Originally published in The American Interest, December 9, 2014 In October, when I began reading Bill Cosby: His Life and Times, by Mark Whitaker, the 77-year-old comedian was enjoying a bit of a boom: a new television series in the works, a new special set to get the Netflix treatment, an exhibition at the Smithsonian …
Senator Elizabeth Warren delivered this speech on the Senate floor last Friday night: “Democrats don’t like Wall Street bailouts. Republicans don’t like Wall Street bailouts. The American people are disgusted by Wall Street bailouts “And yet here we are, five years after Dodd-Frank with Congress on the verge of ramming through a provision that would …
“I know from personal experience that the abuse of prisoners will produce more bad than good intelligence. I know that victims of torture will offer intentionally misleading information if they think their captors will believe it. I know they will say whatever they think their torturers want them to say if they believe it will …
Forgive me my breathlessness, but the Cushing November and December to Remember Promotional Tour has come to an end, leaving me exhausted. Three appearances! Nine days! Two states! Ooof! First, on Saturday November 29th, I visited the Village Bookstore in Pleasantville NY, and helped sell books on Small Business Saturday. This is all because last …
Frank Rich interviewed Chris Rock this week in New York magazine. Rock was brilliant–creative, provocative, and enormously perceptive. He said things about race in a way that should change the discussion forever. Here is one comment: “Here’s the thing. When we talk about race relations in America or racial progress, it’s all nonsense. There are …
The Washington Independent Review of Books likes Commander Will Cushing! In this witty, well-written biography, writes reviewer Grayson Clary, an unknown Union sailor finally gets his due. “Historians, Southern-sympathizing or otherwise, have long marshaled heroic profiles to defend the honor of the Confederate states: Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, P.G.T. Beauregard, J.E.B. Stuart, the Grey …
Dave Jensen and I went to the Complete Last Waltz concert at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester on Wednesday night. I wish the organizers had issued a program, because I do not know the names of the many excellent musicians who performed. Here is a partial list: Joe Russo, Sam Cohen, Scott Metzger, Dave …
“All my life, I have loved music, and never in my life have I been the tiniest bit musical. Not only can I not sing in tune, I cause others to fall off key. Not only can I not dance, my dancing has often caused injury to others, most memorably on a St. Patrick’s Day …