What do Pan-Arabists - in other words, people who regard the Arab world as a single nation - think of the U.S. presidential election? This editorial from Yemen - a country that is home to a tremendous reservoir of seething militancy, starts with an examination of the history of when the Arab people have been fooled - and warns them not to expect any favors from whoever … [Read more...] about Arabs Should Not Pin Their Hopes on Obama – Or McCain: Al Wahdawi, Yemen
Noah Feldman: Politics & Religion Are Technologies
A TED Talk from 2003: … [Read more...] about Noah Feldman: Politics & Religion Are Technologies
Banned Books: Christians Fight Fire With Brimstone
You've got to give them credit. WaPo: During a week that librarians nationwide are highlighting banned books, conservative Christian students and parents showcased their own collection outside a Fairfax County high school yesterday -- a collection they say was banned by the librarians themselves. More than 40 students, many wearing black T-shirts stamped with the words … [Read more...] about Banned Books: Christians Fight Fire With Brimstone
Biden Spoke At 8th Grade Level And Palin At 10th Grade Level During Debate
Hello, boys and girls! Are you enjoying your Saturday so far? Me, too!! Did you see the debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden Thursday? Both are running for the office of Vice President, which means if the person who is running with them on what is called a "ticket" for President gets elected and dies in office, one of them could become the President! The President is like … [Read more...] about Biden Spoke At 8th Grade Level And Palin At 10th Grade Level During Debate
Our Next President: A One-Term Wonder?
In the best of times, the presidency is a tough job. One can come in with all sorts of high-falutin' ideas and goals, but something always comes up to complicate things. People flying airplanes into buildings... radicals taking a bunch of diplomats hostage... It's always some dang thing or another. 2008, of course, is not the best of times. This morning, TMV co-blogger … [Read more...] about Our Next President: A One-Term Wonder?
Dating Joe Biden
Thursday night was, Sarah Palin says, like most first dates, a bit awkward at first. "There was a lot of eye contact," she recalls, "and it was pleasant. It was, hey, you know, we're both in this together. We both understand what each other would be going through at this time. Kind of wondering, what's coming next...So, that connection, it was some good chemistry. And again, … [Read more...] about Dating Joe Biden
PETA’s Latest Demand: Get Rid Of Cows’ Milk In Ice Cream
PETA, the headline-grabbing, news-savvy animal rights group that some serious animal rights advocates can't stand, has pitchforked itself into the headlines again. The target this time: Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream. The demand: Get rid of cows' milk in ice cream. This piece by Pajamas Media's Michelle Catalano (a great conservative blogging powerhouse who left the political … [Read more...] about PETA’s Latest Demand: Get Rid Of Cows’ Milk In Ice Cream
It’s Fox News’ Screaming Bill O’Reilly Versus Democrat Barney Frank
Once upon a time people could go on TV shows and, if a host didn't like a politician's answer, they would nail them with facts over and over, then move onto another question and nail them with more facts in their follow ups. NBC's late, lamented Tim Russert did his homework, displayed it, and kept his interviews on a world-class political level. The flip side is Fox News' … [Read more...] about It’s Fox News’ Screaming Bill O’Reilly Versus Democrat Barney Frank
Sarah Palin Wins Debate by Darn (Guest Voice)
In this Guest Voice post Walter Brasch says this week's Vice Presidential debate between Democratic Sen. Joe Biden and Republican Gov. Sarah Palin proved one thing: Palin can be prepped. Journalism professor and author Brasch is an award-winning syndicated newspaper columnist and radio commentator, and president of the Pennsylvania Press Club. Guest Voice posts do not … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Wins Debate by Darn (Guest Voice)
Will California Get the Next Bailout?
Since everyone else seems to be coming to the Feds with their hands out, the State of California may be jumping on the bandwagon. LOS ANGELES — California, the nation’s most populous state and the world’s sixth-biggest economy, has warned the Treasury Department that it may need a $7 billion emergency loan from the federal government because it is running out of cash and … [Read more...] about Will California Get the Next Bailout?
OJ Simpson and Bluebeard, A Lost Story
Men and women were weeping, holding each other in the courtroom tonight as the verdicts were read aloud on OJ and his cohort. The courtroom rang with the woman reader's voice, clipped, shrill even: both men Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty over and over, Guilty Weirdly, truly weirdly, this Guilty verdict comes 13 years to the exact date of OJ's acquittal on murdering two … [Read more...] about OJ Simpson and Bluebeard, A Lost Story
McCain Readies Big Attack On Obama’s Character
A new Washington Post story makes it all but official, and in surprisingly candid language: the McCain campaign is getting ready to launch a fierce attack on Democratic Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama's character in order to "change the subject" from the economy: Sen. John McCain and his Republican allies are readying a newly aggressive assault on Sen. Barack Obama's … [Read more...] about McCain Readies Big Attack On Obama’s Character
OJ Simpson Found GUILTY On All Counts
A Nevada Jury has convicted OJ Simpson on all 12 counts relating the the incident in a Las Vegas hotel about a year ago. These guilty verdicts relating to the robbery and kidnapping charges could send him to jail for the rest of his life. He will remain in county jail until early December when the judge imposes sentence. Depending on what the judge decides, he could be … [Read more...] about OJ Simpson Found GUILTY On All Counts
The Republican Party Has Become a Small-Town Party
David Brooks' Palin Rebound column provoked a lot of comment earlier today, but I think he was more on point tonight on The NewsHour. There he concisely summed up why McCain's small-town strategy is a loser: Mark mentioned small-town values when talking about Michigan. You know, I think Sarah Palin did very fine last night by her own standards, but this has become -- the … [Read more...] about The Republican Party Has Become a Small-Town Party
McCain Campaign Ads Now Going Almost All Negative
Those who, in 2000, felt Sen. John McCain was a different kind of candidate and who believed his promise to run an honorable campaign have to read this news with a sense of grief over what might have been: The McCain campaign has now shifted virtually 100 percent of his national ad spending into negative ads attacking Obama, a detailed breakdown of his ad buys … [Read more...] about McCain Campaign Ads Now Going Almost All Negative
There Are Reasons Why McCain Can Still Win
Here are 12 of them. … [Read more...] about There Are Reasons Why McCain Can Still Win
With McCain, If It Is Not The “L” Word, It Has To Be The “G.O.” Thing
The following sequence of events caught my attention during the last couple of days: On September 29, during an interview with ABC News' Ron Claiborne, John McCain denied that he had blamed Obama and the Democrats for the bailout implosion and then had called for an end to the finger-pointing in the very next sentence. According to TPM Election Central: Ron Clairborne: … [Read more...] about With McCain, If It Is Not The “L” Word, It Has To Be The “G.O.” Thing
The Abortion Journey
Volokh conspirator Todd Zywicki has an interesting post up asking about people's development on the issue of abortion. Specifically, how and why they might have changed their mind on the issue. He says that he knows plenty of people who used to be pro-choice, but became pro-life -- but few who made the opposite journey. And for those who have, he's curious as to what prompted … [Read more...] about The Abortion Journey
Palin Bush Pilot
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Palin Bush Pilot
The Vice Presidential Debate Rewind
At the close of last night's debate I posted my take that a largely lackluster debate went in Sarah Palin's favor. This drew some criticism from readers and, at least according to the polls, I was in the minority by holding that opinion. I would like to visit the views of some friends on the subject, having had nearly 24 hours to digest it all, but also offer some observations … [Read more...] about The Vice Presidential Debate Rewind