NewsBusters Columns

I love definitions because they help focus the mind. For decades, we are said to have been in a culture war. As in any war, it helps to know one's enemy. One online dictionary defines culture this way: “the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.” One secondary definition is under the subheading anthropology: “the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.”

On Monday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (D-N.Y.), sat for a discussion with author Ta-Nehisi Coates. She dropped a number of shocking statements -- statements that elicited nothing but murmurs of agreement from Coates. AOC claimed: “No one ever makes a billion dollars. You take a billion dollars.” How, pray tell, are American billionaires responsible for such massive theft? According to AOC, the very mechanisms of capitalism mandate such theft.

It's nearly impossible to have even a short conversation with a college administrator, politician or chief executive without the words diversity and inclusion dropping from their lips. Diversity and inclusion appear to be the end-all and be-all of their existence. So, I thought I'd begin this discussion by first looking up the definition of diversity.

The impeachment trial of Donald Trump should begin with an indictment of the media. The alleged crime committed by President Trump revolves around his request that the president of Ukraine investigate the shady business dealings of Hunter Biden with a corrupt Ukrainian oil and gas company. That investigation might have been unnecessary had the news media chosen to do what they're supposed to be doing: investigative journalism.

The impeachment trial of Donald Trump should begin with an indictment of the media. The alleged crime committed by President Trump revolves around his request that the president of Ukraine investigate the shady business dealings of Hunter Biden with a corrupt Ukrainian oil and gas company. That investigation might have been unnecessary had the news media chosen to do what they're supposed to be doing: investigative journalism.

While Elizabeth Warren routinely collects applause when citing her gender —  and at this minute is using it to accuse Bernie Sanders of sexism —  The New York Times stepped to the plate to assail The View’s Meghan McCain. Ms. McCain, of course, is these days famous for her co-hosting stint on the ABC show created by Barbara Walters. 

The liberal Guardian covered VaughnGate, arguably the most important news story of the last 48 hours. Actor Vince Vaughn was caught, on camera, meeting President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. That wasn’t all. Vaughn appeared friendly with the Trumps, going so far as to exchange pleasantries during the meeting.

Just ten months ago, Speaker Nancy Pelosi proclaimed that impeachment of Donald Trump would not happen unless “there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan.” The House vote to impeach Trump was the dictionary definition of partisan – not a single Republican voted yes. There is nothing compelling and overwhelming here. But MSNBC and kthe rest of the pro-impeachment media are heavily invested in describing impeachment as wonderful and "almost religious."

Just ten months ago, Speaker Nancy Pelosi proclaimed that impeachment of Donald Trump would not happen unless “there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan.” The House vote to impeach Trump was the dictionary definition of partisan – not a single Republican voted yes. There is nothing compelling and overwhelming here. But MSNBC and kthe rest of the pro-impeachment media are heavily invested in describing impeachment as wonderful and "almost religious."

In 2008, Democrats nominated for president a first-term U.S. senator with no serious legislative experience, Barack Obama. They nominated him over the long-championed, long-celebrated presumptive heir apparent to the Democratic leadership, Hillary Clinton. Obama was, of course, the first black Democratic nominee, and he would be the first black president.