Columnist: Will a Liberal Tea Party Turn on Democrats?
The Washington Post’s Paul Kane suggests the tide of anti-Trump protests may be the germ of a new, liberal tea party that Democrats hope will do for them what the populist Tea Party did for Republicans. But he also warns that “grass-roots movements can be the life and death of political leaders.” So the trick will be “to keep them aiming their fire at Republicans and Trump, not turning it into a circular firing squad targeting fellow Democrats.” Because by the middle of 2010, “the tea party rage [had] shifted its direction toward Republican primary politics.” And Republican leaders, like Rep. John Boehner, who “could never match the rhetorical ferocity of the movement,” ended up “perpetually caught in a trap of overpromising and under-delivering” before “they were consumed.”
Culture critic: How Pope Francis Helped Free a Terrorist
There was little notice in the English-language press last month when the archbishop of San Juan confirmed Pope Francis’ role in Barack Obama’s pardon of terrorist mastermind Oscar Lopez-Rivera. Megan Mullarkey at The Federalist says “papal complicity in this politically charged act . . . deserved more” public attention. In 2015, Francis went from a visit to Fidel Castro to New York, where he was greeted by the FALN commander’s biggest fan, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who presented the Pontiff with a portrait of himself painted by Lopez-Rivera. The left, notes Mullarkey, “rallied to [Lopez-Rivera] as an anti-colonial freedom fighter, an independence activist and political prisoner.” But she questions “the pope’s part in an ideologically motivated pardon that was opposed by law enforcement and families scarred by FALN bombs.”
Celebrity watch: Sarah Silverman’s Bizarre Freak-Out
No, Sarah Silverman, those aren’t swastikas you saw on the street — or even a bad attempt at one. As Alex Griswold notes at Mediaite, they’re utility markers, used to note the location of underground pipes. Called out on Twitter, an unapologetic Silverman blamed “condescending c—s” for pointing out her embarrassing error and said she’s “seeing swastikas in everything” thanks to Donald Trump.
From the right: Yale’s Name-Dropping Double Standard
It’s no surprise that Yale University last weekend announced that Calhoun College, named for the pro-slavery 19th-century statesman, is being renamed. But Roger Kimball at The Wall Street Journal says Yale actually found “a way to wipe away Calhoun College while simultaneously immunizing other institutions at Yale from politicized rebaptism.” Yes, Calhoun owned slaves. “But so did Timothy Dwight, Calhoun’s mentor at Yale, who has a college named in his honor. So did Benjamin Silliman, who also gives his name to a residential college, and whose mother was the largest slave owner in Fairfield County, Conn. So did Ezra Stiles, John Davenport and even Jonathan Edwards, all of whom have colleges named in their honor at Yale.” Just more evidence, he says of “the evolving politically correct circus at Yale.”
Sportswriter: Patriot White House Boycott Uncalled For
Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom suggests that “maybe it’s time to stop inviting sports teams to the White House,” given “the slew of political statements” they engender. At least six members of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots say they won’t show up to be honored if invited by President Trump. That’s “their right . . . as Americans,” says Albom. “It’s also rude.” After all, “no one is asking them to endorse a candidate. And taking a photo with your nation’s elected leader doesn’t mean you surrender your right to disagree with every single thing he does.” Still, he suggests, “perhaps it’s better to drop this tradition altogether.”
— Compiled by Eric Fettmann
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