Political discourse

Ann Coulter and the Politics of Hate

by Bill Brenner August 14, 2012 Political discourse

Of all the political commentators out there, I think Ann Coulter and her politics of hate best illustrate why I’ve come to hate politics. I don’t dislike Coulter because she’s conservative. There are many conservative voices out there that I admire. I dislike her because everything that comes from her mouth is coated in vitriol. One example that has always stood out is this interview she did with self-proclaimed right-wing blogger John Hawkins. Some could…  [Read More]

America’s Struggle Through Puberty

by Bill Brenner August 7, 2012 Political discourse

In yesterday’s post, “It’s the End of American Dominance and I Feel Fine,” I suggested that it’s no big deal if America is no longer number one. But if it’s no longer the top dog, what is it? America is like a confused, emotionally exhausted child trying to find itself. Mood music: [spotify:track:0oO29Ht2H9AiENqRsq3zIT] My friend Dave Marcus offered this reaction to yesterday’s post: Not so sure I fully agree with the tone. I think its…  [Read More]

It’s the End of American Dominance, and I Feel Fine

by Bill Brenner August 6, 2012 Political discourse

America is a nation in economic decline. But that reality isn’t necessarily a bad thing. My friend Larry Walsh said on Facebook yesterday: What neither Obama or Romney is telling us is the world we’ve known for the past 70 years is over and not coming back. Both parties are trying to control the decline of the U.S. standard of living long enough to avoid having to take responsibility. Pathetic. Mood music: [spotify:track:4e9eGQYsOiBcftrWXwsVco] It’s an…  [Read More]

Chick-fil-A Controversy: Free Speech or Corporate Irresponsibility?

by Bill Brenner August 3, 2012 Political discourse

Let’s take a short quiz: The controversy over Chick-fil-A’s president opposing gay marriage is a matter of: First Amendment rights Corporate irresponsibility Both None of the above Mood music: [spotify:track:1fU41e5cCCeZddm0Lk8WnJ] If you ask me, the answer is either C and D, depending on your political and social sensibilities. Yesterday I wrote that I don’t really care about the controversy because I don’t eat at Chick-fil-A and the story looked more like one of political grandstanding…  [Read More]

I Don’t Give a Chick-fil-A

by Bill Brenner August 2, 2012 Political discourse

A lot of people have been pissed off at Chick-fil-A lately. Some are outraged that the restaurant chain’s president, Dan Cathy, came out against gay marriage. Others are outraged because a guy can’t make a social stand without people taking it out on his poultry. I wasn’t going to write about it because, well, I don’t really care. But the noise has gotten too loud to ignore. Mood music: [spotify:track:2KLjwY9kRqYVBAgeYs8FxR] We Americans love to find things…  [Read More]

Playing Politics with the Colorado Massacre Doesn’t Help

by Bill Brenner July 21, 2012 Political discourse

It’s inevitable. It happens every time we see something horrible like yesterday’s movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colo. People take the tragedy and twist it to fit their political tirades. Mood music: [spotify:track:2YWneK5JPbsfYuFMFgEon7] Some people ranted on Facebook that the killer was a registered Democrat and an Obama supporter. Others posted about how right-wingers caused this by suggesting liberals were behind naming the villain in the new Batman movie Bane, to remind moviegoers of all…  [Read More]

Me and My Dysfunctional Twitter Family

by Bill Brenner May 1, 2012 Communication Skills

It feels like Twitter has been with us forever. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s still a relatively new toy we’re learning to use.  I see it as my second dysfunctional family. Mood music: [spotify:track:2eedJzR1h4Nxk7pGhhoJlb] My Twitter house has 3,262 people crammed into it; many from the information security profession. Some of the smartest people I know sit around the kitchen table every day, bantering without ever getting tired. As it is with…  [Read More]

This Should Sadden Boston Bruins Fans More Than Losing

by Bill Brenner April 26, 2012 Communication Skills

Though my home team made the playoffs, I didn’t care. I’m all for the morale boost fans get from winning. Hockey just isn’t my thing. What’s more important to me is how fans conduct themselves, win or lose. Mood music: After the Bruins’ overtime loss to the Capitals last night, some Bruins fans failed in the class department. They gave a black eye to the team and the vast majority of fans who handle defeat gracefully….  [Read More]

Romney’s Lesson: When You Try To Be Someone Else, People Notice

by Bill Brenner March 22, 2012 Communication Skills

This post is about what happens to politicians when they try too hard to be someone else. Mitt Romney is in the thick of it. John McCain was four years ago, as was Al Gore eight years before that. Mood music: It’s not just a problem with politicians. Musicians have fallen in the trap. So have writers. I’ve been there myself. In the desperate search for success and fame — and getting elected — it’s…  [Read More]

Can You Justify Dropping The N-Bomb In Anger?

by Bill Brenner March 19, 2012 Communication Skills

The question in today’s headline should sound absurd to you because it is. There’s never an acceptable reason to use a word that’s so hurtful and hateful. And yet people justify it all the time. Mood music: Last week I pointed out an example: an anti-Obama bumper sticker that said “Don’t Re-nig.” I lamented that racism was alive and well, and the response was interesting. One friend was (and probably still is) angry with me….  [Read More]

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