Vittore Carpaccio’s “Vision of St. Augustine” (1502), tempera on canvas. In her response to James Rosen’s question about hating President Donald J. Trump, syndicated columnist Mark Shields of the “PBS NewsHour’s” “Shields and Brooks” said:, “(Nancy … — Vittore Carpaccio’s “Vision of St. Augustine” (1502), tempera on canvas. In her response to James Rosen’s question about hating President Donald J. Trump, syndicated columnist Mark Shields of the “PBS NewsHour’s” “Shields and Brooks” said:, “(Nancy Pelosi) was quoting, of course, Saint Augustine, hate the sin, but don't hate the sinner.”

Bloomberg, Pelosi and the politics of critical thinking

December 9, 2019

This past week produced two moments that were parsed endlessly and yet little understood. One involved former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg telling CBS’ Gayle King that his Democratic rivals could’ve made a lot of money to spend on their campaigns. The other involved House Speaker Nancy Pelosi separating President Donald J. Trump’s personhood from his actions in responding to Sinclair Broadcasting’s James Rosen asking her if she hated the president. Neither Bloomberg’s remark nor Pelosi’s response were satisfactory, revealing a lack of critical thinking.

Becoming the enemy: Trump and U.S. war crimes

November 28, 2019

At the end of Alfred Hitchcock’s haunting “Vertigo” (1958) — perhaps his and cinema’s best — James Stewart’s detective figures out that the woman he’s fallen for (Kim Novak) is nothing but an imposter hired by a murderous husband to help make his wife’s death look like a suicide. And what clues him in? His beloved puts on a necklace that belonged to one of the dead woman’s ancestors.

“You shouldn’t keep souvenirs of a killing,” he tells her as he confronts her in the film’s harrowing final scene. “You shouldn’t have been that sentimental.”

“You shouldn’t keep souvenirs of a killing”:: I was reminded of that line as President Donald J. Trump prevented the demotion of Naval Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher….

Trump talks Turkey

November 14, 2019

Like the man who divorces his wife but keeps showing up for dinner night after night, President Donald J. Trump just can’t quit his opponents. No sooner had he announced that he was forsaking New York as his primary domicile for Florida than he was back in the Big Apple, not once but twice. The second time was for the 100th anniversary of New York’s Veterans Day Parade, at which he talked about New York’s daring and defiance, which the city demonstrated by protesting him. LOL, you just can’t make this stuff up.

The way you look tonight: Lower Manhattan, symbol of New York City’s resilience.

Start spreading the news: Trump's outta here

November 6, 2019

Start spreading the news,

He’s leaving today.

He’ll no more be a part of it,

New York, New York

His con-artist shoes

Are longing to stray,

Right from the very heart of it

New York, New York

He wants to wake up in a city that always sleeps

To find he’s king of the hill, top of the heap….

Well, it’s official: President Donald J. Trump, who knows a thing or two about divorce, and New York are splitsville. The grounds? Apparently, extreme mental cruelty. New York was mean to him, don’t you know, forcing him to pay huge, huge, city and state taxes, investigating him and his cronies. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Sudden death on D.C.'s power courts

October 24, 2019

A president in thrall to a foreign power. A disenchanted first lady. A White House moving toward crisis.

No, not that White House. But sometimes life imitates art, as it does in Georgette Gouveia’s new psychological thriller, “Burying the Dead” (JMS Books, Oct. 30). It’s a high stakes game of love and death, set on the power courts of Washington, D.C. and other glittering world capitals, that represents a departure for Gouveia, whose previous novels were in the trending category of male/male romance.

The 18th hole of the “Blue Monster” course at the Trump National Doral Miami plays into the lifestyle that Trump have nots would like to attain and the Trump haves .and have mores seek to retain.

Trump's Heartbreak Hotel and the new 'N' word

October 20, 2019

As you no doubt have heard by now, next year’s G -7 summit will not be held at the Trump National Doral Miami.

In a disastrous press conference, Mick Mulvaney, acting chief of staff — emphasis on acting — defiantly made the announcement that the project had been put out to bid and, surprise, surprise, the Trump Doral, late of a bedbugs loss suit, was deemed the best choice. Oh, and there was a quid pro quo on Ukraine support and investigating the Bidens, but it wasn’t wrong because elections have consequences and, anyway, “deal with it.”

‘The things we did last summer’: President Donald J. Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the G7 in Biarritz, France Aug. 25.. Official White House photograph by Shealah Craighead.

Push comes to shove for politics' Bobbsey Twins

September 26, 2019

Well, it’s been a bad time for blonds — LOL, as people say (whoever those people are).

Not to gloat but those of us who are sick onto death of the baloney-swilling strongmen have gotten a bit of our own back this week. And what is particularly sweet is their enemies delivered the coup de grace mob-style: They blindsided them.