Barack Obama

“Am I Not a Woman & a Sister”: A Hard Times Token That Foreshadowed Even Harder Times Ahead. (UPDATED)

Andrew Jackson has been in the news a lot over these last few years.

First it was the Obama Administration’s decision in 2016 to replace Old Hickory on the $20 bill with Harriet Tubman.

Then came the 2016 election, when Donald Trump openly and repeatedly praised Jackson and expressed admiration for the controversial ex-President in a way that hasn’t been in vogue in decades. Trump has also gone out of his way to associate himself with Jackson, drawing parallels with his predecessor’s populism, combative nature, political inexperience and anti-establishment attitude. Trump has Jackson’s portrait in the Oval Office, has made a pilgrimage to the Hermitage and has even given Jackson credit for things that happened well after his death. Trump’s admiration for Jackson is such that his administration has refused to commit to replacing Jackson on the $20 with Tubman.

And, like Jackson, Trump has had his problems with the country’s central bank.

(more…)

Podcast: ABA Annual Meeting 2018: State Attorneys General and Federalism in the Obama/Trump Eras

An interesting podcast from the 2018 ABA Annual Meeting consisting of legal heavyweights Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, former Virginia Solicitor General William Hurd, Wisconsin Solicitor General Misha Tseytlin and Northwestern Law School dean Dan Rodriguez. And me.

Re-Planting the Joshua Tree – A Concert Review Of U2 At Soldier Field

The orange-hewed specter of President Donald J. Trump loomed large over Soldier Field as U2 came to town to play two sold-out shows during its “Joshua Tree 2017 Tour.”

(more…)

Could Health Secretary Tom Price Kill Obamacare From the Inside?

I got to speak with former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle for this piece.

UFC Sues New York over MMA Ban – Again

It was entirely predictable that the UFC would come back with another lawsuit trying to overturn the ban on mixed martial arts events in the state of New York- especially after the NY State Assembly failed, once again, to vote on legalization.

(more…)

Texas Tea

In light of Ted Cruz’s threat to shut down the government if Obamacare isn’t repealed, I figured I’d post the article I wrote in 2011 about his Senate campaign. Even then, he told me that he wasn’t planning on compromising when he got to Washington.

Tea for Three?

The first person I called after Governor Charlie Crist announced he will run for the Senate as an independent was Dean Barkley of Minnesota. Mr. Barkley knows all about the obstacles facing a third-party candidate. A member of Ross Perot’s Reform Party, he served out the final months of the late Paul Wellstone’s Senate term. Running in 2008 as an independent, he won 15% of the vote despite raising a shade over $160,000. “I’m very glad Crist did it,” Barkley told me when I reached him by phone. “I don’t really care what his reasons are. It shows that the window for an independent movement is getting bigger and bigger. Most centrists or moderates don’t like either party. They’re basically exasperated with both.”

(more…)

At a Crossroads: The AMA and Health Care Reform.

Other versions of this were published by The Columbia Journalist and the Huffington Post.

At a Crossroads: The AMA and Health Care Reform.

As Ronald Reagan was transitioning from Gipper to Governor, he had a short-lived career as a recording artist. Unlike some of his later Hollywood contemporaries, like Kevin Bacon, Steven Seagal, Jennifer Lopez, and William Shatner, Reagan’s recording career was for a very limited and specific purpose.

Simply put, he was frightened at the prospect of socialism in America and he was determined to do something about it.

(more…)

Hondurans Protest in Union Square.

A crowd of more than 60 people gathered in Union Square Park on Tuesday in support of the deposed Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, whose recent reentry into the country he once led has touched off violent protests, governmental repression and international tensions.

The rally, organized by the USA Honduras Resistance Coalition in conjunction with several other human rights and Latin-American political groups, took place on a chilly evening with many protesters thankful that a candlelight vigil was on the agenda. Forming a solid wall along the plaza of the park, the protesters were at first content to stand passively, informing passersby of their purpose by holding up their signs and Honduran flags. That changed as they started marching in a large circle while shouting pro-Zelaya slogans and vowing that “the people of Honduras will continue to struggle.”

(more…)

Browsing Category

Browsing Category

“Am I Not a Woman & a Sister”: A Hard Times Token That Foreshadowed Even Harder Times Ahead. (UPDATED)

Podcast: ABA Annual Meeting 2018: State Attorneys General and Federalism in the Obama/Trump Eras

Re-Planting the Joshua Tree – A Concert Review Of U2 At Soldier Field

Could Health Secretary Tom Price Kill Obamacare From the Inside?

UFC Sues New York over MMA Ban – Again

Texas Tea

Tea for Three?

At a Crossroads: The AMA and Health Care Reform.

Hondurans Protest in Union Square.