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
Barack Hussein – ‘Without Doubt, Better Than Bush’: From Al-Ittihad of the United Arab Emirates
Now that Barack Obama's world tour is over - how do Gulf Arabs see the junior senator from Illinois? While some commentary in the Arab world has been less than glowing, at least in the Persian Gulf States, hope for an Obama presidency remains high. For the Al-Ittihad newspaper of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Khalfan Aloasi writes in part: "All people, especially … [Read more...] about Barack Hussein – ‘Without Doubt, Better Than Bush’: From Al-Ittihad of the United Arab Emirates
John Avlon: McCain’s Negative Ads Could Lose Independent Voters
John Avalon, who is perhaps the most prominent independent political book writer, columnist and speaker in the U.S. today, has told CNN that Republican party presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain's negative ads against rival Democratic Sen. Barack Obama could cost him the support of independent voters. Independent voters need to read this story in full, but here's a meaty … [Read more...] about John Avlon: McCain’s Negative Ads Could Lose Independent Voters
Jon Stewart Unleashes on McCain
In my opinion, this is the way to attack McCain's smear campaign: with incredulous laughter. Jon Stewart takes up McCain on the Paris Hilton ad and unleashes on both McCain and the media on the 'Obama-eats-arugula-and-is-arrogant' meme. Don't get down in the mud with him; fight the smears by pointing and laughing... … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart Unleashes on McCain
Playing With Fire in Pakistan
Barack Obama avoided going there and John McCain has trouble remembering where it is, but Pakistan is the hottest spot in the Mideast with today's news that Islamabad's intelligence agency, the ISI, helped plan last month's bombing of the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. A senior US official tells the Washington Post about "significant" evidence that ISI … [Read more...] about Playing With Fire in Pakistan
John McCain’s Corollary To The Golden Rule
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about John McCain’s Corollary To The Golden Rule
Familiar Sound from McCain Campaign
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post … [Read more...] about Familiar Sound from McCain Campaign
In the Eyes of the Beholder
It seems like the new rule for Republicans is to never, ever have a campaign ad with a black male candidate and a white woman. The quip over John McCain's "celebrity" ad has raised a lot of ruckus. Now, I think it is in very poor taste to paint Barack Obama as an empty-headed celebrity ala Britney and Paris, but I don't get the charge of racism coming from some. Some … [Read more...] about In the Eyes of the Beholder