Blog: Wild World of Politics
Dick Brennan
Movie chronicles political ‘Game Change’
In the opening of the HBO movie “Game Change,” it’s 2007 and political consultant Steve Schmidt is talking to Republican candidate for president John McCain. “There’s an upside to being in last place,” Schmidt says. “You can say what you truly feel.” We know the history. McCain becomes the straight-talk express and cruises to the [...]
Will Madoff take down the Mets?
I hope the victims of Bernie Madoff get every penny they lost back. But should the Mets owners face a civil trial this month in connection with Madoff earnings? I don’t know what the Wilpons really owe (who does?) but they’ll have to hand over $83 million, and that may cover things. The Mets owners [...]
Why does the city make it so difficult?
When I was in school, we all knew who the good teachers were. The principal knew, and the parents knew. But now New York City is up in arms because it cannot rate its teachers. The Department of Education (DOE) released 18,000 ratings of teachers, essentially rating how they helped kids score on standardized tests. [...]
No one WANTS to be in a shelter
If you read this space regularly, you know that I can’t stand when taxpayer money is wasted, especially by politicians. And I always appreciate public servants who keep a close watch on ridiculous spending. But like most Americans, I also believe in a social safety net — for children, the poor, and the elderly. And [...]
Archbishop Timothy Dolan is ready to lead
Archbishop Timothy Dolan will be elevated to Cardinal this weekend. But he has already been showing that he’ll be taking a more active role on the national stage. This week, Dolan tangled with President Barack Obama on the issue of contraception and insurance, managing to knock the White House and the administration back on its [...]
The Giants are in a league of their own
For the last 15 years or so, the “King of New York” lived in the Bronx. He wore five rings and was an inspiration for young people and parents desperate for a superstar role model. We’re talking of course about Derek Jeter. But this weekend, the torch was passed. There is a new “King of [...]
Debating the value of debates
The Republican presidential candidates have set a new standard for unending debate. There have been 19 so far, and so many say, “Enough already.” I say, “Keep ‘em coming!” From the first of the modern presidential debates, the ones that pitted Vice President Richard Nixon against Senator John Kennedy, there has always been a cloud [...]
Will Twinkies be extinct?
Coming from a family of 10 kids, desserts were quite a luxury and often triggered family food fights. Like many kids, the gold standard for us was the Twinkie. My sister Sue devised an ingenious plan to corner the market on family desserts: She would volunteer to do the grocery shopping for mom. She then [...]
The torch — or wheel — is passed
I’ve spent the last six months teaching my 16-year-old daughter how to drive. And what I’ve learned is that most people with their licenses don’t know how to drive. Sitting next to a rookie at the controls makes you so much more sensitive to the idiots who rule the roads. My biggest pet peeve: tailgaters. [...]
Carrying a torch for Ron Paul
In 2008, Barack Obama inspired young people around the nation with his message, charisma and historical narrative. And now the torch has been passed. In 2011, young people are stampeding to the candidacy of… Ron Paul??? At an Occupy Wall Street event, I was besieged by a group of Paul supporters, who were badgering me [...]
