Two Gents' Worth
October 4, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump had his best debate against Hillary Clinton on Wednesday night – and yet he lost it all in one disastrous moment. That moment came when he refused – twice – to say that he would accept the results of next month’s election if he loses to Clinton. First– he said he would look…
Read More about Trump’s Shameful RefusalDonald Trump
By now, it’s fairly clear that Donald Trump’s campaign is in free-fall. It’s also fairly clear that Trump’s decided to tear apart both the Republican Party — and the United States. Trump has thrown civility to the wind in these last, desperate days of his presidential run. Anything goes. Anything is said. Hillary needs to…
Read More about Trump’s Rampage
Donald Trump
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the second presidential debate Sunday night is that it actually had some substance and illustrated policy differences. But, of course, that may have been overwhelmed by everything that led up to the debate. I’m referring, of course, to the release of the tape that revealed Donald Trump talking about…
Read More about Trump’s Terrible WeekendDonald Trump
You have to wonder whose idea it was for Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine to continually interrupt Republican VP nominee Mike Pence during their one and only debate Tuesday night. Whoever gave Kaine that idea should be let go immediately, because Kaine’s interruptions looked boorish and desperate and usually backfired. He tried to load…
Read More about Kaine KO’s Himself
Donald Trump
If you want to get an idea about how low this year’s presidential campaign can go — how insulting and demeaning and dispiriting it might get — look no farther than Donald Trump’s recent actions. Trump — who, remember, has no governmental experience and who has shown no knowledge of foreign affairs — has decided…
Read More about Trump in the Muck
Donald Trump
We are so politically polarized in these United States that I’m not at all sure whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump gained any new supporters during their first presidential debate Monday night. But there’s no doubt — among observers who are not in the tank for either candidate — that Clinton won the debate and…
Read More about Hillary “Wins” — Now What?
Donald Trump
Hillary Clinton’s running mate traveled to Iowa State University in Ames on Monday, and since I’m spending a bit of time in Ames, I went to see him. And I came away with the wish that Tim Kaine was the Democrat running for president, not Mrs. Clinton. Kaine’s campaign appearance at the university’s Memorial Union…
Read More about Mr. Kaine Visits Iowa
Pop Culture
W.P. Kinsella died the other day at the age of 81, and it’s worth noting because while you may not know who he is, you’ve almost surely seen the results of what he did. Kinsella wrote the novel that was adapted for the iconic movie “Field of Dreams.” He started writing “Shoeless Joe” while he…
Read More about His “Field of Dreams”
Donald Trump
I’m spending a bit of time in the heart of the American heartland — Ames, Iowa, the home of Iowa State University, where I taught journalism decades ago. For years now, I’ve returned to Ames in the fall — always the best time of year in the Midwest. I visit friends, eat a lot of…
Read More about Midwest Sensibilities