Reporting the news is difficult and expensive. Grandstanding is more fun and everyone has an opinion. That’s why reporters were once taught, often by a stern taskmaster, to leave opining to the columnists and the editorial page, and save their opinions for after work in the bar across the street. This particular affliction — grandstanding rather than reporting, advocacy rather than observing and distilling those observations before passing them on to press and tube, is the affliction of the modern media. And why not? Talking is cheaper than reporting.
Shares It’s difficult to deny the ring of truth in certain platitudes. Heads nod in agreement with the wisdom of “change is the only constant in life,” often attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. But 23 centuries later, French journalist and critic Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr similarly nailed it again with his observation that “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Common sense is a convenient tool for sorting out life’s inconsistencies and forming a suitable resolution. Some things change, but not everything, nor should it.
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"It ain't over 'til it's over," as the philosopher Yogi Berra once reminded us. Another philosopher without Yogi's gift for turning a clever phrase once observed that "hope springs eternal."
Shares Bad news is bad, and sometimes good news is bad, too. This is the view of certain economists who are suddenly frightened by record low unemployment and bigger paychecks. As a famous make-believe king of Siam was fond of saying to Anna about something he didn't understand, "It is a puzzlement."
Shares Nearly everyone has an airline horror story: Delayed flights, missed connections, inedible meals, lost luggage. But flying has never been safer or more affordable, unless you're a dog. Nevertheless grumpy and grousing flyers should count their blessings.
Shares "What you have to understand about Donald Trump, a perceptive observer of the American scene once told a visitor from abroad, "is that the press here takes him literally, but not seriously, and his millions of supporters take him seriously, but not literally."
Shares President Trump asked a conservative gathering the other day whether, "after my first year in office, can anyone doubt that I am a conservative?" It was a plaintive cry from a wounded ego (if not a wounded heart).
Shares The Democrats have proved twice that they can win congressional seats with a Republican playbook. The Grand Old Party campaigned for years with the mantra, "vote Republican, we're not as bad as you think." The plea often failed. Republicans just didn't know how bad a lot of voters thought they were.
Shares Only yesterday, the sacking of a secretary of State -- and in public -- would have severely shocked the capital. But this is now, when few things surprise and nothing shocks.
Shares Only yesterday, the sacking of a secretary of State — and in public — would have severely shocked the capital. But this is now, when few things surprise and nothing shocks.
Shares The Palestinians, perhaps in the spirit of the approaching Passover season, have revived the ancient "blood libel" accusing the Jews of using the blood of Christian babies in their recipe for matzos.
Shares The Democrats have been looking for a way to make the 2016 presidential election go away, as if it never happened. They imagined that they could do that, first, by denying that Donald Trump ever happened.
Shares Donald Trump had a splendid, terrific, very good week by any president's standards. The economic news was stunning, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that 313,000 new jobs were created in February, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent, with inflation still at bay, and unemployment sank to record lows among blacks and Hispanics who needed such a week most.
Shares The Decline and Fall of Rome? Not quite. But the parliamentary elections in Italy bespeak interesting times ahead for the nation where a day without a government crisis is like a day without wine. Or sunshine or rain. Or something.
Shares Cops in Bonita Beach, Florida, are in hot pursuit of a bold and innovative robber who tried to hold up a 7-11 convenience store the other day with his finger. He made his getaway on a bicycle and the cops haven't yet found his hide-out.
Shares There's an old story about the man who posted a classified ad in the newspaper about his missing dog: "LOST: Male dog, has one eye, mangled left ear, paralyzed hind leg, has been neutered. Answers to the name Lucky."
Shares The Supreme Court has a welcome opportunity at hand to strike a blow for the First Amendment.
Shares Donald Trump has won his war with the traditional media, the Hollywood luminaries, and it leaves the Democrats gasping for breath with no idea of where to go next. Historians will need a little time to figure out what happened. Meanwhile, new wars beckon, as they always will.
Shares Donald Trump's pro-growth economic policies have been impressive and successful early in his presidency, and there's even a little grudging applause on the left. It's hard for Stupid to argue with a rebounding economy. That's what makes the president's decision to impose steel and aluminum tariffs stand out like an ugly duckling. His announcement last week that he would impose 20 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum has been felt already by consumers and manufacturers.
Shares For most heads of state in democratic countries, getting two out of three things you want is pretty good going.
Shares Boycotts are nearly always ugly business. They usually punish the innocent, rarely slay the guilty and accomplish only cheap publicity for the grandstanding self-righteous. This time the boycotters are taking aim at the National Rifle Association, the designated villain in the St. Valentine's Day massacre at a Florida high school.
Shares Two high-ranking Utah Republicans in the Beehive State apparently have unlikely bees in their bonnets.
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