David Pancost
@dave11281947.bsky.social
Professor Emeritus, Gallaudet University
Trustee Emeritus, Wabash College
Trustee Emeritus, Wabash College
As Megaphone Mark said, the 70s were a kidney stone of a decade. And I was lucky. Got out of the army in one piece, finished my PhD in 3 years, got a tenure-track job, my wife finished law school & got a better job. But still.
November 11, 2025 at 8:49 PM
As Megaphone Mark said, the 70s were a kidney stone of a decade. And I was lucky. Got out of the army in one piece, finished my PhD in 3 years, got a tenure-track job, my wife finished law school & got a better job. But still.
"Attacks" isn't the right word. "Murder" is the right word.
November 11, 2025 at 8:46 PM
"Attacks" isn't the right word. "Murder" is the right word.
Our 1st mortgage in 81 was 10% owner financed 3 yr balloon. Conventionals were 17-18%. No one wd take a VA bc seller had to pay 8%. Sold 2 yrs later & bought another house w/ a 12% conventional. Thrilled both times.
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Our 1st mortgage in 81 was 10% owner financed 3 yr balloon. Conventionals were 17-18%. No one wd take a VA bc seller had to pay 8%. Sold 2 yrs later & bought another house w/ a 12% conventional. Thrilled both times.
My parents deferred buy a home until they were 40 bc of WW II. I deferred until I was 33 bc of VN & grad school. Your choice; not their choice or mine.
November 11, 2025 at 1:19 PM
My parents deferred buy a home until they were 40 bc of WW II. I deferred until I was 33 bc of VN & grad school. Your choice; not their choice or mine.
Bought 1st house in 81. Interest rates, 17%. No one wld take a VA mortgage bc seller would have to pay 8%. Got seller financing at 10% with three year balloon for small 3 br & was thrilled.
November 11, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Bought 1st house in 81. Interest rates, 17%. No one wld take a VA mortgage bc seller would have to pay 8%. Got seller financing at 10% with three year balloon for small 3 br & was thrilled.
Really? I'm stunned. We need that book. Unless we understand how we got here, I don't see how we get outta here.
November 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Really? I'm stunned. We need that book. Unless we understand how we got here, I don't see how we get outta here.
Trump has a genius for exploiting grievance, resentment, & anger. Can anyone else do that?
November 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Trump has a genius for exploiting grievance, resentment, & anger. Can anyone else do that?
I look forward to your book explaining how we got to Trump. I see the attractiveness of this article's thesis, but I wonder: I grew up in the small town world of Taft Republicanism, it was nothing like Trump. Much more like Ike.
November 8, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I look forward to your book explaining how we got to Trump. I see the attractiveness of this article's thesis, but I wonder: I grew up in the small town world of Taft Republicanism, it was nothing like Trump. Much more like Ike.
To be sure. But what happens if the VP refuses to recognize Dem winners & insists on seating Rep losers? If a bunch of Rep losers show up at the House & insist they really won? Who seats whom?
November 7, 2025 at 5:06 PM
To be sure. But what happens if the VP refuses to recognize Dem winners & insists on seating Rep losers? If a bunch of Rep losers show up at the House & insist they really won? Who seats whom?
The only thing surprising about any of this is that staff objects enough that Roberts' days are numbered.
November 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
The only thing surprising about any of this is that staff objects enough that Roberts' days are numbered.
Well, at least they didn't defend any Nazis.
November 6, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Well, at least they didn't defend any Nazis.
Antisemitism, pure & simple. You can the same sort of bigotry in the German Lutheran community when it's ministers refuse to appear in public with those of other faiths.
November 6, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Antisemitism, pure & simple. You can the same sort of bigotry in the German Lutheran community when it's ministers refuse to appear in public with those of other faiths.
Spanberger is likely to win, but the Dem's AG & LTGOV are as likely to lose as not. If they win & win big, that'll be a huge win.
November 2, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Spanberger is likely to win, but the Dem's AG & LTGOV are as likely to lose as not. If they win & win big, that'll be a huge win.
So do I. The latest poll I found shows it's a toss up
November 2, 2025 at 6:48 PM
So do I. The latest poll I found shows it's a toss up
Law & order & Nixon's secret plan to end the war were determinative. Sadly, he took the secret of that plan to his grave.
November 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Law & order & Nixon's secret plan to end the war were determinative. Sadly, he took the secret of that plan to his grave.
I wonder whether VA's election will be determinative. The LT Gov & AG races are toss ups, in part because the Dem AG candidate has horrible baggage. Will anti-Trump sentiment be enough for the AG & LT Gov races to go Dem?
November 2, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I wonder whether VA's election will be determinative. The LT Gov & AG races are toss ups, in part because the Dem AG candidate has horrible baggage. Will anti-Trump sentiment be enough for the AG & LT Gov races to go Dem?
Koop was amazing. He put his responsibility as doc over his personal religious belief. A completely different world.
November 2, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Koop was amazing. He put his responsibility as doc over his personal religious belief. A completely different world.
Absolutely! The "matter" with KS was that they had other priorities than the author. For a huge number of our fellow citizens, culture war is their priority, & Trump is a genius at exploiting their grievances. But I'm not sure anyone else is.
November 2, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Absolutely! The "matter" with KS was that they had other priorities than the author. For a huge number of our fellow citizens, culture war is their priority, & Trump is a genius at exploiting their grievances. But I'm not sure anyone else is.
Human rights violations or war crimes?
October 30, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Human rights violations or war crimes?
In MD, all the disaster relief was going to go to places which voted for him overwhelmingly. He's punishing his own supporters. And so it goes.
October 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM
In MD, all the disaster relief was going to go to places which voted for him overwhelmingly. He's punishing his own supporters. And so it goes.
The GOP is a hierarchical ideological party; once Trump seized control, everyone either saluted or left. The Dems are a coalition of interests, and they need to compromise if they want to win. It's just that simple.
October 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The GOP is a hierarchical ideological party; once Trump seized control, everyone either saluted or left. The Dems are a coalition of interests, and they need to compromise if they want to win. It's just that simple.
MD is a very very blue state in Baltimore & the DC burbs, but in the mountains & on the Eastern Shore, it's very very red. So Trump's denied aid to the few voters he has in MD.
October 27, 2025 at 4:13 PM
MD is a very very blue state in Baltimore & the DC burbs, but in the mountains & on the Eastern Shore, it's very very red. So Trump's denied aid to the few voters he has in MD.
Well, Trump's gonna fix this problem: he's gonna make sure CNN is owned by one of his supporters. Just as he's bullied the WaPo to support him.
October 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Well, Trump's gonna fix this problem: he's gonna make sure CNN is owned by one of his supporters. Just as he's bullied the WaPo to support him.
I was an NCO from 71-74 & I vividly remember what a hard time young GIs with families had (E4 $263 a month). And then Nixon devalued the dollar & it went from 4DM to 2.5DM & a lot of families had to go home to mama.
October 24, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I was an NCO from 71-74 & I vividly remember what a hard time young GIs with families had (E4 $263 a month). And then Nixon devalued the dollar & it went from 4DM to 2.5DM & a lot of families had to go home to mama.
As Doonesbury aptly put it, the 70s were a kidney stone of decade.
October 24, 2025 at 4:54 PM
As Doonesbury aptly put it, the 70s were a kidney stone of decade.