The prospect of a second American Civil War has been a topic of concern among political analysts and citizens alike, particularly in the context of former President Donald Trump’s actions and rhetoric. While the likelihood of an actual civil war remains low, several factors associated with Trump’s behavior have raised alarms about potential civil unrest. Polarizing Rhetoric and Misinformation Trump’s tenure was marked by divisive…
As America continues to grapple with the legacy of Donald Trump, it has become increasingly clear that the former president and his loyal base are not merely disruptive forces in politics—they represent a deep and troubling erosion of the values that define democratic societies. From spreading baseless conspiracy theories to emboldening hatred, Trump’s rhetoric and actions have left an indelible mark on the American political…
(Editor’s Note: Author Bruce Kauffman died in December 2018 at his home in National City. A longtime journalist with the North County Times at Escondido and San Marcos, and before that CNN, Bruce was born in Massachusetts and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison while taking a BA at Case Western Reserve University and MA at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Locally, he specialized…
Anything following an ellipsis is a friend of mine for the night. It’s code for ‘you didn’t hear it from me, but. … ‘” — Mark Pargas, “A Visit to the Three-Dot Lounge” It’s been over 20 years since famed San Francisco journalist Herb Caen (1916-1997) died. For journalists and San Franciscans, Caen was a superstar. Known as “Mr. San Francisco,” his columns were a…
(Editor’s Note: I plan on publishing my creative writing on a regular basis at The Grapevine as a “public” service, and also to acquaint readers with my accumulated writings that have not seen the light of day. These will be posted under the names of dweissmann or Dean Weissmann for clarity’s sake. Enjoy!) Act begins stage right. A bell rang signifying a change of school…
Tale of the Toppled Hurler: A Peter Hartwell Story by Bruce A. Kauffman c 2017 All rights reserved. For full story, visit: https://escondidograpevine.com/a-the-tale-of-the-toppled-hurler-a-peter-hartwell-story/. Chapter 16 They’ve weathered the crisis at the temple and now Hartwell heads for town to witness the rest of the Yankees’ series. Jimmy drove me to Kenmore Square, where I checked into the hotel and lingered under a hot, needle-point shower until…
Tale of the Toppled Hurler: A Peter Hartwell Story by Bruce A. Kauffman c 2017 All rights reserved. For full story to date, visit: https://escondidograpevine.com/a-the-tale-of-the-toppled-hurler-a-peter-hartwell-story/. Chapter 14 Peter Hartwell at last is in the driver’s seat, having turned the tables so that the fat man becomes his prisoner. They are driving toward Boston. “Would you tune in the Opera Channel?” my passenger said. What with all…
Tale of the Toppled Hurler: A Peter Hartwell Story by Bruce A. Kauffman c 2017 All rights reserved. For full story to date, visit: https://escondidograpevine.com/a-the-tale-of-the-toppled-hurler-a-peter-hartwell-story/. CHAPTER 12 Last we saw, Hartwell’s latest escape attempt was foiled and he was chauffeured by the fat man from Boston to the Donut Depot in the heart of Hartsdale. The fat man is now indulging his tryptophane urgings. The fat…
Tale of the Toppled Hurler: A Peter Hartwell Story by Bruce A. Kauffman c 2017 All rights reserved. For full story to date, visit: https://escondidograpevine.com/a-the-tale-of-the-toppled-hurler-a-peter-hartwell-story/. At last reckoning, another of Peter’s attempts to escape fails. Now the fat man is driving him south toward Braintree in the sleek Infiniti. The radio is on. My host punched in the Opera Channel and sang along as we cruised…
Tale of the Toppled Hurler: A Peter Hartwell Story by Bruce A. Kauffman c 2017 All rights reserved. For full story to date, visit: https://escondidograpevine.com/a-the-tale-of-the-toppled-hurler-a-peter-hartwell-story/. His last adventure saw Peter Hartwell tied up and locked in the back seat of the Fat Man’s Infiniti and about to roll into the Charles River. Russell, the Fat Man’s compadre, shows up at last with a girl in tow….