Our “Repugnant” Two Party “System”

Our “Repugnant” Two Party “System”

We often ask, “Why can’t Congress get anything done?”  Part of the answer is that in the U.S., there have usually been only two parties, and bi-partisanship seems to have ebbed since the three decades after World War II.  We’ll return to that by and by, but...
Oh, Pardon Me!

Oh, Pardon Me!

The U.S. President’s use of the pardon power is plenary, and is built into the U.S. Constitution. Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution bestows upon the president the power to “grant Reprieves and Pardons for offences against the United States, except...
Silence is (Not) Golden

Silence is (Not) Golden

Silence is (Not) Golden The old adage, “Silence is Golden,” seems a lot less true with news reports of all the silent enablers that have come to light in the last ten years.  Consider the many claims of pedophilia against Catholic priests, and how church...
Facebook’s Fake News Problem

Facebook’s Fake News Problem

Facebook  and the Fake News Problem for U.S. Democracy Facebook’s admirable mission has been to give people the power to share. . . “in order to make the world more open and connected.”  In 2007, CEO Mark Zuckerberg wanted a global presence, and one key...
When the Tweet Hits the Fan

When the Tweet Hits the Fan

It is the week before Christmas, 2018.  President Trump issued another “tweet” two days ago about removing all U.S. troops from Syria.  Nothing illegal about that; it makes sense that a U.S. president heads foreign policy, with the advice and consent of the...