From day one, the UK has schemed to gain all of the benefits but sustain none of the burdens of EU membership. Specifically, it has used “opt-outs” to remain a veritable island unto itself (e.g., exploiting the single market while denying the free movement of people, which member states are otherwise obligated to allow). I’ve been… Read more.
Archives for June 2016
China’s Paper-Tiger Warnings to US about Dalai Lama and South China Sea
China on Wednesday warned U.S. President Barack Obama against meeting with the Dalai Lama at the White House, saying that hosting the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader could damage mutual trust. Obama has met the Dalai Lama several times before and calls the monk, who is revered by Tibetans but portrayed by Beijing as a dangerous… Read more.
Revealed: Michael Jackson’s pedophile file…
I have written many commentaries lamenting the way Michael Jackson’s antic behavior and pedophile perversions upstaged his songwriting and showmanship. As it happens, my very first commentary was “Michael Jackson’s Jury of His Peers,” February 23, 2005. It includes this cynical but prescient take on his O.J.-style trial on child molestation charges: A jury has… Read more.
Meet Boris Johnson, Britain’s head Brexiter and presumptive prime minister
More Benny Hill than Winston Churchill, no? Whatever the case, he makes buffoonish Donald Trump look … er … classy. Read more.
Brexit: Britain Exits, the Die Is Cast
I couldn’t care any less whether Britain leaves or remains in the EU. But I think the Remainers will carry the day. … The irony seems lost on both sides in this Brexit debate that Britain poses a far greater threat to the EU if it remains. … The EU has 99 problems but Brexit… Read more.
Brexit: Forget Leaving, Britain a Greater EU Contagion if It Remains
Just years ago, Grexit had the European Union reeling with existential angst. Notably, the fear was not that Greece would leave, but that its chronic indebtedness posed too great a communal burden to allow it to remain. Further that bailing out Greece would create a domino effect – with other poor, debt-ridden member states (aka… Read more.
NBA Finals: LeBron Delivers on His Promise to Cleveland, Finally
Whether LeBron James would finally deliver on his promise to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a championship was the overriding story of these NBA finals — with all due respect to their opponents, the defending champion Golden State Warriors and their reigning league MVP, Stephen Curry. The composition of this Cleveland team, as well as… Read more.
Track Officials Ban Russians from Rio Olympics for Doping
Last November, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published a report, which found that Russia perpetrated state-sponsored doping to enhance the performance of Track and Field athletes. It made two major recommendations: The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the sport’s governing body, should suspend all Russian athletes from international competition. The Russian Athletic Federation (RusAF)… Read more.
Think choosing Hillary vs. Trump is lesser of two evils? Think again…
Related commentaries: Orlando shooting massacre… Read more.
‘Hamilton’ and the Triumph of Hip-Hop … on Broadway?
The Tony Awards on Sunday night were a bonanza for Hamilton, as Broadway’s wildly popular hit musical collected an impressive 11 prizes, including the coveted one for best musical. While the results reflected the widespread audience and critical acclaim for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop biography of Alexander Hamilton, they did not quite match the record 12… Read more.