Oct 9, 2020
Pastor Samuel Rodriguez
I was just listening to Samuel Rodriguez on the Amanpour & Co. TV program and once again the word "socialism" was used by a person who has no idea…
Music, power, politics, and the stories behind the stories.
Editorial Collection
Politics, Power & the Middle East
Independent commentary from someone who distrusts slogans, tribes, and simple answers.
I was raised around Washington, Damascus, Cairo, and Beirut, studied politics and economics, and spent a career watching public stories collide with private motives. I write about American politics, international affairs, Israel and Palestine, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, media power, religion, capitalism, democracy, and the consequences that disappear from partisan talking points.
I am pro-enterprise and anti-authoritarian, but not a party mascot. A useful argument begins with facts, includes the inconvenient ones, and remains willing to criticize its own side.
Entries
181
Oct 9, 2020
Truth
People wonder with all the negative news about Donald Trump, books from people who know him - whatever - HOW could he still have unshakable…
Sep 29, 2020
Voting Advantage
With the debate today between Joe Biden and Donald Trump one thing is for sure. Trump has a BIG advantage. When one candidate believes his statements…
Sep 25, 2020
Voting
The reality of much voting in a Democracy is voting for the lesser of two evils. Most people like parts of a candidate's platform but not all of it…
Sep 24, 2020
The Virus and the left - right divide
How the Government has dealt with the virus should have thrown a monkey wrench into the capitalism vs socialism discussion. A pure capitalistic…
Sep 22, 2020
Bernie Madoff
Bernie Madoff showed that even smart people can believe stupid things, Donald Trump is the Madoff of politics today.
Sep 21, 2020
Israel
The unfortunate truth about the supposed peace between the Gulf states and Israel is that both will change their minds when they get what they want…
Sep 20, 2020
Good deal, Bad deal
There is something I don't understand Mr President. On one hand you say we were doing so well economically - best in history etc yet on the other you…
Sep 19, 2020
Trump, Iran, Russia and China
China would like to back a candidate that is bad for the US but good for China but sees neither in Biden or Trump. Instead they see Trump as bad for…
Dec 15, 2020
The reality of Humanity
Critical thinking can be confusing and unsettling. Belief is often far more comforting. People is so many cases will look for the reasons to believe…
Dec 15, 2020
Chinese Students
As we see US media people - especially on the right - talk about Chinese Students as potential spies for the Chinese government what they forget is…
Sep 23, 2020
Right Left
The Republicans were originally small government, more individualistic, low debt, separation of church and state and generally "smart" realistic…
Feb 10, 2023
Roger Waters and Ukraine
Like Ukraine, Russia needs to look to the future and Putin is not it.