In his seminal 1972 book “The Presidential Character,” Duke University Prof. James David Barber (1930-2004) took the four Carl-Jungian personality types “long familiar in psychological research” and applied them to presidents. During the sensational hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, I seized upon Barber and a treatise applying his typology to the … [Read more...]
Donald Trump: from ivory tower to Hightower
Last Saturday, a guest commentary appeared over Donald Trump’s name in the Reno Kazoo-Journal. “We need president who obeys law,” blared the headline as Trump pandered to the Cliven Bundy wing of the moonhowler party, demanding release of public land to local control. Bad, bad, bad idea, as former Tribunite Dennis Myers has pointed out: “Nevada received 3,992,000 acres of … [Read more...]
If only Shakespeare had written the Constitution
The U.S Constitution was mostly composed by future president James Madison in late 18th Century English. Too bad he had no flair for early 17th Century Shakespeare. In the long-running sit-com “Two and a Half Men,” screwoff urchin Jake Harper (played by Angus T. Jones) protests that his school assignment, Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” is not written in … [Read more...]
Leading questions and lead-headed leaders
What do Sparks and Flint, Michigan, have in common? Lead in kids’ brains. Last Saturday, Oscar-winning director Michael Moore pleaded with President Obama to come to Flint after attending the nearby Detroit Auto Show. In his 1979 breakthrough documentary “Roger & Me,” Moore unsuccessfully tried to get another president, then-General Motors CEO Roger Smith, to visit … [Read more...]
In Sparks, politics isn’t personal, just business
The Dec. 14 Sparks City Council action to wipe out licensing standards for plumbers and electricians must be agendized for reconsideration. Councilmember Ed Lawson failed to disclose a glaring conflict of interest and voted with the 4-0 majority to allow just about anybody with a pulse to plumb and wire buildings. Councilmember Charlene Bybee did the right thing by … [Read more...]
Education savings accounts law still lies in legal limbo
On New Year’s Day Nevada’s Senate Bill 302 — creating education savings accounts (ESAs) available to parents who pull their children out of public school and enroll them in private schools or homeschool them — became law. Or did it? After a dreadful session that saw long-needed reforms to public pensions, public unions and prevailing wage laws languish in a … [Read more...]
Open season on law-breaking dangerous drones
Politics makes strange bedfellows and therein lies the solution to the nation’s drone problem. It’s only a matter of time before one accidentally or intentionally kills somebody. Or starts a wildfire. Or causes a power outage. Or shoots video of you through your bedroom window, even with drapes drawn. (See below.) At least when the public’s electronic airwaves were deeded … [Read more...]
Faraday’s fair name befouled in fallow fields of Vegas
Last week’s corporate welfare orgy produced at least one beneficial result: The electric car cancer may not spread much further. Red Chinese hucksters expropriated the name of the great British scientist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) and scammed about a third of a billion from Nevada taxpayers for a Gomorrah South car factory. They should name their vehicles MAOseratis. One … [Read more...]