I believe in freedom of speech. I believe in freedom of assembly. It’s an important part of liberalism that unpopular, obnoxious, and noxious views are allowed to be expressed and heard and that people who share them are allowed to gather together. Among the classic reasons given for this position are that it promotes individual […]
U.S. politics seems to be at pivotal moment in which the traditional political duopoly is being openly questioned. Over the objections of party leaders, Donald Trump is running away with the Republican nomination by using authoritarian appeals to attract new and old nativist, xenophobic supporters. Bernie Sanders is activating many new, young voters and others […]
So, you’re a self-identified Republican. You see membership in the Republican party as a deep part of who you are. Frankly, I have a hard time with that kind of party loyalty. While I tend to vote for Democrats, I don’t self-identify as one. But, regardless, that’s not you. For you, being a Republican, matters. That’s […]
Look, I realize when people talk of moving to Canada should Donald Trump become president that it’s often meant all in good fun. But let me say, quite seriously, that I have no intention of going anywhere. I will remain an American citizen and, to co-opt the phrasing of the Tea Party buffoons, take my […]
One fun part of living overseas is getting to talk to people from other countries about U.S. politics. So, there I am in a bar talking to a Belgian and German, and I get asked, “Donald Trump is very popular, isn’t he?” Frankly, that’s a pretty embarrassing question to have to get asked about your […]
I hope I’m wrong, but even as a Sanders supporter, I have to admit: he’s going to have a hard time winning the Democratic nomination. While Iowa was an incredible result against the “inevitable” candidate – and Sanders is polling well in New Hampshire – it will be a very tough fight. That’s fine. Anything […]
I’d like to finish my series of posts endorsing Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary with a few words to Hillary Clinton and her supporters. Clinton could fix many of my difficulties with her candidacy today. How hard would be it be for her and her supporters to simply acknowledge that Sanders is right – that the […]
In my previous post, I gave my personal endorsement for Bernie Sanders in the upcoming Democratic caucuses and primaries. In this tough electoral fight between Sanders and Hillary Clinton, I want to address what I see as some of the serious and spurious reasons to be concerned about a Sanders nomination. Serious reasons Nothing in […]
Over the next couple of weeks, caucus-goers and voters in Iowa and New Hampshire have their opportunity to pick whom they think should be the presidential candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties. If I could speak to Democrats in those two states, I would tell them this: Choose Bernie Sanders. My endorsement is not […]
I try to live my online life by recognizing the truth of Godwin’s Law and its closely related corollary. Those are: the longer an Internet discussion goes on, the more likely someone will bring up the Nazis; and that the Nazi analogy is usually so absurd, the person making it automatically loses the argument. But […]
Bill Poorman 