Columnists

Many political observers were surprised by the success of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. This is an instance of the proverbial “chickens coming home to roost.” Republican politicians have grown fond of telling their constituents, “You can’t trust Washington.” This paved the way for Trump, the ultimate outsider. -more-

My wife and I were privileged to go on a number of African safaris in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, and even Zimbabwe. We watched animals; we did not shoot them except with a camera. We went on each safari in an open land rover. The animals in the game reserve are so used to land rovers, we could drive within a few feet of animals with little or no notice. -more-

Psychosis, in the mind of the person suffering from it, has its own defense mechanisms, much as there are cancers or communicable diseases that have built-in defenses. The psychotic disorder grabs hold of the ego of the individual, and causes the person to defend his or her delusional beliefs with the same defenses that would ordinarily work in our favor, defenses that ordinarily would give us fortitude and persistence. -more-

A White House Conference is a national meeting sponsored by the Executive Office of the President of the United States with the purpose of discussing a topic of importance to the American public. It is typically created by specific legislation. Some conferences last for a day, others for several. Typical attendees include experts in the particular field, community leaders, advocates and citizens with an interest in the issue. The President usually speaks to a conference general session. The conference concludes by issuing a report to the President summarizing and making recommendations for executive or legislative action. The First Lady has sometimes hosted White House conferences. -more-