Much to the surprise of some - not all the world is pulling for Obama. Perhaps the most pro-McCain country is Poland. A case in point is this article by Leszek Szymowski of Poland's WProust, which considers the possibility of an Obama win - as the headline says, 'A Real Catastrophe.' In what will be a familiar refrain for those of us who observe the American media, … [Read more...] about Obama’s America: ‘A Real Catastrophe’ – WProst24, Poland
Vice President Kay Bailey Hutchison Sounded Better
In their endorsement of Barack Obama for President, the Houston Chronicle had this to say about a lost opportunity for John McCain: McCain has an illustrious record of service to America, first as a pilot taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese, and then with a distinguished Senate career. To his credit, he has broken with his own party in the past to fight for campaign … [Read more...] about Vice President Kay Bailey Hutchison Sounded Better
Please Excommunicate Me
Raised in a Protestant home, I converted to Catholicism after the birth of our only child, to help give him a consistent religious framework during his formative years. It was neither a significant nor difficult change: I had long believed Christianity is Christianity, period. Of course, I now appreciate how that belief in the equivalence of Christian faiths might hold true … [Read more...] about Please Excommunicate Me
Google Get Out the Vote Gadgets
Jacqui Cheng describes a couple of new web services Google has launched to help us find registration information and voting locations: First up is Google's US Voter Info site, which is just a version of Google Maps with integrated voter information. Users can enter their addresses in order to find their designated polling place, and even get directions right from the map. If … [Read more...] about Google Get Out the Vote Gadgets
Who Knew Neiman’s Was on Main Street?
Well, so much for Joe the Plumber. He couldn't replace washers fast enough make the kind of money John McCain was willing to spend on outfitting his vice-presidential candidate. We won't be hearing about Joe any more. Another silver lining: Sarah Palin won't be saying much about Main Street America any more, where the question of the day is no longer about the economy, per … [Read more...] about Who Knew Neiman’s Was on Main Street?
Sarah Palin and Princess Grace
A headline asks, "Could Palin Factor Save McCain?" and their story brings back memories of another Cinderella tale--how Grace Kelly came to rescue Prince Rainier of Monaco half a century ago. In the New Yorker, Jane Mayer says of McCain and Palin: "By the time he announced her as his choice, the next day, he had spent less than three hours in her company." Their whirlwind … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin and Princess Grace
The Politics of Wardrobe Costs
By now everybody has probably heard the story about the RNC spending $150,000 on Sarah Palin's clothing and makeup. I mentioned this story to my wife this morning and, while she detests Sarah Palin, she came to her defense on this. Clothing (and hair and makeup) just cost a LOT more for women than for men. Anybody who reads the regular fashion and Hollywood journals knows that … [Read more...] about The Politics of Wardrobe Costs
Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Poll: Obama Increases Lead Over McCain In Possible “Blowout”
Pollster John Zogby reports that Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is now increasing his lead over Republican Sen. John McCain in what could be shaping up as what Zogby calls a "blowout." Zogby predicts this could be a politically-transformative landslide like Ronald Reagan's. Democrat Barack Obama moved very close to a double–digit lead over Republican … [Read more...] about Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Poll: Obama Increases Lead Over McCain In Possible “Blowout”
Florida Focus Group: Independents Break For Obama And Are Anti-Palin
The respected St. Petersburg Times has been keeping tabs on a group of Tampa swing voters and it finds them now breaking heavily for Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama -- and GOP Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's choice of Gov. Sarah Palin as Vice Presidential candidate has a lot to do with it. That mirrors an NBC poll that shows Palin is now clearly … [Read more...] about Florida Focus Group: Independents Break For Obama And Are Anti-Palin
Searching for a McCain Tech Policy Supporter
A couple weeks ago Wired ran an Obama vs. McCain Tech Scorecard. McCain earned a D; Obama a B. [See comment below, thank you BBQ for correcting my error.] Nicholas Thompson then contacted the two campaigns and asked for representatives to debate over tech issues. Obama offered up former FCC chair Reed Hunt. Here's Thompson's tale of the McCain campaign response: My first … [Read more...] about Searching for a McCain Tech Policy Supporter
The Word “Socialist”
Is that a code word for "black?" Or isn't that a bit of a (political) stretch? … [Read more...] about The Word “Socialist”
Schools Focus On Character Education For Kids
October is a big month in many schools: it's the month when many schools turn to anti-drug education, celebrating "Red Ribbon Week" in some schools where students are reminded why they need to say no to drugs and make healthy choices. But in recent years other themes have caught on as well, too. In the wake of the Columbine High School massacre, many schools have … [Read more...] about Schools Focus On Character Education For Kids
The Sarah Palin Clothing Scandal (What?)
I came downstairs this morning and flipped on the television while making coffee, flipped through MSNBC, Fox and CNN, and saw everyone talking about the same story. It seems that the RNC may have spent up to $150,000 on clothing and makeup for Governor Palin's three months on the campaign trail. Regular readers of this space should be well-aware that I've not been a fan of … [Read more...] about The Sarah Palin Clothing Scandal (What?)
World Series 2008: Those Long Awful Phillies Are Finally Making Winning A Habit
PHILLIES PITCHING ACE COLE HAMELS Some of my earliest childhood memories are of sitting at the kitchen table with my mother and grandmother listening to the Philadelphia Phillies on the radio. And more often than not, listening to the Philadelphia Phillies lose. My love of baseball was nurtured on these spring and summer evenings while my father was on shift work, and I … [Read more...] about World Series 2008: Those Long Awful Phillies Are Finally Making Winning A Habit
W
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star … [Read more...] about W
In Voting, White Men Don’t Jump
The final days find male Caucasians in the spotlight as John McCain pushes his white hope, Joe the Plumber and David Brooks focuses on Patio Man. In a time of unprecedented fear and worry, traditional male breadwinners seem to be the Republicans' best target, but the question arises: Will they make enough difference? One striking answer can be found in a study of the … [Read more...] about In Voting, White Men Don’t Jump
US Senate: When 60 Isn’t 60
Sitting two weeks out from the election, it seems clear the Democrats will make serious gains in the US Senate. At least 4 GOP seats in Colorado, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Virginia are all but certain to go to the Democrats, which means they will have at least 55 seats in 2009. Seats in Alaska, Minnesota, North Carolina and Oregon are at least leaning to the Democrats … [Read more...] about US Senate: When 60 Isn’t 60
Going Negative Is Not a Positive Way to Get Votes (Guest Voice)
A top strategist for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain has suggested the McCain campaign could up the ante and raise the Reverent Wright issue in the final days of a campaign. In this Guest Voice post, journalism professor and author Walter Brasch argues that going negative may not be the wisest move. Brasch is an award-winning syndicated newspaper columnist … [Read more...] about Going Negative Is Not a Positive Way to Get Votes (Guest Voice)
Bad News For McCain From Two Polls And New Negative Palin Stories
Some polls show a tightening in the presidential race, Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden had another bout of ticket-damaging foot-and-mouth disease – but two new polls indicate Republican candidate Sen. John McCain continues to lose support and he continues to have a Sarah Palin problem with all but Republican stalwarts and Rush Limbaugh. A new NBC/Wall … [Read more...] about Bad News For McCain From Two Polls And New Negative Palin Stories
Don’t Be Hatin’
Ross Douthat has a good read about how some in the media are depicting McCain-Palin rallies. I really just want to focus on the last paragraph: But of course, everybody knows that conservative hate - especially when it comes from anonymous hecklers at massive rallies, or when it involves booing the press - is fascism come round again, but left-wing hate is just, well, … [Read more...] about Don’t Be Hatin’