Merry, well, you know

December 23, 2017

We hear a lot at this time of year about putting the Christ back in Christmas – or, more recently, putting the Christmas back in Christmas. Indeed, one of President Donald J. Trump’s campaign promises was that we would say “Merry Christmas” again – as if we ever stopped.

This used to be a religious campaign against the commercialization of the season. With the, um, advent of Trump, it has become less about the materialism of the season – it’s hard to believe that he and his administration object to anything that makes money – and more about reclaiming a Christian identity that, they think, has been co-opted by multiculturalism and political correctness. It is factionalism versus globalism and, inevitably, us versus them, whoever they are.

And you have to wonder: Why? ...

‘Making America Great Again’ (again) – not

December 20, 2017

In the latest installment of “When Donnie Met Vladdie,” Russian President Vladimir “Rootin’ Tootin’” Putin thanked American President Donald J. Trumpet for a CIA tip that prevented a terrorist attack in St. Petersburg.

No one is suggesting that the nations of the world shouldn’t cooperate on terrorism and other matters – would that they did so regularly – but it seems that some countries like special American friend Great Britain are rethinking the relationship and the sharing of secrets thanks to President Blabbermouth’s indiscretions in other situations.

How do these frayed friendships and new alliances with those who have no love of the United States “Make America Great Again”? ...

When Donnie met Vladdie, part trois

December 16, 2017

Vladimir “Vladdie, Vlad the Lad, Rootin’ Tootin’” Putin is running for reelection as Russian president for life and is taking a page out of the playbook of BFF President Donald Trump (“Donnie Trumpet”) – deny, deny, deny and throw your enemies under the bus.

America is awash in “spy hysteria,” there was no collusion or attempt to throw the American presidential election, Donnie’s wonderful, look how the stock market is up, we call each other by our first names, we still hope to work together – blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Jeez. Get a room already. This is getting weird, even for me, and I write homoerotic novels. ...

Alabama says, ‘No Moore’

December 13, 2017

Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold is alleged to have harassed his former communications director, Lauren Greene, in part by talking to her about a female lobbyist who had propositioned him for a threesome.

Have you seen Farenthold? It’s hard to believe any woman would proposition him at all, let alone for a threesome. But if she did, she wouldn’t have to look far for a third party. There’s enough of Farenthold to make two guys.

That might seem a low blow, but you know what, it’s a new day. And one of those signs of that new day is that Senate hopeful and mall exile Roy Moore lost to Doug Jones in Alabama’s special election Tuesday. ...

The Darwinian theory of Al Franken

December 11, 2017

Al Franken, a Democrat from Minnesota, is resigning from the U.S. Senate, and many folks are none too happy about it – not the least of whom is Al Franken himself.

In a farewell address that was nothing less than bitterly ironic, Franken wondered why he was going while the P-Grabber in Chief remained in the White House.

He’s staying and you’re going, Al, for the same reason that men harass women: One has the power. The other doesn’t. ...

Is sexual harassment lookist?

December 7, 2017

In Larry David’s extremely awkward “Saturday Night Live” appearance a few weeks back, he worried that the recent rash of sexual predators was all Jewish – which is not true, but anyway, what I thought he was going to say was that they were all unattractive. (This was before Matt Lauer and Peter Martins, ballet master in chief of New York City Ballet, were added to the list of sexual harassers.) ...

A taxing time as Russkiegate heats up

December 2, 2017

So Mr. “Lock Her Up” has become Mr. “Don’t Lock Me Up.”

Former National Security Adviser – and loose cannon Lt. Gen. (retired) Michael Flynn – has pled guilty to a single count of lying to the FBI as special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s investigation and Russkiegate intensify.

Flynn – who had been influence-peddling around the globe when he hitched his wagon to Trump’s dim star – is, of course, guilty of more than lying to the FBI about speaking to the Russians while Barack Obama was still president. ...