Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie.

Bully for Christie or, more accurately, Christie’s a bully

Has anyone noticed a particular rhetorical trope being used by our governor, one designed to belittle, demean and demonize his opponents by attributing unsavory motivation to anyone who disagrees? It isn’t just that he and the teachers union are on other sides of the school aid issue, but that they are using students, making them “pawns” in a game of political chess. Opponents are special interests. Opponents are the old guard, defenders of the status quo, etc.

It is a tactic used by most politicians, but there is something particularly aggressive and divisive about the way Chris Christie is using it. Prepare for a particularly ugly four years.

Email me at grassroots at comcast dot net.

Mark Doty reads — a Dodge Festival video that I hope brings you out May 2

Here is a video from the Geraldine R. Dodge Festival Web site of Mark Doty. I pass it along to let people know what kind of treat they will be in for if they come to the South Brunswick Library on May 2.

Email me at grassroots at comcast dot net.

From Greek tragedy to painful reality

The story of Dwight Gooden has gone from sad and tragic to just painful and absurd. The former ace — for a two- or three-year period, he was the best there was — snorted away his great talent, spent several years as a journeyman pitcher before leaving the game and spending time in jail.

He was arrested yesterday on DUI charges, with his kid in the car.

Email me at grassroots at comcast dot net.