Author Archives: stephenkmacksd

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About stephenkmacksd

Rootless cosmopolitan,down at heels intellectual;would be writer. 'Polemic is a discourse of conflict, whose effect depends on a delicate balance between the requirements of truth and the enticements of anger, the duty to argue and the zest to inflame. Its rhetoric allows, even enforces, a certain figurative licence. Like epitaphs in Johnson’s adage, it is not under oath.' https://www.lrb.co.uk/v15/n20/perry-anderson/diary

David Brooks on The Piketty Phenomenon: Episode CCCXXXV of the American Political Melodrama. A comment by Political Cynic

Posted on May 1, 2014 by stephenkmacksd

Mr. Brooks is of course angry and defensive when he reviews The Piketty Phenomenon. But the anger and defensiveness manifests itself as that shopworn Conservative old saw: envy of the rich. The beating heart of the middle class, the professionals, … Continue reading →

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David Brooks Saccharine Calvanist : A comment by Political Cynic

Posted on April 27, 2014 by stephenkmacksd

I read the Mr. David Brooks essay when first published on April 7th 2014 titled ‘What Suffering Does‘ and I re-read it today and found it full of trite pseudo-philosophical chatter, laced with a kind of relish of the theological … Continue reading →

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Dear Walter, Your reply to Mr. Douthat’s essay of April 19, 2014 melodramatically titled Marx Rises Again,  was, as always, beautifully argued and written. What Mr. Douthat leaves out of his rather weak propagandizing, which is a companion piece to … Continue reading →

Posted on April 21, 2014 by stephenkmacksd | Leave a comment

The American Political Melodrama Epiosode CCCIX , Comedy Edition: David Brooks on President Obama’s ‘Manhood Problem’ An essay by Political Cynic

Posted on April 21, 2014 by stephenkmacksd

Transcript of Mr. Brooks’ comment: ‘DAVID BROOKS: And, let’s face it, Obama, whether deservedly or not, does have a (I’ll say it crudely) but a manhood problem in the Middle East: Is he tough enough to stand up to somebody … Continue reading →

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The Cold War Redux, Episode XXI: Mr. Eli Lake on ‘Open Skies’ An Essay by Political Cynic

Posted on April 18, 2014 by stephenkmacksd

‘The Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. military and American intelligence agencies have quietly pushed the White House in recent weeks to deny a new Russian surveillance plane the right to fly over U.S. territory. This week, the White … Continue reading →

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My comments at Left, Right and Center: Week ending April 13, 2014

Posted on April 14, 2014 by stephenkmacksd

As much as I respect Chrystia Freeland, I must say that she totally ignores American and E.U. meddling in Ukrainian political affairs. The exact same thing she condemns the Dictator Putin for! According to reliable sources America spent 5 billion … Continue reading →

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David Brooks on McCutcheon, an essay by Political Observer

Posted on April 10, 2014 by stephenkmacksd

One approaches the David Brooks essay of April 3, 2014 titled Party all the Time with a certain amusement at the ludicrous assertion that somehow campaign finance reform should be abandoned, for a strategy of increasing the power of Parties … Continue reading →

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Eli Lake headline argues: ‘Exclusive: U.S. Won’t Share Invasion Intel With Ukraine.’ A comment by Political Observer

Posted on April 9, 2014 by stephenkmacksd

‘The Daily Beast has learned., U.S. officials and members of Congress briefed on the crisis in Ukraine tell The Daily Beast, Congressional staffers briefed on the matter say U.S. intelligence agencies have, A senior U.S. intelligence official confirmed to The … Continue reading →

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Mr. Leslie Gelb advises President Obama on Ukraine: An essay by Political Cynic

Posted on March 30, 2014 by stephenkmacksd

Mr. Gelb, in his essay titled Obama Must Show He’ll use Military Means to Deter Russia in Ukraine,proves without doubt that he is a Neo-Liberal jingo, although this side of his foreign policy thought is usually muted. It also demonstrates … Continue reading →

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Mr. Robert Kagan on ‘President Obama’s foreign policy paradox’: a comment by Political Cynic

Posted on March 27, 2014 by stephenkmacksd

Mr. Kagan is here Calabazas the Court Jester of Phillip the IV, made eternal by Velazquez. Mr. Kagan/Calabazas is the dissatisfied, the disgruntled , aspiring to be, longing to be Count Olivares. Not exactly a man of action, but a … Continue reading →

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