• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

JON ZAL

  • Home
  • Ye Olde Blog
  • About Me
  • Contact Me

Politics

David Letterman’s interview with Barack Obama & John Lewis will remind you why we must fight on

January 15, 2018 2 Comments

At one point during his hour-long interview with David Letterman, Barack Obama offers some reasoned and detailed remarks about the global economy, at the conclusion of which Letterman responds by saying, “To hear you describe this in a way that I can understand just makes me so happy you’re still president.”

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, John Lewis

Here’s the thing: A Trump presidency—or one like it—was inevitable

January 3, 2018 4 Comments

Embed from Getty Images

The most compelling stories often are those that feature a deeply unlikable villain against whom the forces of good must rally, and when the ink dries on this chapter in American history, the record will show that Donald Trump was that villain. His vulgarity knows no bounds, his incompetence and unfitness for the office he holds are unprecedented, and his utter lack of anything even vaguely resembling the empathy, gravitas, dignity or humility a man in his position should possess makes him an easy and highly deserving target of our collective rage and resistance. As awful as he is, however, Donald Trump is not the sum total of that against which we now must fight; he is merely the most glaring symptom of a larger malignancy. To wit:

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Politics

We’re better than this

November 9, 2017 8 Comments

After spending the day in and around many of Washington, D.C.’s most historic buildings and seeing in action some of the Senators I most admire, I felt compelled to visit the National Mall—the Lincoln Memorial, in particular. I don’t know why; I just knew I needed to see it.

Lincoln Memorial

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Politics

Mr. Zal goes to Washington

October 24, 2017 3 Comments

Jon Zal @ The Capitol

Last Thursday, I spent the day in Washington, D.C., shadowing a colleague (a.k.a. my sister) on the Hill while she met with aides at the offices of several Democratic and Republican Senators. It was my second-ever trip to our nation’s capital, and my first since becoming an overly obsessed political junkie … so, naturally, I was a bit awed by my surroundings.

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Politics

Guns aren’t dangerous, the NRA doesn’t own the Republican party, and other lies

October 12, 2017 4 Comments

Last week, in the immediate aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in modern history, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) went on television and defended civilian ownership of the AR-15, a military-style assault rifle that the Las Vegas shooter used to kill 59 people and injure more than 500. Cole—one of many Republican Congressmen who, not coincidentally, has received thousands of dollars from the National Rifle Association—argued that the weapon is not dangerous “when used appropriately.”

During U.S. Army basic training, I was taught the appropriate use of the M-16, the military’s fully automatic version of the semi-automatic AR-15. I distinctly recall the description that the other trainees and I received of what the bullets our weapons fired were capable of doing to the human body.

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Guns, NRA, Wayne LaPierre

Why this veteran is taking a knee

October 8, 2017 23 Comments

Recently, I tweeted this:

I was a Military Police K-9 handler. I reject police brutality & support peaceful protest.#TakeTheKnee #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/ILB3YRkGi0

— Jon Zal (@OfficialJonZal) September 25, 2017

I have more to say about it than a tweet will allow. Here goes.

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Politics, Uncategorized

I was wrong; Trump’s going to do this the hard way

August 8, 2017 8 Comments

Embed from Getty Images

One of Donald Trump’s biggest problems — and, granted, they are legion — is his utter inability to say “I was wrong.” I, on the other hand, never pass up an opportunity to publicly flog myself … and so, without further ado:

I was wrong.

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Trump

Trump’s presidency is almost over

May 17, 2017 6 Comments

Embed from Getty Images

Remember when I wrote the following words back in February?

Donald Trump’s presidency is going to end badly. In just three short weeks, he has made Nixon, the most disgraced president of the modern age, look like an Eagle Scout. Do not doubt for a second that there is a long and ugly fall in Mr. Trump’s future.

Now, I am not the type of person to say “I told you so,” but … oh, who am I kidding?

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Trump

Good news, everybody! Things are looking up … for CEOs.

March 14, 2017 Leave a Comment

Embed from Getty Images

Earlier today, Donald Trump tweeted this:

The average #MAGA voter, I’m sure, welcomed this latest missive from Dear Leader with a hearty “Hell yeah!” … but, according to the article included in the “so-called” president’s tweet, the people who are feeling particularly optimistic about Trump’s America are not your average #MAGA voters:

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Politics

The argument against universal healthcare is bullshit. Here’s why.

March 10, 2017 1 Comment

Embed from Getty Images

Let’s be clear: The American Health Care Act — the legislative turd that Paul Ryan desperately wants you to believe is a thoughtful and compassionate fix for America’s healthcare system — is actually an all-out assault on the most vulnerable among us, and its primary purpose is the same as almost all legislation championed by the Republican party: To make rich people richer.

Read the rest »

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Congress, Healthcare, Paul Ryan

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to page 5
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Top Posts

  • An Open Letter of Apology to President Barack Obama
    An Open Letter of Apology to President Barack Obama
  • The long-overdue "Avengers: Endgame" review that literally no one has been waiting for. You're welcome.
    The long-overdue "Avengers: Endgame" review that literally no one has been waiting for. You're welcome.
  • There must be a reckoning
    There must be a reckoning

Subscribe

Enter your email address to receive a notification when I publish a new post. (I will never spam you.)

ABOUT ME

Jon Zal @ The Capitol

I was born in 1970, raised just outside of Boston, and now live near Philadelphia. As a child, I thought I was going to be…
Read the rest »

Follow Me

  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Recent Comments

  • RUTH FEIERTAG on There must be a reckoningJon, I could not agree more. You point to two of the most dangerous aspects of the last four years:...
  • Jon Zal on We did itThanks for the continued support, Robert. Always appreciate it! (And, yeah, meeting John Lewis will always remain an incredible memory,...
  • Jon Zal on We did itAgreed, Geoffrey. The Georgia win is huge. I didn't even let myself hope we'd get both seats. An unbelievably welcome...
  • Jon Zal on We did itI feel your pain, Christinne! Glad you found me. Thanks for writing! -JZ
  • Jon Zal on We did itHi, Ruth. Both the kiddos are very happy about the election outcomes, and horrified by what happened Wednesday. I share...
  • robertleepotter500 on We did itI so love that picture of you with Congressman John Lewis. What a lifetime memory! You are putting your words...
  • christinne on We did itI'm a newbie... So glad I found you!! Can't wait to read more but this has been/is the worst day...
  • Ruth Feiertag on We did itJon, I hope we can recover from the damage this administration and its supporters have wrought. I also hope your...
  • Geoffrey Dix on We did itAnd now it appears that Georgia has handed Biden the Senate as well. I believe Democrats will manage this advantage...
  • Erika T on R.I.P. E.V.H.This had me in tears.. I've been a fan for years & have been surprised at how much his death...

Archives

TWITTER

Unable to load Tweets

Follow

Search

Instagram

Lots of losses this year, but I hope you’re find Lots of losses this year, but I hope you’re finding joy this holiday season. Wishing you & yours a safe, healthy & rockin’ 2021. 🎅🏻🎄🎸🥁
My indoor/outdoor tree game is strong, y’all. 
🎄💪🏻
Thanks for getting it right, America. 🇺🇸🤘 Thanks for getting it right, America. 🇺🇸🤘🏻
Pre-gaming for Sammy Hagar’s (virtual) Birthday Pre-gaming for Sammy Hagar’s (virtual) Birthday Bash, as one does. 

I was at Sammy’s 50th Birthday Bash back during my Van Halen-gig days. Three nights at the @cabowabocantinacabo. It was epic. Now I’M 50. How the hell did that happen so fast?

Looking forward to seeing Sammy & Michael play some VH while I pour one out for Eddie Van Halen. 

Happy Birthday, Sam!

👊🏻🤙🏻🍹🏝
Just voted for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and a who Just voted for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and a whole bunch of down-ballot Dems.

Make sure you #vote!
#ivoted 🇺🇸
Link to full tribute in profile. R.I.P. E.V.H. Link to full tribute in profile. 

R.I.P. E.V.H.

“You see, to those of us who fell in love with them in our youth, Van Halen has always been more than just a band, their songs have always been more than just music, and Eddie has always been more than just a guitar player; Van Halen was a mood, a lifestyle, a rallying cry, the musical accompaniment to which lifelong friendships were forged, and the soundtrack to some of the best times we’ve ever had.”

#eddievanhalen #ripeddievanhalen #ripevh #vanhalen
Follow on Instagram

© 2006–2021 JON ZAL / Contact Me

JZ logo

Twitter / Instagram