Arlen Specter

Racism controversy surrounds Trump’s latest cabinet appointees.

Kate and Jon Gosselin, and Paul Haggis and Scientology

Americans love dissent as much as they love freedom, and half as much as they love gravy

I have been active in politics for over 30 years. I’ve been on the winning side of some elections and lost some others; I’ve seen the landscape from the mountaintop while exercising power, and gone through the desert while in opposition; I’ve organized leadership campaigns, managed referenda and election campaigns, and have myself run for office. You name it and I have done it. Through it all, I have always felt that what I was engaged in was noble and contributed in a modest way to improving our democratic institutions, so I am concerned when a democracy lacks the proper alternatives to make a wise decision. The US has steadfastly held to a stable two party system. But right now, if I were a Republican in the U.S., I would be worried. Moreover, if I were an American, I would be fearful about the quality of democratic debate in my country.

The U.S. political system is becoming more and more like . . . ours