Much to my amazement, I turn 66 years old today. I never thought I’d be this young when I got this old.  There was a time after turning 60 when I was reluctant to reveal my age. I didn’t want people to think I was, you know, TOO old. Now it’s a badge of honor. …

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Blow Up

You could hear Republican heads exploding when the President announced a deal to keep Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Predictably, Republicans sided with Bibi over Obama.   There is something about their knee-jerk response that raises suspicions. Is it really a bad deal, or is it just that Obama’s political enemies are just bound…

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The Way of Things

Roy whacked Pat. Pat then slapped Phil. Phil poked Pat back. And no one laid a glove on Roy.   That was last week.   This week Roy whacked Pat again. And Pat gabbed Phil three times.   Last week Pat said Phil was cutting taxes too much – and this week he said  Phil…

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An Easter Thought

For Christians, Easter is more than eggs, ham and bunnies. It’s a celebration of the central miracle and mystery of faith – the resurrection of Jesus, the hope of salvation and the promise of everlasting life.   Meanwhile, the secular political world is roiled over laws that, critics say, would let people of faith discriminate…

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Republicans’ RFRA Risk

Governor McCrory and Speaker Tim Moore have two big reasons to worry about the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” (aka, the “Freedom to Discriminate Against Gays Act”): business and politics.   It’s bad business for North Carolina. And bad politics for McCrory, Senator Burr and House Republicans.   Business first. Indiana shows how such a law…

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Whip It

Thanks to a TAPster who remembers the 1980s for this one:     “(North Carolina Congressman) Patrick McHenry is listed as an organizer of a new joint fundraising committee named – drum roll – Whip It Good PAC.  At first I thought it was a joke, but apparently not.”     For those not familiar…

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Walk Softly…

After capturing the capital the rebels are now hurtling toward Aden.        The President’s fled. No one knows where he is. Or if he’s in the country.   And the rebels have put a $100,000 bounty on his head.     Our Embassy’s been shuttered. Our troops have been evacuated.   Saudi Arabia’s making…

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Show Me Your Email

We’re going to have to start thinking before we hit Send, Share or Post.   Hillary Clinton’s campaign has spent a couple of weeks wallowing in a media mudbath over her State Department emails. Jeb Bush pounced on her. Then we found his staff deep-sixed many of his emails.   Roy Cooper called for more…

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Ted Cruz: A Glimmer of Conversation

Folks who vote in Republican primaries, if asked, will tell you they’re Conservative and most will firmly add they’re Very Conservative as opposed to A Little Conservative.   In the uncompromising depth of his conservative beliefs, Ted Cruz is their cup of tea.   But…   It’s hard to put your finger on that ‘but…’…

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Politics As Usual

Sometimes in politics you have to rise above principle.   Republicans vow to resist fight President Obama’s “redistributionist” economic policies. Then GOP legislators plot to redistribute sales tax revenues from urban (Democratic) to rural (Republican) counties.   Senator Ted Cruz vows to repeal Obamacare. Then he signs up for insurance under Obamacare.   Governor McCrory…

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