Tom Keane

The Week That Was: Trump Takes Issue With #TakeAKnee, Graham-Cassidy Takes A Turn, The GOP Takes Up Taxes And More

It was the week the White House declared war. On the NFL.

• Solidarity. On Sunday, the National Football League came together as one to defend itself against the provocateur-in-chief’s slew of derogatory tweets. Hmm. The last time the League was so united was when they all agreed Tom Brady was a cheater.
• White House quarterback. Will Donald Trump’s ongoing contretemps with the NFL be his undoing? Nope. Remember, this is the guy who emerged from Charlottesville largely unscathed — indeed, his favorables are about the same now as they were before then. If tacit support for white supremacists didn’t hurt him, mocking well-paid football players won’t either.
• Duh. For some reason, this seemed to be dumb Americans week. A new poll found almost half of all Americans don’t realize Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Another survey found just a quarter of us can name all three branches of the federal government. (In case you’re wondering, the answer to the last is the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.) Celtics guard Kyrie Irving reiterated his claim that the Earth is flat. Oh, and Alabama just nominated for senator a man who thinks 9/11 was a punishment from God.
• Secret ally. That new Senatorial nominee, by the way, is former judge Roy Moore and his victory this week is being read as a major defeat for Trump. Don’t believe it. Trump backed his opponent, Luther Strange, only because the GOP establishment told him to. He wasn’t happy about it and in the closing days of the race made that clear (saying, “I might have made a mistake”). Moore’s win is Trump’s win.
• Silver lining. On the other hand, Moore’s win may also be the country’s win. Moore is so far to the right that — should he defeat his Democratic opponent and become a senator — he’ll only exacerbate the fractures within the GOP. The effect will be to push more moderate Republicans into the arms of moderate Democrats. Centrist government rises again?
• Mayor for life. Boston mayor Marty Walsh must be a happy man. In this week’s preliminary mayoral election, he took 63 percent of the vote to Tito Jackson’s 29. He’s now in a commanding position for the November final. Can he lose? Sure: Scandal or some other epic crisis can always bollix things up. Yet the basic rule of city politics is that — as long as you don’t mess up badly — the job is yours as long as you want it. Predecessor Tom Menino was in office a record 20 years. Only 50 years old, Marty might beat that.
• Making good on their promises. The GOP’s resurrected effort to repeal Obamacare died again this week, seemingly for the last time: After September 30, Senate rules require the affirmative vote of 60 senators (and not just 50). So is Obamacare here to stay? Don’t be so sure. Left unfixed, the flawed law could crater on its own. Trump and Congressional Republicans can undermine it too, from simply refusing to publicize open enrollment periods to blocking further subsidies. And the Senate might just go ahead and change the rules, giving it another shot at repeal and replace. The game, as Sherlock Holmes would say, is still afoot.
• Next up. In the wake of health care’s defeat, Republicans are turning their attention to changing the tax code. Everyone seems to think this is complicated, but I think the formula for success is simple. A good tax system should do three things: (1) Have us pay less in taxes, (2) keep federal spending high, and (3) not increase the federal deficit. I’m willing to compromise on #3. In other words, I want cake, don’t want to pay for it, and am happy to foist the bill off on the next generation. What’s so hard about that?
• Fighting words. North Korea said the U.S. had declared war on it and the U.S. responded by saying it hadn’t. Is our disagreement about this something we now go to war over?
• 280 characters exactly. Twitter is testing allowing users 280 characters for each tweet instead of the current limit of 140. It’s a controversial move, but the company argues it will allow users to express complicated, nuanced thoughts they just couldn’t manage before such as….
• Driving while female. And finally, Saudi Arabia this week became the last nation on earth to allow women to drive. I expect this will provoke a storm of condescending jokes about “women drivers” but in truth insurance companies say it’s men who are the worse drivers. By the way, Saudi Arabia also has the highest auto accident rate in the world. Connect the dots, folks.

This column was first published by Cognoscenti on September 29, 2017.

The Week That Was: More Extreme Weather, More Extreme Rhetoric From Trump, And A Last-Ditch (And Extreme) Effort To Repeal Obamacare

It was the week when a bellicose speech by the president was actually a relief from the natural disasters around us.

• Not a solution. The remnants of Hurricane Jose battered the Cape and Islands while Maria wiped out Puerto Rico. President Trump reassured nervous Americans, panicked by an unprecedented onslaught of destructive storms, by holding firm to his vow to pull out of the Paris climate change agreement.
• Pay now or pay later. An earthquake in Mexico City killed at least 230, but what’s striking is that there wasn’t more damage and death. Videos from the scene showed some buildings swaying but still standing, even as others next to them collapsed. There’s a lesson here — one also seen in Florida, where houses built to newer standards were able to withstand Hurricane Irma: Sometimes regulation is a good thing. Tougher building codes increase upfront costs, to be sure, but they also save lives and property down the road.
• Twit before the world. In his maiden appearance before the United Nations, Trump gave a speech that sounded a lot like an extended series of tweets. You’ve got to hand it to the president: He definitely has more quotable lines than his predecessors: “We will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” “Rocketman,” the Iran “deal is an embarrassment,” and “major portions of the world … are going to hell.” Great stuff. Also, he pointed out that the U.S. Constitution is 230 years old and then called it “timeless.”
• Like the last scene in “Carrie.” Republicans abandoned bipartisan efforts to “fix” Obamacare and at the same time launched a new effort to get rid of it altogether. Unlike last time, this new version may get through the Senate, although its fate in the House is less certain. How did repeal, once thought dead, get resurrected? I blame Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and a host of upstart Democrats who have decided to reject Obamacare and push for single-payer health care. With few defenders from either the right or left, Obamacare’s days seem numbered
• Credulous. Facebook agreed to release political ads placed by Russians seeking to influence the presidential election, ads that were believed by, whom, exactly? The same folks who think they are soon to rake in millions from a Nigerian ex-dictator?
• A day like any other. Boston was abuzz with excitement for next Tuesday’s preliminary city election. Ha! Just kidding. In fact, it’s not clear many even know there’s an election. Four folks are on the ballot for mayor, but incumbent Marty Walsh is so far in the lead — polling 31 points ahead of his closest challenger — he’s refused to participate in even one debate. Incredibly, there aren’t enough candidates to justify an election either for city councilor at large or in five of the city’s nine district council seats. The conclusion Walsh (along with other ensconced pols) would hope we all draw from this? Life is good. So good, in fact, no one wants anything to change.
• Why people mock lawyers. Remember the much-derided Twinkie defense? That was an attempt by lawyers in 1979 to exonerate a client by claiming his consumption of junk foods showed he was depressed. This week we saw its revival, with defense lawyers arguing alleged ISIS terrorist David Wright should get off because he was overweight and lonely. Seems ridiculous. But what most don’t remember is that the Twinkie defense worked; killer Dan White was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder. Wright — a sad sack if there ever was one — may catch a break as well. Even if the weight of the evidence goes the other way.
• Concussed. A new study found that young kids who played football showed signs of significant cognitive impairment later in life. Meanwhile, Boston University has just released a report that Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). These are not good days for football. The evidence against the sport keeps mounting and one wonders when it eventually collapses, brought down by parents simply refusing to allow their children to play the game. Who’s happy about this? Major League Baseball, for one.
• Category killer. Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy and some are bemoaning this as another sign of an Internet-led death of retail. Hardly. The company was brought down by billions of dollars of debt layered on it by prior investors. And remember that Toys “R” Us was itself a killer of retail, wiping out the mom-and-pop toy stores that once dotted Main Streets. A prediction: Internet sales will continue to rise but the losers will be the big-box stores. Mom and pops, offering services and immediacy unavailable from anywhere else, will rise again. Karma.
• Mom and dad win one. And finally, researchers in the journal Child Development reported that today’s teens are putting off adult activities. They drive less, don’t drink as much, and delay dating and sex. They also hang out with their parents a lot more and go out alone far less frequently. In other words, they’re doing exactly what we’ve been telling them to do. Of course, they’re also less likely to work for pay and live on their own. There are downsides to everything.

 This column was first published by Cognoscenti on September 22, 2017.

The Week That Was: Irma Proves Unpredictable, Trump Makes A Deal ... Or Not, Single-Payer Stages A Comeback And More

It was the week when Donald Trump became serious and bipartisan. Maybe.

• At least we got lucky. The good news about Hurricane Irma was that it wasn’t as bad as it might have been. The bad news about Irma is that statement only applies to Florida. Caribbean islands such as Antigua, St. Maarten and the Virgin Islands were nearly wiped out.
• Dreamworld. In the wake of Harvey and Irma, here’s a thought on global warming. Let’s all agree it’s fake. But let’s act as if it’s real: cut carbon emissions, harden seawalls, change construction codes, and so on. That way, when the next fake storm comes along, we’ll be ready — for real.
• Stranger bedfellows. A week after cutting a deal with the Democrats on near-term funding of the government, Trump may have this week cut a deal on DACA — the executive order giving a reprieve to the “Dreamers.” Or at least, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer thought they had a deal. But Trump is now saying maybe not. Perhaps Pelosi and Schumer are beginning to understand just how Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell feel.
• Mister Unpredictable. Does Trump’s rapprochement with Democrats signal a new course for the White House? One early take on the man was that he was a pragmatist. If so, his most recent moves may be a sign he’s returning to those roots. I suspect not though. Trump is more of a provocateur. He likes to disarm folks, needle them, upset them, and leave them uncertain about what it is he’ll do next. The only long-term alliance he’ll ever have in Washington will be with himself.
• Sixteen years later. The president led the country in a dignified, solemn remembrance of 9/11. For most presidents, that wouldn’t be a story. For this president, it is.
• Repeal and replace. Led by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, top Democrats announced their support for single-payer healthcare -- Medicare for All -- because they too, apparently, want to get rid of Obamacare. The GOP must be thrilled to have a new set of allies.
• Snack food dilemma. A new nutrition study (and it has to be true, because it appeared in the New York Times) says that high carb intake is associated with high mortality while high fat intake is associated with lower mortality. My head is spinning. One day, I’m happily munching on my Cheetos. The next, it’s back to pork rinds.
• As long as they’re union jobs. Cities across America perked up with delight at the prospect of Amazon building a second headquarters employing perhaps 50,000. Boston is clearly in the mix and the mayor is enthused; expect him soon to start trotting forth all sorts of celebrities and business figures proclaiming the city’s merits. Likely not among the endorsees? The cast and crew of "Top Chef."
• Samsung knock-off. Apple is a lot like Trump. The then-candidate once declared that his followers were so blindly loyal that he could shoot someone while on Fifth Avenue and they wouldn’t care. The same is true with the Apple-ytes. The company unveiled a host of new products this week to mostly tepid reviews. No matter. When they go on sale, there will be lines around the block.
• Plain meaning. U.S. officials partially blamed Tesla’s Autopilot for a fatal crash last year in Florida while the company said the driver should not have been using the feature. The technology, the company explained, is really just a mix of “driver assistance features” and Autopilot “is not a fully self-driving technology.” Excuse me? It’s called “Autopilot,” right? You know that thing called the “steering wheel”? If it didn’t turn the wheels, then we wouldn’t call it a “steering wheel.” Sorry, Tesla. Words matter.
• Я вижу вас. The feds this week banned the use of Kaspersky computer security software in all U.S. agencies’ computers. The company’s U.S. operations are based in Woburn, but it's headquartered in Russia and allegedly has ties to the Russian government. Kaspersky also happens to be the anti-virus software I use, which means, I guess, there’s only two degrees of separation between Trump, Putin and me. Scary.
• 140 characters. And finally, the founder of Twitter denounced social media such as Twitter itself for helping to “dumb the entire world down” by fostering a culture of simplistic ad hominem attacks instead of reasoned discourse. What an idiot.

 This column was first published by Cognoscenti on September 15, 2017.

The Week That Was: A New Class Of Hurricanes, DACA Dreams Dashed, Trump Sides With Dems And More

It was the week when we cleaned up from one hurricane, waited for another, and immigrants and Republicans faced storms of their own.

• Fake science (redux). Even as drowned Texas started to clean up, Hurricane Irma came roaring towards Florida. With two more in the waiting — Jose and Katia — this is turning into the season of dread. I know: Weather is so complicated that you can’t ever say with certainty that any one storm is due to climate change, just as you can’t say that any one pedestrian crossing a lawn is the one who kills the grass. Nevertheless, the grass is dying.
• Cold shoulder. Donald Trump spent the first few months of his presidency issuing a series of executive orders remaking policy on everything from immigration to business regulation. But then when it comes to the so-called Dreamers — given a haven in the United States via Barack Obama’s executive order on Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — suddenly the president turns all principle-ly on us. “We are a nation of laws,” Trump said, decrying DACA as an “end-run around Congress.” OK, yeah, but all of Trump’s other executive orders were end runs around Congress too. Principles are great things but they are only principles if you apply them in a principled way.
• Kicking the can. Trump’s ending of DACA certainly played well with his base and has scared the bejeezus out of a lot of folks whose only home is the U.S. But it’s not clear Trump — or the GOP — is really serious about this. People should “rest easy” about DACA’s repeal, said speaker Paul Ryan. And Trump said if Congress doesn’t act on DACA then he’ll “revisit” his repeal. But wait. Wouldn’t that require another executive order? And isn’t that exactly the kind of “end run” Trump opposes?
• Comeback kids. As everyone knows, the national Democratic party is in disarray, riven against itself, a minority in both houses (as well as in most states). So how is it that this week the Democrats were suddenly running the show? Trump deferred to Dems — and rebuffed the GOP leadership — by agreeing to just a three-month extension of funding for the U.S. government. Granted, it sounds a little arcane, but the point is the Democrats are now giving themselves another bite at the apple. Come mid-December, they’ll be in the position of being able to dictate terms on a host of issues — including tax reform. The Republicans and the president just got played by Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. Man, those liberals are smart!
• How "With Her" withered. In her hotly anticipated, soon-to-be-released memoir of the 2016 campaign, Hillary Clinton reportedly assumes full and total responsibility for her loss by blaming everyone else.
• Belichick’s heirs. Sign-stealing is a well-established part of baseball. It’s legal cheating. But as the Red Sox are discovering, cheating is OK only as long as you don’t do it really well. The team has now admitted to a claim by the Yankees that it used technology — Apple watches — to more effectively steal signs. First off, thanks a lot guys for adding to Boston’s cheating reputation. Second, this is an easy fix. The problem is the antiquated way a catcher will signal to the pitcher — through a series of elaborate finger waggings that sometimes, let’s face it, looks very NSFW. So why not just give catchers and pitchers earpieces so they can talk to each other? Cheating problem solved. And by the way, it’s an idea that originated with … you guessed it … the Yankees.
• Maguire’s baby. Labor Day came and went with many a barbeque but little consideration of the day itself. Granted, these Monday holidays are given pretty short shrift. Still, on Presidents’ Day, most of us allow at least a passing thought to George and Abe while we’re off shopping for some extraordinary holiday deal. But our thoughts on Labor Day? Summer’s over.
• Losing my religion. A new survey found that those who identify as both white and Christian are now less than 50 percent of the U.S. population. And as for the percentage of the population that actually acts Christian? Much, much lower. And many of them, it turns out, aren’t Christians at all.
• Unless the company is paying. And finally, airline travelers love to whine on about cramped conditions and poor service. But it turns out Bombardier aircraft designed to address these issues — with better seats, quieter engines and more bin space — are selling poorly. Why? Because a seat on one will be a tad more expensive and air travelers buy based on a single guiding factor: Price. Complaining, it turns out, really is cheap.

This column was first published by Cognoscenti on September 8, 2017.

The Week That Was: Harvey Hammers Texas, Tests Trump's Mettle And More

It was the week when something bad happened and it wasn’t Donald Trump’s fault.

• Silver lining. The White House expected the week to be full of disapproval and criticism of Trump’s pardon of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Then a miracle occurred: Hurricane Harvey arrived. Arpaio who?
• Raindrops keep falling (extended version). Harvey hammered the Gulf Coast for days, dropping an unprecedented amount of rainfall — up to 52 inches in some places. It’s a good thing climate change is fake. Otherwise, it might have been a really bad storm.
• Flat Earth Society. Speaking of which, conservatives attacked the media and left-wing nuts — otherwise known as scientists — for “politicizing” Harvey by pointing out that extreme storms are exactly the kind of event predicted by climate change research. The conservatives misunderstand the difference between science and politics. Science is when a physicist tells you a ball thrown towards you on a certain trajectory will hit you in the head. Politics is deciding not to throw the ball, throw it elsewhere, or even to move your head. Climate change is the trajectory. Politics is what we decide to do about it.
• Trump triumphant. Presidents in trouble often find reprieve in foreign wars or natural disasters. They can blow it, of course: George W. Bush messed up mightily with Hurricane Katrina. Donald Trump, on the other hand, most certainly did not blow it. He looked concerned, sounded empathetic, and made sure federal resources were deployed rapidly. There were some missteps (such as exulting in the size of the crowd that greeted him when he landed in Texas to inspect the storm’s impact) but, on balance, the horror that was Harvey made for Trump’s best week ever. His approval ratings will likely rise. And the White House (unless undermined by another off-point presidential tweet) might well be able to take this success and use it to start repairing relations with Congress and kickstart priorities such as tax reform.
• Hypocrisy. Texan pols, such as Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, voted against relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy but are now finding that maybe — when it happens to be your ox being gored — government can do some good after all. Washington, DC, really isn’t the enemy. On occasion, in fact, it can be your salvation.
• The perfect companion for your organic marijuana. Frito-Lay is now thinking that it may able to start selling its new line of Organic Doritos in Amazon-owned Whole Foods. This, I think, encapsulates perfectly what’s wrong with the organic movement. Doritos aren’t bad for you because they’re made from, say, GMO corn. They’re bad for you because, well, they’re Doritos.
• Palin, Palin, Palin. A federal judge tossed out Sarah Palin’s defamation suitagainst the New York Times. Palin had argued the Times falsely referred to her in an editorial because the paper knew her last name is classic click-bait and it wanted to boost its readership. Which, of course, is why I just wrote this piece. 
• The latest buzz. Spanish researchers this week said that people who drink four cups of coffee a day have a 64 percent less chance of mortality. And another two cups daily reduces the risk 22 percent more. Immortality for six cups a day! I’m buying stock in Starbucks. And in Sominex.
• Cash grab. MassPort is now exploring one of the dumbest ideas in years: Making us pay to drop off or pick up folks at the airport. The brainchild — if you can call it that — of the otherwise estimable Conservation Law Foundation, it’s reflective of the anti-car animus that possesses some of those who think themselves green. So instead of driving your elderly father to his flight, now what are you supposed to do? Call him an Uber? And when your cousins from the old country come to visit, laden with luggage, do you tell them to take the T? Helping friends and family get to and from their flights should be encouraged as a matter of courtesy, friendship and even love — and not as yet another opportunity to nickel and dime.
• Bad discounts. And finally, in the wake of Harvey, a suggestion: If you’re in the market for a new car and find one cheap, check to see if the carpeting is damp.

This column was first published by Cognoscenti on September 1, 2017.