SPOILER ALERT: At the end of the movie Catch Me If You Can, Leonardo di Caprio’s character Frank Abagnale, Jr., a master forger, ends up working for the FBI. Why? Because he knew the counterfeit game better than most of the other criminals the FBI pursued. I’ve been thinking about this movie a lot lately. Last … Read more
On numerous occasions, U.S. presidents have claimed executive privilege to avoid releasing what they considered private conversations. They provide the following justification for their position. Without executive privilege, staff and associates will be unwilling to share candid thoughts with the boss. While many of you may disagree, personal experience tells me this stance is valid. … Read more
After losing the popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections, the Republican Party conducted what it called the “Growth and Opportunity Project.” The final report, often referred to as “the autopsy,” included the following assessment. At the federal level, much of what Republicans are doing is not working beyond the core … Read more
If the trajectory of the 2016 presidential election remains constant, there is an overwhelming probability (86 percent according to Nate Silver at 538) Hillary Clinton will be declared the next chief executive of the United States. That announcement is likely to come shortly after the polls close in California, Oregon and Washington. Claims that … Read more
Last night in West Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump delivered a speech reminiscent of Father Edward Coughlin. Coughlin, who some might consider Rush Limbaugh before there was a Rush Limbaugh, used radio in the late 1930’s to challenge what he believed was an international conspiracy of financiers and the media to undermine American sovereignty. Included … Read more