Category Archives: Uncategorized

House Repeals Health Care (Symbolically)

Posted on January 20, 2011 by David S. Meyer

The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives voted to repeal President Obama’s health care reforms, which have just begun to come into effect.  It was a big victory for the Republicans and the Tea Party, but it’s unlikely … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Dead Heroes, Martin Luther King, and Original Intent

Posted on January 19, 2011 by David S. Meyer

In the fall of 2001 I sat on a committee charged with planning the program for Martin Luther King Day here at UC Irvine.  American armed forces were then just entering Afghanistan, seeking Osama Bin Laden, and fighting to oust … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Martin Luther King Day and Dead Heroes

Posted on January 18, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Martin Luther King died young enough and dramatically enough to be turned into an American hero, but it was neither his youth nor his death that made him heroic. In his rather brief public life, beginning in Montgomery at 26, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Where’s the Peace Movement?

Posted on January 17, 2011 by David S. Meyer

On the fiftieth anniversary of President Eisenhower’s military-industrial complex speech (his farewell address), it’s worth asking just where the peace movement is these days.  Eisenhower, a vigorous cold warrior and internationalist, sounded an alarm about making decisions about foreign and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Words and Deeds

Posted on January 13, 2011 by David S. Meyer

The spotlight on the grief and mourning following Jared Loughner’s attack in Arizona creates an opportunity for people who want attention.    What they do with the opportunity depends upon who they are and what they want.  And the subsequent reactions … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

After Stuff Happens

Posted on January 11, 2011 by David S. Meyer

The politics of Jared Loughner’s attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in a Tucson supermarket are just starting.  It’s not the event itself that matters so much as the positioning after the fact.  Political figures try not to waste crises. Advocates … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Updates on Domestic Terror

Posted on January 8, 2011 by David S. Meyer

I was surprised to see how quickly a conservative activist slipped from condemning the violent attack in Tucson to chastising unnamed members of the left. The New York Times reports the statement of Judson Phillips, Tea Party Nation’s founder: (Note: … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Gabrielle Giffords and Domestic Terror

Posted on January 8, 2011 by David S. Meyer

It won’t take long for reporters to find out enough about Jared Loughner to offer portrayals of a severely disturbed young man.  Reports at this moment detail Loughner attending a district event at a supermarket organized by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Constitution and Reading Aloud

Posted on January 6, 2011 by David S. Meyer

My first grader is starting to get bored of reading aloud in class.  Like most members of Congress, she can read faster than she can listen, and having to slow down as every reader stumbles through the words gets tiresome.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Who’s Serving the Tea?

Posted on January 5, 2011 by David S. Meyer

The Tea Party hit institutional politics early, and now activists have to grapple with the realities of politics indoors. This is, of course, a common story for social movements in America.  Activists mobilize for broad, often-ill-defined, goals, and then have … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment