Can Ashley Sullivan Make Springfield Proud?
When Springfield resident Ashley Sullivan got up on stage and cranked out “Gimmie Gimmie” in front of American Idol judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson, their collective silence after her performance must have been somewhat less-than reassuring to the young starlet wanna-be.
Rooke Seeks Review of Past Tax Agreement with Smith & Wesson
Last week the Republican reported on a plan being considered by the Springfield City Council that would provide local employer Smith & Wesson with up to $600,000 in tax relief over five years.
Who’s the target… audience?
The rhetorical battle in the wake of the Tucson shooting about political rhetoric is being fought by folks who are committed to one party or the other in the electoral political arena. One of the important differences between the present “debate” and the status quo is the expectation of the debaters that their persuadable audience [...]
Remembering Perman Glenn III
Like many in Springfield who knew him, I was shocked to learn of the tragic and untimely death of Perman Glenn III. A veteran attorney, Glenn represented a number of clients who had run-ins with the law, and was perhaps best known around these parts for his defense of minority clients who were alleged to [...]
Incentives and Incivility
We don’t need greater civility in our political discourse as much as we need more rational and reasonable scrutiny and evaluation of the “good, bad and ugly” by citizens, journalists, and other individuals and institutions that impact public opinion.
It’s About The Meaning, Not The Metaphors
The media chatter about the impact of political rhetoric on the behavior of whackos since the shooting in Tucson has been incredibly annoying. I find myself wanting to scream at the TV- “It’s not the metaphors!!!” The terminology of war has always been a central part of American political rhetoric and the idea that a [...]
Springfield Intruder’s Fractured Mirror Predictions for 2011
This year inaugurates the first annual Springfield Intruder Fractured Mirror Predictions for the upcoming year. The term “fractured mirror” is used because my window into the future is a rusty, tarnished and pock-marked old relic that makes it difficult at times for me to see things clearly. As a result, some predictions may be distorted, [...]
Profound Role Reversal or Just Bad Remake?
I was quite pleased to find that just one day after I wrote my Role Reversal blog entry, one of my favorite political analysts, E.J. Dionne, made largely the same argument in his Washington Post column. It’s a great confidence booster to find yourself on the same wave length as such a talented writer and [...]
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