Blog Archives
FBI Director Comey: You’re Fired
Yes, this really just happened.
As is the nature of breaking news, little information is known beyond the firing of FBI Director James Comey by President Trump. However, the very unusual firing of an FBI Director does raise many questions that will be asked relentlessly in the coming days and weeks.
Why did President Trump fire FBI Director James Comey? More specifically, why right now? Why by way of a letter?
For a president who made a past career out of firing people a must-see televised event that included extensive analysis of his reasoning, this firing-by-opaque-letter is very odd.
Seems like a situation for the FBI to investigate.
One Person’s Painful Exit is Another Person’s Helpful Departure
Good? Bad? The right move? The wrong move?
Whatever your view, whether you were for or against Brexit, the historic exit happened and the process of Britain leaving the EU (European Union) continues to unfold. The fascinating dynamic that’s been transpiring in the months that have followed is that the EU still appears to be exuding an air of arrogance and utter disbelief that Brexit was the elective choice of the British people last year.
When votes are cast by the public, there are consequences, both good and bad in a variety of forms. However, many votes in elections (if not all) are cast for specific, passionate reasons. Even proponents of the EU conceded a little bit that the bureaucracy of the governing body needed amending and reform. The simple fact is the EU has not catapulted Europe and its diverse citizenry to the forefront of the globalized world, as many predicted during its inception. The gamble was big and the winnings have been, to a majority of voters in Britain, nonexistent…or perhaps only microscopic.
Some voters prefer to take a scalpel to a problem and surgically fix an issue piece-by-piece. Some voters prefer to take a sledge hammer to a problem to begin knocking down a long-standing institution that’s not working and not getting any better. The macro vs. micro debate, as demonstrated in Britain, the United States of America and other countries around the world, is swinging quite significantly towards the macro solution. This meaning people are leaning towards dramatic, wholesale change versus tinkering with the failing status quo.
To make matters more intense, the recent smugness of the EU not only illuminates their resistance to the reality of its struggling and frustrated European people, but also fuels the strength of the current populist movement well into the future if that reality isn’t understood and resolved with both a scalpel and a sledge hammer.
“…the least painful for the EU.”
–Donald Tusk, President of the European Council
And now the acclaimed and brilliant historian Niall Ferguson with his trademark insight, quick-wit and humility.
Mr. Tusk chose the correct word near the end of his remarks above: painful.
Ironically, that’s actually the word many of the Brexit voters likely felt concerning their working and living situations day-to-day under the failing bureaucratic labyrinth that is the EU.
P.S. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the terrorist attack in London.
Happy Monday!
Tomorrow is the day…
This presidential election has been unusually consumed and driven by negativity and dire forecasts for our future. While it’s true that every election (national, state and local) is competitive and has the potential to get heated, we must figure out ways to overcome the divisiveness by proposing an appealingly positive vision. The reassuring saving grace to remember is that the future isn’t predetermined and, if people are able to bottle their individual energy and ideas into a force for the better, then one of those moments that redefine sciety can happen.
The greatest part of America isn’t the president, but the American people. And if our leaders remember this eternal truth, then our future can be the best of what we the people envision.
For the time between now and election day tomorrow, here’s a reminder of the wonder and happiness that is our world when two completely different beings come together for a moment of sheer joy.
A baby penguin and a zoologist for the win.
Have an Inspired Week!
Our Heads Should Be Full of Dreams
Charlie Chaplin established himself as an actor during the Silent Film Era of the early 20th century, yet his speech from The Great Dictator (1940) should be anything but silenced.
Coldplay had the terrific insight to insert the aforementioned Chaplin speech over the opening minute sequence of the “A Head Full of Dreams” music video. While the music video premiered back in August (featured in a blog), that speech continues to overwhelm in its wisdom and inspiring charge.
In an election season covered by the media (“journalism”) on a relentless basis, we have certainly heard it all from all sides, haven’t we? Interestingly, the speech from The Great Dictator (irony at its highest when you hear the speech) provide us the only things we haven’t heard during this presidential election:
An inspirational, tactful vision for a bright future for everyone.
It may take a fantastical adventure for Mr. Chaplin’s words to reach today’s influential leaders, but it’s worth a shot. Embracing the ingenuity, resolve and promise of the people instead of centralizing control to the powerful few…
Imagine that.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 