Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune UPDATE: Apparently Washington political big gun David Gergen, who has served Presidents of both parties agrees. Via The Huffington Post's Sam Stein: "There has been a very intentional effort to paint him as somebody outside the mainstream, other, 'he's not one of us,'" said Gergen, who has worked with White Houses, both Republican and … [Read more...] about Uppity Obama
Brandon McInerney: 19 days too old for justice
Michael Mehas says it's too bad for Brandon McInerney that he wasn't born 19 days later. "If he were 19 days younger, he would be legally unfit to be tried as an adult." You will recall that Brandon is the Oxnard, CA, youth charged with first-degree murder and a hate crime in connection with the Feb. 12 killing of his classmate Larry King, 15, who sometimes wore makeup and … [Read more...] about Brandon McInerney: 19 days too old for justice
‘Obama’s Victory Would Revive America’s Image in the Eyes of Ordinary People’: From Cotidianul of Romania
In this first Romanian translation from WORLDMEETS.US about Barack Obama, Adrian Deoanca of Romania's Cotidianul newspaper gives his reckoning of why Europeans are so taken by the young senator. Deoanca writes in part: "Barack Obama was greeted like a superstar in Berlin. He wasn't acclaimed for his indisputable talent at oratory, but because he's the antithesis of the … [Read more...] about ‘Obama’s Victory Would Revive America’s Image in the Eyes of Ordinary People’: From Cotidianul of Romania
From Knoxville: Rededicating TVUUC and Answering Hate with Love
This has been a hectic week in the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (TVUUC) community. Since the horrendous shooting that marred our church last week, we have been blessed with the support of so many people from around the world. Prayers and statements of support have come from congregations across East Tennessee, with some other churches holding services in … [Read more...] about From Knoxville: Rededicating TVUUC and Answering Hate with Love
Bill Clinton’s African Rehab
The comeback this time is low-key and far away as the former president surfaces from his Democratic primary flameout for a Washington Post interview, sounding subdued and philosophical. Sidelined by the Obama campaign, he is on "a grueling journey across Africa to visit some of the places where his charitable foundation has been active--and in the process re-establish his … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton’s African Rehab
For Obama Campaign, Female Leaders Are An Afterthought?
Anne Kornblut of the Washington Post Writers Group has an interesting article today that begins as follows: The bustling Obama headquarters on North Michigan Avenue invites comparisons to a start-up, teeming with young people in jeans clutching BlackBerrys as they walk through the halls. Yet in Democratic circles, another, potentially less welcome, parallel is being made: to … [Read more...] about For Obama Campaign, Female Leaders Are An Afterthought?
Rasmussen Poll: More Voters Think Obama Played Race Card Than McCain In Recent Political Mini-Firestorms
A new poll says that when voters are asked about who has played the race card in the recently, highly-publicized flaps involving charges by the camps of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain, more voters think the Democratic presumptive party nominee pulled the card out of the deck. Rasmussen Reports has the poll: Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the … [Read more...] about Rasmussen Poll: More Voters Think Obama Played Race Card Than McCain In Recent Political Mini-Firestorms
Russian Author Alexander Solzhenitsyn Dies
BBC: Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who exposed Stalin's prison system in his novels and spent 20 years in exile, has died at 89, Russian media say. The author of the Gulag Archipelago and One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich, who returned to Russia in 1994, died of either a stroke or heart failure. … [Read more...] about Russian Author Alexander Solzhenitsyn Dies
It’s Kerry Versus Clark Versus McCain
...and questions about when is a surrogate an effective (or good) surrogate or not. And whether Republican Sen. John McCain is keeping a key promise or not. Details HERE. … [Read more...] about It’s Kerry Versus Clark Versus McCain
China Olympic Prison
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about China Olympic Prison
Election 2008: Ohio
Ohio was one of the highlights of the 2006 Democratic sweep, seeing a Senate seat, the Governor's Mansion and a myriad of other offices swinging into the Democratic column after years of GOP control. Despite this fact, the state will be very, very close this year. President: No Republican has ever won the White House without winning the state of Ohio. Of course that … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Ohio
John McCain’s Vice Presidential Pick
Is this guy from Virginia a serious possibility? … [Read more...] about John McCain’s Vice Presidential Pick
Election 2008: North Dakota
Like some other prairie states, North Dakota is nominally Republican but has a populist streak that can be tapped in hard times. This could lead to some entertaining races in the future but probably not this year. President: North Dakota has not voted Democratic for President since 1964 and, despite the hopes of the Obama campaign, it probably will not do so this … [Read more...] about Election 2008: North Dakota
Election 2008: North Carolina
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