ABC has posted excerpts. It's basically entirely about foreign policy (except a brief digression on Palin's religious beliefs in which Gibson was simply awful -- as in, asking unfair questions with false assumptions awful), and most of it seemed pretty standard aggressive, blustering, conservative fare. Oh, and she seemed to commit us to going to war with Russia if they … [Read more...] about Palin’s Interview With Gibson
Palin doesn’t know what the Bush Doctrine is
Forget the war with Russia quote. Yes, that was a terrifying - but clarifying - moment in that it revealed the utter folly of pushing NATO membership for Georgia or Ukraine. Smart politicians are never supposed to admit to a possible war with Russia, even if it's technically possible. And her "perhaps so" comment is getting WIDE play already (front page on the Washington Post, … [Read more...] about Palin doesn’t know what the Bush Doctrine is
Canoodling with Clinton, Obama Courts the Cosi Commuters
Barack Obama tried to patch things up with the predominant Democratic dynasty today, lunching with Bill Clinton near his Harlem office before going to his joint appearance with John McCain at ground zero. If the food was any guide of Obama's future as a candidate and president, the mushy middle is where he's headed. The lunch menu, according to the campaign, was a choice of … [Read more...] about Canoodling with Clinton, Obama Courts the Cosi Commuters
McCain Campaign Spin Control Glitch: Palin Says War With Russia Might Be Necessary
Sometimes spin control plans -- even those that audaciously change the rules of the media-politician game as practiced over the last half of the 20th century up until this month -- can go wrong. ABC News' exclusive and highly-touted interview with the still-under-wraps-from-the-media GOP Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin has produced a headline that is probably … [Read more...] about McCain Campaign Spin Control Glitch: Palin Says War With Russia Might Be Necessary
9-11
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about 9-11
Presidential Campaign 2008’s REAL Post Convention Knock Out Punch
It's all about the ground game -- as Al Giordano outlines in detail in this eye-opener here. … [Read more...] about Presidential Campaign 2008’s REAL Post Convention Knock Out Punch
Ron Paul Brings Calls on Third Party Presidential Candidates to Unite Against Two Party System
In what Ralph Nader called the beginning of a political realignment, Republican Congressman and former Candidate for President Ron Paul held a press conference yesterday in which he brought together the presidential candidates of the Green, Libertarian, and Constitution parties as well as perennial presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, and called on the American people to reject … [Read more...] about Ron Paul Brings Calls on Third Party Presidential Candidates to Unite Against Two Party System
“Hockey Mom” fades, “Lipstick Season” awaits
“Hockey Mom” is still pulling great ratings, but I saw my first “I’m sick of” comment in the media pages today. Tomorrow, “HM” episodes will have been on the air 24/7 for two weeks, with almost no change in the dialogue. Sarah Palin says the same lines, over and over again. It’s worse than being forced to watch nothing but “Survivor” 24/7 for two weeks. Pretty soon, nothing … [Read more...] about “Hockey Mom” fades, “Lipstick Season” awaits
9-11, Just This
Just this. The day the planes were hijacked, they were bound for California; many people were coming home to Calif to their loved ones. When you think of this day and you think of the many lost at the Pentagon, at the Trade Towers and in the field at Pennsylvania, think too of the 180+ California families who lost everything dear to them that day. Many of you know that … [Read more...] about 9-11, Just This
The Homeless Vote
Some folks in the comments of my last post asked about whether homeless people have the right to vote, given that they don't have a home (and thus, perhaps, a permanent address). Ask and I shall deliver. The National Coalition for the Homeless has a state-by-state chart detailing the rules. The verdict seems to be "theoretically, they can vote, but in some states there are … [Read more...] about The Homeless Vote
Slate’s “Going Gray” issue on automated driving
Slate has commissioned a series of articles on aging and the aged: Last week, the Republican Party nominated John McCain as its candidate for president. As you may have heard, McCain is no spring chicken. Having just turned 72, he would be the oldest man ever elected president of the United States if he wins. McCain's age has provided much fodder for the nation's political … [Read more...] about Slate’s “Going Gray” issue on automated driving
Synthetic Outrage
I'm a little wary of even trying to say anything about the whole "lipstick" affair, because it seems to only give what I think is a trivial issue more strength. But, Clive Crooks says it best: One wonders how much lower this election can sink. The furore over "you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig" sets a new benchmark. The idea that Barack Obama seriously … [Read more...] about Synthetic Outrage
My education from 9/11
Rather than doing yet another column on this, I will simply direct you to my latest column at Pajamas Media. While there may have been many lessons to learn from the attacks, the biggest and most painful lesson I took from it was about myself and my own personal shortcoming. … [Read more...] about My education from 9/11
Quote Of The Day: Barack Obama’s Big Political Mistakes
The political Quote Of The Day actually is a variety of quotes of the day from Newsweek's Howard Fineman, who stands back and takes a good look at the variety of mistakes Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama has made and -- which is why he is facing increasingly rocky political terrain...terrain not rocky due to the manufactured flap over lipstick on a pig. Let's go through … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Barack Obama’s Big Political Mistakes
The Party On the Right
The Republican convention sparked considerable interest abroad, and not just because of media-darling Sarah Palin. From Rudy Giuliani to Ron Paul to Cindy McCain, the Republicans who spoke received wide attention. And of course there were opinions about the candidate himself, who is generally out of favor (see the BBC’s piece Obama win preferred in world poll. In terms of … [Read more...] about The Party On the Right
9/11
When the planes hit the Twin Towers and the Pentagon that morning, I said to someone, "This is the worst day of my life." I didn't know then what I meant, but it was as if the crust of the earth had suddenly cracked and we would never again feel safe going about our daily lives. Over time, that feeling has receded, but the world has not been the same since. What we lost … [Read more...] about 9/11
Flash of Inspiration
In Michigan, as in the rest of the country, many people are suffering from home foreclosures. Most of us feel bad for those individuals fighting to keep their home. Local Republican leaders, on the other hand, saw an opportunity to prevent people from voting. They've announced that they will deploy challengers on Election Day to prevent people whose addresses have been … [Read more...] about Flash of Inspiration
Obama Implodes (Guest Voice)
Has the campaign of Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama been caught momentarily flat-footed due to the nomination of Gov. Sarah Palin as GOP Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's running mate? Or is it going from stumble to stumble and ineffective response to ineffective response as it starts to implode? Conservative talk show host Michael Reagan, son of former … [Read more...] about Obama Implodes (Guest Voice)
Cartoonists View Obama Palin Lipstick Pig Controversy
Palin Pig Pit Bull: Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com Lipstick Smear: Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com McCain Lipstick on a Pig: Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Cartoonists View Obama Palin Lipstick Pig Controversy
Sarah Palin
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin