The Rationalist Papers (29): The story of Joe Biden and Lt. Peter F. Morrison Jr.
|

The Rationalist Papers (29): The story of Joe Biden and Lt. Peter F. Morrison Jr.

Here’s a Biden story I bet you’ve never heard. Joe Biden was US Senator from Delaware starting in 1973. Pretty much from the start of his term, he took the Amtrak train from his home in Delaware to his office in Washington every day. Around 1980, he began to notice a woman who took the…

The Rationalist Papers (28): Trump shtick
|

The Rationalist Papers (28): Trump shtick

I was watching President Trump speak at a rally and I suddenly realized why his performance seemed so familiar, even though his speaking style is unlike any other politician’s. It’s shtick. Just a reminder: these Rationalist Papers posts are for the group I call the deciders: conservatives, moderates, undecided, and third-party voters considering their choices in the…

The Rationalist Papers (25): The Sharpie
|

The Rationalist Papers (25): The Sharpie

Why am I talking about a hurricane map from a year ago when the election is next week? Because it tells you quite a lot about who we’re voting for. Just a reminder: these Rationalist Papers posts are for the group I call the deciders: conservative, moderate, undecided, and third-party voters considering their choices in…

The Rationalist Papers (22): Third-party protest
|

The Rationalist Papers (22): Third-party protest

You may be so unhappy with your major-party choices this year that you are voting for a third party, or not voting at all. Let’s examine what your choice actually means. Why people would rather not choose between Trump and Biden When offered two suboptimal choices, the mind rebels. You think, is there really no…

The Rationalist Papers (21): enemies
|

The Rationalist Papers (21): enemies

Here’s a list. What do these people and things all have in common? ABC, CBS, and NBC. Amazon. The Associated Press. Alec Baldwin. Steve Bannon, former Trump strategist. Glenn Beck, conservative commentator. Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO. Michael Bloomberg, former New York Mayor. John Bolton, former Trump National Security Advisor. George W. Bush, former Republican President….

The Rationalist Papers (20): Analysis of the candidates’ words at the town halls
|

The Rationalist Papers (20): Analysis of the candidates’ words at the town halls

Donald Trump and Joe Biden participated in competing town hall broadcasts last week. I analyzed their speech. Trump talked about himself a lot more, but Biden talked about voters and what he would do for them. Just a reminder: these Rationalist Papers posts are for the group I call the deciders: conservative, moderate, undecided, and…

The Rationalist Papers (19): A cabinet of “the best people”
|

The Rationalist Papers (19): A cabinet of “the best people”

Why does Donald Trump have such difficulty retaining people in leadership positions? In August of 2015, candidate Trump said “I’m going to surround myself only with the best and most serious people. We want top of the line professionals.” Since then, turnover in the most influential positions in the executive office of the President has…