Author Archives: Mark Valentine
Valentine: Brexit vs. The ‘News’ Media
Five months ago, I wrote about “The End Of Europe” We’e not quite there yet, but the U.K. voting itself out of the E.U. ( Brexit) took us closer. We could talk about what comes next. We can talk about the financial … Continue reading
Valentine: Proving Anything Is a Bad Slogan is Good Challenge
The problem with discussing national politics when you’re from Kansas City is nobody thinks you know much beyond what’s already been said by people in Washington D.C. or New York… However sometimes you need to get a some distance from a problem in order to get … Continue reading
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Valentine: Time to Rethink Capitalism, Kids
Don’t call Bernie Sanders a socialist… The Democratic presidential candidate is a Democratic Socialist. When you try to look that up, you will find that it pretty much only ends up on sites about Bernie Sanders. At first, it seems … Continue reading
Valentine: An American Cliff Hanger
If we shot a picture of the world from the heart of America six weeks into the new year, it would seem like an unlikely scene from a bad movie… In the foreground, the election process is in full swing. … Continue reading
Valentine: Germany & The End of Europe
It’s frightening to watch so much work and political capital go down the drain… The European Union with its single currency and porous borders is facing its demise. The powers that founded this powerhouse are under attack from the guardians … Continue reading
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Valentine: Ho, Ho, Ho!
‘Twas the night before Christmas And all through Crown Center The shops were all closed and it felt just like winter The Mayor’s tree was lit in a holiday glow And the ice rink was empty, but ready to go. … Continue reading
Valentine: Connecting The Wrong Dots
Death comes in threes… A lot of people believe that anyway. They link three deaths together and say, “See? I told you.” Truthfully, the only real thing that usually links those deaths is the person’s beliefs. They connect dots that … Continue reading
Valentine: Local Chef Renee Kelly Debuts on Bravo’s ‘Top Chef’
Kansas City has really good taste… It surprises people when Kansas City comes out on top. Frankly, it even surprises us. So this is fair warning, Kansas City is going to have a Top Chef on The Bravo Network. “Top … Continue reading
Valentine: The Trouble With Judging Historical Figures Out of Context
Ivy League students at Princeton University are protesting… They want Woodrow Wilson’s name removed from university’s buildings. Because the attitudes he had 100 years ago are clearly racist by today’s standards. He was president of Princeton in 1903 and a two … Continue reading
Valentine: Trump Sends a Signal to America
Washington pundits have spent a lot of time talking about Donald Trump… They all seem to agree that his support is based on anger towards the government. They all seem to agree that he’s not a “normal” politician. They all … Continue reading
Valentine: Why Not Follow ALL the Money?
Count the money and make the money count… Every American must submit an annual accounting. Every American is susceptible to an audit with the threat of a penalty. That is our system. We talk about how it needs to be … Continue reading
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Valentine: The Clear & Present Threat of Jack-O-Lanterns
Here’s a serious warning from the U.S. Department of Energy… Jack-O-Lanterns are contributing to global warming. Sound like a bad Halloween joke? of course it does. And while most of us wonder who sets priorities for this Federal Department, some … Continue reading
Valentine: Diogenes 2015
The Rolling Stone story about a brutal campus gang rape turned out to be false… As it unravels, more reporters are saying how easy it would have been to find this out before they made the accusations that caused so much … Continue reading
Posted in Mark Valentine
Tagged Affordable Care Act, Diogenes, don't shoot, Ferguson, Hands up, Mark Valentine, Rolling Stone magazine
66 Comments
Valentine: Double Edged Logic
From President Obama‘s first day in office to the current news cycle, Democrats have accused anyone who disagrees with his policies as being racist… This week, Dick Durbin, the second highest ranking Democratic member of the Senate, called Republicans racists from the senate … Continue reading
Valentine: Our Hope Lost
A mostly White America elected its first black president… Remember the term “post-racial?” It was our hope. Six years later, racial tensions are higher than before President Obama took office. “Hands up. Don’t shoot.” It has become a national protest slogan … Continue reading
Valentine: Kansas City 5th Worst Run City in America
Kansas City just made it to another Top Cities in America list… Wallet Hub has declared KC as the 5th worst run city in the country. They judged 65 of the most populated U.S. cities on three key expenditures. The … Continue reading
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Tagged Calvin Coolidge, KC mayor Sly James, Mark Valentine, Wallet Hub
12 Comments
Valentine: Netanyahu Visit Unmasks Petty Congressional Politics
Who do they really represent ? Washington was abuzz over Israel prime minister Netanyahu. He came to speak against the deal with Iran. He was invited by the Congress, not the White House. And his speech contained elements that were stark and … Continue reading
Posted in Mark Valentine
Tagged Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Mark Valentine, Netanyahu, President obama
32 Comments
Valentine: Cowardly Cartoonist Cheap Shots Republicans
It’s hard to talk politics… Somebody will not like you forever. And what you can get away with saying among friends is different than the things you might say around strangers. For example, never make your political opinion obvious in a … Continue reading
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Tagged Carriage Club Kansas City, Charlie Hebdo, Isis, Lee Judge, Mark Valentine
28 Comments
Valentine: Dear Activist
Dear Activist, I don’t have much interest in political movements and science blended together. Politics and the desire for public money corrupts science. It’s not much different now than when The Pope declared the earth to be flat and anyone who … Continue reading
Posted in Mark Valentine
Tagged climate change, Global warming, Going green, Mark Valentine
7 Comments
Valentine: Chocolate Ale Season Sweeping the Cowtown
Kansas City has any number of annual events that are anticipated by anxious fans… The list is impressively long, which makes for a great town. The Royals season opener, Plaza Lighting, American Royal, St. Patrick’s Day Parade all make that list. And there’s a new … Continue reading
Posted in Mark Valentine
Tagged Boulevard Beer, Chocolate Ale, Christopher Elbow, Mark Valentine
8 Comments
