Well, Barack Obama's long-awaited world tour has finally begun - and according to this editorial from France's Le Figaro newspaper - things have been going his way. First, dwelling on Obama's amazing popularity in Europe, Pierre Rousselin warns: "This capacity to restore the image of an America that wants so badly to be loved is an electoral asset. Provided, however, that … [Read more...] about Welcome Obama: A Man Who Has ‘Played His Cards Right’
What McCain gets wrong about the surge and Iraq
Multiple statements by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki have confirmed his supported for a short timetable for US troops to withdraw from Iraq. Even the spokesman responsible for a clumsy and half-hearted walkback of that timetable went on camera today and reaffirmed that US troops should be gone by 2010. As Spencer Ackerman notes, this puts John McCain in quite a box. … [Read more...] about What McCain gets wrong about the surge and Iraq
Iran’s nuclear program, Israel and the US : buying time after Geneva
Iran’s goal seems to be to bait Israel into quickly making precision attacks on its nuclear installations before diplomatic options are exhausted. Its apparently irrational regime may think the mess in the region will be so great that it will obtain even bigger gains in political influence than those from the debacle in Iraq. So it is deftly buying time through diplomacy and … [Read more...] about Iran’s nuclear program, Israel and the US : buying time after Geneva
Bringing Back a Black-and-White World
A London gallery next week will show pictures of Johnny Cash, an American legend, some of them unseen for almost half a century. Taken by my friend Marvin Koner, they show, not the familiar man in black with a life-scarred face, but a smooth-skinned 27-year-old at the brink of a career that would sear his voice and music into America's memory. Koner was one of the young men … [Read more...] about Bringing Back a Black-and-White World
Civil Rights Roundup: 07/21/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news The Boston Globe has a report on Democratic efforts to find an "anti-Scalia." Could Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a former bigwig in the Civil Rights division of the Justice Department, be that guy? A dissident Catholic group claims it has ordained three women as priests. I missed this while I was in NY, but … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 07/21/08
Squandering Those Few Shreds Of Credibility
The kerfuffle over whether Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki explicitly endorsed Barack Obama's Iraq troop withdrawal plan will pass quickly, but it is worth noting before it does that the Bush administration just can't help but squander what few shreds of credbility it still has left. In case you missed it, Al-Maliki tokld Der Spiegel over the weekend that he found much to … [Read more...] about Squandering Those Few Shreds Of Credibility
New Yorker Reporter Denied Seat On Obama Overseas Trip Plane
Was the campaign of Democratiic presumptive Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama sending a publication -- and perhaps the press in general -- a petulant or hard-ball message? Or was it strictly coincidence? And if it is to explained and dismissed by some as a coincidence is it as believable as being a coincidence in the political world as to the weekend clarification … [Read more...] about New Yorker Reporter Denied Seat On Obama Overseas Trip Plane
A New Candidate for the GOP
No, I'm not talking about replacing John McCain for this year's election. While almost all of the political news from the weekend for McCain looked better suited to an M. Night Shymalan film, I don't expect anyone to be rushing the Senator toward the door. But for the moment, let's assume that Shaun Mullen was correct in his earlier column and Barack Obama wins in November. (By … [Read more...] about A New Candidate for the GOP
India’s Nuclear Dilemma: Washington Crosses Fingers
On Tuesday the crucial vote in the Indian Parliament over the India-US civil nuclear deal would decide the fate of the present coalition government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "The Washington establishment is keeping its fingers crossed and lips sealed before Tuesday’s trust vote," says The Economic Times. "The White House and the State Department have refrained … [Read more...] about India’s Nuclear Dilemma: Washington Crosses Fingers
Surge in support for gays serving openly in the military
This from a Washington Post-ABC News poll (July 10-13, 2008) out Saturday: Public attitudes about gays in the military have shifted dramatically since President Bill Clinton unveiled what became his administration's "don't ask, don't tell" policy 15 years ago today. Seventy-five percent of Americans in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll said gay people who are open about … [Read more...] about Surge in support for gays serving openly in the military
Musings on Barack Obama: Why The Only Question Is What His Margin of Victory Will Be
Even with the election three and a half months out, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that Barack Obama will be the next president. This is not a particularly rash prediction given that color-blind Democrats and Independents and even some Republicans will far outnumber people who would never vote for an African-American, Obama has an enthusiastic base and will attract a … [Read more...] about Musings on Barack Obama: Why The Only Question Is What His Margin of Victory Will Be
Why the New Yorker Cartoon Matters
In the Blogosphere, issues tend to come and go. People tend to react to something rather quickly and move on. Now I am a little late on commenting on the whole New Yorker cartoon with Barak Obama in somekind of Muslim-type dress, giving a fist bump to his wife Michelle who is dressed up as a modern-day Angela Davis, with a flag burning in the fireplace and a picture of … [Read more...] about Why the New Yorker Cartoon Matters
On Barack Obama, ambition, & the greater good
I may be the last blogger to finish Ryan Lizza's 15,000 word New Yorker article on Obama's roots in Chicago politics. My chosen quote: Many have said that part of the appeal of “Dreams” is its honesty, pointing out that it was written at a time when Obama had no idea that he would run for office. In fact, Obama had been talking about a political career for years, musing about … [Read more...] about On Barack Obama, ambition, & the greater good
A Family Triumphs
This story is absolutely amazing, a must-read, if there ever was one. The author's husband is a good friend and former colleague. We had drinks in D.C., shortly after Josephine was born. It's remarkable, how much they've endured and how far they've travelled together. … [Read more...] about A Family Triumphs
Election 2008: Scoreboard
We are now through exactly half of the states, 25 down and 25 more to go. If you haven't taken a look at the state by state summaries please check the blog for each one. President: So far Senator Obama retains his lead over Senator McCain. The numbers from the first 25 states give him 162 Electoral Votes to 125 for Senator McCain. This is a net Democratic Gain of 16 over … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Scoreboard
Election 2008: Missouri
Missouri is considered a key to Presidential elections not only because of it being an important swing state but because it has voted with the winner in 25 of the last 26 Presidential elections (the only miss was in 1956). President: Polls have been very close and the state could easily go to either candidate. The Democrats hope to start with a big vote in the urban areas … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Missouri
On Obama & Cleland. And Georgia voting machine fraud
Political Wire is pointing to Robert Novak today: GOP strategists "are privately conceding that the GOP could lose Georgia's 15 presidential electors for the first time since 1992 because of Bob Barr's ballot position as the Libertarian Party presidential candidate." "Third-party presidential candidates almost always run more poorly in the actual election than their showing … [Read more...] about On Obama & Cleland. And Georgia voting machine fraud
Election 2008: Mississippi
Mississippi is one of those states that tends to vote Republican at the federal level but leans to the Democrats in many local contests. President: Some on the Obama campaign have made noises about combining a strong black turnout with reduced GOP enthusiasm to carry the state for the first time in 32 years. But recent polls have not been encouraging and it looks like … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Mississippi
Election 2008: Minnesota
Like Michigan, Minnesota will be a key battleground in November. Although it has not voted Republican since 1972, the recent contests have been quite close. President: Recent polls have shown Obama with a lead but Bush came very close to winning the state in both 2000 and 2004. Leans Democratic Senate: Incumbent Norm Coleman (R) is seeking a second term. For a time it … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Minnesota
Election 2008: Michigan
Over the years Michigan has seemed to be a Democratic stronghold, voting with the party in the last 4 Presidential races. But most of the races have been close and this will be a key battleground in November. President: Michigan may be one of the few states where there are competing downdrafts. As in much of the country, the Republican brand is not popular here but neither … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Michigan