Category Archives: history

‘The Troubles’ in N. Ireland pale in comparison to ours

Posted on April 18, 2021 by oddmanout215

I was reading about the possible renewal of “the Troubles” that wracked the north of Ireland in the last three decades of the 20th century: The instability has been accelerated by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. From … Continue reading →

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Voting rights expansion vs. the filibuster

Posted on March 31, 2021 by oddmanout215

We were watching the filibuster scene from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, a hit movie in 1939 and a great example of director Frank Capra using his corny genius to convey big, inspirational ideas. His hero in this one is … Continue reading →

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South Dakota lawmaker channels ‘founding fathers’

Posted on March 24, 2021 by oddmanout215

“Check this out,” Swamp Rabbit said. It was the sort of message you might see from a grumpy old white guy at a run-down barroom in, let’s say, South Dakota: “Wait a minute,“ I said. “This guy is really a … Continue reading →

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‘Philly-delphia’ lawyer stars in impeachment farce

Posted on February 15, 2021 by oddmanout215

Farce — a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations. We were still arguing about Donald Trump’s impeachment farce. I thought the crowning moment came when Mitch McConnell condemned Trump as … Continue reading →

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Common ground with Republicans? On Mars, maybe.

Posted on January 31, 2021 by oddmanout215

“If Joe Biden keeps seeking common ground with Republicans — or unity, as he sometimes calls it — he’ll miss his chance to achieve his stated policy goals. Then Republicans will blame Democrats because the country is still a mess, … Continue reading →

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Pity the poor, oppressed Capitol raiders

Posted on January 13, 2021 by oddmanout215

Swamp Rabbit said he was in a terrible state after watching reruns of the mob storming the Capitol last week at the behest of their Dear Leader, who hid in the White House while they did his dirty work. “You … Continue reading →

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Long-anticipated coup attempt fails. Game over?

Posted on January 8, 2021 by oddmanout215

Swamp Rabbit was stretched out on the bare ground near his shack, looking like he’d just survived an ordeal that tested his limits. “Feels like I got chased 20 miles by a pack of bloodhounds,” he told me. Actually, he’d … Continue reading →

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The year of ‘You can’t make this stuff up’

Posted on January 2, 2021 by oddmanout215

Asked to summarize 2020 in one phrase, humorist Dave Barry wrote “Four Seasons Total Landscaping.” Perfect. Donald Trump’s wacko coup attempt, along with the Covid-19 plague, dominated the news late in the year, and nowhere was the Trump legal team’s … Continue reading →

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Anti-boomer demands recount of 2,020 greatest songs

Posted on December 19, 2020 by oddmanout215

“I bet they ain’t got none of my favorites,” my neighbor Swamp Rabbit said when WXPN in Philadelphia started playing the 2,020 all-time greatest songs, an end-of-year list based on votes cast by the station’s listeners. “You might be surprised,” … Continue reading →

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Is this progress? A show of hands, please

Posted on December 15, 2020 by oddmanout215

Swamp Rabbit whistled to summon the birds and beasts of the ponds, mudflats and woodlands. “Listen up, critters,” he shouted. “Here’s what’s happening.” He read aloud from a list of calamities that have made 2020 a landmark year: Twin plagues … Continue reading →

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