Appalachia is a land of contradictions. It's a crossroads of peoples, and it's an isolated pocket of cultural residue. It is a place and it is a mentality. Appalachia conjures up the most beautiful mountains and valleys, and the most environmentally denuded places in the country. Its signature music - bluegrass - perfectly encapsulates these contradictions. The standard songs … [Read more...] about Canvassing for Obama in Southern Appalachia
Obama Draws Even, More or Less, in Louisiana
Ahead in the polls, and with the Kerry states pretty much wrapped up, including Pennsylvania, Obama has been setting his sights lately on traditionally-red states like Indiana and North Carolina, and even McCain's home state of Arizona. Obama has substantial leads in key battleground states like Virginia, Colorado, and New Hampshire, the race is more or less even in others … [Read more...] about Obama Draws Even, More or Less, in Louisiana
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE LAST WORD–ALMOST
Larry J. Sabato - THE LAST WORD--ALMOST: The Crystal Ball's Next-to-Last Projections for the 2008 Election These are our 2008 election projections as of Thursday, October 30. We will make final adjustments and tweaks on Monday afternoon, November 3, and post them to the website. At that point, we will attempt to call the few remaining toss-ups. We wish everyone the best … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE LAST WORD–ALMOST
The Capitol Steps: Politics Takes A Holiday!
Visit your local NPR station for The Capitol Steps on the Air: Halloween Special. If your station has already broadcast the show, tune in online to a station that has not yet done so. … [Read more...] about The Capitol Steps: Politics Takes A Holiday!
Disgusted Democrats Not Sold On Obama
Polarization abounds in this topsy-turvy, Alice-in-Wonderland campaign season and I am grateful that it will soon be over! I am a U.S. citizen, Democrat, Jew, lesbian-feminist, liberal, pro-choicer and am proud of all of these characteristics. I am, however, disgusted with both Presidential tickets. I prefer John McCain on foreign affairs, the Middle East and national … [Read more...] about Disgusted Democrats Not Sold On Obama
While Waiting for Obama … Beware!: Le Figaro, France
The nail-biting on this planet over the 2008 U.S. presidential election is quite a spectacle. And the question on almost everyone's lips is this: Will Americans actually do what all the opinion polls say they will - elect a Black man to the U.S. presidency? Clearly - the 'Bradley Effect' has once and for all become a part of global electoral lore. For France's Le Figaro, … [Read more...] about While Waiting for Obama … Beware!: Le Figaro, France
McCain Faults Obama’s (Pollan) Comments on Farming
For those of you who have yet to notice, I am a big fan of Michael Pollan. I get that some of his notions are a bit airy-fairy idealist, but I thought his Dear Mr. President-Elect open letter to the next Farmer in Chief was brilliant. In it he deftly points out the links between farm policy and the three main issues of our day — health care, energy independence and climate … [Read more...] about McCain Faults Obama’s (Pollan) Comments on Farming
I Confess. The Panic Has Set In.
I was on the road for some family business, but still manged to keep up with the news. It was only this weekend that I think a shock of cold, harsh reality has struck. Like many of us, I follow the polls, the political news, the talk shows, and I try to divine what's going on in Election 2008 across the nation. Like most, I try to keep a positive attitude. I understand that the … [Read more...] about I Confess. The Panic Has Set In.
WWRRD?*
Republicans Against 8 have released one final ad before Tuesday's vote that, if approved, would ban same-sex marriage in California, which has been legal since the summer. The ad goes back in time to 1978, when the Briggs Initiative threatened to ban gay teachers from teaching in schools. Ronald Reagan came out against Briggs. The ad then flash-forwards to the present when … [Read more...] about WWRRD?*
Feeling Like Barack Obama’s Cultural Cousin
I am starting to feel like Barack Obama's cultural cousin. When he left the campaign trail to visit his grandmother, who was a key figure in his rearing, I kept thinking about Susie Grant, my grandmother, in whose house I grew up. Today, news comes that Obama has a half-aunt on his father's side, found in circumstances about which he knew nothing, and that development is … [Read more...] about Feeling Like Barack Obama’s Cultural Cousin
Connecting with Moderate Independents
The New York Times had a fascinating article: A Psychologist Helps Repackage Democrats’ Message Democrats up and down the ballot have been trying to reverse the Republican rhetorical dominance that made “liberal” an unsavory label, and many have found help in a slender document percolating through their party’s hierarchy. It is called the “Message Handbook for … [Read more...] about Connecting with Moderate Independents
Is Obama American Enough to Succeed?
Is Barack Obama enough of an American? Can a person be well-educated, dark-skinned and a real American at the same time? Obama’s election hinges on whether a majority thinks the latter is possible or is so self-evident that the question is silly. The McCain-Palin ticket’s central strategy still is to stoke doubt and keep the first question alive. It cannot be denied that … [Read more...] about Is Obama American Enough to Succeed?
McCain, Obama: The Authenticity Gap
What's left of the real Barack Obama and John McCain after all this nonstop being seen and heard? If Obama wins the prize Tuesday, it may be, behind all the political jabber, a victory in the media war of attrition not to lose his authentic self. After eight years of having a beer with a nobody-there George W. Bush, voters gave the nominations to candidates who appeared to … [Read more...] about McCain, Obama: The Authenticity Gap
Gallup Daily Tracking: Obama Now Has Leads McCain 52% To 42% Among Likely Voters
A new Gallup Daily tracking poll suggests that perhaps Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's infomercial had some impact: he now leads rival Republican Sen. John McCain by 10 points among likely voters -- and has the same lead among "traditional" and "expanded" voters. Meanwhile, Gallup finds Obama ahead 52% to 41% among registered voters. But if you … [Read more...] about Gallup Daily Tracking: Obama Now Has Leads McCain 52% To 42% Among Likely Voters
‘I’m a PC’ Booth Outside of an Apple Store
Appleinsider: AppleInsider reader Tom submits the following photo [above], which shows a large Microsoft-branded kiosk parked outside a shopping center-based Apple retail store. "It's a friggin booth where you can record your own I'm a PC video," he said. "This is outside the Apple Store, Bullring, Birmingham, England." He added that a trio of Microsoft staffers will be on … [Read more...] about ‘I’m a PC’ Booth Outside of an Apple Store
Abortion, Politics, and the Grace of an Informed Reply
Last week, I wrote about Bishop Robert Hermann's edict that Catholics put aside other considerations and vote single-mindedly for the candidate "less permissive of abortion." Yesterday, my wife shared an email from a Catholic friend of ours, one of many such emails my wife has received in the last couple of weeks. The subject line of this most recent email was a question: … [Read more...] about Abortion, Politics, and the Grace of an Informed Reply
Late Night Election 2008 Jokes
How can you tell the conventional wisdom that's solidifying? One way is to take a look at late night comedian jokes listed on the web on sites such as this. For more than a century American humorists and comedians have been conventional political wisdom barometers. Those who effectively used humor to reflect public perceptions in the 20th century included: Will Rogers, Bob … [Read more...] about Late Night Election 2008 Jokes
More On The Death Of Studs Turkel
A must read about the man who virtually invented the oral history from the always must-read Davd Schuler HERE. … [Read more...] about More On The Death Of Studs Turkel
The Odds Of Obama Winning
A computer simulation puts the odds at 99.98%. … [Read more...] about The Odds Of Obama Winning
Poor, Poor John McCain: No More Time & So Many Excuses
With the Fat Lady about to sing, the excuses for why John McCain's campaign has sunk like a stone continue to fly fast and furious. I’ve been collecting the ripest of these excuses over at Kiko’s House in a daily feature titled “McCain-Palin Trainwreck Excuse du Jour.” Here are synopses and links to the most recent entries: McCain's "strategy" of throwing everything … [Read more...] about Poor, Poor John McCain: No More Time & So Many Excuses