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
A Different Day, More Violent Invective
It was only two days ago that Joe Biden, with an assist from Bill and Hillary Clinton, appeared at a campaign rally at the Riverfront Sports Complex in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but the atmosphere could not be more different when it was Sarah Palin's turn today: "Chris Hackett addressed the increasingly feisty crowd as they await the arrival of Gov. Palin. "Each time the … [Read more...] about A Different Day, More Violent Invective
Gallup Rasmussen Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Polls: Obama Maintains Steady Lead Over McCain
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama continues to maintain a steady lead over Republican candidate Sen. John McCain in a trio of major polls out today. They show a race with some minor movement but seemingly now fixed into a holding pattern. One key to what's happening: Obama has made inroads among independent voters. GALLUP POLL: Barack Obama leads … [Read more...] about Gallup Rasmussen Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Polls: Obama Maintains Steady Lead Over McCain
The Financial 9/11
Yesterday's stock-market surge was at least a temporary all-clear for millions of Americans to emerge from the shock and awe that has devastated their financial lives. As they look around at the rubble of savings, 401ks and home values, what are they thinking and feeling? Across the country, there are reports of victims. "In some places," CNN reports, "mental-health hot … [Read more...] about The Financial 9/11
The Funniest Palin
Some of Monty Python's humor was admittedly crass, although I'd argue that most of it was informed and intelligent. John Cleese reminds us of the grey matter lurking behind the laughs, here: H/t Mr. Sullivan. … [Read more...] about The Funniest Palin
SCOTUS: No New Trial for Troy Anthony Davis
A sad day for justice. AP: The Supreme Court has cleared the way for a Georgia man to be put to death for killing a police officer two weeks after it halted his execution to consider his appeal. Troy Davis asked the high court to intervene in his case and order a new trial because seven of the nine witnesses against him have recanted their testimony. Former President Jimmy … [Read more...] about SCOTUS: No New Trial for Troy Anthony Davis
Bill Ayers & The Fog of Pathos
A fog of pathos has settled over the McCain-Palin campaign. While the Sarahcudda continues feeding red meat to the dwindling audiences at campaign rallies, which is the only thing she has been adept at, the Big Guy keeps peeing all over those $525 Italian loafers. The Bill Ayers "controversy" is a window through the fog into McCain's state of mind. Whenever he has met … [Read more...] about Bill Ayers & The Fog of Pathos
The Debate We’d Like to See
And yet, sadly, probably not the one we will see this week. It's true that John McCain has heeded the nervous rumblings of his base and is now threatening to utter the dreaded name of Bill Ayers tomorrow night, but this is still likely to provide an unsatisfying evening's entertainment. Many of the complaints have been levied over the format of the debates, which often render … [Read more...] about The Debate We’d Like to See
PAYGO, Obama, and the Blue Dogs
As some of you know, I've been running a little civics experiment over at my blog. In it, I asked congressional candidates in local races whether they'd publicly commit to fiscal responsibility via PAYGO -- and I was very careful in how I defined PAYGO: Once upon a time, in another era, the concept of ‘pay as you go’ was well understood. In recent years, unfortunately, … [Read more...] about PAYGO, Obama, and the Blue Dogs
No Obama Scandal to be Found in the Latest National Enquirer ‘Scandal’ Story
The National Enquirer headlines, OBAMA SEX PERV SCANDAL. In it they sensationalize the possibility that Barack Obama was mentored in his youth by a man who may have turned out to be a pedophile. James Joyner links to the blogosphere storm before commenting: Obviously, one hopes that young Barry wasn’t the target of such a horrible experience. Regardless, he is who he is. … [Read more...] about No Obama Scandal to be Found in the Latest National Enquirer ‘Scandal’ Story
Civil Rights Roundup: 10/14/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news Among other problems, the language interpretation at Guantanamo Bay trials is awful. Wyoming remains one of the few states without a hate crimes law. The Tulsa World: Many Native Americans don't celebrate Columbus Day. Civil rights leaders are worrying that a new agreement between Las Vegas officials and ICE will … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 10/14/08