Your daily dose of civil rights and related news Congress is questioning the use of expedited trial procedures against suspected illegal immigrants picked up in an Iowa raid on a meat processing plant. E.J. Dionne asks: Is this the year the youth vote finally arrives? Rep. Mark Souder wants to control DC's gun laws. Mark Souder is from Indiana, which, thanks to the … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 07/25/08
Sad Hearts at the Supermarket
David Brooks this week tried to explain the gap between social pressures and personal responsibility in "The Culture of Debt" by insisting that, in digging America out of its mountain of debt, "the important shifts will be private, as people and communities learn and adopt different social standards. "After the Depression, a savings mentality set in. After the dot-com … [Read more...] about Sad Hearts at the Supermarket
A Dirty Little Secret: Pro Sports and Gangs
Some recent stories have emerged indicating that the NFL is going to start an investigation into whether or not NFL players have been flashing gang signs during TV broadcasts. There has been the predictable reaction on both sides, with some saying they are overracting. I am not sure what is going to happen with this investigation but I am willing to let the process evolve … [Read more...] about A Dirty Little Secret: Pro Sports and Gangs
Obama Not Closing Sale With Some Key Voters Or Clinton Supporters
The emerging pollster conventional wisdom is that Democratic party presumptive nominee Senator Barack Obama is now stuck in a political ditch: he isn't closing the deal with many voters and some Clinton supporters are still dragging their heels and -- an increasing number of news stories suggest -- some Clintonistas seem to be looking for reasons to drag their heels. In … [Read more...] about Obama Not Closing Sale With Some Key Voters Or Clinton Supporters
McCain’s Energy Policy Gains Traction in COPM
Despite the perceived dire climate for Republicans nationally, I continue to watch the COPM (Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan) states for an indicator of how the general election will play out. While the media focuses on the various stops of the Obama team across Europe, John McCain continues to hammer on energy policy and the economy in some of these states, and the … [Read more...] about McCain’s Energy Policy Gains Traction in COPM
Obama speaks in Berlin
Patrick Corrigan, The Toronto Star … [Read more...] about Obama speaks in Berlin
From O Globo of Brazil: Obama’s World Tour – Unsubtle, But Effective
So how are people in other parts of the world, for example Brazil, interpreting Barack Obama's global tour. And is this trip - as John McCain charges - simply an 'electoral caravan' on the part of Obama's campaign? And if it is, does it matter? William Waack writes for Brazil's leading daily: "John McCain is right when he says that his adversary is only committed to … [Read more...] about From O Globo of Brazil: Obama’s World Tour – Unsubtle, But Effective
David Addington: A Patriot Or A Traitor?
One of the underreported and unappreciated aspects of the Age of Bush is that despite the appearance of unanimity some administration officials, typically careerists and not political appointees, were horrified at the embrace of torture and other extralegal actions and spoke up. They were silenced and in some case were fired, demoted or resigned. When an official whose … [Read more...] about David Addington: A Patriot Or A Traitor?
Obama And The Media
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about Obama And The Media
India’s Prime Minister: We Are Not A US Puppet
In a spirited defence of his stand in the Indian parliament regarding his support to the India-US nuclear deal on Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: "Our critics falsely accuse us, that in signing these agreements, we have surrendered the independence of foreign policy and made it subservient to US interests. In this context, I wish to point out that the cooperation … [Read more...] about India’s Prime Minister: We Are Not A US Puppet
SNP Stuns Labour
In another blow for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Scottish National Party has won a bedrock Labour seat in a by-election. The seat had a Labour majority of over 13,000 votes but went to the SNP by a narrow margin. In US political terms the swing was 23%, which is even bigger that some of the upsets that the GOP has seen over the last few months. Speculation … [Read more...] about SNP Stuns Labour
Obama’s Speech In Germany
So now you've read blog posts about the controversy surrounding Democratic presumptive Presidential party nominee Sen. Barack Obama's speech in Germany. Was it cravenly political? A campaign document? Was it reminiscent of JFK's or Ronald Reagan's speeches from Berlin, or was it clearly anchored in a different time and generation? Did you hear or read about it on talk shows … [Read more...] about Obama’s Speech In Germany
Sabato’s Crystal Ball – ANYBODY’S BALL GAME
A Response to Alan Abramowitz, Thomas E. Mann, and Larry J. Sabato on THE MYTH OF A TOSS-UP ELECTION: 07/24/2008 James E. Campbell on RESPONSE: ANYBODY'S BALL GAME In their examination of the fundamentals and the polls to this point in the 2008 election, my esteemed colleagues Alan Abramowitz, Tom Mann, and Larry Sabato indicate that they believe that the presidential … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball – ANYBODY’S BALL GAME
Two Anniversaries, Two Presidential Candidates’ Positions
(Author's Note: In the excitement created by Obama's overseas travels and successes, we may be overlooking two important anniversaries this week, and two different views by the presidential candidates on one of the "anniversary" issues...Their opinions at the end of the post) July 26 marks the 60th anniversary of the desegregation of our armed forces. It was 15 years … [Read more...] about Two Anniversaries, Two Presidential Candidates’ Positions
Bush Euphemistic on Iraq
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about Bush Euphemistic on Iraq
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE MYTH OF A TOSS-UP ELECTION
07/24/2008 Alan Abramowitz, Thomas E. Mann, and Larry J. Sabato on THE MYTH OF A TOSS-UP ELECTION "Too close to call." "Within the margin of error." "A statistical dead heat." If you've been following news coverage of the 2008 presidential election, you're probably familiar with these phrases. Media commentary on the presidential horserace, reflecting the results of a … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE MYTH OF A TOSS-UP ELECTION
UPDATED: Robert Novak’s Unfortunate Accident (includes Daily Show video)
Apparently the pedestrian Robert Novak ran down isn't doing too well. Novak feels 'terrible.' But probably not as terrible as the man he hit. Meanwhile, Novak's had a $50 traffic citation. Jonathan Turley has some details of the aftermath and discussion of the legal ramifications. Turley notes: Novak admits that he was a block away the accident when he was … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Robert Novak’s Unfortunate Accident (includes Daily Show video)
‘A Landmark Day for Torture Disclosure’ (Updated)
The ACLU has released some crucial memoranda which reveal the tortuous path by which the Bush Administration's Department of 'Justice' taught the CIA to rationalize its way to a distinction between 'enhanced interrogation' and plain old-fashioned 'torture.' The Justice Department told the CIA that agents would be safe from prosecution if they they believed 'in good faith' … [Read more...] about ‘A Landmark Day for Torture Disclosure’ (Updated)
Veepstakes: Further Reflections
There are, of course, many factors that go into picking a running mate, and the game for us junkies isn't just about picking a name or ranking names but trying to figure out what factors are most important to a candidate. Take McCain: It doesn't seem to make all that much sense for him to pick someone like himself, that is, old, with a military background, and experienced in … [Read more...] about Veepstakes: Further Reflections
A Gentle Reminder: Obama is Not God
Barack Obama may become the next President. He may even be qualified for the job. I don't do endorsements, as regular readers of my blogging will know. But the Obamamessiah stuff, well-documented here, is outrageous. He's a politician, folks, not some special otherworldly life form. I don't use the term "politician" disdainfully, either. I'm one who believes that … [Read more...] about A Gentle Reminder: Obama is Not God