No Kings - or Just the Wrong King?

In 2014, I wrote a post titled “Less like a president than a king,” warning of the long, unchecked expansion of executive power in the United States. I made that case during the Obama administration, when the Supreme Court unanimously rebuked the president for exceeding his constitutional authority. Back then, there was little appetite on the political left to hear concerns about presidential overreach, because their party held power.

Fast forward to today, and protests have erupted under the banner “No Kings.” Predictably concentrated in deep-blue cities, these demonstrations have been organized or supported by a who's  who of progressive activist groups: Indivisible, MoveOn, the ACLU, unions, and others. 

The message, at first glance, is a noble one—opposition to authoritarian rule. Many participants are sincere and good people, and I do not seek to offend them or diminish their participation in a cherished First Amendment liberty to protest. I even admire them for engaging. However, these protests are not about tyranny; they are about partisanship. They are not a spontaneous defense of liberty, but an organized campaign effort. 

The slogan “No Kings” is not a call for constitutional restraint—it’s a campaign slogan, just like “Move On.” “Resist” and “Black Lives Matter,” formulated by powerful organizers who have developed networks, communications strategies, funding pipelines, and local chapters precisely to mobilize around virtually any progressive cause at short notice. 

The irony, of course, is that the expansion of executive power has been building for more than a century. It accelerated dramatically under the Obama administration, continued under Trump, and intensified even further under Joe Biden. Presidents from both parties have tested these boundaries. Richard Nixon's abuses of power gave birth to the term "imperial presidency" itself, and George W. Bush’s post-9/11 expansions of surveillance and wartime authority marked another significant leap. Each new president inherits the tools left behind by the previous one and builds upon them. Each new party in power forgets the warnings it once issued when the other party held the White House.

From Ivy Halls: The Collapse of Moral Clarity and Truth on College Campuses

At recent graduation ceremonies at prestigious universities such as Harvard, MIT, Yale, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, NYU, UC Berkeley, and George Washington University, political activism continued to dominate as students disrupted these events. Kafias were worn, Palestinian flags were flown, diplomas were burned, walkouts occurred, and chants praised those who agreed with them or condemned those who sought moderation.

Some student commencement speakers took to the podium to “go off script,” using their moment in the spotlight to accuse Israel of genocide and demand a “free Palestine.” These comments were not fringe outbursts; they were largely met with applause and praise from audiences that included faculty, students, and families. In the most elite institutions of the Western world, these chants of “resistance” have become a new moral currency.

The actions and words of students reveal something far more troubling than youthful ignorance: they expose a profound and deliberate disconnect from history, morality, and truth. These students, graduates of some of the most prestigious universities in America, seem completely unaware of efforts to establish a Palestinian state over the past 75 years. Each time, Palestinian leadership has rejected peace in favor of violence or political intransigence.

Yitzak Rabin, Bill Clinton, Yassir Arafat - White House, 1993

Small-Town Boomers: A Nostalgic Look Back at Randolph, Massachusetts

I recently published a new book, “Small-Town Boomers: A Nostalgic Look Back at Randolph, Massachusetts,” and it is now available on Amazon.  Readers may find it interesting. Although it is specifically about Baby Boomers growing up in Randolph, any nostalgic Baby Boomer may find they have much in common with the experience. Click any of the links here to purchase on Amazon. Here is a raw link as well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTF92SJS

SUMMARY:  Randolph, a small town about twelve miles south of Boston, Massachusetts, experienced a population explosion during the baby boom era after World War II, nearly tripling its size. To accommodate the influx of families, builders constructed hundreds of small homes that quickly filled with children. Now, those children look back nostalgically on their upbringing.

This book captures the essence of growing up in a small town during this unique period. It offers an informal history emphasizing the childhood experiences of boomers and the small-town communities that brought them a tremendous sense of independence and belonging.

The book is intended to provide future generations with a description of childhood and community that increasingly seems foreign to them. By communicating our experiences, we may offer them a different path in a world where children feel increasingly isolated and alone.

Each chapter ends with a blank, lined page that invites readers to personalize the book with their thoughts and memories, creating a family heirloom to be treasured.

I hope readers will enjoy the book.  

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DISCLAIMER: The entire content of this website and newsletter are based solely upon the opinions and thoughts of the author unless otherwise noted. It is not considered advice for action by readers in any realm of human activity. Its purpose is to stimulate discussion on topics of interest to readers to further inform the public square. Use of any information on this site is at the sole choice and risk of the reader.

Searching for Leadership - The Trump-Harris Debate

The debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris was another disappointment for those seeking true leadership capable of inspiring and uniting the American people. It served as a reminder of how much importance we’ve placed on the presidency while simultaneously lowering the standard for candidates. Both Trump and Harris once again demonstrated mediocrity. Trump stuck to his predictable pattern of exaggeration without substance, while Harris excelled at playing her role, but lacked meaningful content.

Trump was, as expected, unable to deviate from his usual script. His inability to adapt or take advice was clear. This debate marked his second chance to "seal the deal," the first being his meandering 90-minute speech at the Republican National Convention. Those who had hoped for a change or an awakening after his near-death experience were let down.

The Basement Strategy

 In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden successfully defeated Donald Trump by employing what is called the "Basement Strategy." This approach was developed by the Biden campaign to keep their candidate away from unscripted public events. Their knowledge then that Biden's cognitive abilities were in decline drove the strategy. Instead of frequent unscripted public appearances, the campaign relied on a compliant media, which was largely opposed to Trump, to overlook Biden's limited visibility. This strategy proved effective, culminating in Biden's victory.

However, once Biden assumed office, the signs of his cognitive decline became increasingly apparent. His public appearances were marked by moments that raised eyebrows and could not be concealed - falling while climbing steps, a stiffened gait, calling his vice president the president, misnaming foreign leaders, and unscripted comments that often bordered on incoherent. Even in scripted events the President would often read parenthetical instructions from the teleprompter and, despite detailed instructions and prompts from his staff, he would often wander aimlessly around the stage, requiring intervention by his wife or in one highly visible instance, former President Barrack Obama.

Memorial Day - what happened to the parades and walks in cemeteries?

This Memorial Day post is an annual distribution. It seems as the years go by and more friends and family pass that important traditions of the past fade further from the culture. Please share this post on Facebook and other vehicles with your friends and family to remind them of the importance of such solemn traditions. Thank you

I vividly recall from my childhood the prominence of Memorial Day among the pantheon of holidays.  It was one of the two big civic holidays.  The other being the Fourth of July.  At a young age I could sense the difference between the two – one celebratory and one solemn.  Memorial Day is larger in my memory.  The holiday was specifically to remember the dead of war, but the event was broader in that it was also an opportunity to visit and reflect more generally on relatives and friends who had passed.  It also related to the continuation of a tradition that emerged in the mid-1800s that made cemeteries places for peaceful meditation with nature’s beauty and communing with one’s family and friends – both living and dead.  As can be said of many traditions – times have changed.

Stop smartphones and social media from harming children

I write this blog post as a plea, to parents with children and young people who anticipate having children. Smartphones and social media are addictive technologies that are damaging the development of children’s brains.  I beg you to inform yourselves about this topic and take action to address the problem in your homes and schools. Your children’s future may depend on it.

I first became aware of the threat to children from these technologies when I watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix four years ago. This documentary explored the dangerous human impact of social networking. The code developers who created social media and related algorithms discuss their creations and regret. The information contained in the documentary caused me to cancel all of my social media accounts. I recommend you watch it.