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
Is The Margaret Thatcher Era Over?
Here's the case that it isn't... … [Read more...] about Is The Margaret Thatcher Era Over?
Will The GOP’s Political Base Still Love Sarah Palin Tomorrow?
She strays from the base's preferred position on a major hot button issue -- immigration. A sign that she has an eye on 2012 and feels she needs to broaden her constituency? … [Read more...] about Will The GOP’s Political Base Still Love Sarah Palin Tomorrow?
Radical Anti-American Order Threatened By Obama Win: The Daily Nation, Kenya
'The Seduction of Colin Powell' [Hoje Macau, Macau] A little considered aspect of the current American election is this: What will all of the left-wing, anti-American intellectuals in the Third World do with themselves, if the United States of America elects a Black man as its president? For Kenya's Daily Nation, Charles Onyango Obbo writes in part: "In the United … [Read more...] about Radical Anti-American Order Threatened By Obama Win: The Daily Nation, Kenya
He Isn’t Called A Big, Fat, Idiot for Nothing
Ah, Rush: "How come the conservative movement is fracturing,?" when there's a blueprint for winning it, 1980, there's a blueprint. McCain is not the blueprint for how Republicans win landslides. Going after moderates, independents, and all these yokels is not the blueprint. The blueprint's there, 1994, taking back the House, the blueprint's there. Why are these … [Read more...] about He Isn’t Called A Big, Fat, Idiot for Nothing
“Undecided” as Code
Somewhere in the higher-than-usual percentage of undecided voters in the late stages of an almost two-year campaign are those who can't or won't vote for an African-American candidate. The good news for Barack Obama is that, as his lead in the national polls grows toward double digits, it may, as gamblers say, "cover the spread." Michelle Obama recently dismissed the … [Read more...] about “Undecided” as Code
Ex-Bush Press Secretary McClellan And Goldwater’s Granddaughter Endorse Barack Obama
It has been triple-whammy bad news for Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain this week: for a candidate who said he can reach across the aisles, he's having serious trouble holding on to some famous names in his own party. Two more famous names in the past 24 hours alone have come out against McCain, and for his rival Democratic candidate Sen. Barack … [Read more...] about Ex-Bush Press Secretary McClellan And Goldwater’s Granddaughter Endorse Barack Obama
I Caused Barack Obama to Lose…
I'm sorry Obama supporters. I've let you down and now I'm in protective custody. For those that can't see the video above, please go here. … [Read more...] about I Caused Barack Obama to Lose…
Those LAPD Profiling Stats
I flagged this study by Yale law professor Ian Ayres in the civil rights roundup [The link in which I've now fixed -- DS], but I just wanted to block quote some of the findings: We found persistent and statistically significant racial disparities in policing that raise grave concerns that African Americans and Latinos in Los Angeles are, as we put it in the report, … [Read more...] about Those LAPD Profiling Stats
Obama on Food; An Understanding of Systems
Barack Obama, from an interview with Joe Klein: Whatever else we think is going to happen over the next certainly 5 years, one thing we know, the days of easy credit are going to be over.... And what that means is that just from a purely economic perspective, finding the new driver of our economy is going to be critical. There is no better potential driver that pervades all … [Read more...] about Obama on Food; An Understanding of Systems
Funniest Republican of the Day: Sarah Palin
Question: Do you think you're intellectual? Palin: Yehhh-sss. Now that's freakin' hilarious. (Even if, or perhaps precisely because, she wasn't trying to be funny.) You can read the full interview, at People, here. ********** Bonus funny: McCain to Imus: "I think she's the most qualified of anyone recently who has run for vice president to tell you the … [Read more...] about Funniest Republican of the Day: Sarah Palin
Civil Rights Roundup: 10/23/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news Breath-taking results from a study by Ian Ayres on racial profiling by the LAPD. I'm probably going to write a separate post on this one -- the data is jaw-dropping. [Link fixed -- I was wondering why I was getting all those hits to my post on cotton subsidies] The polls on Proposition 8 have been narrowing, and it looks … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 10/23/08