Who would have predicted that the Democratic primary might come down to the vote of white guys in Pennsylvania? Very few of us, that's who. The Christian Science Monitor examines the current strangeness. … [Read more...] about Reality Stranger than Fiction … Again
Why Obama Will Win In Pennsylvania
Although most polls show Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama among likely Democratic voters in tomorrow's Pennsylvania primary, I will once again stick out my neck and join the most accurate poll of the campaign season and predict an Obama victory. This is because of two reasons: Clinton's relentlessly negative campaigning has drowned out her message for many voters and the … [Read more...] about Why Obama Will Win In Pennsylvania
As you watch primary coverage, remember: few women gatekeep in news media
As you consider the output of the coverage you watch over the next few days related to the remaining primaries and their results in the Democratic presidential nominee race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, keep in mind this lengthy list of data and statistics that show how poorly the news media reflects the female population - especially among the gatekeepers. … [Read more...] about As you watch primary coverage, remember: few women gatekeep in news media
Pennsylvania Primary: A Big Dud?
Tomorrow is The Big Day! Or at least the latest in a series of roughly one half dozen Big Days we have been promised in this primary campaign season. During this long, torturous pause since the last caucus we have been promised that this was going to be vital. Words such as decisive, critical, and crucial have been bandied about. One pundit on the Sunday morning chat festivals … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Primary: A Big Dud?
Zogby Poll: Clinton Widens Her Lead And Heads For Pennsylvania Win Over Obama (UPDATED)
Today is likely to be a day of highly-watched final polls surfacing in the Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary but the latest Zogby poll underscores a trend: undecided voters now seem to be breaking for Senator Hillary Clinton, who most polls now show poised to defeat Senator Barack Obama: The final weekend before tomorrow's important primary election in … [Read more...] about Zogby Poll: Clinton Widens Her Lead And Heads For Pennsylvania Win Over Obama (UPDATED)
Rice: Playground Diplomacy on al-Sadr
During a time when calm and diplomacy may have never been more important in the war torn country of Iraq, when the window of political opportunity provided by the surge is closing, Secretary of State Condi Rice made some rather remarkable comments about Muqtada al-Sadr. In fact, she came close to calling him a coward. "I know he's sitting in Iran," Rice said dismissively, … [Read more...] about Rice: Playground Diplomacy on al-Sadr
Health Care: N.J. Democrats Straightjacket Themselves Over A Hospital Closing Crisis
St. Joseph's in Paterson would lose millions for charity care under Governor Corzine plan that would force some hospitals to close. There is no question that America's health-care system is in crisis and that extends to all 50 states. But if you want to see where U.S. hospitals may find themselves sooner or later, consider the number of hospitals in New Jersey that have … [Read more...] about Health Care: N.J. Democrats Straightjacket Themselves Over A Hospital Closing Crisis
Carter and Hamas
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Carter and Hamas
Were CNN’s ‘Vile Insults of China’ A ‘Mistake By U.S. Authorities?’
Does a dictatorship that has outlawed freedom of the press have the standing to criticize the 'journalistic ethics' of American reporters? That is the question one must grapple with when reading through Beijing's latest blistering attack against CNN host Jack Cafferty 'and his ilk' for referring to the Chinese regime as 'goons and thugs' and calling Chinese goods 'junk.' … [Read more...] about Were CNN’s ‘Vile Insults of China’ A ‘Mistake By U.S. Authorities?’
Concert Review: Skaggs & Hornsby
Bluegrass traditionalists are still in shock over a 2007 album collaboration between bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs and free-wheeling pianist Bruce Hornsby. Pianos typically are not welcome additions to the acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, fiddles and upright basses of bluegrass bands, and I was inclined to agree until the Dear Friend & Conscience and I heard Hornsby and … [Read more...] about Concert Review: Skaggs & Hornsby
Dowd to Obama: ‘Brush It Off’
While I can't say I'm a huge fan of Maureen Dowd's, I agreed with a lot of what she had to say in her column in today's NYT, in particular, this: [Obama] can create an uplifting new kind of politics if he becomes president, but first he’s going to have to get past the shallow and vicious old politics he says he disdains (even if his campaign knows how to dip into the Clinton … [Read more...] about Dowd to Obama: ‘Brush It Off’
So What Will Happen In The Pennsylvania Primary?
Here's one interesting, stand-back analytical take on it. … [Read more...] about So What Will Happen In The Pennsylvania Primary?
Gallup Daily Tracking Poll: Obama Retakes Slight Lead Over Clinton
After days showing Senator Hillary Clinton on the ascent against her chief rival for the Democratic Presidential nomination Senator Barack Obama, the latest Gallup Daily Tracking poll now puts Obama slightly ahead: The peeling away of national Democratic support for Barack Obama seen this past week may have run its course. After trailing Hillary Clinton by one percentage … [Read more...] about Gallup Daily Tracking Poll: Obama Retakes Slight Lead Over Clinton
John McCain’s Shinebox
In the classic gangster movie "Goodfellas" the character Tommy (Joe Pesci) is in Henry Hill's bar when "made" Gangster Billy Batts begins telling a story of how Tommy used to make money shining shoes. This angers Tommy quite a bit, and Batts winds up telling him to "go home and get your f***ing shinebox." Tommy flies into a rage and rushes out, only to come back later and beat … [Read more...] about John McCain’s Shinebox
Quote Of The Day: On The Clintons And Negative Campaigning
Is the Pennsylvania primary vote only about that primary? Or is more -- even more than who gets the Democratic nomination -- at stake? Andrew Sullivan writes in his latest newspaper column: Even after all the hype, this week's vote in Pennsylvania will be a watershed primary election. This isn't because it could determine whether Hillary Clinton's campaign continues on … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: On The Clintons And Negative Campaigning
The Media’s Role in the Obama Phenomenon: a Sign of Deeper Trends
Critics in the media --- quite a few of whom unabashedly favor Obama --- have been out in force this week, pointing fingers and getting red-faced over ABC's treatment of their favorite in the most debate. Yes, that shoe always pinches when it's on the other foot, I've noticed. At The Politico, John F. Harris and Jim VandeHei wrote: The shower of indignation on Charlie … [Read more...] about The Media’s Role in the Obama Phenomenon: a Sign of Deeper Trends
Bloomberg Donates to Schwarzenegger Redistricting Plan
Mayor Bloomberg and Gov Schwarzenegger agree that the policy difference that makes the biggest difference is to make elections more competitive and drive candidates away from ideological extremes. Imagine how each of our most controversial public issues would be handled by a deliberative legislature that was less concerned about hyper partisan voters and donors. I can't … [Read more...] about Bloomberg Donates to Schwarzenegger Redistricting Plan
Pennsylvania Undecided Voters Likely To Break For Clinton Who Leads 3 To 5% In New Polls
You can now see a trend in some of the latest weekend Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary polls and the analysis: Senator Hillary Clinton has regained the momentum in her battle against Senator Barack Obama, leads 3 to 5 percent -- but analysts believe the undecided voters will likely break her way, which means her victory is likely to be far larger. And then there … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Undecided Voters Likely To Break For Clinton Who Leads 3 To 5% In New Polls
Of The Remaining Two, I’ll Go With Hillary
In a great field of potential Democratic nominees, a field that originally included Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and John Edwards, the Democratic Party's politically-correct activists (We have to have a woman President! We have to have a black President!), melding perfectly with a press obsessed with novelty and gotcha-ism, managed to leave us with the two least … [Read more...] about Of The Remaining Two, I’ll Go With Hillary
Carter Hamas
Mike Lester, The Rome News-Tribune … [Read more...] about Carter Hamas