Author Archive: Bill Black
I'm a baby boomer, lefty Democrat, Boston Irish Catholic, born in 1953. I work as a public affairs consultant in Washington.
The Big Lie
That Obama is a socialist big spender. The numbers speak for themselves.
And Andrew Sullivan puts it into perspective.
No administration has reduced aggregate government spending as a precentage of GDP as much as Obama’s in forty years. If you look at the full chart, back to George HW Bush, you reach an inescapable conclusion: the biggest spenders and borrowers are Republicans and the most fiscally conservative presidents have been Democrats. Given the last two decades, the Tea Party, if they really want to shrink government, should be voting for Obama.
In Boston With Bridget
Bridget and the Mayah
I spent the last couple of days in Worcester and Boston with my daughter Bridget. It was for a tour of The College of the Holy Cross, to which she was admitted and from which her mother graduated. Bridget went to a couple of classes and toured the campus. Right now she’s leaning toward “The Cross,” but is still considering University of Vermont as a possibility.
Me and the Mayah
After the campus tour, we drove into Boston to visit Faneuil Hall Marketplace at Boston’s Waterfront. I was stunned to learn that Bridget had never visited the area. Continue Reading
Nailed It!
Donna Dubinsky had an op ed in the Sunday Washington Post that was the most insightful analysis of the Affordable Care Act and it’s constitutionality that I’ve seen. According to legal experts who watched the oral arguments, the big question for Kennedy is what the limits are on Congress if they allow it to pass a law requiring individuals to purchase health insurance. The so-called “broccoli question,” i.e. could they require people to buy broccoli because it’s healthy and would tend to reduce costs to the system and thereby reduce insurance premiums. People I respect call this argument silly, but Ms. Dubinsky, a software entrepreneur explained why health insurance is unique better than anything I’ve read on the case.
Here’s her simple test:
There are two simple limiting conditions, both of which must be present: (1) it must be a service or product that everybody must have at some point in their lives and (2) the market for that service or product does not function, meaning that sellers turn away buyers. In other words, you need something, but you may not be able to buy it.
She then goes on to apply her test to some of the other situations raised by the conservatives to make the requirement seem unprecedented, including broccoli, health clubs and burial services, and shows how healthcare is different. She is shocked that the defenders of the law didn’t come up with this simply construct. So am I.
It was a brilliant piece and I hope Justice Kennedy reads the Sunday Post.
Groucho
Groucho in Duck Soup
I thoroughly enjoyed Dick Cavett’s review of two re-issued books on Groucho Marx, a man I idolize. I wish I had the time to read the books, but, for now, the review will have to suffice. Here’s an excerpt that describes Groucho well:
Woody Allen has said that of the greats, Groucho had the richest number of gifts. He could sing, dance and act, and beyond those fairly common gifts, when you add the distinctive voice, faultless instinct for wording, genius wit, hilarious physical movement, rich supply of expressions and physical “takes” — and the list goes on — it arguably adds up to the most supremely gifted comedian of our time.
The pinnacle of my Groucho obsession was reached in my twenties when there was a double bill of Marx Brothers movies playing at the Kenmore Square theater in Boston. It was Horsefeathers and Duck Soup, the 3rd and 4th Marx Brothers movies made in the early 1930’s. I went all three nights of the run and watch both movies each night.
Those were the days.
Their Hatred
Newt Gingrich
I found President Obama’s reaction to the killing of Trayvon killing to be among the kindest and most touching words I have heard uttered by a president. I almost literally teared up when he said, “If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon.” How could anybody find fault with that? It was sensitive and compassionate. Even if you believe that the Trayvon of that fateful night was different from the Trayvon his family describes and he did, in fact, attack poor Mr. Zimmerman, you cannot dispute the pain that his parents must feel. Obama was channeling that feeling and it seemed very authentic. Surely, Obama’s critics would be at least mildly touched by the comment. Right? Continue Reading
Mass in Cantonese
On Thursday morning, I visited St. Jude’s Church for 7:15 am Mass. The celebrant was an American priest, but, otherwise, everyone in the “church” was a Hong Kong native. The Mass was in Cantonese, so I had to follow along knowing the rhythms of the Mass. I like going to Mass when I visit exotic places because it is always an opportunity to experience full local authenticity. I was not disappointed.
St. Jude’s is a combination church and kindergarten. While there is a real church, the Mass was held in what looked like a conference room with folding chairs as pews. Except for the strange language, it was the same Mass that I attend in Washington and Boston. In fact, it is the same Mass that has been celebrated in every corner of the world every day for 2,000 years. There is something remarkable about that. Upon receiving Communion, the deacon switched to English and said “Body of Christ,” for me. Nice touch.
From there, I walked the mile back to the hotel along King’s Road, which is a block in from the harbor and is a large commercial street. Got to see a typical morning with mobs of people hustling to work. Didn’t feel quite so exotic, but interesting, nonetheless.
A View of Hong Kong Harbor
I am in Hong Kong on a business trip. This is my fourth or fifth visit. And, though it never gets old, it doesn’t seem as exotic as it once was. It’s a very international city and everyone I’ve encountered so far speaks English well.
The bad news is I’ve spent most of my time in my hotel room. The good news is I have a 270 degree view of Hong Kong Harbor from my bed.
A Jesuit Retreat
Sunset over the Potomac at Loyola Retreat House
I spent this weekend at a Jesuit retreat in southern Maryland at Loyola Retreat House, a facility on a bluff overlooking a very scenic bend in the Potomac River. It was a very different experience from the 24 hours I spent with the Benedictines a few weeks ago.
This is not a monastery but a retreat house. The accommodations are the same, very spare, but this time I had a lot of company. This is the annual “Men’s Retreat” for my parish, Blessed Sacrament in Washington, DC. But it’s a silent retreat, so you don’t really have the opportunity to get to know your fellow retreatants. Lots of smiles and nods, but no real conversation. Continue Reading
Andrew Sullivan on Santorum
Andrew Sullivan has a grudging respect for Santorum because Santorum is willing to defend in public the looney views that the Republican primary voters demand of all the candidates. Say what you want. You know where he stands. Romney? Not so much.
Key quote:
And, by the way, those Washington pundits now huffing and puffing about Santorum’s extremism? They should have spoken up a long time ago. Or tell us now what substantive differences there are between Santorum’s apocalyptic war-mongering and Romney’s; or between Santorum’s belief in erasing the difference between politics and religion and Romney’s. Or simply acknowledge they have no principles but defeating Democrats by whatever means necessary.
This Will Make Your Day…
Click here to read the story behind this video of a Gettysburg College basketball player making one of two free throws.
It will restore your faith in mankind and bring a tear to your eye. Washington College basketball coach Rob Nugent is my hero.
Thank you to my son, Danny, a student at Gettysburg, for bringing this story to my attention.