"Over the years, people have asked me, 'Do you think Donald Trump is a Russian asset?' I do not think so. But he's obviously an asset to Russia." Let me spend a couple of minutes on the distinction.

I ask my friends with a cross around their neck, an American flag on their lapel, and “civilization” on their lips: What say you of this?

I think it was Max Eastman who said, “Stipulate that they are not agents of the Kremlin. If they were, how exactly would they behave differently?”

Have you ever noticed that a great many men with a cross around their neck look for their masculine and human ideal everywhere but … you know …

The trajectory of the GOP and the American Right is perfectly illustrated in Marco Rubio (and Mike Lee). My view in a nutshell: If you’re gonna become a nat-pop, like every other dolt on the block, just do it. And spare me the Greco-Roman veneer.

The Republicans around me absolutely pounded Merkel for her purchase of Russian gas (rightly, in my view). When Orbán did the same, after Putin's full-scale invasion, they were quiet. I expect them to be equally quiet with regard to Donald Trump.

Bill Buckley and Lane Kirkland (the AFL-CIO chief) had a wonderful, teasing relationship. "How's socialism?" Bill would say. Kirkland would answer, "How's Wall Street?" Today's Right seems closer to Kirkland -- without that good man's anti-communism and patriotism.

It’s as though some combination of Henry Wallace and John Gotti had gotten himself elected president.

Notice that these Republicans — these “conservatives” — never ask Putin’s evil dictatorship to stop bombing, stop murdering, innocent men, women, and children. Our government is a disgrace. Our nation is shamed.

Young people will have to believe me: We Republicans used to laugh our hineys off when Democrats, asked about reducing the debt and deficit, said, “Waste, fraud, and abuse.” “You’re not serious!” we said. “Man up and deal with entitlements!” Good times …

Cooperstown, it isn’t. But the game — handball — is a noble, excellent one.

May I give you a definition of "having your cake and eating it too"? I know people who want Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, so as to have a check on the executive, which does not currently exist, and who want the Senate majority to be without Abdul El-Sayed.

"THE ENEMY!," says our president, about citizens who do not conform to his latest linguistic decree. It's been a while since I took civics (9th grade). But, in my understanding, America is not like this -- not supposed to be.

Sincere question: Can anyone defend this?