Last week was one of those times that you just could not predict. After a very rewarding career in the US Army from 1973 to 2001, I was given the opportunity to look in on the current state of Army training and operations, a rare treat for superannuated soldiers. My Read more…
I rarely miss doing an update, but this week I am busy beyond words. So, here are some “short takes.” A full report next week!
Just when you become reconciled to the fact that fond memories of the past will remain in the past, you get a reprieve. When I was an active duty soldier, I had the opportunity to take my unit to the massive National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California located Read more…
Each year millions of Americans engage in the time-honored practice of making resolutions they intend to keep for the coming year. They rarely get to the halfway point before giving up. Nonetheless, I have a few. Some spiritual. Others health related. Almost none dealing with travel, although I really want Read more…
After this past election, Democrats are struggling to understand what hit them. Imagine the crew of an overloaded truck bottomed out at a railroad crossing, standing by with hands on hips thinking about how to get unstuck when the freight train slams into them. Frankly, they didn’t even see it Read more…
I’ve been thinking about foundations lately. No, not the ones that dole out money to this or that activity. And certainly not the cosmetic that covers up the flaws in one’s skin. I’ve been thinking about foundations that support or undergird a structure. Earlier this year, it dawned on me that we needed to Read more…
For many years I have expended a fair amount of time thinking about foreign policy. Some of that is a function of my military service. Having served in Germany for seven years, I learned a lot about other people, their customs, views, and values, especially living with German families. That Read more…
To say that we have just survived a tumultuous election season would be an understatement. I won’t recount that here. It makes me weary to even think about it. Indeed, my fingers seem incapable of tapping out any remembrance. It’s as if my fingers are saying to me, “Pah-leezzzzz, oh Read more…
So, what is a Reconciliation Bill? You’ve probably read about this in the news as a way for Congress to pass a bill dealing with spending, revenues, or the national debt. Reconciliation bills provide a means for Congress to skirt the 60-vote requirement in the US Senate to bring a Read more…
Some years ago, I wrote—not original thoughts—that the purpose of the free speech amendment was designed to distill truth from a reasonable discussion of the facts of a matter. The idea here is that when we discuss, argue, or debate a proposition, the purpose is to arrive at some form Read more…