Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
In Praise of (Some) Republicans
I don’t often say nice things about Republicans, so brace yourself. I’m reading The January 6th Report: Findings from the Select Committee to Investigate the Attack on the U.S. Capitol. The report shows that, at crucial moments, Republicans in key positions stood up against the Trump-MAGA attack on democracy. Then Republicans testified about what happened,…
A Warning
Finishing a long journey from Forrest Gump to George Washington, in his last book – The Patriots – Winston Groom told a story about Washington: His last year as president staring at two parties ripping into each other in the 1796 election, each out to elect its own candidate president, Washington warned politicians were sowing…
Blue Wolves, Red Wolves
Voice frail staring into TV cameras Democrat state legislator Tricia Cotham painted a grim picture of her fellow Democrats the day she switched parties: When she didn’t toe the party-line, she said, blue wolves attacked bullying her, branding her a traitor; when she posted memes of an American flag, a pair of folded praying hands,…
No Quit
State Democratic Chair Anderson Clayton clearly felt she needed to buck up morale. She tweeted on Friday, “I understand folks feeling defeated by the news cycle this week. But hold on. Just hold on. As my fellow Democracy Defenders, the #TenneseeThree have said — this is going to ignite and awaken the people. And our…
“Sunday always comes”
History echoed in the halls of the Tennessee legislature last week when the House expelled two young Black representatives. The two, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, had used a bullhorn to disrupt the House and protest its inaction after the Nashville school shootings. They echoed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was murdered in Memphis 55 years…
On Wisconsin!
“Fight, fight, fight, we’ll win this game.” – From “On Wisconsin,” school fight song. While North Carolina Democrats seethed over a party-switcher, Wisconsin Democrats celebrated a landmark election victory. They elected a progressive, Janet Protasiewicz, to the Supreme Court by a ten-point margin. She will dramatically shift the court’s rulings on abortion, gerrymandering and 2024…
He’s No Reagan
Watching Trump’s rambling, raging Mar-a-Lago speech Tuesday night, I was reminded at first of another Republican President whose hair had an unnatural tint. But Trump is no Ronald Reagan. I didn’t care much for Reagan, but I liked one thing: He had a sunny, optimistic vision of America. In his farewell address, he called it…
Lost History
Boarding ships the British army fled Boston. The siege ended. Leading soldiers strung out in long lines on dirt roads across Connecticut, George Washington raced south expecting the British to attack New York. The British landed in Staten Island – Washington blundered, thought they’d attack Manhattan. They attacked Long Island. Rushing soldiers across the East…
Does Truth Matter Anymore?
Politicians howl to get likes on Facebook, applause on Twitter. The press howls too. Tucker Carlson said on TV ‘The January 6th riot was incited by federal agents – undercover agents.’ That wasn’t true. But his audience cheered. And the next night he was back on the air grinning. On Fresh Air on NPR a…