Category Archives: Politics

Some Rhetorical Similarities in Trump and Hitler Speeches

Posted on January 22, 2017 by hessd

I want to write about Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler today. I know no one is going to like what I have to say, but I feel, nonetheless, some urgency about saying it now. Here is the whole message of … Continue reading →

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Attending the Inauguration

Posted on January 19, 2017 by hessd

Spoiler alert: I’m not going to attend. Of course, I wasn’t invited. But my Congressman, Earl Blumenauer of the 3rd Congressional District of Oregon, isn’t going to attend either and he actually was invited. The Daily Kos said today that … Continue reading →

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The Evangelical Playboy

Posted on January 16, 2017 by hessd

Exit polls show white evangelical voters voted in high numbers for Donald Trump, 80-16 percent, according to exit poll results. That’s the most they have voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 2004, when they overwhelmingly chose President George W. Bush … Continue reading →

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It’s our story and I’m sticking to it.

Posted on December 30, 2016 by hessd

Everybody knows the line, “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.” I discovered today that it comes from a Saturday Night Live regular I had never heard of—Kevin Quinn. I haven’t messed with it much in producing the title … Continue reading →

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Madison v. Plato

Posted on December 28, 2016 by hessd

From the outside, you enter the rotunda of the Capitol in Salem, Oregon from the north. As you stand there, you face the information kiosk, where I have seldom failed to get the information I needed—including current gossip when I … Continue reading →

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Mug Shots

Posted on December 26, 2016 by hessd

You may not have noticed that there is a conflict of major proportions going on in this country. Very nearly anything can be turned into a weapon. If you are young, you will be surprised. If you are not young, … Continue reading →

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A White Male Working Class Tantrum

Posted on December 22, 2016 by hessd

There is no question in anyone’s mind, I am sure, that I am talking about the 2016 election season. Not the outcome of the election particularly. I could have made the same argument I am about to make if Hillary … Continue reading →

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Read this book

Posted on December 2, 2016 by hessd

Today is the beginning of my blogging year (Blogging Year 2017) [1] and I’d like to start by recommending a book. The book is Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild. … Continue reading →

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Richard and Mildred Loving

Posted on November 22, 2016 by hessd

Peter Debruge in his May 16 review for Variety explains why the film Loving just didn’t have enough pop for him. In addition to the objection I am going to cite, there were other more technical criticisms that I accepted … Continue reading →

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Vote NO on virtue

Posted on October 28, 2016 by hessd

It is my great privilege to pass along to you one of the best political recommendations I have ever had the pleasure to read.  Below, you will see a picture of the last argument offered on this measure in Oregon’s … Continue reading →

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