North Carolina is a diverse state producing figures like Jesse Helms and John Edwards. This mix has led to a variety of election trends, voting Republican for President but Democratic for Governor. President: North Carolina is one of the states that Senator Obama has talked about targeting, but the state has not voted Democratic for President in 32 years so it will be an … [Read more...] about Election 2008: North Carolina
Election 2008: New York
At one time New York was home to many prominent Republicans and was the center of the moderate wing of the party. Sadly that is no longer true although I have spoken with some who think this could change if the Democratic party in the state slides too far to the left. But for now they are firmly in control. President: Senator Obama will win the state by 20 to 30 points. No … [Read more...] about Election 2008: New York
Election 2008: New Mexico
Aside from being one of the key swing states in recent years, New Mexico is also the birthplace of yours-truly so I just thought I'd give it a little extra plug. President: New Mexico was one of two states (the other being Iowa) to swing to the Republicans between 2000 and 2004. Odds favor it returning to the Democrats this year although Senator McCain will be helped by … [Read more...] about Election 2008: New Mexico
Trolls: Why inflict anguish on a stranger?
Mattathias Schwartz' Sunday Magazine piece, The Trolls Among Us, covers the Craigslist “str8 brutal dom muscular male" "experiment", the Epilepsy Foundation web forum flashing images hack, the Megan Meier MySpace suicide, and the Kathy Sierra harassment, all from the troll's perspective. Schwartz concludes that, "To say that trolls pose a threat to the Internet at this point … [Read more...] about Trolls: Why inflict anguish on a stranger?
Why America Made Muammar Qaddafi Into a ‘Good Guy’: From Novosti of Russia
Is the narrative of the Bush Administration about how it has brought Libyan Despot Muammar Qadhafi to heel credible? Furthermore, as the White House claims, is the Libyan model a good one for Iran to follow? According to Andrei Fedyashin who writes for Russia's Novosti news service - the answer is an obvious and resounding "no!" Fedyashin writes: "The Americans have … [Read more...] about Why America Made Muammar Qaddafi Into a ‘Good Guy’: From Novosti of Russia
The closing of The Patry Copyright Blog
William Patry, who has been a full-time copyright lawyer for 26 years, is Google's Senior Copyright Counsel. For a long time before he held that position he had a personal blog, The Patry Copyright Blog. His personal blog was "devoted to the geekery of copyright; meaning a blog where people who loved copyright could come and discuss copyright issues in a non-partisan way." … [Read more...] about The closing of The Patry Copyright Blog
Bridging the Signature Gap
One of the major hurdles which the Bob Barr campaign (along with any other third party candidates) must overcome is the sheer volume of footwork required to even get on the ballot in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. There are a dismaying number of hoops to jump through, none of which are required of the Republicans or Democrats. These can involve not only armies … [Read more...] about Bridging the Signature Gap
(Nancy) Grace & CNN Under Fire
TRENTON AND MELINDA DUCKETT A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit claiming CNN's Nancy Grace drove the mother of a missing toddler to suicide can go forward. I'm of two minds on this one. As a journalist, I'm aware of the chilling effect such suits could have. But as a human being who happens to be a journalist, I'm well aware that Grace has worked diligently to make … [Read more...] about (Nancy) Grace & CNN Under Fire
A Whole Deck of Race Cards
The Issue That Dared Not Speak Its Name is now on everybody's lips, including John McCain's and Barack Obama's own. Is this good or bad? Maybe both. On the positive side, it's healthy to drag prejudice into the open (fresh air as a disinfectant and all that). Those who vote against Obama because of race should at the very least be made to squirm for it, if they have the … [Read more...] about A Whole Deck of Race Cards
Media Largely Ignores McCain’s Remarks on Education at Urban League
I was reading the full text of John McCain's speech to the Urban League today, but when I went to look for the media coverage of it, what I found was, shall we say, disappointing. The primary buzz in both newspapers and television was about the "cool" reception he received for some remarks concerning the policy proposals of his opponent, Senator Barack Obama. (Though the … [Read more...] about Media Largely Ignores McCain’s Remarks on Education at Urban League
Bush Red Ink
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Bush Red Ink
New Material for McCain’s Campaign Ads
Last week the Straight Talk Express metamorphosed into the Swift Boaters' Express by launching at least three shameful attacks on Senator Barack Obama; attacks that had absolutely nothing to do with the issues or with the fitness of Senator Obama to be president. Regrettably, the "latest barrage of ads" that included a blatantly false smear on the Senator's patriotism and … [Read more...] about New Material for McCain’s Campaign Ads
That There’s a BLACK DUDE!
Last time I checked, a black dude is trying to become the President of the United States of America. And if my memory serves me well, that black dude is married to a black gal. Just like the picture above! Wow. That there's a black dude! Looky there. I mean they're a smart looking black couple, eh? She's very pretty with a nice dress on and the black dude looks right … [Read more...] about That There’s a BLACK DUDE!
Radioactive Racial Politics
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about Radioactive Racial Politics
Obama’s Complexity
So I finally finished that NYT story published earlier this week, re: Obama's teaching days at the University of Chicago Law School. After that story first appeared, I vaguely recall some commentators on the right celebrating like kids in a candy shop. The cause of their delight were statements in the story, from Richard Epstein and Douglas Baird, who were colleagues of … [Read more...] about Obama’s Complexity
More on Diebold, the patch, and the 2002 Georgia election
The NYTimes' Adam Cohen outlines the issue in an editorial opinion piece Thursday: The 2002 Georgia Senate and Governor Races — Senator Max Cleland, who lost three limbs in Vietnam, was defeated for re-election and Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat, was unseated. Polls had suggested that both men would win. The votes were cast on Diebold A.T.M.-style machines. A whistle-blower … [Read more...] about More on Diebold, the patch, and the 2002 Georgia election
Welcome to Fantasyland
Yesterday, when Gary Hart delivered remarks suggesting that Barack Obama might soften his opposition to domestic oil drilling, I penned an unpopular opinion piece suggesting that the Illinois Senator might face some political fallout from such a move. It was even suggested that I must live in some sort of fantasyland for predicting that Obama's detractors would label him, yet … [Read more...] about Welcome to Fantasyland
Sitemeter Problems
For those trying to load the site (hopefully you can read this in time) we are having problems with Sitemeter causing the site to crash in Internet Explorer. If you use any other browser (like Opera or Safari) the site should load just fine. Our apologies for the problem. … [Read more...] about Sitemeter Problems
McCain setting his own trap with celebrity gambit
By now everybody is familiar with McCain's latest barrage of ads accusing Obama of being a vapid celebrity akin to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Many people have commented, rightly in my opinion, that this move demeans John McCain and undermines his "maverick" brand. He might get a short-term boost from a lazy media willing to play his provocative ads for free. But he's … [Read more...] about McCain setting his own trap with celebrity gambit
Oil Judgment
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com … [Read more...] about Oil Judgment