For those of you confused over the latest fight between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, let me make it simple: Barack Obama and John Kerry admire and want to preserve Israel as a Jewish and democratic state in the Land of Israel. I have covered this issue my entire adult life and have never met two U.S. leaders more committed to Israel as a Jewish democracy.
Category: Opinion
Taking 2016 a literally,a but not all a seriouslya
Our long wait is over. The time has come to honor the most quotable quotes, in my opinion, from a bizarre political year that many of us wish we could forget.
Liberal democracies put to the test
A great many writers, people who know what they’re talking about, have warned that liberal democracy is more significantly threatened today than at any time in the recent past. That’s not just because of the election of Donald Trump, but also the Brexit vote in Great Britain, and widespread support for nationalist, authoritarian and exclusionist regimes in Hungary, Poland and elsewhere.
Super rich always have divided the working class
After an uprising that grew from many voices, including my own, A&E has wisely canceled the eight-hour docu-series that was originally dubbed Generation KKK. A&E has canceled an upcoming documentary about efforts to help Ku Klux Klan members break away from the hate group after learning that cash payments were made “to facilitate access” to the filmA s subjects.
Kelly: Happy New Year? Well, let’s make the best of it
Welcome to another New Year. Naturally, we’re thinking of new beginnings, renewed hope, maybe even some long-awaited changes for 2017.
Barack Backhands Bibi
Did the community organizer from Harvard Law just deliver some personal payback to the IDF commando? So it would seem. By abstaining on that Security Council resolution declaring Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal and invalid, raged Bibi Netanyahu, President Obama Hence, we have an Israeli leader all but castigating an American president as a backstabber and betrayer, while the White House calls Bibi a liar.
There’s a note of fear in ‘Auld Lang Syne’
As usual, the year’s end brings reflections and ruminations on what was and what is to be. This time around, however, it feels as though an era is coming to an end.
GOP faces uphill fight on Obamacare
Republican Senate and House leaders who have summarily decided on a “repeal and dawdle” plan for Obamacare don’t seem to understand what they are up against. They see House and Senate majorities, an incoming president who vowed to repeal all of Obamacare and a reconciliation process that allows them to gut Obamacare taxes and subsidies, essentially killing the program with 51 votes in the Senate.
Editorial: A Congress strengthened by diversity
But there’s nothing homogeneous about how – or whether – Americans embrace that conviction in their personal lives. For more than two centuries, the Bill of Rights has barred the establishment of any particular religion while upholding the free exercise of all of them.
New York Times made yet another editorial pitch for judicial abolition of the death penalty
Piece by piece, the death penalty continues to fall apart. Last week, the Florida Supreme Court invalidated between 150 and 200 death sentences – nearly half of all those in the state – because they were imposed under a law the United States Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional in January.
Departed names of 2016
In human terms, no life is more valuable than another. All lives are precious. All lives are irreplaceable.
Warrant by supposition
A Scranton Times-Tribune All Access subscription gets you complete access to both our print and digital publications, delivered to your home, desktop and mobile devices 7 days a week Digital Only Subscription Read the digital SMART Edition of The Times-Tribune on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at thetimes-tribune.com or on our mobile apps. Digital Services Have news alerts sent to your mobile device, read the Smart Edition sign up for daily newsletters, activate your all access, enter contests, take quizzes, download our mobile apps and see the latest e-circulars.
Lack of probable cause has chilling effect
The debate about the degree to which FBI Director James Comey adversely affected Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign likely will go on long after President-elect Donald Trump leaves office. Comey entered uncharted waters 11 days before the presidential election when he informed Congress that the FBI was examining emails on a laptop owned by Anthony Weiner, estranged husband of Huma Abedin, a confidante of Clinton.
ColumnistsLessons learned from our Johnson administrationLessons…
Lessons learned from our Johnson administration In the early days of Gary Johnson’s governorship, I had occasion to be at the capitol. Check out this story on CurrentArgus.com: http://c-cargus.co/2hoWLC1 In the early days of Gary Johnson’s governorship, I had occasion to be at the State Capitol talking with some of his new appointees.
Letters: Tribune coverage ‘wacky’ in its own right
The Portland Tribune recently printed a front-page article having to do with Measure 97’s failure, and an editorial castigating the “wackiness” of the recent city tax imposed on corporations and CEO salaries. The article is carefully framed to put the onus on proponents’ failure to connect with voters, that the measure was poorly written and misunderstood;.
Putin won’t let up. That’s a letdown.
This year’s rendition of the annually and famously long newser ran relatively brief; Putin didn’t speak for four hours this time . But the press conference was not short on defensive quips from the Russian president, who maintains that Moscow is to blame neither for the 2014 war in Ukraine, nor for poor relations between Russia and the United States.
Giving Trump a chance doesn’t mean giving him a break
President-elect Donald Trump is being normalized before our eyes. On Dec. 19, the Electoral College cast its votes in the customary way; despite pleas and demonstrations, only two Republican electors rebelled.
Smerconish: Rights, wrongs, and a few surprises in ’16
A Philadelphia lawyer turned political commentator, Michael Smerconish is a nationally syndicated radio host, best-selling author and weekly contributing columnist to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Sunday Currents section. The Michael Smerconish Program is heard exclusively on SiriusXM – POTUS Channel 124 from 9a12p ET – reairing again 6-9p ET.
Hawaii roots made Obama’s presidency special – ‘Mahalo, Mr. President’
Almost nine years ago, then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama in giving his campaign-defining “More Perfect Union” speech set what many hoped would be the course to a new United States. Read More
Opinions
In his upcoming budget proposal, Gov. Scott Walker is proposing to establish a series of sunrise and sunset review commissions that would analyze proposed and existing occupational licenses to see if they are needed, or if they are too restrictive, and we think it is a good proposal that is long overdue. Friday, February 3, 2017 Some might consider our reporting of an affair between two Oneida County sheriff’s department officers to be a bit tawdry, but what’s tawdry is not the reporting but the behavior.
Another voice: The college debt debate
Janet Yellen, chair of the Federal Reserve, spoke at the University of Baltimore’s midyear commencement on Monday, and her message was about as upbeat as any the students will ever hear from a practitioner of the dismal science. The economy is nearly at full employment, with prospects especially strong for college graduates, for whom the unemployment rate is an infinitesimal 2.3 percent.
Column: Populism, real and phony
Authoritarians with an animus against ethnic minorities are on the march across the Western world. They control governments in Hungary and Poland, and will soon take power in the United States.
Trump’s choices shouldn’t be surprising
There has been much hand-wringing in some circles about many of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet selections, people who seem to disdain the very agencies he is asking them to direct. Yet Trump, sometimes criticized for not being a true Republican, is making Cabinet choices that line up well with the party’s rhetoric and stated ideology.
Moapa zoo had issues with animal care
Mr. Goldstein is correct that a lot of major cities have zoos that people enjoy. But our city is unique in that we have many animal attractions already and different activities for families.
Obama’s energy provision hurts Alaska: Bans on oil and gas leasing…
Once again, President Barack Obama has acted in a manner detrimental to Alaska and to the nation’s energy needs.
Froma Harrop: Trump’s favorite targets are Republicans
Donald Trump has inspired so much fear among his Republican comrades that he no longer has to issue harsh tweets when they misbehave. They do it themselves.
Patrick J. Buchanan: Europe’s future — Merkel or Le Pen?
The terrorist who hijacked a truck in Berlin and ran over and killed 12 people, maiming and wounding 48 more, in that massacre in the Christmas market, has done more damage than he could imagine. Since the perpetrator is a jihadist from Tunisia who had no right to be in Germany, and had been under surveillance, the bell could begin to toll not only for Angela Merkel but for the European Union.
This Christmas my prayers are for the people of Aleppo
It is a Christmas accompanied by the horrors of mass executions of women and children, airstrikes and barrel bombing of civilians – and mostly world silence in response. Americans witnessed neatly edited clips of human suffering in Aleppo as its residents made heartbreaking pleas for the world to save them.
Letters: Anguish over Electoral College misplaced
William Sierichs Jr.’s recent letter to the editor is emblazoned with a brash title which boldly exclaims, “Abolish the Electoral College.” It reminded me of Bobby Jindal’s comic declaration during a disastrous presidential campaign – “Abolish the Supreme Court.”
Blue-state Americans can keep their health coverage
To continue reading up to 10 premium articles, you must register , or sign up and take advantage of this exclusive offer: My liberal sister, a hospital worker, staunchly supports Obamacare on moral grounds. Marsha believes that no American should go without needed medical attention for lack of money.
Old, yes, but Biden and Brown ideas relevant for Democrats
To continue reading up to 10 premium articles, you must register , or sign up and take advantage of this exclusive offer: Four years before the next presidential election, Democrats have two formidable would-be challengers to Donald Trump. One is a successful governor and the other a popular politician.
Report ties top cop Eddie Johnson to LaQuan McDonald shooting aftermath
New problems for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Johnson, who was a police Deputy Superintendent when white officer Jason VanDyke shot and killed black teenager LaQuan McDonald in October of 2014, was among a group of top police officials who saw the dashcam video of the shooting just days after it occurred.
Witcover: Obama’s disappointing swan song
Stephen Cobb, a senior researcher at ESET, breaks down the methods that Russia may of used to hack the DNC. Stephen Cobb, a senior researcher at ESET, breaks down the methods that Russia may of used to hack the DNC.
Law’s passage sends right message to Iran
President Barack Obama did something good and wise this week. He refused to veto a bill from Congress renewing authority for U.S. officials to use economic sanctions against Iran.
Another view: Trumping the environment
Another view: Trumping the environment Whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump was elected, the environment is going to suffer. Check out this story on ldnews.com: http://ldne.ws/2ikiTeq President-elect Donald Trump gives a thumbs up to the crowd during a campaign rally on Aug. 31 in Phoenix.
A shameful delay
With the end of 2016 just days away, victims of North Carolina’s forced sterilization program have yet to receive their last payment – or the simply courtesy of a written update from the state. The lack of an update is shameful.
James Comey’s year of unintended – and ruinous – consequences
At the start of 2016, the FBI director enjoyed a reputation as a public servant of high integrity, earning bipartisan acclaim for his stewardship of the nation’s preeminent law enforcement agency. A year later, the FBI, after a series of blows to its credibility, seems increasingly partisan.
Ruth: Careful fooling with the Florida Constitution
By the time this constitutional pie fight ends, Florida may have to rename itself Turkmenistan-on-the-Gulf. Feel free to weigh in.
Ruth: Careful fooling with the Florida Constitution
By the time this constitutional pie fight ends, Florida may have to rename itself Turkmenistan-on-the-Gulf. Feel free to weigh in.
Eugene Robinson:Who in the Gop will stand up to Trump?
President-elect Donald Trump’s victory tour was more than just an opportunity to strut and preen around the country like a peacock with a comb-over. It was a warning to Republican leaders in Congress that Trump intends to be in charge — and that there will be consequences if the party establishment does not fall in line.