Remember earlier in the year when Obama was accused of playing the race card for predicting Republicans would try to scare voters into thinking "he's not like us." A lot of people are now giving him credit for his prescience, but honestly how hard is it to predict McCain's game plan when he's relying on the same playbook that Republicans have used the last two … [Read more...] about Obama Saw It Coming
The Media vs. John McCain
No, it's not what you think. Jay Cost has an interesting analysis as to why John McCain is doing so badly in the polls and there is nothing that he can do about it. He notes: McCain's problem a week ago is the same as his problem today, enhanced anxiety about the economy. The deal failed to sooth any nerves, so McCain is still in a weakened position...So long as the … [Read more...] about The Media vs. John McCain
RIP Mother’s Cookies
The economic downturn and the rising price of fuel and food has hit home, at least for those of us in the western part of the United States. Mother's Cookies, a staple for decade has filed for bankruptcy and is ceasing all operations effective yesterday. Well-known for pink and white frosted animal cookies (along with a variety of holiday versions) they had been in … [Read more...] about RIP Mother’s Cookies
Same Sex Marriage Victory in Connecticut
NYTimes: The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled on Friday that same-sex couples have the right to marry, reversing a lower court decision that had concluded that the civil unions legalized in the state three years ago offered the same rights and benefits as marriage. With the 4-to-3 ruling, Connecticut becomes the third state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage. … [Read more...] about Same Sex Marriage Victory in Connecticut
Poli-Techno Memeorandum Colors
If you're running Firefox and you've installed Greasemonkey, you can now view memeorandum in full living "political-bias" colors. While most political blogs are extremely partisan, their biases aren't immediately obvious to outsiders like me. I wanted to see, at a glance, how conservative or liberal the blogs were without clicking through to every article. With the help of … [Read more...] about Poli-Techno Memeorandum Colors
Dear John & Sarah: We’re Still Waiting
The calls for John McCain and Sarah Palin to speak out over the unhinged behavior of their campaign rally audiences are increasing, but the candidates themselves -- who are directly responsible for this troubling trend -- are still AWOL on the issue. Writes Jonathan Martin at The Politico: "The unmistakable momentum behind Barack Obama's campaign, combined with worry … [Read more...] about Dear John & Sarah: We’re Still Waiting
Just Call Me Derty Poiiuy. The Gray Lady Looks at Obama Donations
Among the crush of political donations to the Obama campaign, you find some odd donors. Some are die hard Democrats, but others are independents and even the odd Republican here and there. Many are long time political activists, but there are quite a few first time donors as well. But it's a few of the donor's names that are popping up in this New York Times report. But even … [Read more...] about Just Call Me Derty Poiiuy. The Gray Lady Looks at Obama Donations
The Mother of All Typos
Absentee ballots mailed out this weekk in Rensselaer County, New York gave voters the option of voting for "Barack Osama." Both Democratic and Republican election officials insist that it was simply a typo. … [Read more...] about The Mother of All Typos
Lesson From the Great Depression
We have been here before, and we can learn from the past. On March 4, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt took the oath of office and told Americans, "(T)he only thing we have to fear is fear itself...nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance... "Values have shrunken to fantastic levels, taxes have risen, our ability … [Read more...] about Lesson From the Great Depression
Web Kidz Don’t Stop Believing
UPDATE: Apparently they've thought better of it and have locked up the video. Too bad. It was a great video. Even if at an inopportune time... If it turns up again I'll repost. Young Internet stars sit out the crash in Cyprus: Haven't yet decided whether this video -- twenty or so twenty-somethings lip-synching to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin" on their precious week off … [Read more...] about Web Kidz Don’t Stop Believing
Is America’s Economic Crisis No. 1 Priority at Fox News?
I had just finished watching "Jon Stewart’s round-up video of Fox News election coverage since the debate" in Joe Windish's "Palin report Due Today," when our lame duck president came on the networks to make another non-news, non-encouraging and "non-sensical" address on the mess he has gotten our country in. (By the way, the Dow tanked another 80 points or so while Bush was … [Read more...] about Is America’s Economic Crisis No. 1 Priority at Fox News?
And So It All Comes Down to Ayers…
As I have mentioned before -- and it is hardly a radical observation -- the McCain-Palin campaign is trying to shift the race away from the issues, and specifically the economy, and towards "character" and "values," an all-too-common Republican strategy. More specifically, what they want is for the race to be sort of culture war in microcosm: -- On one side are McCain the … [Read more...] about And So It All Comes Down to Ayers…
Market Meltdown Blues
I posted this poem for the first time in September. And wish to heaven it wasn't so prescient... Market Meltdown Blues The U.S. dollar is shrinking, like a summer ice cream scoop; Congress is again overspending, awash in that old debt soup; The struggling Dow and Nasdaq, can’t seem to find a floor; And investor fears keep rising, rising, rising, Investor … [Read more...] about Market Meltdown Blues
Is The McCain Campaign Entering Into The Danger Zone?
Andrew Sullivan says yes. And Marc Ambinder suggests McCain is not truly happy about it... … [Read more...] about Is The McCain Campaign Entering Into The Danger Zone?
GOP Scare Tactics
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about GOP Scare Tactics
Why Ayers Matters (Guest Voice)
Republican presidential candidate Sen John McCain is getting a lot of criticism from many pundits in many news organizations and on many sites (such as this one) for raising the "Ayers" issue. In this Guest Voice column, Michael Reagan, the popular talk show host and son of former President of Ronald Reagan, argues that the issue does matter. Guest Voice posts do not … [Read more...] about Why Ayers Matters (Guest Voice)
Barack Obama: Invisible Man
David Samuels has a long and fascinating piece in TNR on how Ralph Ellison explains Barack Obama. It's hard to sum up or quote, but here's one interesting paragraph: It is one of the outstanding ironies of Obama's story that his political rise has been fueled by a tactical grasp of the same racial logic that condemned Ellison's invisible man to living in a basement by himself. … [Read more...] about Barack Obama: Invisible Man
Palin Report Due Today
The video above is Jon Stewart's round-up of Fox News election coverage since the debate. "If you want to see real panic, don't go to Wall Street, head down to Fox News." Fox complains [Youtube sans ad] that the Newsweek cover photo of Palin isn't retouched: When did untouched become "unfair," as a Republican media consultant claims during the segment? And when did it … [Read more...] about Palin Report Due Today
Analyzing A Loser: John McCain On The Couch
This is a post that I write with especial care because I understand that we are all complex beings, as well as knowing that a lifetime of achievement and celebrity is no bar to weaknesses and venality. In fact, I dare you to name a single famous person who did not have foibles, if not a dark side. Then there is John McCain, a man whom I once considered voting for until his … [Read more...] about Analyzing A Loser: John McCain On The Couch
Financial Crisis Shows Why U.S. is a Long Way from Toppling: Clarin of Argentina
Contrary to the now-popular wisdom about the end of American financial dominance, Jorge Castro of Argentina's Clarin newspaper argues that the crisis merely demonstrates the inherent strength of the United States and its primacy within the global economy. After agreeing with those that believe John McCain is running out of options this election cycle, Castro writes in … [Read more...] about Financial Crisis Shows Why U.S. is a Long Way from Toppling: Clarin of Argentina