On my way to Clarkesville, Georgia this morning to visit a old college buddy I haven't seen in 10 years, I heard Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" on the radio. I usually listen to MP3s or satellite radio while traveling, but for some reason I just turned on the standard radio this time. I was a little past Gainesville, Georgia when Lightfoot's song came on. … [Read more...] about North Georgia Way….
Strange Fruit
It had to come to this. Yesterday Drudge and Fox News blared a headline that would tear at the conscience of America. A white, female McCain staffer was robbed at an ATM machine in Pittsburgh. And then when the "large, dark-skinned, black" assailant noticed her McCain bumper sticker he became "enraged" and proceeded to fondle her and then carve a letter "B" in her face. It … [Read more...] about Strange Fruit
What Bush Has Wrought: ‘It’s All Incredible’ – Folha, Brazil
'FRIEND'S CLUB' [Het Parool, The Netherlands] Politically, electorally and economically, the damage inflicted on the United States by the Administration of George W. Bush is incalculable. Such is the verdict of Fernando Canzian of Brazil's Floha newspaper. Opening with a discussion of Oliver Stone's new film 'W,' Canzian writes in part: "WASHINGTON: Between the … [Read more...] about What Bush Has Wrought: ‘It’s All Incredible’ – Folha, Brazil
Voting for the Weekend
The New York Times had an interesting piece today on the history of our nation's Tuesday voting schedule. They first point out that some other countries have much higher rates of electoral participation. Despite all the money and the news media hysteria, and even with record numbers of Americans heading to the polls, the United States won’t even come close to the top nations … [Read more...] about Voting for the Weekend
Republicans Against Proposition 8
The common perception is that the GOP is anti-gay. While there are many Republicans who are homophobic, there are also many who are very gay-friendly and willing to stand up for gay rights and, in this case, against Proposition 8, the proposal that would ban gay marriage in California. One such person is Tom Campbell a former Republican legislator in California. He … [Read more...] about Republicans Against Proposition 8
Greenspan, Greed and the Blame Game
Congressmen who used to hang on every word and kiss his ring got rough with the former Fed chairman yesterday, as Henry Waxman bullied him to admit his fault for the subprime mortgage crisis ("Were you wrong?") and got a qualified mea culpa ("Partially"). The Greenspan grilling is at the respectable end of the national rage over the collapsing economy, bracketed on the far … [Read more...] about Greenspan, Greed and the Blame Game
A Brief Time Out for Ms. Dunham
I knew that Barack Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, had broken her hip and was enduring some other problems, but it seems that things are even more grave than that. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he's not sure his gravely ill grandmother will live to see Election Day. "Without going through the details too much, she's gravely ill. We weren't sure … [Read more...] about A Brief Time Out for Ms. Dunham
Krauthammer Vents, Weld Backs Obama
Does anyone care that Charles Krauthammer will be voting for McCain? Oh, no, he's not one of those "wet-fingered conservatives leaping to Barack Obama before they're left out in the cold without a single state dinner for the next four years," as if that's the only reason so many of them are lining up behind Obama, he's the courageous, trend-bucking conservative who sees … [Read more...] about Krauthammer Vents, Weld Backs Obama
The World Wants Obama
The entire world wants Barack Obama. If he were to stand for President of Earth, he’d be voted in by 75% to 99% in favor from Chile to Papua New Guinea and Iceland to South Korea. Web developer Seth Carnes and a few friends have set up an interesting web site called “THEWORLDFOR.COM: Help select the new President” where non-Americans (and Americans) can vote to choose … [Read more...] about The World Wants Obama
Troy Anthony Davis Gets Stay of Execution
The AJC brings the good news: The federal appeals court in Atlanta on Friday stayed the execution of Troy Anthony Davis, who was scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection Monday evening. “Upon our thorough review of the record, we conclude that Davis has met the burden for a stay of execution,” the court said in a ruling issued by Judges Joel Dubina, Rosemary Barket … [Read more...] about Troy Anthony Davis Gets Stay of Execution
The Culinary Equivalent of Homeschooling
Michael Pollan was making his case for food as a national security issue Monday on Fresh Air. Terry Gross asked him about Obama being mocked for liking arugula instead of iceberg lettuce. Pollan said he would have advised him not to talk about it: Dukakis did the same thing. He talked about endive in Iowa, and these...candidates get to Iowa, and the farmers are complaining … [Read more...] about The Culinary Equivalent of Homeschooling
Hope Votes
Whether you're voting for McCain or Obama, stories like this have got to make you proud of what this election represents for those Americans who fought and died for civil rights not that long ago. A story from an African-American early voter: For me the most moving moment came when the family in front of me, comprising probably 4 generations of voters (including an 18 year … [Read more...] about Hope Votes
Blogging the Panic
The NYTimes' Floyd Norris is blogging through much of today, as the world fears the worst. Right now: strong>11:42 a.m. | Rally: The Dow is down less than 200 points for the day, which means it is up 300 points from the low. But earlier: 10:40 a.m. | October Blues: Here are some October performances, through a few minutes ago. In each case, I took a major index from the … [Read more...] about Blogging the Panic
The Campaign Through the Lens of Media Literacy
Some background: The rate of media illiteracy in America is about 99.5 percent. In May 2007, U.S. Dept. of Labor statistics indicated 1.07 million media professionals in an adult population (15 and over) of 240 million. The other 238.93 million Americans have received no media education because it is not a required subject in the American educational system. Media … [Read more...] about The Campaign Through the Lens of Media Literacy
McCain’s Two Americas
Sarah Palin and John McCain elaborated on their definition of "elitist" in an interview last night with Brian Williams: WILLIAMS: Who is a member of the elite? PALIN: Oh, I guess just people who think that they're better than anyone else. And-- John McCain and I are so committed to serving every American. Hard-working, middle-class Americans who are so desiring of … [Read more...] about McCain’s Two Americas
Right Wingers Already Partying Like It’s 2012
My jaw kept dropping every time I read a right-of-center commentator who is licking their chops over a Sarah Palin candidacy in 2012. For one thing, the 2008 election isn't even over. For another, how could these people ignore the obvious: While McCain has brought his own baggage to the big dance, his partner has been like a giant anchor, pulling the ticket down, down, down … [Read more...] about Right Wingers Already Partying Like It’s 2012
Layaway Returns for Christmas
Even before this morning's new low, Elizabeth Warren was suggesting we could see an old-fashioned, new-wave lay-away Christmas: With Mastercard and Visa cards handed out like cheap candy, layaway plans had nearly disappeared. The old-fashioned method for budgeting--pay a few bucks each week on your purchases--made no sense to millions of customers who could take the goods home … [Read more...] about Layaway Returns for Christmas
Poor McCain: So Little Time, So Many Excuses
With the clock running out on the 2008 presidential race and John McCain sinking like a stone, the excuses for why his campaign has come a cropper are flying fast and furious. I’ve been collecting them 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: It's those uppity Negroes … [Read more...] about Poor McCain: So Little Time, So Many Excuses
Optics Watch: McCain May Skip Own Victory Party
It's generally considered poor strategy to telegraph your punches in a political campaign, but it's not much better to announce your misses. In one of the more puzzling announcements to come out of the Straight Talk Express, John McCain may not be attending his own victory party on the night of Nov. 4. John McCain's election night watch party might be missing John McCain. … [Read more...] about Optics Watch: McCain May Skip Own Victory Party
Another Palin Claim Doesn’t Pan Out
Republican Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin seems to be palling around with inaccuracies. The latest bit of bad press for her (and by upwards osmosis Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain) comes from USA Today: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin calls herself a fiscal conservative who wants to "rein in government spending." She says she "reformed the abuses … [Read more...] about Another Palin Claim Doesn’t Pan Out