Sen. McCain has taken his lumps lately, for allowing his campaign to sink into a vile pattern of half-baked smears. In that context, I read with particular interest this Politico article, which suggests that "the Rev. Wright factor" is a line McCain won't cross. (Not surprisingly, the same article suggests McCain's running mate is not only ready to cross that line but to … [Read more...] about McCain: Hedging Bets on His Legacy
Do Obama And/Or McCain Pose Dangers To Bloggers’ Free Speech?
There's an email discussion between some respected top bloggers about whether a victory by Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama will pose a danger to bloggers' free speech. Or will a McCain victory pose a danger on another front? Read THIS MUST READ which now brings the debate on the Internet itself. Be sure to read comments on this post and leave your … [Read more...] about Do Obama And/Or McCain Pose Dangers To Bloggers’ Free Speech?
Christopher Buckley Explains Obama Endorsement and Axing From National Review
An intriguing story yesterday was how Christopher Buckley, son of National Review founder William F. Buckley, was suddenly gone from the magazine his father founded after a firestorm over his endorsing Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for President -- just as some other leading traditional conservatives have nixed the John McCain campaign. Here's his account on Chris Matthews' … [Read more...] about Christopher Buckley Explains Obama Endorsement and Axing From National Review
Crunchy Con on that City on a Hill
Dallas Morning News columnist and religious (but not evangelical) conservative Rod Dreher, author of Crunchy Cons: How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature lovers, ... America (or at least the Republican Party) was the guest last week on Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippet. Dreher … [Read more...] about Crunchy Con on that City on a Hill
Obama, Jackson, Israel and Bad Habits
At a recent appearance in France, Jesse Jackson apparently lit off some fireworks by claiming that American relations with Israel would get a bit more chilly under an Obama presidency. Barack Obama's campaign stepped in quickly Tuesday to distance itself from a claim by the Rev. Jesse Jackson that "Zionists" would lose clout under an Obama administration. The move was … [Read more...] about Obama, Jackson, Israel and Bad Habits
This One’s For You, Joe & Jane
My father and mother were the blackest white people whom I have ever known. What I mean by that is that not only were some of their best friends Negroes, to use the painfully archaic cliche of their day, they talked the talk and they walked the walk as civil-rights activists. But despite being optimistic about most things they were unable to imagine the day that a black person … [Read more...] about This One’s For You, Joe & Jane
Hope for a Global ‘New Deal’ and a Leader of ‘Vision’: El Pais of Uruguay
The writer of this article from Uruguay mentions the need for a 'visionary leader' that will institute a modern - global 'New Deal.' Many will surmise that the author, Sebastián Da Silva, is talking about Barack Obama. But perhaps that's too Democratic and U.S.-centric a view. In outlining the problem, Da Silva says among other things: "So far, no one knows the depths of … [Read more...] about Hope for a Global ‘New Deal’ and a Leader of ‘Vision’: El Pais of Uruguay
What If John Kerry Came to Town…
...and nobody (or almost nobody) showed up? The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, Senator John Kerry, was in Madison, Wisconsin, where Ann Althouse notes, he came to campaign for Barack Obama. Kerry drew all of 250 people. This, Althouse points out, stands in stark contrast to the 80,000 who came out to see him when he made his own bid for the presidency in 2004. What … [Read more...] about What If John Kerry Came to Town…
Robot Leaders (Cartoon)
This is in reaction to and in anticipation of the presidential debates. I thank the candidates for being wonderful muses. (Click the cartoon for a full size image.) For more cartoons, visit Small World Cartoons. … [Read more...] about Robot Leaders (Cartoon)
The Bradley Effect, in Dutch
As our presidential elections near their finale, and as the vitriol directed at our black presidential candidate, Barack Obama, intensifies, we begin reading more and more about the so-called "Bradley Effect." Most recently---on October 6, 2008---TMV contributor, ELROD, referred to it in "McCain's Death Throes." He said, referring to the McCain campaign "descending … [Read more...] about The Bradley Effect, in Dutch
Canada Votes 2008
For reasons related to my work, I generally don't blog about Canadian politics. I don't even think I've mentioned the 2008 federal election at all, here or anywhere else. But today, October 14, Canadians went to the polls to vote for their representatives to the federal House of Commons, the lower house of our federal Parliament. Again. For the fourth time in less than eight … [Read more...] about Canada Votes 2008
Conservatives Win Election, Landslide Possible
No, you are not misreading the headline and I have not entered the Twilight Zone. Tonight is election night in Canada and the Conservative government of Stephen Harper is headed for a second term, possibly by a landslide margin. Now understand that in Canada a landslide has a different meaning. There are 4 main parties (Conservative, Liberal, New Democratic and Bloc … [Read more...] about Conservatives Win Election, Landslide Possible
McCain Campaign Writes YouTube Defending Fair Use
TechDirt is impressed: This is impressive, and somewhat unexpected. It's rather rare to see politicians (other than marginal ones, at least) showing any sort of recognition of fair use. It's certainly not an issue you'd expect to see raised by a presidential candidate (of either party). However, John McCain's campaign has sent a letter to YouTube complaining about the site's … [Read more...] about McCain Campaign Writes YouTube Defending Fair Use
McCain Invites a ‘Dangerous America’: From Le Monde of France
The negative turn taken by the McCain campaign over the past few weeks hasn't escaped observers in other countries, and in fact has begun to elicit alarm. Today's editorial in France's Le Monde newspaper notes with concern: "For Republicans, disarmed by the unpopularity of Mr. Bush and the financial doldrums, the color of Mr. Obama's skin is becoming the only argument … [Read more...] about McCain Invites a ‘Dangerous America’: From Le Monde of France
CBS News/New York Times Poll: Obama Takes 14 Point Lead Over McCain
A new CBS News/New York Times poll has Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama taking his biggest lead yet over Republican Sen. John McCain -- and part of the reason is that the dam has apparently burst and independent voters are now flowing to Obama: Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is entering the third and final presidential debate Wednesday with … [Read more...] about CBS News/New York Times Poll: Obama Takes 14 Point Lead Over McCain
McCain’s Sex Offender E-mail Registry Signed Into Law
Wired's Threat Level: Registered sex offenders will have to start providing their e-mail addresses to a national database available to social networking sites, under the misleadingly titled "Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2008" -- a bill authored by Senator John McCain and signed by President Bush on Monday. The idea behind the law (.pdf) is that a … [Read more...] about McCain’s Sex Offender E-mail Registry Signed Into Law
Christopher Buckley Leaves National Review After Firestorm Over Obama Endorsement
Christopher Buckley, son of conservative icon and National Review founder William F. Buckley, has left the magazine his father founded following a firestorm after he endorsed Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama instead of Republican Sen. John McCain. He resigned but by his account it sounds like they couldn't wait to get him out the door and, in all but … [Read more...] about Christopher Buckley Leaves National Review After Firestorm Over Obama Endorsement
ACORN: From Defense to Further Reform
If you employ an army of people to register a gaggle of new voters, there are going to be mistakes. And frankly, ACORN is right to defend its efforts, as should all believers in grassroots democracy. But for the sake of everyone concerned, the organization should immediately take steps to beef up its fraud-prevention processes and procedures -- and tell us what those are. … [Read more...] about ACORN: From Defense to Further Reform
“So What If Obama Were a Muslim or Arab?”
I've got to say, Campbell Brown has impressed me with her willingness to say what other journalists have only been thinking this election season. First, she called out the McCain campaign for shielding Palin from the press "like a delicate flower who will wilt at any moment." And her latest commentary addresses the bigotry against Arabs and Muslims popping up at McCain … [Read more...] about “So What If Obama Were a Muslim or Arab?”
CBS News/New York Times Poll: Only 7 Percent Think U.S. Is On Right Track
A new and shocking CBS News/New York Times poll finds that only 7 percent of Americans polled thinks that the United States is on the right track: A new CBS News/New York Times poll finds that 89 percent of Americans believe that country is on the wrong track, a new all-time high surpassing the 83 percent who said the same earlier this year. Just seven percent of Americans … [Read more...] about CBS News/New York Times Poll: Only 7 Percent Think U.S. Is On Right Track