Two Gents' Worth
January 1, 2025
Fresno
Something happened to me this morning during one of my long walks, and I think it exemplifies the trouble Fresno city officials will have in trying to bring downtown back to life. It was a cool, sunny day, and I was dressed in a sweatshirt, long pants and tennis shoes as I made my way…
Read More about Downtown’s Doldrums
Donald Trump
My wife and I just spent a few days at Walt’s World in Anaheim. And as always, Disneyland did not disappoint us, in spite of our long waits in lines that seemingly stretched forever. Over more than 40 years of marriage, we’ve trekked to Disneyland perhaps two-dozen times. But this was our first visit since…
Read More about Not Mr. Trump’s World
Fresno
My friend Al and I took a long walk through our old Fresno High neighborhood the other day. We like trekking around the area we grew up in because it has plenty of old houses and old trees and old memories. So we walked and walked on that lovely sunny day-between-storms, and we kept walking…
Read More about Fresno’s Fulton Fizzle
Donald Trump
Under ordinary circumstances, President Trump’s choice for the U.S. Supreme Court seat formerly held by Antonin Scalia would have no trouble receiving Senate confirmation. But, of course, we are not anywhere close to “ordinary” circumstances politically. So while Neil Gorsuch likely will be confirmed, it’s not going to be easy, and it certainly will not…
Read More about Trump’s SCOTUS Choice
Donald Trump
It’s not too early in President Trump’s administration to be able to say with some degree of confidence that the man is literally driving a good part of the nation crazy. You can see it almost anywhere you look. On television, reporters for ABC, NBC, CBS and MSNBC seem stunned — completely and utterly stunned…
Read More about Trump: Driving Us Nuts?Politics
President Trump’s inaugural address sounded, unfortunately, like one of his campaign speeches. It was workmanlike. It was competent. But it did not contain any soaring rhetoric — any vision — for the nation. Mr. Trump did not promise to try to unite our deeply divided country and did not acknowledge that there are political wounds…
Read More about Mr. Trump’s Speech
Donald Trump
I’m not sure that Donald Trump can say anything that will “bring the country” together when he makes his presidential inauguration speech Friday. Mr. Trump ran such a divisive, hateful campaign — and has so thoroughly botched his “transition” time since his November election — that it likely is beyond his ability to craft and…
Read More about What Trump Should Say
Hillary Clinton
Holy cow, Hillary! Here we are — several weeks removed from your loss to Donald Trump in the presidential election — and just a few days away from Mr. Trump’s inaugural address — and we’re still talking about you. At least, the New York Times and the New York Post are. They both are suggesting…
Read More about Hillary for Mayor?Donald Trump
Yes, the time has finally come to kiss off 2016 –to put it in the rearview mirror and turn the page to a brand, spanking-new year. Thank goodness! Now, I’m not one of those optimistic fantasizers who think that the end of any year means only better things are in store the following year. History has proven…
Read More about 2016? Bah, Humbug!