Category Archives: Politics—U. S.

An Ode to Jimmy

Jimmy Carter in church, at Plains Georgia.

 

I didn’t vote for Jimmy Carter in 1976. In fact, I didn’t vote at all that year.

I’m not proud of that, but there it is. It happened mostly because I was away from home on election day, and because I wasn’t scared.

That autumn I was trying to write a novel about Quakers on Nantucket island off Massachusetts, who were caught in the riptides of the American Revolution.

The novel was a good idea. Still is, if I had an extra ten years or so to put into it.

Continue reading An Ode to Jimmy

Threefer Thursday: Briefs About Everything (Well, Almost)

[Midday wrap-up: Three short but trenchant items (with an extra about the boreal Forest), covering wars (present and maybe future); climate change tipping points; and not least, why confronting Gov. Ron DeSantis’s racist war on “woke” head-on is a big progressive mistake. Check them all out!]

# 1-Wars & Rumors of War: Looking to the hard lessons learned in Ukraine for how to head off war with China

War between the Chinese and Americans is ‘not inevitable, although it is certainly possible

Gwynne Dyer · Columnist — Feb. 3, 2023

US Navy crew collecting Chinese spy balloon debris

“I hope I am wrong. My gut tells me we will fight (with China) in 2025,” declared U.S. Air Force General Mike Minihan last weekend.

He didn’t mention what his crotch told him, or if he ever consulted his head on the matter. Continue reading Threefer Thursday: Briefs About Everything (Well, Almost)

Dems Put So. Carolina Primary first for 2024

Breaking: AP News: Dems reshuffle primaries to stress diversity over tradition

BY WILL WEISSERT
Feb. 4, 2023

2024: Their turn to go first

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Democratic Party on Saturday approved reordering its 2024 presidential primary, replacing Iowa with South Carolina in the leadoff spot as part of a major shake-up meant to empower Black and other minority voters critical to its base of support.

Although more changes are possible later this year, the formal endorsement by the Democratic National Committee during its meeting in Philadelphia is an acknowledgement that the start of the 2024 primary will look very different from the one in 2020. Hundreds of party stalwarts climbed to their feet and cheered after the easy passage by voice vote. Continue reading Dems Put So. Carolina Primary first for 2024