Atlanta, GA February 26, 2021 In August 1999, my mother’s mother died. She had been married to my grandfather for 58 years, so he was obviously distraught. To take his mind elsewhere, we decided to bring him someplace else. For a few consecutive weeks during several consecutive years, my parents rented a house in the […]
Atlanta, GA February 22, 2021 What we started the weekend we observed Washington’s birthday, we (mercifully) conclude the day he actually celebrated it. The journey was winding, and long. We trod familiar terrain, but tried to view it from different perspectives. The final trio of our ten best presidents includes a couple whose status has […]
Atlanta, GA February 21, 2021 As we continue our chronological cruise thru presidential waters, we scour the sea for fish the court historians throw back. For nutritional value and good taste, we find this to be a reliable approach. The best catch is often found at great depth, far down the standard lists of presidential ranks. […]
Atlanta, GA February 20, 2021 The most rewarding parts of many trips are those that take us off the beaten path. We feel obligated to see the popular attractions. We do our duty, check the sights off the list, then head back to the hotel bar. But the best experiences, the ones we want to […]
Auburn, AL February 18, 2021 Among the criticisms of government skeptics is that they emit lots of heat, but little light. We hear the complaints. It’s all well and good to lambast leaders and condemn their faults. We did plenty of that over the course of the last week. But who would we prefer to replace […]
Atlanta, GA February 17, 2021 As democracy is perfected, the office of the president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will […]
Atlanta, GA February 16, 2021 Anything called a “program” is unconstitutional. – Joe Sobran We started by reviewing the men who assembled the chassis. Then we considered those who built the engine. Today we evaluate those who added the fuel. Next we will examine more recent presidents who pushed the pedals, and removed the brakes. Our hope is […]
Atlanta, GA February 15, 2021 War is the health of the state. – Randolph Bourne We wish everyone a happy “Presidents’ Day”, by continuing our infernal series… Yesterday, we covered the first two of our ten presidential villains. The miscreants we review today left quite an extensive, execrable, and durable catalogue. Before we open it, we brace […]
Atlanta, GA February 14, 2021 Yesterday, in honor of the President’s Day weekend, we considered what makes a great president, and contemplated the criteria most historians use to select them. Most presidential biographers consider things such as “boldness”, “action”, and “decisiveness” to be pillars of worthy leaders and great men. I, on the other hand, […]
Atlanta, GA February 13, 2021 Today we pour some coffee, settle in, and have a little fun. Years ago, tiring of conventional wisdom and political propaganda, I wrote some sketches of the more prominent presidents to whom almost every American reflexively bends the knee. As I did, I realized that the universal admiration (or revulsion) […]