Category Archives: Politics

Consider this letter to Senator Jamie Pedersen

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Jim deMaine

House Bill 2166 (with revisions) recently passed the House unanimously (97-0). This bill allows our POLST forms to be placed in a statewide registry, so that our POLSTs can rapidly be retrieved by 911 responders or emergency rooms. Oregon has … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, end of life, Health, Politics | Comments Off on Consider this letter to Senator Jamie Pedersen

Heather Cox Richardson Interviews President Joe Biden

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Last week, after President Joe Biden went to Valley Forge and then spoke in Pennsylvania, I got a chance to sit down with him to ask a few questions.  What I wanted to hear from him illustrates the difference between … Continue reading →

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Opinion  Worst. Congress. Ever.

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Jim deMaine

By Dana Milbank Columnist in the Washington Post A year ago, I assigned myself to the Capitol to cover the new House Republican majority, suspecting that this erratic crowd of lawmakers would provide some lively material. They did not disappoint. What … Continue reading →

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Before the DeSantis-Newsom Debate, Let’s Look at Their Economic Records

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Jim deMaine

By Peter Coy Opinion Writer in the NYT I’ll be glued to the TV on Thursday for the debate between Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California on Fox News. (Not a plug.) It will pit a conservative Republican … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 1 Comment

State Religion and the Constitution

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Comments by Heather Cox Richardson Egypt has opened its border crossing into Gaza, permitting ambulances to carry 76 badly injured Palestinians to Egypt, while 335 people who hold foreign passports were able to cross. Jonathan Lemire, Nahal Toosi, and Alexander … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Religion | 1 Comment

“Their Own Civil War”: Kim Schrier Talks about the Chaos in the House

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Jim deMaine

By Joel Connelly As colleagues savored soundbites on Sunday morning TV shows, a welcome opportunity came to hear out solid work-horse member of Congress who reaches across the aisle in the “other” Washington.  But U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash., did … Continue reading →

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First Republican Presidential Debate

Posted on August 15, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Jim S. The First Republican Presidential Debate will be broadcast on FOX News the evening of August 23, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  According to USA Today, the following candidates state that they have met the … Continue reading →

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Marjorie Taylor Greene compares Biden to FDR, LBJ. Thanks for the free campaign ad!

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Jim S. Rex Huppke        USA TODAY       Far-right Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene might have accidentally realized Joe Biden is a good president. The predominantly ludicrous lawmaker from Georgia did Biden an unexpected – and surely unplanned – solid this weekend in … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Essays, Government, Politics | Comments Off on Marjorie Taylor Greene compares Biden to FDR, LBJ. Thanks for the free campaign ad!

Fixing Seattle’s Downtown: First, Do No Harm

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Jim deMaine

by David Brewster By David Brewster in the Post Alley Newsletter June 26, 2023 Many are the chefs in the kitchen, cooking up a recipe for the revival of Seattle’s downtown — Downtown Seattle Association, Mayor Bruce Harrell, Markham McIntyre … Continue reading →

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Inside the Complicated Reality of Being America’s Oldest President

Posted on June 4, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Inside the Complicated Reality of Being America’s Oldest President By Peter Baker, Michael D. Shear, Katie Rogers and Zolan Kanno-Youngs in the NYT There was the time last winter when President Biden was awakened at 3 a.m. while on a trip to Asia and told … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Sites, Essays, Government, Politics | Comments Off on Inside the Complicated Reality of Being America’s Oldest President

Joe Biden and the Struggle for America’s Soul

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Jim deMaine

by David Brooks in the NYT Joe Biden built his 2020 presidential campaign around the idea that “we’re in a battle for the soul of America.” I thought it was a marvelous slogan because it captured the idea that we’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, Justice, Morality, Politics | 2 Comments

Voter turnout in Wisconsin Supreme Court race breaks record

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P. from the Associated Press MADISON, Wis. – Turnout in Wisconsin’s hotly contest Supreme Court race broke the previous record high set for spring elections that don’t coincide with a presidential primary. Turnout had already surpassed 36% of … Continue reading →

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The news in perspective by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Jim deMaine
Posted in Government, Politics | 1 Comment

Why Poverty Persists in America

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Why Poverty Persists in By Matthew Desmond Thanks to Diana C. Published March 9, 2023 Updated March 13, 2023 in the NYT This article is adapted from Matthew Desmond’s book “Poverty, by America.” It is being published on March 21 by Crown. In the past … Continue reading →

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The birth of the NAACP by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on February 13, 2023 by Jim deMaine
Posted in History, Politics, Race | Comments Off on The birth of the NAACP by Heather Cox Richardson

Trump Angrily Orders Pence to Return All Classified Documents to Mar-a-Lago

Posted on January 24, 2023 by Jim deMaine

By Andy Borowitz in the New Yorker. Thanks to Pam P. “Mike Pence kept me from having a complete collection of documents, and that, quite frankly, is a disgrace,” the former President said.

Posted in Politics, Satire | Comments Off on Trump Angrily Orders Pence to Return All Classified Documents to Mar-a-Lago

Notes from historian Heather Cox Richardson – 12/12/22

Posted on December 12, 2022 by Jim deMaine
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Shocking!

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mike C.

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And the results are ……uncertain.

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mike C.

Posted in Humor, Politics | Comments Off on And the results are ……uncertain.

What GOP candidate recruitment says about the GOP

Posted on November 7, 2022 by William Calvin

[Here is my posting on https://medium.com/will-howard-on-trumpian-politics/what-gop-candidate-recruitment-says-about-the-gop-6af4e793ffed.] I aim to raise questions about candidates for higher office who are so inexperienced that, if they won, they might be in constant need of advice from their sponsors, likely to supply an unelected … Continue reading →

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White men candidates

Posted on November 5, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F.

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Women will have equal share of seats in Parliament with Soraya Peke-Mason’s swearing-in (in New Zealand)

Posted on November 3, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P. Parliament is on the verge of a significant milestone for women. In just a few hours’ time, women will have an equal share of seats compared with their male counterparts in the House. Soraya Peke-Mason will be sworn … Continue reading →

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The dismantling of Herschel Walker

Posted on October 31, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F. Ed note: Very powerful speech, but should this be done from the pulpit–mixing politics and religion?

Posted in Politics, Religion, Uncategorized | Comments Off on The dismantling of Herschel Walker

Reject Seattle Propositions 1A and 1B

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Jim deMaine

from the Seattle Times Editorial Board October 17, 2022 There are so many things wrong with Seattle Propositions 1A and 1B, it’s hard to know where to start. Both measures would radically change elections for mayor, City Council and city … Continue reading →

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Trump Sends January 6th Committee a Note from His Podiatrist

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Jim deMaine

thanks to Pam P. WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Minutes after the congressional committee investigating the January 6th insurrection voted unanimously to subpoena the former President, Donald J. Trump responded by submitting a note from his podiatrist. The foot specialist, Dr. Harland … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Politics | 1 Comment