The 1952 and 1956 presidential elections between Republican Dwight Eisenhower and Democrat Adlai Stevenson might stand as the last time that the American people had a choice between two capable candidates with clear and reasonable philosophies of government.
Author: Arthur Lieber
How the rally for sanity might have been different
The October 30 Rally for Sanity was organized by comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Part of the nature of comedy is nuance, at
Progressive Republicans: extinct in 2010, but not forgotten
Jacob Javits’ legacy stands on its own and it can be a model for humanizing the Republican Party and repositioning its “tent.” First, it should be a home for honest and public-oriented Democrats who feel uncomfortable with their local Democratic Party. Second, the Republican should learn that the door swings both ways. If individual Republicans are stifled by near-totalitarian rule within the party (are you listening Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins), they can bolt and join the Democrats. Anyway, it’s a much more enjoyable “club;” with whom would you rather have dinner, Al Franken or Mitch McConnell? Thank you, Mr. Javits.
Let the dome continue to be home
There’s often a palpable groan when someone tries to relate sports to larger issues in our society, but sports = money which equals society priorities.
A different kind of football
Here’s what I like about football: It’s a wonderful game of strategy. Players have to be remarkably alert and aware of contingencies. It involves
Hiroshima: then and now
The city of Hiroshima may have suffered the greatest blow any city ever took on Aug. 6, 1945. The scars are still there, but the city is renewed.
There’s nothing sexy about buses, but they work
You may recall Arlo Guthrie’s wonderful song, “City of New Orleans” about the train from Chicago to NOLA. In the movie “Risky Business,” the
Protecting rail passengers, with lessons from airport security
Many Americans have looked to fixed-rail modes of transportation such as intercity trains, subways, and light rail systems as key to addressing America’s transportation
Which president created the largest public works program?
Franklin Roosevelt gave us the New Deal; Lyndon Johnson gave us the Great Society, and Barack Obama gave us a stimulus package of more
Old school vs. new school at the ballpark
Baseball, like so much of life, has a romantic attachment to the “good old days.” And indeed there were good old days. The norm