 bicyclists.
1
For most people, the GOP tax cuts are a mean joke. Buying someone's vote for $1.50/week more in the paycheck is worse than calling someone a prostitute, as it's less than the "two buck broad" epithet Sinatra used on a woman reporter years back.
It's even meaner when they realize that the $1.3 trillion plus deficit will be used to justify shredding the social safety net, ridding there nation of some 150 million fellow Americans (the "47% takers" spoken of by Romney) through malign neglect.
I lost family in the Final Solution, which was a comparatively expensive effort that netted over six million victims, and Stalin's follies cost 50 million lives (exclusive of World War II). Sadly, most Americans never even learn about these two genocides, and cannot recognize it when they should see its specter rising here.
48
Good afternoon Mr. Schwartz:
I am really sorry about your family lost in the Holocaust. I had relatives perishing in horrific circumstances in a Civil War.
And thank you for your comment. I thank you for writing ".....most Americans never even learn about these genocides and cannot recognize it when they should see its specter rising here."
The Nazis "exterminated the gays, and homeless ..." in the US these days the poor and underemployed and old are put out in the streets (due to unaffordable rising rents mainly) which is a sort of "slow extermination). Homelessness leads to disease and an early demise.
In parts of the city where I live there are areas in town where you see elderly people roaming the streets at night looking for a spot to sleep. Just last night there were a part of seniors --simply riding the bus until the last scheduled ride--and head to a part of town where I know the homeless go to sleep!!!!! Sad it almost brought me to tears!!!!
You are right Americans have never experienced a modern civil war --sort of Syrian style --which my parents experienced nor a modern genocide.
10
I was down on MIchelle Wolf's performance until I took the time to actually watch it. I had read that she had made fun of Sarah Sanders physical appearance -- which would have been disgraceful. But Wolf didn't do this. She made fun of Sarah Sanders' lying (and Conway's too, who was also present). She didn't call Sanders fat -- she called her a liar. To her face. Repeatedly. Absolutely the right thing to do.
207
Agreed but I just didn't find her funny. The jokes sounded like schoolyard taunts. Blasting those two women didn't bother me, few deserve it more; it just should be been funnier and less on the nose.
1
Gail, Mitt's dog needs company. There's probably room up there for the repeal of the Second Amendment and just for fun we ought to consider term limits for the Supreme Court Justices. Maybe even limits on Mitt.
20
I've got to go with Bret on the subject of Michelle Wolf. It was wonderful. I mean, I've been in a sustained funk for the million months (it just feels like a million) that Trump has been in office, and I needed a release. Watching Sarah Huckabee Sanders sit there all stony-faced was, well, very satisfying. She and the phony men in this administration deserved every sharp zinger directed at them. That they are wives and mothers, or husbands and dads, shouldn't be part of the equation. I am, a husband and dad, that is, and I have to live with a president who denigrates the press, says awful things about women and doesn't like anyone withe brown skin.
58
All that chatter and not a word on Trump's progress in N. Korea.
I guess it would be taboo among Trump haters to admit that some positive things are happening.
2
we can talk about progress when there is an actual treaty in hand- not braggadocios tweets.
23
not to mention progress in our dealings with the rest of the world, too (without defining progress as THEIR allegiance to US.)
1
When there is actual progress on North Korea let's celebrate it, but we've been down the path of North Korea promising to end its nuclear program multiple times. Kim and the corrupt and lying North Korean establishment make Donal Trump look like a model of probity and honesty. It seems likely that they are saying all the right things to take heat off, and once Trump declares victory they will just revert to their usual bad behavior.
5
“. . . bikes becoming a danger to drivers . . . “ Oh yeah, you two are definitely on the side of history about that burning issue. In future let me read not a single sanctimonious word from either of you regarding government hypocrisy and the climate crisis .
7
The only way we will address the gun issue in the near future is through the wallet. Require gun owners to have insurance, and allow insurers to determine the risks. If a person's gun gets stolen, is used in a crime, or results in accidental injury, the gun owner should be responsible.
54
If the 2020 election ends up in the House of Representatives I assume that would be the House elected in 2018, since the new one wouldn't take over until 2021. All the more reason to vote like your life depended on it in 2018.
25
Bret Stephens asks "can we also get rid of the Department of Commerce in toto?"
The answer is "no". If you got rid of Commerce in toto, you'd get rid of the Weather Service, and hence all US civilian and military weather predictions. (In case Mr. Stephens doesn't know it, the Weather Channel doesn't predict weather ... they just package the National Weather Service predictions in an attractive manner.)
If you got rid of Commerce in toto, you'd get rid of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and then anyone could sell you half a pound of bread and claim that it's a pound.
Is Bret Stephens really this dumb?
42
Allow me to add that I learned these facts about NWS, NIST and the Department of Commerce in my ninth grade civics class.
I want to thank Mr. Kennedy, my civics teacher at Neshaminy Junior High School, for making sure I had a better understanding of the US government in ninth grade than Mr. Stephens does now.
24
Eliminating a department doesn't mean eliminating all of its functions. Those that are needed can be moved to other departments.
The point Bret Stephens is making is that we have way too many bureaucrats in the federal government that do little but perpetuate their own fiefdoms. Government expands and never contracts. It balloons and gets bloated.
The only way to cut back government is to slash departments and reorganize essential functions into fewer fiefs.
1
...and the place to start is by dramatically cutting our bloated defense budget and excessive number of overpaid officers.
I fail to understand why people waste their energy discussing subjects like whether there will be a primary challenge to Trump in 2020 when the chances of him still being in office by then are so small.
18
I'm pretty sure Donald Trump will still be in office in 2020. Why wouldn't he be? Robert Mueller has nothing on him, so no impeachment. And why would he resign? He's having too much fun.
2
You're probably right. But then again, his ego isn't the only thing that's bloated.
You must not have gotten to the article about the questions yet. Mueller already knows the answer to every single one of them, I promise you.
1
Interesting that Donald J. Trump abruptly cancelled his Latin America trip because of being so worried about the Mueller investigation.
And that a pornographic film actress has him and his fixer lawyer in tatters. A tabloid bunny has her legal case, and a former Apprentice contestant brought hers as well.
He may have overcome the Access Hollywood video admissions just before the election, but he's certainly mired in scandal right now. And floundering. His long-term lawyer could "flip."
As legal expert Jonathan Turley said, "Having a cooperating fix-it man is the dream of any prosecutor."
Meanwhile, Trump keeps making things worse for himself by speaking and tweeting without a mental filter.
Did he ever have one? This is his Achilles Heel.
24
He should’ve hired Ray Donovan.
4
His Achilles heel is that vacant space where his conscience was meant to be.
5
You mean the one with the bone spurs ?
2
So Bret wants to get rid of the Department of Commerce in toto? I guess he doesn't know that BEA is housed at Commerce, you know, the folks that have been compiling our National Income and Product Accounts going back to 1929 ... data like our GDP ... data that both government and private industry alike use regularly and upon which they rely.
I guess economic analysis via the weegee board is more to your liking?
12
"he doesn't know that BEA is housed at Commerce..."
And most folks don't know BEA either. Climb down from the tower and talk to us.
1
Enjoyable discussion by two well educated journalists... that may get in trouble with those at Fox Noise, propaganda experts of the Trumpian type, where fact and fiction are so intertwined you end up with an awful headache to sort things out. I was thinking, to add some zest to this discussion, Michelle Wolf might contribute to place Trump and his parrot Sarah Sanders on a pedestal of irrelevancy, as they are complicit in their make-believe mendacity. This, with no intention to leave aside the nasty architect of the tax cuts, Paul Ryan, the 'cruello' that fired his chaplain for telling the truth.
13
I’ve never been to a Trump rally but can only imagine that after 10, 15 minutes of his ranting, listening to that babble must get boring and tedious, even for his most avid followers.
21
Sort of Castro-like, don't you think?
11
Guys, one small suggestion on guns. Let’s eliminate concealed carry permits. If one wants to carry a gun, make him or her wear it on the hip, in the open. It might awaken America to the threat we all live under every day. Would you stay in a restaurant if you KNEW other patrons were wearing sidearms?
25
That's a good idea. Like requiring labels on foods or the side-effects of pharmaceuticals.
WARNING: random individuals in this establishment may be gun carrying nut-jobs. Possible side effects may include gun shot wounds resulting in death, maiming, or being crippled or in a vegetative state for life.
8
I am so tired of conversations about Donald Trump.He is an unstable and unscrupulous old man.He lies convincingly and puts on a fine one man show.Voters who are skeptical about Washington, and there are many, decided to give him a try at shaking things up.Now we have to go to the voting booth in November and salvage the rest of his term.Republicans are not happy with him or they would not be leaving the House in droves.Mr.Trump's behavior is abominable-now let's do something about it.Kudos to all the first time candidates who have stepped up to run for office in November.
29
Ah yes--the centrist vs. radical debate again. I'm probably at the more extreme liberal end of the spectrum, but I will support anyone that I can credibly believe will reduce the influence of money in politics. (Don't try to sell me a faux billionaire.)
If we want a democracy, that's the one problem we must solve.
Unfortunately, the centrists (of either party) have not made that a priority. Centrist Democrats, however, have a much better record. The Republicans, both in the 'center' and at the radical fringe, have engaged in an orgy of graft and payola.
21
The Republicans are getting theirs while the getting is good.
2
"Trump, Live and Unfiltered" is better than Trump reading from teleprompter or notes. Our "so-called" president can't fool people into thinking he is wise and knowledgeable and 'presidential' if he is live and unfiltered. Plus, his base said they want him to be 'authentic', so there is no guess work with "Live and Unfiltered" and it has the added advantage of fact check and nothing watered down that can be prosecuted or no ambiguity there. Hey Evangelicals, "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". Let him keep on speaking live and unfiltered to his own demise.
9
An interesting exchange, with some surprises, as many commenters have noted.
On Bush 41, lest anyone get too nostalgic, let me mention two names: Willie Horton and Clarence Thomas
Still all misty-eyed?
27
Conway and Huckaby Sanders are bald-faced liars who have no qualms about insulting real journalists who ask relevant questions about President Dave Dennison. Now, suddenly, they are too thin-skinned to be called out on it. Anything else would have been simply legitimizing their disgusting, Dennison-supporting behaviour. It looked good on them.
15
I'd like to see Dem-Repub ticket in 2020. Maybe Nikki Haley for prez and John Hickenlooper as running mate. A mixed ticket would force the voters to think, rather than pin their hopes on someone who gives voice to their perceived grievances and promises to solve all their problems.
4
Be careful about third parties. In Canada, dividing the liberal votes (for Liberals and NDP) has sometimes allowed the Conservative Party to win.
11
Democrats are already down that road. Liberals are generally older and more realistic. Progressives want to change the party into something more socialist...and they want it now.
Georgia and New Jersey have shown in recent elections that the Liberals will win, even in republican country.
2
In America, journalists and comedians are both in the business of truth. Comedians do it as jesters hiding behind the king's chair. Journalists do it with the protection of the Constitution. At times, they are required to tell the truth about one another.
Kasich threw away his humanity when he endorsed an Ohio anti-abortion law that was worse than "The Handmaid's Tale." Anti-abortion laws don't make abortion go away. They just make it deadly for young women, and for poor and working class women.
Mr. Trump's attacks on Senator Tester were right out of the Cohn McCarthy playbook. Incendiary and inflammatory and no doubt lies. The president should have been at the gala event, where he could have made an exception and behaved like an adult and taken responsibility for his indecencies.
19
McCarthy, indeed: " I have before me a list of names...."
6
Taking Wolf to task for doing her job (you hire comedians to tell jokes, not discuss the latest research on the influence of White House correspondents, don't you?), her only cringe-worthy moment was blaming the media for fixating on the most cringe-worthy administration in U.S. history.
It's we, the viewing and reading public, who deserve the blame. But we can't help ourselves. Let's face facts. If Clinton were president, we would go about our daily business and only check in periodically to see the latest obstructionist tactics employed by the GOP. But Trump is the never-ending train wreck we can't take our eyes off. To make matters worse, we're passengers on the train.
I, for one, can't thank the media enough for keeping us up to speed, even if they occasionally jump the shark. On the other hand, all this coverage just feeds Trump's insatiable need for attention.
13
"you hire comedians to tell jokes".....Jokes are supposed to be funny.
They were funny. Sorry you have no sense of humor.
You need to stick with that comic, whoever she was, at the press corps fiasco.
3
You mean we're finally at a point of realizing that Donald Trump's rants aren't merely diversions, but evidence of his true state of mind???
It's about time...MAZELTOV!
17
When Trump at his pep rally for himself mentioned bringing in temporary workers to harvest Michigan's crops, and then send them back out, rather than the typical cheering and applauding, the assembled multitude seemed rather confused about how or whether to react.
So Trump got the sound equivalent of "meh."
10
I don't think Trump will be running for re-election in 2020, just because it will be hard to launch a campaign from jail. Also - this from 2011: "the Senate chaplain earns $151,000 a year, and the House chaplain earns $172,500 a year. Last year (2010), a Member of Congress earned $174,000." Not sure what that works out in today's money. But it does show that Paul Ryan now oversees a House unencumbered by "Christian" values.
27
With regard to the Dems nominating another Sanders, I would imagine if the Progressive wing of the party holds sway (doubt many will vote - again), it will be a brown person or a woman or both. As a lifelong Democrat I'll vote for whomever is nominated, but Democrats are champions at nominating un-electable candidates, and a brown person or a woman, and their are oodles of great candidates in those categories, will be a sure loser just like last time. It's gotta be someone like Stephens mentioned, and preferably one with a southern accent, or it's four more years of what would be a real dictator this time, especially if the Dems lose both houses - again.
13
Yeah, that Obama dude, can't believe they tried twice to get him elected President...
1
We could have a third and perhaps even a fourth party if we used instant run-off voting. And that might bring back the centrists. For the presidency, it would have to be state by state...or while we are amending the Constitution, can we get rid of the Electoral College?
17
How about instead of a Catholic priest as the congressional chaplain, we could have an ecumenical chaplain or multiple chaplancies, so that all religious and non-religious folks in Congress (and interested citizens, which I would guess most of usually aren't) would be satisfied and helped spiritually when they feel the need? The power of prayer is well documented, and this country needs lots of help.
1
The congressional chaplain is a political construct in vented to provide cover for members of congress.
2
Please document " the power of prayer". I submit that cannot be plausibly done.
10
Power of Prayer = Power of Suggestion. No thanks.
The NRA wants guns in every school, every restaurant, and every bar in America, yet they are banning guns at the speech Pence is making to the NRA. Guns around children and guns in the hands of drunks at bars, but no guns at the NRA speech. Go figure.
211
The NRA is blaming the gun ban at Mike Pence's speech on the Secret Service.
8
Kinda true. U.S. Secret Service banned the guns at the event not the NRA. What makes this even more of a hypocrisy is that not a peep of objection has been heard from the NRA regarding this violation of the Second Amendment around the event. I guess republican politicians are more valuable than the future of the US, that being our children. Great message of silence.
30
Perhaps, if Pence supports the NRA position, and accepts their donations, he could - in the future - sign a waiver forgoing Secret Service protection. I'd have no objection.
19
It's usually amusing to read these columns. I wonder what it would be like to have a substantive back and forth. What, exactly, is Stephens proposing with his immigration reg/nonreg changes? Is it the usual Republican low wage no protection company store exploitation? What, exactly, can Gail propose to counter? Can either lay out a rational set of policies, defend them in the face of the other's criticism, and accept the consequences? One off opinions are no help at this point. I'd appreciate a little more substance to this forum. It has great potential.
11
Isn't the rest of the paper available for that?
Gail: Oh, the base. Do you think we could invite the base to lunch, or out for a drink, to see if we could encourage the base to chill a little?
Bret: Yeah, but only for light beer.
Very funny as well as being the key point in all of this because the base is not going to chill apparently. To me, the root cause of that is the refinement of the propaganda machine consisting of Fox News, Breitbart, the various radio slam and hype artists, and the funding network supporting it all maintained by the Kochs and Mercers and Sinclair along with a few others.
I would not be able to criticize that group if they represented legitimate news and opinion outlets geared mainly towards investigating, reporting, and commenting on factual events, but they very much act as Republican propaganda outlets, and in the case of Trump, as a symbiotic system in which talking points flow both ways. That is not the function of news organizations.
"The base" consists of people who rely on propaganda ... who in fact appear to need it because it tells them exactly what they want to hear. I don't believe that most of them read good newspapers or magazines or think much about how many falsehoods are told and how many promises have not been kept.
I think the base wants to live in that world always. I think we will always have a malleable mass waiting for the next evangelizing snake-oil salesman to claim them as their own and lead them to the promised land, which may instead turn out to be Armageddon.
43
"can we also get rid of the Department of Commerce in toto?"
Does that include the US Patent & Trademark Office, which the Constitution says we have to have (Art. 1, Sec. 8) and is part of DoC? Think first, Bret, then write.
9
"A third-party challenger who takes New York, New Jersey and perhaps Florida could throw the election to the House and lead to the revival of centrist politics in the United States"
Should it transpire that the democrats show strength and the GOP at that point makes overtures in the direction of bipartisanship, one way they might be able to show good faith would be to agree unconditionally that Merrick Garland is Trump's next appointment to the Supreme Court. With that one. unprecedented, awful decision, Mitch McConnell made collaboration all but impossible - a truly craven act that needs to be expunged as soon as possible.
21
"But then he veered off to assure the audience — which included a lot of farmers — that they would still be able to import cheap foreign labor to pick their crops"....He was in Michigan. Please tell us what farmers in Michigan use foreign labor to pick their crops. Hello. The mid-west is corn and soybean country; foreign labor has never been involved in picking their crops. This is major reason why those in the mid-west think New York is a joke. New Yorkers have no reservations about making comments about farmers when they obviously have no idea what they are talking about.
7
Not all agriculture even in the midwest is corn and soybeans. There is a very large fruit and vegetable industry in Michigan that has high labor demands, and dairy farms as well
32
Apples. Cherries.
5
The country's biggest meat processing operations--from slaughter to packaging--take place in your part of the country, right? And, most of it is done by cheap, foreign labor. Seems to me, the NYT, or another national newspaper, ran a series on this a few years ago.
8
I usually enjoy Gail’s comments, but saying Michelle Wolf was “cringe-worthy” was uncalled for. She was pretty funny and very honest. Why should Trump and his minions, especially Conway and Sanders, get to do what they do and attack at will and not take any flak? Their boss was calling the press all kinds of names at the time, but we’re so used to that, it has become almost his right. Pathetic for the media to criticize Wolf and not the Trump side for starting the attacks.
134
Sarah Huckabee Sanders needs to take and look at her life and think about the person she's become. She lies with impunity, prevaricate, and is rude and bellicose to the work in progress. Does she want to become a rude liar?
17
The allegation that Wolf attacked Sanders for her looks was out the next day -- - and since I am done with accepting looks insults - but t\when I looked at what she said --she ONLY did what comedians who satirize politics do. She didn't attack Sander's personal attributes - just the public ones we get slammed with every day. Poor Spicer got hit just as hard, but he was less bulletproof, actually human at times.
I wonder, too, if many folks STILL have a very hard time with an uncensored woman. Which is a hoot with our uncensored, but totally unfunny, President on the loose.
The intense discomfort came because she didn't pull her punches for anyone - including the press. What exactly did they think she was going to deliver?
This wasn't the Boy Scouts Convention. It was the annual get together of the most competitive, savvy and cynical people in the country. In the mean time, the country is a real mess.
17
I thought she was funny, yet I cringed at times. Her batting average was pretty good.
1
Bikes will become a problem when the subway doesn't work. What did you think would happen when the MTA announced shutting down the L? Riding a bus in New York is unpleasant on a good day. Did you think millions of Brooklyn hipsters were going to say "No that's fine, I'll just walk." Gail should actually be driving less if she thinks bikes are a danger to cars. Give me a break. I'll concede the point on pedestrians with an exception. If you're walking a grocery cart in a designated bike line, you deserve to be hit.
We're on more common ground with chaplaincy. I think praying over law is inappropriate. As I mentioned in Bret's column though, the tradition is long standing. The position was established in 1789. If you had a problem with the practice, there's been plenty of time to speak up before now.
I will have to disagree on third-parties though. Third-parties are not a virtuous way to avoid a decision. They are a protest of a system that funnels complex decisions into a binary choice. This one or that one, you decide. That's not a choice. That's especially not a choice when both parties intentionally seek to maintain party dominance within an extreme minority of the population. If we had a more vibrant and open political system, we wouldn't have to listen to Democrats complain all the time. By the way, a third-party gave us Bill Clinton so keep quiet. A third party could split the anti-Trump vote. A third party could also split Republican loyalists. You don't know yet.
1
Third parties are a good option in systems that allow for proportional seats in congress, so all three parties get a voice. The American system is not that, alas.
3
Rather than promote the repeal of the Second Amendment, could we simply recognize the first half of it? I'd like to ask the NRA types (and five Supreme Court justices) why, if it isn't about "well regulated militias", Madison clearly said that it was? I don't think that Madison was just checking to see if his quill pen worked.
Talk of repeal also legitimizes the NRA claim that, in the 1790's, "to bear arms" didn't mean "go to war", but rather "carry a pistol into a church"
19
Bret Stephens wants to make migration better regulated and less regulated. Huh? A wall with sanely spaced revolving doors? Warnings instead of ticketing? Drill instruction prior to departure with cadence callers along the dusty trail?
Or is he talking about Canada geese?
5
I totally agree with Bret on the 2d Amendment. It is the ONLY way to get the NRA to negotiate. Otherwise, they need do nothing and thus will succeed.
And get rid of the chaplain. We Jews feel very left out, dare I say discriminated against!
13
Thanks for bringing up W. It's easy for us to forget that Dick Cheney evidently thought he himself was president. That explains a lot including why it was so hard to get Cheney off the stage when Obama came in.
11
The 25 minutes of Michelle Wolf's routine. should be put in this perspective: The daily lies and propaganda they expose the population to is harmful to 320,000,000 million in the country.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders sits on a bully pulpit and is cringe worthy on a daily basis. Her monotone, scowling and utter disgust hearing a question that displeases her, at times calling it inappropriate, is infuriating to watch.
As far as Kellyanne Conway, she claims she learned everything in life packing blueberries as a teenager. I believe that, that Georgetown law degree is not evident when it comes to her thought process and how she speaks.
They both earned the hot seat for 25 minutes.
As for the press, Trump bragged about the free publicity during his campaign after every outrageous statement he made. The initial name calling he used was an indication it would be used as a sword nationally and internationally. Had the media researched and published the lawsuits, the unscrupulous business practices, his foriegn connections especially with Russians, his lack of knowledge, the complete arrogance and why he was unqualified for the position we wouldn't be assualted every day by the corruption, clowns that have succeeded in dismantling of each cabinet they lead.
What a joke on the American people in thinking the oath of office would transform him into Presidential. Even intelligent commentators grasped this flimsy straw.
113
Gail & Bret; we need a House person of the cloth to lead the frequent prayers for those killed with semi-automatic weapons...
15
Obama wanted comprehensive immigration legislation. The Republicans felt they had more to gain from demagoging the issue, plus they were determined to obstruct Obama's agenda at every turn. So here we are: They control every branch of government and we still don't have even a glimmer of comprehensive immigration legislation. No matter what Trump says in Michigan about a bracero type program.
Speaking of which, notice the tremendous growth of the latino population in the agricultural lands of western Michigan. As in California, they are producing our food, yo. Do Republicans like eating? I wonder how many companies that hired illegals are run by Republicans? I'm betting over half.
We have a multifaceted immigration problem and we need comprehensive legislation to address it. We obviously aren't going to get it from the Republicans because they have backed themselves into the corner.
32
Lively conversation. You two are the rare political duo, that make me wish I could be sitting down at the table for your conversation. ( yeah, I know you're really just doing it via computer. )
8
Michelle Wolf was great. The wailing from a lot of the media shows how cowed they are.
25
I was disappointed Collins and Stephens didn't mention Trump's promise to fix the Soo Locks. Michiganders have known that the Soo Locks need a huge update and Trump acts like he's the only one who knows about it. Then he promises to fix them ( a billion dollar project probably). We'll never hear that again, I'm sure. As for the House clergyman, yawn. Remove In God We Trust from the currency, too, I suppose and the references to Divine Providence and Nature's God from the Declaration of Independence too, right?
5
This intelligent, well informed, respectful and humane conversation refuels our minds with sanity and solace to our psyche amidst national chaos and threat. These are very demoralizing times. Please continue to preserve our dignity and mindfulness through these dialogues. ......And continue to remind us about how to preserve American democracy.
Thank you
14
If republicans stay in charge of the government after this year's midterm elections I doubt we will have an election in 2020.
The one thing about those two guys from Colorado; they do understand the benefits of a Cannabis economy.
I believe what is needed in t rump country is more cannabis and less heroin. More cannabis and less hate. More cannabis and less white. More cannabis and less republicans.
What the republican party needs is a divorce from the koch empire and the money they pay out to subvert our democracy.
13
If trump were really, truly against the correspondents' dinner, Kellyanne and Sara would not have been there; and Sara especially would not have been on the dais. No one from the WH would have attended. The only reason he hasn't been there for the past 2 years is that he can't tolerate the humor aimed at him. Remember his face during Obama's speech? Bullies can dish it out, but can't take it.
It was a perfect excuse to hold a rally for his base, pretending to ignore the dinner- which he couldn't, because like Hillary, he can't let go out the subject and constantly mentioned it.
His rallies make me cringe, harking back to the Nazis in Germany stoking the fires of antisemitism, only this time, it's anti- immigration, anti- Washington corrupt politicians (not mentioning how much his cabinet members are shamelessly spending taxpayers' money), and basic hatred and contempt of the principles that got him elected. He spews lies and innuendoes (railing against the Dem Senator from Montana) and the crowds love it.
It is my fervent wish that the news networks and papers would stop advertising every tweet he issues. What I have noticed over the past few weeks is that segments of the news broadcasts have been reporting on the great divide in the country. His tweets are decisive and hateful and stoke the fires of this divide and They do not deserve to be reported on every news program. Of course, this is wishful thinking on my part.
44
@dorothy- sorry- his tweets are devicive
1
More and more it becomes clear that this Trump presidency needs an intervention, with the option of jail or an asylum. Either one.
But then we have the unqualified, imbecilic electorate that put him in office. I dream of them all seceding from the union or perhaps creating an authoritarian state of their own in a far off land - out of sight and mind. What's the use, it's just a dream. I keep wondering why this all happened - the Trump phenomenon. Its spits on all we
used to stand for - justice, fairness, equality, decency, humanity, good manners, intelligence, kindness..... Some years ago a French woman asked me how I considered the American people. I thought and said - We are a good people - I can't answer that same question in the same way today.
7
One answer...the electoral college.
3
No Filter Don continues his reign of destruction as predicted. Still unable to realize the impact of his own words, as in bragging he did fire Comey over the "Trump-Russia Thing."
The 40+ questions that Mueller has for him reveal it's known there's obstruction of justice & sinister links to Russia.
No Filter Don can't even successfully provide words of courage in times of stress or sadness. No wonder he has so many "frenemies." Even white house staffers betray him by leaking his flawed performance to the press.
Perhaps an elected official purposefully & repeatedly making false claims to the American people--and viciously attacking people by tweet-- should be grounds for censure and/or impeachment.
8
The two of you could have a conversation about ‘guest workers’ and just who is going to do the hard labor Americans of any political persuasion refuse to do. Does no one remember the experiment by Alabama a few years back where they kicked out the Hispanic population and then there was no one to harvest crops at the end of the season? Not even convicts from the local prisons would do the work, because they ended up suing the state for cruel and unusual punishment for sending them to the fields. Agriculture, Tech, manufacturing and service industries have conspired to lower wages across the board in order to increase profits, but want politicians to protect them from the people they supposedly serve, the public. We’re drowning in our own greed, and when you throw religion and guns into the mix the atmosphere is positively toxic. So which red haired rant is closer to the truth? The comic or the pretender-in-chief? Which one takes food and services from the public, and which one makes you laugh? Have that conversation.
15
There are lots of good valid reasons to do away with the WH correspondents dinner. But there is no reason to be upset with Michelle Wolf's performance. Those who accuse her of being to edgy and offensive must also be willing to say the same when their champion Trump does that. And he is not even a funny guy; he is the POTUs with a global platform and following. This outrage against Michelle Wolf's routine is feigned and disingenuous.
Did any of the folks who felt so offended by Wolf'd material pushback when Trump called Mexicans rapists, or Gold Star Families unpatriotic, or McCain a loser, or mimicked a person with a handicap. How soon they forget. Shame on them.
20
The nation needs and the Reps deserve a flip of both Houses of Congress. Dems, however, cannot be complacent, witness 2016. Bret and Gail discuss assessing the odds on a Dem takeover of Congress at more than 90%. That fails to take into account the "huuuuuge" impact that will occur if an even arguable deal is reached on NK denuclearization. It won't take much of a "deal" to be arguable in the eyes of Trump. Dangerous to reach such a non-deal deal, and dangerous, but certain, that Trump will again hoist himself on his own petard - with the explosion to occur only after the elections.
5
That well-known evil country, Canada, does pretty much what Trump is suggesting. Farm workers come in, pick the crops, and leave. They can't bring their families, and they have to return to Mexico to collect their pay.
I don't see anything wrong with this, if the pay and working conditions are acceptable.
11
It's heartbreaking to me that Gail does not think that an ERA could be adopted in the near future.
1
It's called reality! Did you miss the part where she said it had been on the table since the 70's? AND, the idea of passing anything in this environment is ludicrous.
Stay focused on guns, please.
Niiiice! I came to rant and stayed to enjoy. Didn't watch the whole thing, thanks for the Showtime clip. Does Mr. Stephens have a mustache or not?
Still, about those rants: as a mystical atheist (figure it out, your problem not mine), I appreciate much that is in religion and deplore the uses people put their religion to, not supported by the core teachings, such as the Gospels. If everyone would just love their neighbors, work together for the common good (which, if you call it socialism, is the best way), stop being so eager to hate and blame (particularly evil is blaming victims), and get wise about our hospitable earth before we trash it and make hell on earth, I'd be all for it. This is a good argument for atheism, because if there were a good some awful smiting would be in order. Believing the self-affirming voices in your head leaves you subject to instinct rather than wisdom as a guide: people bring their goodness with them (an observation from earlier spiritual journeys, mind you).
Not mentioned is that push for a Nobel, now enjoined by Kim Jong Un as well as Trumpians. Disgust doesn't cover the nauseous. That smug Trump with his self worship and utter lack of ethics has once again dug the offal awful deeper and more putrid. Un, who appears to be a clever chap, has figured out another way to play Trump, who is not clever but knows how to get his. I salivate for him to be put in an oubliette, so I never have to look at his ugly smug mug again.
12
For once an interesting typo: "if there were a god" is rather nice as "if there were a good". Too bad they're not the same thing.
6
Trump is no thinker and never seems to care whether what he says or does is reasonable nor what the consequences beyond the moment any of it may produce. He seeks to convince people to give him what he wants by manipulating their attitudes and emotions, and he’s good at doing that. In his path are legions of people misled by him and unable to do more than stay out of his way in the future. He is going to fracture the Republican Party if they do not act, soon. The damage he has already done to our government may take a long time to repair. His judicial appointments are going to affect jurisprudence in unpredictable ways, and law affects people’s liberty and property very seriously. The lack of good policy and good leadership will also sow unexpected problems. Few ever expected the people to act without any care about choosing a President.
12
Would someone please explain why conservatives want to eliminate the department of Commerce? What does Commerce do that you don't want done? Hurricane forecasting? Managing offshore fisheries?
16
Don't forget the Census Bureau!
It does some useful stuff, like performing the constitutionally mandated decennial census, which is used in that minor process known as reapportionment.
4
Those that like to cuddle with their guns always exaggerate sensible gun control measures into the eventual repeal of the 2nd amendment anyway, so you might as well try for it. Maybe it will be like a real estate asking price, you ask high and accept less.
16
I wonder about the casual way conservatives say “Let’s get rid of the Commerce Department in toto.” Do they understand that means getting rid of NOAA and the weather service, the Census Bureau and a host of other agencies which provide valuable information to business and industry? Or are they just uninformed about what the Commerce Department agencies do?
24
The only problem with the White House Correspondents dinner is that it is generally a love fest for Democratic presidents, and generally character assassination for Republican presidents. Whether or not that is justified, it sends the message (very much heard in the heartland) that the press supports the Democratic party. For an event supposedly run to support first amendment rights, I can't think of any gesture more likely to open the press to attack, and to threaten the press' freedom. The press must avoid even the appearance of bias, particularly with the current president.
4
As someone with ample experience as a pedestrian, cyclist and driver in the city, I’d like to clarify something: dangerous behavior is common among practitioners of all three activities, but as the minority position, bikers get the worst rap. Cars are capable of doing the most damage, so in a way they are the most dangerous, but pedestrians are a greater nuisance and probably cause the highest number of dangerous situations, because there are so many of them everywhere, and they very often assume that the rules don’t apply to them. The only thing that keeps pedestrians out of the middle of the road is the fear of being hit by a large vehicle; they constantly meander in front of bicycles, presumably assuming cyclists can swerve or stop quickly, or that it won’t hurt too much if they are hit. Cars often run red lights or fail to signal before turning, but cyclists typically experience more dangerous pedestrian behavior than bad driving behavior in a given hour—one hair-raising event every few minutes isn’t not uncommon. This also makes cyclists feel like they are traveling in a lawless war zone, which probably encourages them to behave poorly too. It’s no excuse for bad behavior (and bad cyclists are as bad as anyone else), but it’s still important to see the bigger picture in which cyclists play a relatively small role.
5
In my opinion, sharing the road with cyclist can be a real issue, although different from what you would experience, I'm sure, in NYC.
Here in Colorado we have many mountainous two lane highways that cyclist love to frequent. There is often little to no shoulder, and often you cannot see much in front of you. Even when you are going slowly, rounding a curve and suddenly having a bicyclist, or a group of bicyclist smack in front of you is a problem for everyone. I would like to have cyclist stick to dedicated lanes created for them in these dangerous situations. I'm sure the cost of such a thing is prohibitive, but I'm amazed that more cyclist aren't hurt or killed. That is a tragedy for both the cyclist, and dare I say it, the driver who comes upon these people to suddenly to stop, or has a head-on collision with another car because they are trying to avoid the cyclist. I don't think they mix well at all.
7
WTH? "cyclist[s] love to frequent"? Most cyclists I know commute. Cycling is not a crime--yet.
I drive and I share the road. It's not that difficult.
Someone in the Bernie Sanders mold for President? Oh, horror of horrors. He/she would preside over administrations as progressive as those of Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and even Ike. That must never happen. The United States must be kept safe for the super-rich.
24
That's not the problem. It's the conspiracy ideation of the Berniebuster left and their blindness to their preference for attacking people with whom they don't sympathize, like pragmatists and long-suffering public servants. Rockstar crowd worship and armchair criticisms are not helping.
We don't need more circular firing squads and a cannibalized Democratic party. We need to win in November. Otherwise, it's curtains!
I'm for almost every one of Bernie's ideals, but the rewriting of history in which he would have won, and the blind hero worship, are likely to help Republicans continue to steal elections.
14
I'm with Susan...except for bernie's ideals. I still don't know what they are and if they differ from anyone in the Democratic Party, to which he does not belong. He remains the cypher today that he has always been.
Oh they are all up in arms over Michelle Wolf. Poor KellyAnne, Poor Sarah. Totally mistreated. Their side would never even dream of mistreating, say,a disabled reporter. Put on your big girl pants. You decide to join the bully's team, and defend him no matter what he says or does. "Michelle was mean". Give me a break. And no one thinks about how the American people would feel if they were seeing the roads and bridges fixed and rebuilt. And the public transportation rebuilt and improved. What people want to see is clean train stations and the trains coming and going on time and no traffic jams at the bridges and tunnels. They don't get to see, nor do they care if the tee times at Trump golf courses are on schedule.
135
Yes, Sarah Sanders can dish it out, but she's not supposed to have to take it. I think MW did her job, but it was a poor choice for national TV. Unfortunately, the press has to be immaculate while Trumpians can say and do as they please.
10
Good discussion. But the news nowadays is so disheartening--do you not feel (sometimes) an overpowering urge to bury your heads ostrich-like in the sand? A hand-lettered sign prominently displayed on your. . . your. . .. well, YOU know--reading DO NOT DISTURB.
Moving on.
I like the Congressional chaplaincy. DON'T--get rid of it.
I take your point about Mr. Jefferson and his thoroughly expurgated Bible. All the miracles neatly excised. The result--a thoroughly rational, "age-of-reason" book for an "age-of-reason" man.
But consider this.
Didn't ALL the meetings of those eminent men that framed our Constitution open with prayer?
"Evangelical Christians"? Oh no. Many of them--very decidedly--were NOT. But they DID acknowledge a Supreme Being and (when push came to shove) were willing to invoke His aid as they labored on. And you know--
--the whole thing came out rather well. Don't you think?
An Americanized, homogenized religion? I suppose so. Better that than nothing. I would have you recall Lincoln's incomparable words as he bade farewell to his Springfield neighbors.
"Without the aid of that Supreme Being that ever attended him (viz. Washington), I cannot succeed. With that aid, I cannot fail. . . .. "
No. Keep the chaplaincy. Which leads to a final thought.
REINSTATE FATHER CONROY.
(That was for YOU, Mr. Ryan.)
4
This miscreant purses his wrinkled lips and refers to humanity seeking freedom from oppression as, "That mess at the border." Freeze frame that one, and November can't be here soon enough. Lock him up.
34
Lol. I love how the NyT has FINALLY reached the last stage of grief...acceptance. The Times has become a self help center. Let's see if you can reach step twelve.
4
Cruz on into 2020. Ted Cruz has opened his campaign with an appeasement article singing the praises of Don-Don.
The anointed one, Gods gift to Texans, therefore America charts his course to the White House.
God, Guns and Texas, Ted’s marquee platform is the byline to lubricate the discourse.
In your heart, you know he’s right!
1
Ted Cruz has a very credible opponent in Beto O`Rourke. Mark my words, Ted's days are numbered; don't let the door hit you on the way out!!
1
Even for his most ardent supporters, isn't the Fake President's recurring twitter and rally bombast getting really, really "old", hackneyed and, even worse, agonizingly boring? He's resembling a human version of a crazed, Energizer Bunny. When will his MAGA crowd start tuning out Trump's incoherent stream of consciousness mumbling? It's already resembling a 10 year old act at a third-rate, off the Strip, Las Vegas lounge act.
49
Don't let his antics get boring because then he wins.
2
On the chaplain issue, there should not be one, due to the First Amendment. As for the correspondents' affair, it is stupid. There is no reason for the press to try to get along with the president, plus staff, and invite a comedian to help. It is ridiculous. Finally, in regard to 2020, Sasse vs. Hickenlooper would bring the US back to some sense of normalcy, if that is ever possible. I wouldn't mind seeing Haley run, but working for Trump, even though she is not close to him, is bad.
9
It makes one wonder. What woul turn Trump supporters against him? And thus, the November midterms.
6
Nothing MIMA.
It's another Jim Jones cult.
They love the lies and the cyanide and the performance art and are happy to drink it up until the catastrophic end.
25
That disinhibition is a symptom.
3
This is pretty weak. I watched Michelle Wolf and thought she was fine. The outrage is certainly manufactured and the willingness of the middle and the left...the Republican lite to go along with the lie that she was totally out of line is really disgusting. As a society we are decaying with no commitment to the common space, to education (good lettuce and science that uses DNA to catch a killer).
Bret and Gail through softballs to each other. So boring.
4
Please do not offer alcohol to the frightening people cheering for hate, McCarthy-like innuendo and the absence of Hispanics at the Mussolini-style Trump event. They are armed and dangerous. They do not consider the ramifications of their actions. Impulsive. armed people should not be offered alcohol.
The picture of the cheering horde is absolutely horrifying to me.
15
"Deep State". Heh.
And "bike wars"? Do tell!
1
In a country where 48% of eligible voters failed to vote, why are we waisting our time bemoaning Donald Trump. We put him where he is.
4
No. "We" did not, unless you are only talking about a) those who couldn't bring themselves to bother to vote, b) the very very conservative wealthy who wanted even more money than they can spend in 10 lifetimes, c) those who yearn for a Xtian theocracy, and d) the shout radio listeners or e) the idealistic cop-outs who voted for a third party candidate, knowing the candidate had zero chance, and that their vote was, in effect, a vote for Trump.
"They" put him where he is. "They" own this bogus POTUS. I'm sure some of them are ashamed, but few of them admit it.
6
In no way "we". Everyone assumed that someone else would take out the trash.
3
It was the out-dated electoral college that put trump in office. That is what we need to focus on--eliminating the electoral college. Disenfranchising voters in the majority of states is not democracy.
4
"A concern for those POOR people, padre,
We Congressmen call rather odd! They
Show up here and there
But does anyone care
How they suffer and struggle on?" "GOD may!"
3
I hope someday your discourse will become more critical when it comes to Catholic social teaching , defending the rights of the unborn, and American politics. The Jesuit priest was fired because he spoke truth to power. These complex issues, when faith intersects with culture, are not as black and white as you would like them to be.
1
W did the greatest service to his father; he proved the wisdom of H.W. not going to Baghdad. Rarely does history afford actual proof of the counter factual, but W did it. Indeed, the book by H.W. and Scowcroft published before W’s war details the reasons why they decided against conquering Iraq. W proved every one of those reasons to be prescient, and laid bare the idiocy of those who had demanded that H.W. do what W ultimately did. As any devoted son should if he can, W demonstrated to the world his father’s extraordinary wisdom and judgment.
7
Have you seen what's going on in Iraq???
For some years, I have become more impressed with Bret Stephens for his quiet, persistent display of civility and intellect. However, his favorable remarks about Michelle Wolf's disgraceful, rude, uncouth and not funny rant the other night lead me to wonder if he is being co-opted by a desire to appear one of the "in crowd" in his NYT setting. For instruction on how to act, perhaps Mr. Stephens should read his own recent column entitled "Bush 41, Trump & American decline."
1
Mr. Stephens is to be complimented on his belated concern for religious rights; I admit finding non-concern in this area alarming for the reasons he alludes to, but also worrisome in that, because it is so foundational to this country's democracy to have freedom from religion we all as the citizenry should be very sensitive to challenges such as we are seeing from the nonthinking, dreary religious right.
I am surprised not to see Mr. Castro on a short list of possible Dem presidential candidates. He is outstanding in his high ethics and intelligence, maybe too good of a guy to be President. Think how long it will take to remove all the stains from the Oval Office!
4
The tax plan was never meant to be the wonder drug for the people. Ever. Trump got his 11 million. He is happy.
12
I heard Nikki Haley speak at Duke a few weeks ago. She didn't strike me as very bright and she slobbered about trump and how wonderful he was. No backbone at all.
Flint still doesn't have clean water.
34
This column makes me feel better, which is rather weird, but its true. Maybe it is because its two intelligent people talking about things that matter, agreeing sometimes disagreeing sometimes and without saying rude things about the other's mother. Keep it up, Gail and Bret.
11
Bret and Gail, I sense you struggling here to get a handle on our current state of affairs and where this country is going. The news is like a slippery Trump speech where nothing is real, and nothing to get hung about. We want effective gun control, a resolution for dreamers, clarification of Russian meddling in our elections, steps to deal with income inequality, etc. Instead we get nonstories like jokes at a Washington gathering, Trump's usual rants at his perceived enemies and talk of repealing the second amendment which is likely as Santa Claus coming down my nonexistent chimney and granting my every desire.
Pardon my frustration here and in the current climate perhaps I should expect nothing but our current waste land. The only ting right now that really matters is retaking the House and perhaps the Senate in November. Thanks anyway for trying to perk up the conversation.
18
thank you for this piece. always thought provoking. but not even close to the despicable thinking , words and behavior of trump.
at his facist-like rally what if he was about to talk about the move of the israel capital or US embassy - and first asked "are there any jews in the audience?" there would be more than outrage, hopefully. but asking the question about hispanics got huge support in the audience. BTW - i wouldn't be surprised (i'd be disappointed) if the audience would react the same way if he substituted jews for hispanics.
the "new normal" has set in. too many just say "that's the way he talks and it's refreshing." Voices of normality, reason, decency must get louder and prevail.
Mueller is on the right paths and hopefully trump will disappear from public office soon so our country can reclaim the high ground for decency, status, honesty, humanity (our country is not perfect but we will again strive to move forward not back to when "america was great" - code for you know what.
re michelle wolf. BRAVO (or BRAVA) for her. truth to power.
worth watching this short video of trevor noah - spot on. great perspective.
"Trevor Noah ‘Fires’ Michelle Wolf From ‘The Daily Show’
'Michelle should have had the decency not to comment on women’s appearances in any way, shape or form.”'
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trevor-noah-michelle-wolf-daily-sho...
10
A question about: “I know things about the senator that I can say, too”
Can Senator Tester sue for threats? Intimidation?
Somehow we need to stop the bully's threats - veiled and direct,
Tweeted and said at rallys and on TV
19
When you consider the behavior of most of the members of congress, the Chaplin's office efforts seem to have been ineffective and wasted.
A grown person who has to turn to an imaginary friend to know right from wrong has no business being in elective office.
I prayed on it is politico speak for the bidding was opened, bid, and then the winning bid was accepted.
4
You overlooked Secretary of Defense Mattis who has also demonstrated integrity, relative independence and decency.
3
Of course they’re shouldn’t be a chaplain in Congress just as they’re shouldn’t be the phrase one nation under god in the pledge of allegiance. Come to think of it why are we making people, particularly children recite a pledge of allegiance. If you want my allegiance in a rational, democratic society it needs to be earned not extracted. But I digress. I do think it rather telling that the chaplain prayed for fair taxes and either god is a rich Republican and ignored his beseeching, doesn’t exist, or can’t hear a godless papist. Whichever, it was a bad day for Christianity and then to get fired by the only god Paul Ryan knows. If the poor congress people need a shoulder to cry get a psychiatrist for god’s sake I’m sure any lobbyist would be happy to foot the bill.
10
The phrase "Under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 because the country was afraid that communists were going to take over the country. I believe Eisenhower was the President at the time. It was a stupid thing to do and alienated a lot of people. It should not be there. Republicans use that as a talking point to prove we ARE a Christian nation.
9
So what have we got here?
A few sentences on Trump’s awful Michigan rally, mention of Michelle Wolf at the WHCD, Paul Ryan fires a chaplain and raises questions about the First Amendment, the BATF (needs to lose the A and the T, alcohol and tobacco), too many bicycles in Manhattan, the NRA and the Second Amendment, November 2018 elections, somebody named Hinklefluffer or something, two George Bushes and their reactions to Saddam Hussein, GOP tax cuts not exciting, the dog on Romney’s car, and more ...
What is the point? To dodge from one topic to another so quickly that you can both keep smiling at each other and demonstrating nonpartisan, collegial good will?
This isn’t the right time for games. And the prospect of enticing a few Central Americans up to work in our fields then sending them right back home when it gets cold isn’t funny.
Please ... someday focus on the fact that Paul Ryan has thrown in the towel and will soon fly home from DC to spend “more time with his family.” What does this mean for Republicans? Why are so many of these GOP guys fleeing the federal government? Do they fear an uprising of all the senior citizens and hungry children whose “entitlements” and school lunches they happily threatened to cut?
Now that makes ME chuckle ...
11
There is no such thing as sane immigration reform as long as Donald Trump is our president. Same with the First and Second Amendments to our Constitution. Let's separate church and state once and for all -- i.e. no Chaplain of any determination, suasion, religion hired to preach to Congress paid for by our taxes. And way past time in this century to rescind, remove and ashcan the Second Amendment and the open carry of weapons only meant for "a regulated militia" in 1789, when the amendment was crafted to allow a gun in every pot everywhere in America these days.
Shock and horror, fire and fury! Chaos, social media and fake news reign amok in Washington, D.C. today. How come, Gail and Bret, we know so much more than our demented, ranting, uneducated, unlettered and blind to human history 45th President? Tell us all how to rid ourselves of the big orange buffoon before he does in Planet Earth. Bigly thanks to you both for bringing us the latest in pundits' ruminations!
4
Thank you Gail for calling out the inherent repugnancy of the White House correspondents dinner:
“I’ve never liked the idea of journalists and politicians getting together for a gala bash to celebrate their inner palship.”
You don’t like it, I find it revolting. I’ll call that full agreement.
As for Bret and bikes, why do conservatives hate bicycles so much?
“Big government is bad! Unless you are talking about a Schwinn. Then we need serious regulation.”
Finally, if a third party 1 percenter decides to run to sabotage a Sanders type candidate for the presidency, I’ll vote Trump. I never thought anything could make me do that, but one good threat deserves another.
1
I would like to add a correction. Thomas Jefferson did not rewrite the New Testament. Jefferson was a Unitarian and Unitarians did not believe that Jesus was the son of God. This was before they junked their historical theology and Christian heritage. What he did was cut and paste the Gospels to create a narrative of Jesus's life and teachings. It ends with the rolling of the stone against the tomb. It took him 27 years to cut and paste the Gospels. He didn't have a computer handy.
Sign me former Unitarian
7
The masses still showing up at Trump rallies leave me asking the existential question of one Admiral James Stockdale: Who are they, why are they there?
16
George HW Bush is one of those Presidents whose stock will rise as time passes. Ended the Cold War, liberated Kuwait, raised taxes when he had to and laid the foundation for the economic recovery of the 1990s. He will go down as a pretty good statesman, albeit not a great politician, but I will take that combination every time over the reverse.
6
Speaking of the White House Correspondents Dinner: Why was Sanders on the dais at all? Why so chummy with the people who misdirect, lie, who are vicious both in their their slanders and in their policies. The correspondents themselves mystify the system. They focus on foreground things alone. Never ask any real questions about anything too basic. So I guess why not have a person who only has contempt for them on the dais. Michelle Wolf was funny, pointed and told some basic truths. I expected from what I read there was mockery about Sanders appearance. The joke about the eye shadow is not much of anything. It felt there is just a grab bag of reactions that people pull out when they can't think of anything to say. Could one even imagine the reporters and the columnist and editorial writers at the Times saying anything truly disruptive and real. If even alone by themselves in front of a mirror, maybe they could try out a stand up routine of their own. Hey guys there is something there to be discovered. Who knows where that would lead. Certainly to a much better place than they are now.
3
Since there is so much evil white noise surrounding Trump every day, I agree with other readers. Stop covering him,he isn't saying anything worth while. Focus on what is going on in the country. What the do nothing GOP politicians are doing. Show how the teachers in the red state are trying to make something happen. Ask the hard questions why the technology gods aren't donating equipment to there schools. Show the disparity between the poor white people who supported Trump and how nothing has changed. More stories about how the Pope is trying and succeeding in making proactive change. Yes we know the president has to be covered however I don't remember Presidents in the past being on TV every minute. Media is feeding a very selfish individual who loves to talk and talk and change his statements over and over because he is telling one lie after another.
Y
9
Tony: teachers in red states could make something happen by not voting for Republicans...
1
"my views have changed as I’ve watched the Republican Party constantly try to inject Christianity into everyday political life. "
i am sorry but.... duh? we don't have rules like the separation of church and state for situational reasons we have this rule because humans are flawed, always, and there need to be a few principles that we just don't violate even when we like the people in charge at the moment.
6
We need a serious third-party candidate. The reason we have Donald Trump is because both sides insisted the election had to be a binary choice, and Trump and Clinton were both completely unacceptable to half the country. We need a third-party candidate who can mount a credible regional campaign in the mountain west and plains states. Utah flirted with a third party candidate last time, but they succumbed to the foolish notion that a vote for a third party candidate was a vote for Hillary. No Democrat can win in Utah, even if a third-party candidate and Trump split the conservative vote down the middle. Bill Clinton took 3rd in Utah in 1992 and his wife got only 28 percent of the vote. If a third-party candidate wins a state, it does nothing to help either the Democrat or Republican become president. And hopefully it will throw the election to the House of Representatives. I like a ticket with Romney and Tulsi Gabbard. Then they try to take Utah, Idaho, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Colorado. We have to mix things up. The country cannot bear another Trump-Clinton choice.
3
The Trump at these rallies is "the real Trump." This is our president. No further comment is needed.
11
I agree with Bret that Trump has brought Gail and him together. Hardly ever a discomforting word between them. Which among other reasons I think it would be significantly more interesting, at least to me, if Gail's conversation partner, rather than being one sensitive white male conservative after another would be someone from the left. Someone like Chelsea Manning, Michelle Alexander or Noam Chomsky.
Just last week Bret justified the killing of unarmed Palestinians protesting at the Gaza border. Not that I want to tell anybody what to talk about. But that was a particularly horrifying comment. And something I doubt slipped by Gail. Does Gail agree with that? Is she unsettled by that? Does she have no opinion about that?
8
Bret, if Gail wants 5-1 or 10-1 odds on the House flipping, you should take her money. Nate Silver at Fivethirtyeight.com has recently put the chances of that at a bit above 50%.
You rightly point out the influence of Times columnists. I don't think now is a great time to put out the message that the House flipping is "in the bag". Thought you'd have learned that lesson from the 2016 Presidential election.
5
Third parties are monkey wrenches in the system unless we implement ranked voting or some other way to keep a third-party vote from being wasted or counterproductive.
5
Get rid of the noise, the TV cameras looking voyeuristically for shock/horror reactions from the audience, and give the text of Michelle Wolf’s intro at The Washington Correspondent’ Dinner a dispassionate reading. Although it may have made plenty of people uncomfortable, it is mostly spot on, and considerably less sordid than the racism, bigotry, misogyny and white nationalism that Trump has been spewing at his rallies and in his tweets for the past two years. Contrary to Kellyanne Conway and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Michelle Wolfe comes across to me as a woman who actually cares about this country and its institutions however black the humor.
The truth hurts, and thank god for anyone who reminds us that “Flint still doesn’t have clean water.”
16
There is also evidence that Trump’s mental state is not just a theatrical device to flip on and off. The phone-in interview with Fox News last Friday was a case in point. Absolute psychotic ranting and Hannity I believe had to cut him off—his very own American Idol had to be de-Trumped on national TV. I have one eye set on The Donald and the other set on Mueller, the Last Fine Human in Washington.
10
"I think it's ludicrous that the military is so heavily invested in football games . . ." It's not just football, it's practically any public event that you are forced to display this faux patriotism by celebrating militarism. I was at a basketball game recently where the announcer commanded that everyone "stand up, remove your hat, and show support for our troops" while uniformed military personnel took center stage for the national anthem. My brother, who attends all the games, warned me to do exactly as told or some other fan would grab my hat and start a violent interaction. I found this nauseating and intimidating and abrogated my right to not support militarism. "No thank you" for your service in spreading death and destruction throughout the globe.
12
Nikki Haley will never be president. She will forever be stained by Trump.
12
I have a few ideas on the gun issue.
No, I don't want to take away any guns, but I really do want to ban the sale of assault rifles, high capacity magazines and strongly regulate the sale of hand guns with a very vigorous background check.
How do we accomplish this with an NRA that lobbies our government with fear and foreign money?
Solution...change the NRA leadership by voting out the board of directors and getting rid of those despicable speakers and leaders.
I suspect there are enough middle of the road NRA members out there that agree with my solution. If the teenager's movement would add a membership drive to join the NRA to overthrow the current leadership maybe we could change the NRA lobby and actually get sane gun laws passed.
I don't want to take anyone's guns away, but rescinding "Stand your ground" laws, changing requirements for CWP's and making it very difficult to "open carry" weapons of any type would be sensible policy discussions that could be had with a more moderate NRA leadership.
Just a thought!
9
No mention of Stormy skies in our near future!
3
Bret - you'd like sensible, moderate candidates for President? Now, that's just crazy.
2
A couple of thoughts:
Trump’s base likes his rallies because they think exactly the way he speaks - in disjointed grievances and poorly considered policies. Unfortunately for the rest of us, they voted him into office and are getting exactly what they wanted. He will go on appealing to them the same way because that’s who is. The question is whether they will go on accepting a wannabe autocrat or reject him before he is actually empowered to become one.
The White House Correspondents Dinner was unfunny and uncomfortable because the White House is that and much more. We could add about the White House that is misogynist, racially biased, anti democratic - an ugly nest of thugs, liars and thieves, all lead by the president. It would have been a more truthful dinner had all of the speakers directly addressed Sarah Sanders directly, for example, to ask if there would ever be a lie too brazen for her to speak or an action of the president so reprehensible and unchristian that she would condemn it. That would have been a decidedly unfunny dinner, but then again, these are decidedly unfunny times. Maybe the dinner should be cancelled so the free press can focus entirely on its mission of protecting itself and the Constitution from the daily assaults by Trump and his lackeys. And they can resume the dinner when there is something to find joyfully funny about our politics and a president who has the self-confidence see the humor in him or her self.
10
Hey Man Person! Yeah. Let's not get rid of the Chaplain, ok, because when you get rid of the depts. that regulate or investigate the safety or handling of products like cigarettes, meat, drugs, guns!, even atheists like me and my dog might be moved to say a prayer. For luck.
2
Bring back the values of tolerance (maybe we were never a tolerant nation), equal opportunity for all, equal justice under the law, and return to the rule of law not persons, not politics.
14
Well, he does pack those rallies, doesn’t he? But we need to realize that they’re really come-to-Gawd revivals, for which Americans have had a decided hankering since the early nineteenth century. Gives them a chance to visit with neighbors, share chicken salad recipes, slyly introduce Gawd-fearing sons to Gawd-fearing daughters -- if they weren’t so innocent, they’d realize that the kids already have made mutual acquaintances behind the school gyms. They’re social gatherings at which talented preachers can thump bibles and cause people to personally and physically re-immerse themselves in community. Other than tractor-pulls and monster-truck rallies, there aren’t a lot of other opportunities to do that anymore; but urban elites, stuck in their antiseptic apartments and who don’t even know their neighbors’ names, see all this as … icky.
He actually performs at them adroitly and well. You guys are just intimidated by his guatamaliness. Keep being intimidated and offending Hillary’s “deplorables”, and Trump is going to crush in 2020.
On illegal immigration generally, you should note that these folks never did grok a worldview that actively seeks to destroy a culture by overwhelming it with alien values and folkways. Euros seem to be getting it; and even Mexicans seem to get it – or have they accepted a large number of caravan-seekers as Mexicans BEFORE they get to our border? To people not actually swimming in politically correct Kumbaya, this is simply unfathomable.
Michelle Wolf made a lot of Trumpster jokes, but she also tossed out zingers on the MSM, such as CNN. Lesson: if you’re insufficiently self-confident and certain in your comfortable verities, then don’t invite a comedian to the jumbo-shrimp buffet. The Times wisely has not simply refused to take the table closest to the stage in a comedy joint, but decided years ago not to attend at all. As Harry Callahan once said, “A good man should know his limitations”.
I suppose that the purpose of congressional chaplains, which we’ve had forever, is to minister to religious Members in apolitical ways. That we institutionally separate governance from Gawd (or are supposed to) doesn’t mean that individuals aren’t religious people, needful of counseling on how to avoid Dante’s Eighth Circle of Hell. It’s never bothered me.
Like Gail, I’m for focusing on achievable legislative goals and de-emphasizing monster-efforts via constitutional amendments. We’re SO polarized today ideologically that amendments are simply not going to happen. Pursuing them is a distraction, a waste of energy. Focus on what this country REALLY needs: a truly GOOD $2 cigar.
The tax bill itself is immaterial to November results. What will count will be the state of the economy and the building confidence Americans are showing about their economic futures. I wouldn’t take Gail’s bet, either, but only because I wouldn’t want to embarrass her. And if Trump secures a denuclearized Korea, Dems better run for the exits.
1
Condolences on the loss of the green checkmark.
Welcome to moderation.
5
Lorem Ipsum:
As far as I know, my status as a "Verified Commenter" hasn't changed. I still get published within a minute or two of submission. And, as the Times continues its transition to its new content management engine, you still see some comments published in the old format, where the "green check" still appears; and mine still does. I don't know whether they intend to eventually port that check to the new system or not, but I'm not aware of any intent to change my status.
Also, if you think that just because I'm a "green check" that my comments aren't moderated -- sometimes BEFORE publication -- then I have a slightly-used bridge I'd like to interest you in.
Gail: "If his kid had followed Dad’s example, imagine what a happy place we might be living in now. So yeah, on H. W. I am in your corner."
I take issue with this statement, and I think millions of Iraqis (and especially Kurds) would agree with me. Ever since the disaster of our invasion of Iraq, there's been a growing, cheap argument on the left (and increasingly on the right) that if we simply had not invaded Iraq, the Middle East would be peaceful and stable. But this is blatant capitulation. Yes, I can agree that our invasion of Iraq was a mistake. But I'm not going to ignore that before the invasion, Hussein, doing his best to emulate Stalin, ran a machinery of death that killed hundreds of thousands of his own men. Is this what a peaceful, stable country looks like? Iraq very plausibly might have imploded on its own without our help. See Syria.
After our blunders in the Middle East, we owe our allegiance to the few who after too many years of sectarian violence are still committed to secular democracy--the Kurds and anyone else who joins them.
8
The congressional chaplains typically address an audience consisting merely of a handful of party leaders designated to keep the place open plus a few members who want to give speeches almost no one will hear but that can be reprinted and sent to constituents. Yes, the proceedings are all recorded, transcribed and printed at taxpayer expense and televised on C-Span. But like much of government, it's a waste of time and money. The chaplain could advocate overthrow of the government -- and no one would notice unless it was called to the attention of the mostly absent Speaker.
5
Gail and Bret, by all appearances, the GOP'er lame-duck Speaker fired the House Chaplain for praying, instead of GOP'er-style preying.
As for Michelle Wolf, she just proved what incredibly fragile, hypocrtical snowflakes the Trumpistas are, who daily dish out and defend all sorts of objectionable 'breaking of norms' by His Unhinged Unraveling Unfitness - it is to laugh, hearing the weasel snowflake shouters of 'lock her up' mewling about propriety, at an event publicized far and wide as a Roast !
294
Interesting watching all the Republican snowflakes feel so outraged by the comedy routine; why can't they take a take a joke ?
Their President's a joke, his staff is a joke and GOP Congressional oversight is a joke.
Perhaps next year, a 'right-wing' comedian can be hired to joke about the comedy of Republican 1% tax cuts, record income inequality, collapsed infrastructure, the greatest healthcare rip-off in the world, the reincarnated Jim Crow voter era and the abolition of telling the truth.
The only thing wrong with the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is that the Republicans' so-called President and his lackeys can't take a joke; that's the reason he ran for President in the first place !
The President's lack of sense of humor is yet another critical red flag telling us that this guy has serious psychological problems and lacks basic humanity.
Lilly-livered quislings who want to get rid of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner are falling like logs into the Trump Toilet Trap !
The solution is not to get rid of the dinner; the solution is to get rid of Donald Trump, his Russian-Republican Congress and his traitorous, seditious staff, all of whom get uncomfortable when the truth of their lies, right-wing coup d'etat and comprehensive destruction of the United States is given some fresh sunlight.
Obviously a fake President, a fake Congress, Fake News and and fake Americans who support Trump Treason will be uncomfortable with the ugly truth.
390
OMG you said it better than I thought it!
28
As Wavy Gravy says, "If you don't have a sense of humor it just isn't funny."
17
Another red flag: No White House pet. Even with a kid in residence. How long has it been since that happened?
37
With regard to the impossibility of repealing the Second Amendment, why not actually fulfill its intent by compelling gun owners to serve time in a National Militia? And while we're at it, reintroduce the draft, with military service mandatory for anyone who wants to own a gun. Our propensity as a nation for military adventurism would disappear overnight,
228
Absolutely!! We need the draft back so all would be more concerned about our horrible wars. Yes, after 2 years in the National Guard you have earned the right for a gun.
15
Maybe the best answer(s) EVER to America's gun and militarism issues!
Thanks!
14
First, we should emphasise the first clause that says, "a will regulated militia being necessary to the national defense,..."
The Constitution does not authorize a standing army, and it does not authorize offensive wars. Every time someone quotes the second clause at you, bring them back to the first clause. Ask them where on the constitution it says we should have troops stationed in over a hundred countries? Some of them will even agree, and then you have a basis for communication.
Second, most of these rich Chicken Hawks got deferments from the draft. If there was a new draft, their rich chicken hawk children would still get deferments, somehow, but it would be far easier to send your kid off to die.
We need direct action to stop aggressive wars, not yet more triangulation that has the opposite of the promised effects.
If you are against aggressive wars, stand up and be counted. Don't cook up yet another bizarre scheme that causes more death, and loses more elections.
4
Bret Stephens longs for a centrist president, fearing the progressive Bernie Sanders. The U.S. hasn't enjoyed a progressive in the White House since FDR. It's long past due that The Times gives progressives a voice on its editorial page instead of bending over backwards to accommodate the right wing.
167
I’ve been a dedicated Democrat since birth but I’m no Bernie Bro. We don’t need a Democratic ranting old white man to replace the current ranting old white man. Let’s win the House this year and then begin a search for a truly progressive person who can also speak to the fears of the more moderate voters.
VOTE! And in the meantime, each one register one.
21
That would be fine, if bernie ran as the socialist he loudly proclaimed he was at the 2014 Move-On conference in D.C. He shouted he was not a Democrat, and then steals the label because he thought real Democrats would choose him over a life-long Democrat.
There are plenty of real, life-long Democrats who have way more to offer than bernie.
14
Norma,
If you treat your party as a private club, no one will join.
Bernie had been causing as a Democrat for decades and is more of a Democrat than the centrists that keep pushing Republican policies.
What is Trump proposing that is so different from the temporary visa for agricultural workers that are issued now? The article reads as if neither Collins nor Stephens is aware of the program https://www.epi.org/blog/h-2a-farm-guestworker-program-expanding-rapidly/
8
What about being passionate about getting rid of the Electoral College? It needs to go.
251
Among Republicans, it is OK for their leader to make fun of a handicapped person, to criticize an American Gold stat Mom, and to threaten political enemies, but not accept critical jokes from a comedian.
428
The whole thing reminds me of kids saying "if you can't take it, don't dish it out."
The criticism is ridiculous. The sexual profanity bothers me a little, but the political parts were right on target. The real media isn't being as blunt so they all should have loved what Wolf did.
More shocking was Haberman and other heavy duty reporters criticizing Wolf. She's an edgy comedian for heaven's sake! Not the same as doing the same thing while running for and "serving" as president!
Plays right into the Fox script. How and why did sharp political comedy review turn into a discussion about insulting Sanders's eye shadow? It was about the 'burnt facts' not the use of the ashes.
66
hey, I'm as progressive as the next guy/gal and voted Democrat my entire life, and love the comedy of Stewart, Colbert, Fallon, Meyers I see on the NYT Best of Late Night...I love edgy comedy when it nails the target...BUT Wolf was just. not. funny...to my mind, because it was not funny, it came across as mean spirited and nasty...let's not stoop to the level of you-know-who...
4
Tom....Republican snowflakes are unusually delicate.
They need their safe spaces, like the Trump Nuremburg Rallies he holds around the country where the foaming 'Christian' crowds can still hang Hillary Clinton in effigy for emails while Trump flushes the country down his personal bankruptcy toilet.
These folks are unwell.
158
It is all about Trump all of the time.And I am certain he loves his domination of the news cycle. He is in control of the news. If the mainstream media focused on his achievements there would be much less time spent on Trump. That would be so much better than Wall to Wall Trump.
73
Anything would be better than wall to wall Trump. It appears as if the media is once again giving him billions of dollars of free publicity. Best way to get him re-elected. Ugh.
13
Trump has achievements?
oh yeah, he gave us "world peace."
4
Milton lewis
The economy is great.
Unemployment is down.
Taxes are less.
Workers are getting sizeable bonuses.
Families have sizeable tax reductions.
ISIS has been largely defeated.
The President will meet with Kim Jon-un of N. Korea.
and etc...............
Frankly I'm getting campaign fatigue. One of the nice things about electing a new president was that we got a break from relentless campaigning. The midterms brought us local campaigns but nothing compared to the never ending presidential campaigns that thankfully only happens every four years. Sadly Trump has no governing strategy and only has his brand going for him so he never shuts up.
If the GOP truly doesn't want to be defined by Trump then they'll challenge him in the next election. Trump won't take such disloyalty well and his base still loves him so the GOP may just decide it's not worth the hassle. He did defeat a sea of credible GOP candidates once before so the odds of repeated success is in Trump's corner. Nothing seems to be shaking Trump voters loyalty and I don't see that changing. They enjoy his antics.
35
Every column and political speech should include Michelle Wolf's, "Flint still doesn't have clean water."
Sums it all up.
464
And Puerto Rico still doesn’t have electricity on much of the island.
MAGA, indeed.
98
And let's not forget Puerto Rico...
38
I appreciate the distinction between man-made poisoning of a city's water system and a force of nature, such as a hurricane. Comparing the two is false equivalency. The poisoned children in Flint will never recover, while those affected by the hurricane will.
5
Wishing for a presidential primary challenger or third party candidate to take on Trump assumes he will still be in office in the fall of 2020. The rapid-fire revelations of incompetence, malfeasance, corruption, debauchery, and obstruction lead me to believe 2018 will be Trump's winter of discontent, and it will be Pence's bid for election to an office he inherited that voters will have to support or reject.
21
Let's no forget that if Trump gets past 1/19, Pence will be able to run twice.
2
I certainly don't want Christian Pence. He said there is no separation of church and state. If he doesn't understand the basics of this country's founding he is too ignorant to be President. This is a country for all religions or no religion.
8
" A third-party challenger who takes New York, New Jersey and perhaps Florida could throw the election to the House and lead to the revival of centrist politics in the United States, "
Centrist?
You do know that when the election is thrown to the House, each state gets one vote?
Wyoming gets one vote. Kansas gets one vote. Alabama gets one vote. Mississippi gets one vote. Kentucky gets one vote. New York gets one vote.....the State delegations would be pressured to vote for the person who carried their state, much as the Electors voted for the person who carried their state in 2016 instead of exercising the sanity and judgment Hamilton expected them to exercise
Throwing the election to the House is even less democratic than the Electoral College.
107
I quote Gail Collins: "If his kid had followed Dad’s example, imagine what a happy place we might be living in now. " This remark suggests that Collins does not understand the rules. Not invading countries is not a matter of some 'kid'(US President) but a matter on International Law. Unfortunately International Law is a joke in American policy making; just imagine what a happy place the world would be if it were taken seriously. But for missile throwing US imperialism,with a military budget more than 10 times the one of Russia, International Law is no longer an issue.
30
These Gail and Bret joint opinionated columns should happen at least once a week. Their writing is intelligent, makes a lot of sense and does not cater to the political parties extreme right (40%) and left (40%) voters. Those remaining 20% of the voters are open minded and their votes are influenced by truths not lies.
53
Compared to other advanced nations, there is only an "extreme" right in the US and not an "extreme" left.
The latter would be considered in Europe as being slightly center-left of the political spectrum, while the former has already arrived at the abyss of fascism, akin the the AfD in Germany and the Front National of Marine LePen in France.
14
It was not my intent to take a political side but address that both extremes are not realistic when it comes to pushing their agenda. Both sides have good elements of truth in their agendas but only the remaining 20% view truth's and political realism as the right way to govern. That's what Gail and Bret are attempting to convey with their opinions.
I'd prefer to listen to Trump's unfiltered rants any day. Whether you like him or not, he's telling you what he really thinks -- not something authorized by his advisers after conducting polls and focus groups.
And the value of listening to his unfiltered rants is?
I avoid listening to him, but the other day I forced myself to watch the long Fox & Friends phone call. Having not actually heard him lately, I was flabbergasted. This man is out-of-control crazy! I was appalled before but now I am really scared for our country. Trump is certifiable. A danger to others if not himself. A danger to the planet.
21
Until he says the exact opposite the next day.
18
That makes sense in theory, until you realize that he isn't thinking at all.
12
I'm glad you brought up the story again about the House chaplain. I, too, was surprised at how many readers objected on the grounds of government spending. In the scheme of things,though, his salary seems pretty small potatoes to me.
Others brought up the separation of church and state idea, yet no one seems to have a problem with In God We Trust written on our currency (good luck getting that removed any time soon).
I guess if the chaplain had only kept quiet or at least limited his words to the Lord's Prayer (deleting the part about Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done), everyone would be happy and none of this would have happened.
42
The amount of the chaplain's salary may seem "small potatoes" to you, but when I hear those kind of expenditures being dismissed that way, I think of how much that money could mean to a few meals-on-wheels programs,or kids after school programs, or a few music teacher salaries. Not such small potatoes to them.
31
i agree..... and how weird that ryan firing the priest for his views on poverty ceases to be THE STORY. i think ryan is learning from trump: do or say something really awful and people will not know how to process..... they will instead argue about something smaller that they can actually handle.
13
I got into trouble in the 1950's for saying to a judge that the In God We Trust hanging behind his head on the courtroom wall signified there was no hope for a decision based on intelligent reasoning.
Did it again in the 80's when called to jury duty. Wasn't excused.
Such a bunch of nincompoops everywhere.
15
If we get rid of the priest, part of me thinks we should also get rid of the White House Chief Calligrapher--a title that suggests there are others who are not chiefs. But then I found out that the Chief Calligrapher is a woman named Pat and that she makes $102,000. A woman making that much in the Trump administration who is not named Stormy is a rarity, so I vote to keep her on. But really, what other kinds of nontraditional government issue employees are we paying for?
187
I thought you were referring to the WhiteHouse press corp at first....
2
The best part of Michelle Wolf’s after dinner speech on Saturday was how she took the media and the correspondents to task for maximizing Trump visibility while reaping profits from ratings.
She exposed the problems of 24/7 Trump all-the-time coverage of breaking news about him which for Trump is the hallmark of his life. Remember, good or bad publicity doesn’t matter to Trump. Only publicity matters.
437
Yes.
The members of the press who are bemoaning Ms. Wolf's set and the points she brought up should really take good long looks in the mirror; they might find they resemble those remarks.
103
It seems we need a discussion about having a discussion.
Every single day of this administration can be summed up in the surreal where we have a little discussion that may or may not include snark or sarcasm. The discussions have taken on a degree of normalcy, which to say the least is disappointing.
We cannot keep up with all of the outrage, so I suppose this is how re have become relegated to coping. Sigh...
31
Once I come to the realization that pretty much all of todays comedy is off color, then it is just another comedy. Because she is a woman of course she gets more criticism (needs to work that into her next routine). I just don’t understand how this has become an event needing to be televised whose most significant part is the comedy routine. Sort of like watching the Superbowl for the ads?
83
Mr. Stephens, given the differences in velocity and mass, I think autos are a danger to cyclists, rather than vice-versa.
91
Cyclists to pedestrians. Speaking as a non-driving, always walking New Yorker. Cyclists do not always follow the rules of the road (I'm being polite here). Like red lights. Or slowing down at intersections. Then there's Citi-bike and tourists. So, no, autos are less of a danger. Except for taxis, especially when you are not careful crossing. I'm an excellent jaywalker, native born, by the way. Only locals get the timing right. You learn to operate with 360º vision. I used to cycle a lot downtown in the 80s and 90s but there were no bike lanes. Lot more crowded now.
54
This point struck me also, but isn't the real point that cars are a danger to everyone in the world whenever their engines are running and they are burning more fossil fuels?
32
Bikes have become an absolute menace here in Boston. Yes, I know they are better for the environment, but what about pedestrians?
There is a sense of entitlement among bicyclists that make them very dangerous to pedestrians in any city like this where so many people walk. The bike people truly believe you'd better get out of their way and quick.
I figured Gail Collins and Bret Stephens would bring up Michelle Wolf’s address at the WHCD, but I honestly thought their respective reactions would be the opposite of what I’m reading here.
Anyone who knows anything about Wolf — and that begs the question, did the organizers do any research on her, or have an HBO subscription? — understands that she is self-described feminist. That sensibility underlay her scathing jokes about Trump, Sanders, Conway, Ivanka, and others. Gail Collins is right: it was cringe-worthy. But it was a comedy routine, not an address to the General Assembly. And it should have made fair-minded people look past the blue humor and consider the point Wolf was making: that the women in the administration are no friends of women in general. At best, they’re “useless,” like Ivanka. At worst, they’re actively complicit, like Sanders.
553
Given the daily does of effluent that flows from Trump's mouth there's no justification for any outrage over Wolf's performance. Conway and Sanders have done more damage to more women than Harvey Weinstein ever has.
Between Trump's rant on Fox and his other rant at his rally, if they haven't invoked the 25th by now they never will. While the dems may flip the house, and they have flipped some local elections, the GOP is still deeply entrenched. If the DNC doesn't find and run someone like Connor Lamb, meaning they pull back from the far left, they'll once again snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. We saw what a unifying fresh face could do in terms of bringing the entire party along in Obama, it's a lesson ignored at their peril.
180
"Fair-minded people"? Hey, this is Trumpian America we're talking about here, where fair-mindedness is a sign of weakness.
55
Couldn't agree more! With the bile that spills from the "president's" mouth every single day, the pearl clutching over Michelle Wolf was comical.
Our Oligarchs are separate
From the unwashed all of whom they hate,
Entitlements rankle
While gross hankle pankle
Makes life for the wealthy ornate.
A Padre who prays for the Poor
For Ryan there's little allure
And Trump whose illusion
Is Order's Confusion,
Is enmeshed in coils of ordure.
174
Ordure, Larry !
That's gold, Larry, GOLD !!
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordure
1 : excrement
2 : something that is morally degrading
Hail to the Feculence-In-Chief !
40
Larry Eisenberg for Poet Laureate - The Truth Will Out
26
Odd and baffling that "ordure" is acceptable, but not a more common name, eh? But, okay -- wink, wink -- we can say that definition number two is what he meant.
Aren't words just puffs of air, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing? (But in a post-truth era, what does signify?)