A Republican-to-Democratic Dictionary

By Daniel Rigney

Here's your handy guide to translating Republican rhetoric into Democratic rhetoric. In each instance we’ll give the Republican term and supply its nearest Democratic equivalent. In some  instances there is no exact Democratic transl… Read full post »

Free Will vs. Constrained Will

By Daniel Rigney

I just had a frightening thought. What if the world were a complex place?

We human beings have a penchant for simplyfing the world in our heads by thinking in simple either/or terms. It’s either this or it’s that. It’s… Read full post »

The Flintstone Fallacy and the Jetsons Fallacy

By Daniel Rigney

Years ago I taught a course called “Future Societies” in which we considered various approaches to studying a subject, the future, that literally does not exist. It will exist, but then it won’t be the future any more… Read full post »

The Data Are In. The Media Are Plural.

By Daniel Rigney

You don’t have to be an old-school grammarian to realize that we should say “the media are,” not “the media is.”  This is not just about grammar, nor is it just a semantic quibble.  This is about how… Read full post »

Nine Possible Future Headlines 

By Daniel Rigney

Exxon-Mobil Declares Religious Objection to Contraception

Brokered G.O.P. Convention Nominates Koch Brothers

New Law Prohibits Historically Inevitable Santorum Puns

South Carolina Secedes from ‘Too Liberal’ Confederacy… Read full post »

Trending Topics of 2013: Valentine Memos?

By Daniel Rigney

Gazing into my crystal screen, I see images that foretell the trending topics of 2013.

Inaugural Swearing In. I foresee that, following the inaugural oath of office in January, Rush Limbaugh and Fox News will excoriate the President… Read full post »

By Daniel Rigney

Republicans are often inclined to romanticize guns and warfare, but not all Republican wars entail the dropping of literal bombs. Some Republican wars are symbolic and metaphorical. In each instance, they call for acts of rhetorical and political aggress… Read full post »

Republicans: The Non-Renewable, Unsustainable Party

By Daniel Rigney

Let’s face it. The Republican Party is running out of energy. It is the party of non-renewable and unsustainable resources.  I’ll bet $10,000 that big coal and big oil are giving more unlimited and anonymous contr… Read full post »

One-Percenters for Obama        

By Daniel Rigney

Because we human beings are generally incapable of complex thoughts, we tend to reduce our thinking, including our political discourse, to simple slogans and clichés. Two of this year’s viral cli… Read full post »

The Case for Hypocrisy

By Daniel Rigney

I rise to speak on behalf of my client, Hypocrisy. Your honor, we will attempt to show that the only people on earth who are never guilty of hypocrisy are those who have no ideals to betray.

Those who do have ideals… Read full post »

The Uncivil War: Blue States vs. Gray States

By Daniel Rigney

Conservative pundit George Will  quotes Newt Gingrich as saying “I’d love to be civil, but my opponent is a maniacal liar.” Gingrich is referring not to President Satan, but to his fellow Republican, Mitt Romney.… Read full post »

My GPS Device, Hal 9000

By Daniel Rigney

My GPS device, Hal 9000, has taken over my car and colonized my brain and body. Behind the wheel, I do whatever Hal tells me to do.

On one level, Hal is my servant. If I say, “Hal, please… Read full post »

 Criticism and Enjoyment

By Daniel Rigney

My question today: Is it possible to criticize an experience (in the faultfinding sense) and to enjoy it at the same time? I don't doubt  it's possible to critique an experience at one moment and enjoy it at another, but can we really do both… Read full post »

Self-Promotion

By Daniel Rigney

I confess to being deeply ambivalent on the whole issue of self-promotion.  Should we toot our own horns? Bang our own drums? Sing our own praises? Or should we practice modesty and humility even in the midst of a capitalist culture that seems to demand… Read full post »

Top Ten Blogger Stereotypes

By Daniel Rigney

As human beings, we think almost entirely in clichés that we pick up from other people who also think almost entirely in clichés. Here are ten of my favorite stereotypical clichés referring to those who choose to communicate to the… Read full post »

Reimagining the Houston Astros

By Daniel Rigney

I've been a mild-to-strong Houston Astros fan since my childhood, when I listened to A.M. broadcasts on my Japanese transistor from the orbital industrial city of Beaumont, 90 miles away.  At that time the team  was called the Houston Colt .… Read full post »

You May Be in an Academic Relationship

By Daniel Rigney

Here are ten signs that you may be an academician in significant relationship with a fellow academician:

1.       Sentences begin with phrases like “I would argue that …” and “There is a… Read full post »

Ask Mr. Knownot About the 2012 Elections

By Daniel Rigney

Once again my imaginary electronic mailbag is overflowing with questions for Mr. Knownot – this time, regarding the 2012 American elections. I’m sorry I can’t answer all of your queries, but here are a few of my favorites:… Read full post »

Republican Party Declares Bankruptcy

By Daniel Rigney

In a surprise press conference this morning from the steps of the Wall Street Journal’s international headquarters, a  Republican spokesman declared the  G.O.P. intellectually and morally bankrupt and acknowledged that its divers… Read full post »

If Politicians Were Professional Wrestlers

By Daniel Rigney

If national politicians were professional wrestlers, what would their theatrical stage names be? I’m just wondering.

Would Barack Obama be “The Great Multiracial Hope”?

Would Hillary Clinton be “The Glass Breaker&… Read full post »

The Percussions of American Life

By Daniel Rigney

Every culture has its percussions, its seasonal beats, its national rhythms. Consider the percussion cycle of a typical year in American culture.

The year starts with a bang in Times Square with the dropping of the ball, the clinking of… Read full post »

Swirled World

By Daniel Rigney

Laura (“Blue in Texas”) recently posted a piece in Open Salon about right-wing demagogue Pat Buchanan and his stubbornly tribalistic view of the world. I responded with a comment that while I think tribalism aptly describes the American past (and the kind… Read full post »

Epistemological Humility.  I’m Just Saying.

By Daniel Rigney

I’m from The Sixties. In the sixties we had catch phrases like “far out,” “outta sight,” “man,” and the timeless “dude.” Far east, man. Out of state, dude. These were the l… Read full post »

Mitt Romney:  Pink Slipper

By Daniel Rigney

Quarter-billionaire Mitt Romney (or “Rich Mitch" to his friends) said today that he’s been worried in the past about being handed a pink slip. Fear of unemployment has been the Bain of his existence.

I’m more concerned about the pi… Read full post »

How Innuendo Works

By Daniel Rigney

Let me be perfectly clear, as President Obama says too often.

I am not saying that Mitt Romney has engaged in intimate relations with Mormons. Neither am I suggesting that Ron Paul makes Calvin Coolidge look like a progressive, nor that Rick… Read full post »