Both presumptive party Presidential nominees are now poised to begin fatly-funded campaigns. Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has raised $52 million in June and if you've been weeping over an underfunded Republican Sen. John McCain, don't: the Arizona Senator used a funding mechanism to raise $62.5 million. More than ever, 2008 could be the battle of the partisan bank accounts … [Read more...] about Obama and McCain: Both Raise Big Campaign Fund Bucks
On Moral Relativism in America
The Pope is in the midst of a world tour, currently in Australia, and gave a speech this week where he criticized moral relativism. This took place at one of the world's largest youth gatherings. “Relativism, by indiscriminately giving value to practically everything, has made ‘experience’ all-important. Yet experiences, detached from any consideration of what is good or … [Read more...] about On Moral Relativism in America
Obama, Terrorism and Cubbyhold Foreign Policy
Kevin Sullivan in a must-read post looks at terrorism, terrorism policy, the way it's perceived on the right and left and Democratic presumptive nominee Sen. Barack Obama's position on the issue.. One observation: If Neoconservatives broaden the conflict to the point of absurdity, Leftists in turn do their very best to whittle it into irrelevance. Neither approach makes … [Read more...] about Obama, Terrorism and Cubbyhold Foreign Policy
Bob Barr goes for the privacy vote
CNet calls it a long-shot bid for the geek vote: Speaking [in Las Vegas] at a political conference on Friday, Barr focused almost exclusively on privacy and eavesdropping--and argued that both major parties are far too surveillance-happy. "Both of them will continue down the same track," Barr said, noting that both McCain and Obama supported last week's bill to immunize … [Read more...] about Bob Barr goes for the privacy vote
GM Ejection
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen … [Read more...] about GM Ejection
How To Get The Barney Gumble Vote
The terms nuance, satire, racist, subtlety and flip-flopping are taking a pretty good beating this political season with the feckless news media outdoing itself in the further dumbing down of what passes for political discourse. Barack Obama's position on Iraq is fundamentally unchanged, but every nuance of that position is attacked by supporters of John McCain as … [Read more...] about How To Get The Barney Gumble Vote
Dick Morris Strikes Again
He's fun to watch. Fun to read. His columns are highly readable and his books are almost addictive. We've linked to and discussed some of his lively columns here. But when it comes to laser-like accuracy and Dick Morris you might say buyer beware. … [Read more...] about Dick Morris Strikes Again
Stossel, Staddon, & Strahilevitz: eliminate stop signs, speed limits, & road rage
John Stossel reprises Friday's 20/20 report on TownHall today. He says it's time to get rid of stop signs: Rolling through a stop sign in Michigan puts two points on your driving record. That hikes your car insurance premium. Fighting the ticket could cost even more. So to avoid the points and legal fees, most people plead guilty to a lesser offense: impeding traffic. The … [Read more...] about Stossel, Staddon, & Strahilevitz: eliminate stop signs, speed limits, & road rage
All Tied Up?
Every conceivable metaphor - the prevailing winds, the political tide, the conventional wisdom - has been thrown at the presidential race for months now, explaining why this November would be the death knell of the GOP and how you should already begin practicing saying "President Obama." Still, for some reason, the most recent polls from Rasmussen seem to show the race … [Read more...] about All Tied Up?
Jon Stewart on Media Reaction to The New Yorker Cartoon
'Nowhere was the anger at the media greater than in the media.' Stewart eviscerates our reactive and sensation-loving media. He also has a good suggestion for how the Obama campaign should have responded. … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart on Media Reaction to The New Yorker Cartoon
From France: ‘The Obamas as Terrorists – Is Irony Compatible with News?’
It's creating almost as much controversy as the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad did last year: Does The New Yorker cover - with Barack and Michele Obama dressed like terrorists - go too far? Pascal Riche of France's Rue 89 suggests that the episode is a cautionary tale for French newspapers - and whatever the left-wing American weekly was trying to do - it has … [Read more...] about From France: ‘The Obamas as Terrorists – Is Irony Compatible with News?’
Candidate Issues Information Pages
The Bob Barr campaign has finally put up an issues page where you can read policy statements from Barr across most of the issues, with links to detailed explanations for each. Lots of things for Libertarians to love, no doubt, and not very far off from Ron Paul's positions. For John McCain, just go to the Senator's home page and scroll over the "Issues" button. You'll get a … [Read more...] about Candidate Issues Information Pages
From Iraq’s Azzaman newspaper – ‘Obama or McCain: Awaiting the Next American Southpaw’
Iraqis - like people in rest of the world and maybe even more - are watching the U.S. presidential race with great interest. According to this op-ed by Fateh Abdulsalam of Iraq's Azzaman newspaper, one interesting fact about the two remaining candidates, is that they are both left-handed. Referring to recent U.S. news articles about this, Abdulsalam writes: "There were … [Read more...] about From Iraq’s Azzaman newspaper – ‘Obama or McCain: Awaiting the Next American Southpaw’
Education: Compare and Contrast
Today, John McCain addressed the NAACP, and given that a large portion of his speech centered on education issues, this is as good a time as any to visit the education proposals of the candidates. In preparation for this, I spoke today with Nancy Pfotenhauer, a senior policy advisor on domestic issues for John McCain's campaign, and I'll include a portion of that interview … [Read more...] about Education: Compare and Contrast
Sound Economy
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Sound Economy
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE ELECTORAL BAROMETER VS. THE POLLS
I missed several Sabato’s Crystal Ball emails due to accidental unsubscribing. Here is the last of many make-up posts. 06/19/2008 Alan I. Abramowitz on THE ELECTORAL BAROMETER VS. THE POLLS A question that keeps arising in connection with this year's presidential race is why, given the extremely favorable political environment for Democrats, Barack Obama has not … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE ELECTORAL BAROMETER VS. THE POLLS
News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: July 16th
A regular feature of news and opinion pieces from the Israeli and Palestinian press. 1.) The Israeli press is dominated by coverage of today's prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah. By an overwhelming vote, the Israeli Cabinet recently agreed to hand over several prisoners – including the infamous militant Samir Kuntar – in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli … [Read more...] about News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: July 16th
New Yorker Cover Fear
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about New Yorker Cover Fear
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: HOW OBAMA DID IT
I missed several Sabato’s Crystal Ball emails due to accidental unsubscribing. Here is one of many make-up posts. 06/05/2008 Justin Sizemore's HOW OBAMA DID IT: Big states, small states, caucuses and campaign strategy Shortly before ten o'clock on the evening February 1, 2008, Barack Obama's chartered 737 took off from Albuquerque International Airport bound for … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: HOW OBAMA DID IT
Obama Versus McCain: Will The Most Optimistic Candidate Win?
In yet another poll in the never-ending daily Hometown Buffet of polls, a new ABC-Washington Post poll finds Democrat Senator Barack Obama 8 points ahead of Republican Senator John McCain in the race for the White House. But is there an underlying issue: will the most optimistic candidate win? First, the poll: Sen. Barack Obama holds his biggest advantage of the … [Read more...] about Obama Versus McCain: Will The Most Optimistic Candidate Win?