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These Are Not Normal Times. And That’s Why We Need to Elect Chris Rabb

  By 2026 Congressional Election, Congress, Elections, Politics

THESE ARE NOT NORMAL TIMES. AND THAT’S WHY WE NEED TO ELECT CHRIS RABB TLDR; This country is in a deep crisis. We need bold leaders in the Democratic Party with a different vision for the future. No freshman member of Congress with no seniority is going to play a major legislative role. But AOC showed us that a new member with a talent for publica advocacy and connections to progressive advocacy groups can help move the country in the right direction. Sharif Street is the best of the establishment. But establishment policies and political practices can’t save us. Chris Rabb promises to be a very different kind of leader who will join with other progressive to give us the best chance to save our republic. THE WHOLE STORY I’ve said a few times that I like and respect Sharif Street very much. In any normal year, I could support… Continue reading

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Rep. Rabb Did The Right Thing Because He is a Politician of Uncommon Integrity and Character

  By Criminal Justice, Elections and Voting

TL;DR: REP. RABB’S CONTROVERSIAL VOTES WERE RIGHT. Rep. Chris Rabb has been criticized for being the sole member of a House committee to vote against legislation directed against trafficking children. But as I explained in this post, he did the right thing. Anyone who knows the history of how the criminal justice system has criminalized poverty and been racist in its outcomes would recognize that these two bills were deeply problematic. And he didn’t just do the right thing. He also took a stand of conscience against legislation that sounds good but isn’t—even though he knew it would cost him politically. I’m even prouder of my support for Rep. Rabb today than I was two days ago. He is a politician of uncommon character and integrity. Chris Rabb is getting pummeled for doing the right thing. Please share this and set the record straight. THE WHOLE STORY Like many of… Continue reading

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Why We Must Resist All War

  By International politics, Just War Theory, Middle East

WHY WE MUST RESIST ALL WAR   My first political cause—back when I was 13 years old—was to end the Vietnam War. (My second was to support a Palestinian State.) There were few protests or marches in my hometown of 5000. I attended an event about Kent State tragedy in 1970. I went to a lot more protests and rallies when I went to college. My first campaign was for George McGovern in 1972 largely because of his opposition to the war. In the spring of 1972, when I was 16,  I ran the field campaign for McGovern in my hometown. We beat the regulars who were supporting Humphrey. (My dad was among the regulars, although he was against the Vietnam War long before I even know what it was about.) And I was among a group of volunteers for McGovern during my first semester of college that fall. During… Continue reading

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Chris Rabb for US Congress

  By Elections, Politics

For the last ten years, I’ve mostly not endorsed candidates in Democratic primaries. The organization I headed, Pennsylvania Policy Center (PPC), prohibited staff members from making such endorsement. Having left the organization in February, I am now free to make such endorsement. And it gives me great pleasure that the first candidate for Congress I can endorse is Chris Rabb who is running for Congress in the 3rd district. Before telling you whyt I support Chris, I also want to note that if Chris were not running, I would enthusiastically support Sharif Street. Sharif and I got to know each other when we both ran and lost in the primary race  for Council at Large in 2007. I came to admire him then. And I’ve admired his work as a State Senator and worked closely with him during the last ten years. Sharif is a progressive Democrat. But I support… Continue reading

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Obedience is Never the Right Response in America

  By Resisting Trump, US

I am seeing one comment after another from right wing men who say that Renee Good and Alex Pretti would be alive if they only “obeyed.” This is not only the wrong response it is an un-American response. In America, we don’t and shouldn’t blindly obey. We vindicate our rights only by exercising them, which means: We speak out, we ask questions, we reject orders from people with no authority to issue them and especially when those orders are contrary and confused. And even when we are wrong, government has to respect our rights and humanity by only acting with violence when absolutely necessary to protect someones life. And that was not the case when Good and Pretti were killed. And, in contemporary America, women don’t and shouldn’t blindly obey men. Women can only vindicate their equality by rejecting the demand to obey. And decent men respect women who do… Continue reading

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Pennsylvania’s Choice: The Coming Fiscal Crisis Presentation

  By Penn Policy Center, Presentation

Originally published at Pennsylvania Policy Center on January 9, 2026. Continue reading

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Pennsylvania’s Choice: The Coming Fiscal Crisis in Pennsylvania and What to Do About It

  By Policy Paper

Originally published at Pennsylvania Policy Center on December 10, 2025. December 8, 2025 VIEW IN A PDF READER. The Coming Fiscal CrisisDownload Continue reading

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Is Albert King The Source of Clapton’s Crossroads Riff?

  By Music

Who knows Albert King’s music really well and can help me answer this question? Cream’s 1968 version of Crossroads uses the identical riff that Albert King uses in the tune For The Love of a Woman (except for the last bars) which he first recored in 1971 for the album Lovejoy. I can’t find an earlier version of that tune. But considering how often Clapton borrowed riffs and solos from King I would be surprised if King took a riff from Clapton rather the other way around. It’s not unusual for bluesmen to reuse a riff in different tunes. So does anyone know an earlier Albert King recording that uses this riff. (There is just a hint of the riff in both of Johnson’s recording of Crossroads. But his accompaniment is far more complicated, varied and subtle than the King / Riff. ) Continue reading