Our political quote of the day comes from conservative Wick Allison, former publisher of the National Review, who has come out for Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for President. In this piece he explains why he feels he must as a conservative. Here's a key section: Liberalism always seemed to me to be a system of “oughts.” We ought to do this or that because it’s the right … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Conservative Wick Allison Comes Out For Obama
Philly Rolls Out Red Carpet For Sarah Palin
Some people seemed genuinely shocked that the world's most famous hockey mom has joined Santa Claus and Mike Schmidt, among other celebs, in being roundly-booed by Philadelphia sports fans. Despite pleas from the scoreboard at the Bailout . . . er, Wachovia Center for fans to make nice, they predictably showed the back of their hands to Sarah Palin, and would have mooned her … [Read more...] about Philly Rolls Out Red Carpet For Sarah Palin
Reuters C-SPAN Zogby Poll: Obama Widens Lead To 6 Points Over McCain
A new Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll finds that Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has widened his lead over Republican Sen. John McCain to six points which is outside the margin of error - -the latest in a series of polls showing McCain increasingly trailing the Illinois Senator: Democratic Party presidential nominee Barack Obama took a step into rarified air … [Read more...] about Reuters C-SPAN Zogby Poll: Obama Widens Lead To 6 Points Over McCain
Pro-Military, Pro-Obama
Toward the end of my Oct. 6 post -- which spelled out the reasons I've decided to back Sen. Obama for President -- I acknowledged that this decision would likely anger some of my family because they believe McCain is the more pro-military candidate, and we happen to have a cherished member of our family in the military. I only hope those family members take time to consider … [Read more...] about Pro-Military, Pro-Obama
Michael Pollan: Dear Farmer-in-Chief
In a long and serious article on food policy in today's NYTimes Magazine, Michael Pollan writes that the era of cheap and abundant food is coming to a close. He says the next American president, no matter which man is elected, is going to find that the health of our nation’s food system is a critical issue of national security. His argument is that, unless we address the … [Read more...] about Michael Pollan: Dear Farmer-in-Chief
John McCain Can Still Win The Presidential Campaign (Guest Voice)
With reports of yet moe tactical shifts and polls -- and Wall Street -- continuing to bring bad news, the growing conventional wisdom is that Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain is headed to defeat. In this Guest Voice interview, columnist Bill Steigerwald interviews writer-columnist Pat Buchanan, who makes the case that McCain can still win. TMV runs Guest … [Read more...] about John McCain Can Still Win The Presidential Campaign (Guest Voice)
Some Edgy Yin and Yang
The more radical elements of the Republican base have been getting a lot of attention lately -- and not without reason. They really do sound pretty nuts. But they're hardly alone in the wilderness. In fact, there's a sort of beautiful balance to this whole thing. … [Read more...] about Some Edgy Yin and Yang
McCain-Palin: What the Future Holds
Count me as still among those who feel that 23 days is still a lifetime in politics, and it's far too early to begin dancing on the political graves of John McCain and Sarah Palin. But, with that said, the outlook is growing fairly bleak. Assuming that the "conventional wisdom" turns out to be correct for a change and the Obama-Biden ticket carries the day on November 4, what … [Read more...] about McCain-Palin: What the Future Holds
Book Review: The Man Who Unlocked The Mysteries of China’s Middle Kingdom
1281: Chinese throw gunpowder bombs at charging Japanese Chinese claims that they were responsible for hundreds of mankind's most familiar inventions -- including explosives, printing, the compass, hydraulics, ceramics, suspension bridges and even toilet paper -- were long viewed with skepticism by Westerners who were smugly certain that these ancient people were incapable … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Man Who Unlocked The Mysteries of China’s Middle Kingdom
McCain Palin and the Economy
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about McCain Palin and the Economy
Spotlight On ‘Heroes of Environment’
Time magazine deserves praise for bringing out a special edition devoted to the unsung heroes who are plodding on despite the climate of gloom and doom and, through personal example, carrying on a crusade to save the planet. The magazine states: "Because solutions do exist — and there are those who are leading us to them. Some are activists like Brazil's Marina Silva, the … [Read more...] about Spotlight On ‘Heroes of Environment’
Will it Be Suicide for Republicans?: El Espectador, Colombia
"... TILL A LADY, PASSING BY, DID CHANCE TO SAY: 'YOU CAN TELL A MAN WHO BOOZES BYTHE COMPANY HE CHOOSES,' THEN THE PIG GOT UP AND SLOWLY WALKED AWAY ...' The apparent campaign implosion of the Republican Party nominee hasn't escaped the rest of the world. The above graphic is from the British, while this article, which asks if Republicans are committing 'suicide,' is from … [Read more...] about Will it Be Suicide for Republicans?: El Espectador, Colombia
The Old Empire Strikes Back! Why??
GEORGIA REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LEWIS I have great respect for Georgia Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis. When your a growing up as a black child, Representative John Lewis is a name you hear repeatedly when the phrase "civil rights" is uttered. But I also have some disdain for the "Old Empire" of civil rights that John Lewis belongs to. Many of them are only … [Read more...] about The Old Empire Strikes Back! Why??
Are John McCain And Sarah Palin At Odds Over Campaign Strategy?
It certainly sounds that way... … [Read more...] about Are John McCain And Sarah Palin At Odds Over Campaign Strategy?
Bush’s About-Faces
After seven-plus years of stubborn certainty, the Decider suddenly reversed himself today on two major issues--the $700 financial bailout and relations with North Korea. In a deathbed conversion to consensus, the Administration stepped back from the Paulson Plan to buy toxic mortgage-backed securities and moved toward injecting capital directly into the nation’s banks, a … [Read more...] about Bush’s About-Faces
How John McCain Could Still Win This Thing
I'll preface this post by saying that the most conservative parts of the GOP base will not agree with it... nor will they see any reason McCain should care about the votes of people like me. I'm not a Republican, and I see that party as corrupted and twisted beyond all recognition these days. They've fully earned their time in the wilderness, and I know many (former) … [Read more...] about How John McCain Could Still Win This Thing
Humanity: A Moral History. A Needed Lesson.
The summer before I experienced the smoke of the burning World Trade Center sucked into my kitchen by a whirring window fan, I read Jonathan Glover's brilliant work, Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century. In it, Glover looked across all of the genocides of the twentieth century to find common attributes -- sympathy, empathy and respect -- that can help us … [Read more...] about Humanity: A Moral History. A Needed Lesson.
The McCain Mob Exposed (Part 2)
If you missed Pete Abel's post Thursday (he has part 1), go back and read it. When I read Andrew Sullivan's Weimar America post on Tuesday I thought the reader was stretching. I went back and reread it today. These are scary times. McCain and Palin are playing with fire. And I'm not giving McCain a pass (even as I understand why Obama must). I've not forgotten that just … [Read more...] about The McCain Mob Exposed (Part 2)
Sarah Palin, the AIP, and the Extremist Fringe
So McCain and Palin want to smear Obama with guilt by association over his non-relationship with Bill Ayers, eh? Well, perhaps more attention ought to be paid to Palin's long and ongoing relationship with the extremist Alaska Independence Party (AIP) and its leaders. And perhaps Palin ought to be asked why she has associated -- and rather closely (she was a card-carrying … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin, the AIP, and the Extremist Fringe
Some Hillary Clinton Supporters’ Payback
The efforts against Democratic party nominee Barack Obama go on... … [Read more...] about Some Hillary Clinton Supporters’ Payback