Giving America the (Foam) Finger

  Several pundits attributed the Trump victory to a desire by many Americans to voice their dissatisfaction with the establishment on both sides of the aisle. In politically incorrect terms, voters were giving the liberal and conservative establishment “the finger.” It did not matter if it was a direct vote for Trump or protest votes for … Read more

Corporate Ransom

  In a previous life, I served as director of economic development and commerce policy studies at the National Governors Association in Washington, DC.  Among my responsibilities was organizing programs and events related to business, taxation and transportation during the association’s two annual meetings.  These gatherings provided the governors an opportunity to share their perspectives and … Read more

Inside Jokes

    Until 2005, there was a joke called “The Aristocrats” which was only shared among comedians at private parties and while waiting to go on stage at comedy clubs.  Why?  Because it was thought too off-color and crude to perform in public.  Wikipedia describes the content as follows. The joke involves a person pitching … Read more

When You Don’t Have Friends

    Much is being made about the lack of government experience among several of  Donald Trump’s cabinet selections and White House staff.  Ironically, I believe that should be the least of the president-elect’s concerns. In “Donald Trump’s Cabinet Is On Track To Be the Least Experienced in Modern History” (Huffington Post, November 24, 2016),  former … Read more

The “Anti-Nixon”?

  As a political science major in 1969, I was intrigued by Joe McGinniss’ The Selling of the President 1968 which chronicled how marketers packaged and sold the “new Nixon” to the American public. Their task was not an easy one.  A bitter, angry Richard Nixon had temporarily departed the political scene in 1962 following his defeat to … Read more