Senator Hillary Clinton has a new hard-hitting campaign ad aimed at continuing to keep rival Senator Barack Obama's comments about people in small-towns being bitter alive as a potent "wedge" and "electability" issue -- but NBC Political Editor Chuck Todd points out some intriguing things about it: Question: How often do you see a politician -- who’s leading a contest in … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Ad Raises Stakes In Her Use Of Obama Small-Town Bitter Issue
Nepal’s Prachanda: “Globalization Is Unavoidable”
Nepal, home to Mt. Everest and situated between India and China (Tibet), is witnessing a different kind of "surge". The armed rebels who fought a decade-long bloody war to end monarchy are now poised to come into power --- not through the barrel of a gun but through the ballot box. The seal over the conduct of free and fair election has been put by none other than former US … [Read more...] about Nepal’s Prachanda: “Globalization Is Unavoidable”
Getting to the Gravity of the Matter
WARNING! SCIENCE CONTENT! There's actually a pun buried in the title of this column, but you might not find it amusing unless you have a pHd in advanced particle physics. The science community is abuzz over rumors that a research team in Italy may have discovered the long sought and highly controversial "dark matter" which some claim makes up a huge amount of the mass of the … [Read more...] about Getting to the Gravity of the Matter
Quinnipiac Poll: Clinton Has Stopped Obama Momentum In Pennsylvania
A new Quinnipiac University poll indicates Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton has halted what had seemed to be growing momentum for rival Democratic Senator Barack Obama in the Democratic Presidential primary -- and Clinton's hammering his comments on people in small towns being bitter seems to have a lot to do with it: The first fresh and reliable look at the mood of … [Read more...] about Quinnipiac Poll: Clinton Has Stopped Obama Momentum In Pennsylvania
Colombians Lose as Pelosi, Democrats Play Politics With Trade …
Have Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats done Colombia wrong on trade? That seems to be the general consensus in that country, Washington's strongest ally in Latin America. For Colombia's leading newspaper El Tiempo, Alfredo Rangel writes in part: "Mrs. Pelosi has gotten her way. With her repeated rejection of the Free Trade Agreement, congressional Democrats are … [Read more...] about Colombians Lose as Pelosi, Democrats Play Politics With Trade …
The Blogger Independence Fallacy
Will left-of-center bloggers go easy on Barack Obama after he is sworn in as the next president? If human nature and all of the right-of-center bloggers who have been struck deaf, dumb and blind when it comes to writing about the extralegal excesses of George Bush's tenure are any indication, the answer is a resounding "yes." Exhibit A in this regard is Bush's embrace of … [Read more...] about The Blogger Independence Fallacy
Democratic Gaffes
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Democratic Gaffes
Harpo Marx: The Today Show Booking Plugging Guest Who Wouldn’t Talk
The Today show has for years had guests on who plug their books. But there was one guest on who did it without saying a word: Harpo Marx, the hugely popular silent brother of the classic vaudeville-film Marx Brothers team. In 1961, in his early 70s, he appeared on the show and promoted his new book. Minus talking: Harpo was famous for his parts in the Marx Brothers movies … [Read more...] about Harpo Marx: The Today Show Booking Plugging Guest Who Wouldn’t Talk
The Pope is Coming, The Pope is Coming
First, a disclosure: I am a Catholic who comes from a long line of deeply ethnic old believers. I've had my bewilderments with the Church hierarchy, and my critiques and condemnations of some of the actions of some within the hierarchy as well.... but also hold to the deep social teachings from the heart of the Church which share their core with other philosophies and other … [Read more...] about The Pope is Coming, The Pope is Coming
Republican Congressman Rep. Davis Refers To Obama As “That Boy”
From the report given in the New York Times' lively The Caucus blog, Kentucky Republicans were having a blast, ridiculing the Democrats as political non-realists and, overall, as an almost madcap lot. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had some fun going after the Demmies...and then it was the turn of Congressman Geoff Davis to continue the celebration of how Republicans … [Read more...] about Republican Congressman Rep. Davis Refers To Obama As “That Boy”
Room for a leap of faith
I have decided to support Sen. Barack Obama for president for this reason: Of the three candidates, Obama is the only one who gives the citizens of this country room to take a leap of faith. Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John McCain are running campaigns for the single purpose of getting elected. I believe that, once elected, whatever I might have liked about the campaign … [Read more...] about Room for a leap of faith
Wanted: A Better Caption For This Photo
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton joins some blue-collar workers for a beer and a shot while campaigning in Indiana. … [Read more...] about Wanted: A Better Caption For This Photo
American House Speaker Pelosi ‘Defies Law and Discipline’ …
Has U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 'defied law and discipline,' and 'challenged U.S. government' protection' of the Olympic torch relay? These are just some of the latest charges being leveled against Pelosi by the Beijing regime. In this article, published in the strictly-controlled state run People's Daily, her recent efforts to have legislation passed denying U.S. officials … [Read more...] about American House Speaker Pelosi ‘Defies Law and Discipline’ …
News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: April 14th
A biweekly feature of news and opinion pieces from the Israeli and Palestinian press. 1.) In a recent interview, Jimmy Carter outlined what will be discussed in his upcoming meeting with the exiled Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal. He said that of primary importance would be the issue of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Additionally, the former president said that he … [Read more...] about News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: April 14th
Gallup Daily: Obama Support Holding Despite Small-Town “Bitter” Flap
A new national Gallup Daily tracking poll shows no signs that the controversy swirling around Senator Barack Obama's comments about people who live in small towns is sparking political fallout: Barack Obama, who has come under attack by his presidential rivals for describing small-town voters as "bitter," seems to be weathering the storm to this point as far as voters are … [Read more...] about Gallup Daily: Obama Support Holding Despite Small-Town “Bitter” Flap
On Obama’s Reference To Clinton And Annie Oakley
Some younger Americans may not quite get Barack Obama's swipe at Hillary Clinton, suggesting she is posing as Annie Oakley in his reference to her comments on guns -- part of the increasingly aggressive tone between the two camps in light of the controversy over Obama's comments about people in small towns being bitter. READ THIS for a quick summary of Oakley, who was one of … [Read more...] about On Obama’s Reference To Clinton And Annie Oakley
Stephen Colbert: A Media Maestro Plays Philly (Guest Voice)
Today Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert kicks off his Pennsylvania coverage with a guest: MSNBC's Chris Matthews. But is this symbolic for Campaign 2008 and journalism's future? What's the most effective way to deliver news to people on the Internet and to appeal to younger American voters? Video and web producer Joe Windish. offers this compelling original interview on the … [Read more...] about Stephen Colbert: A Media Maestro Plays Philly (Guest Voice)
Did we really need a Compassion Forum?
The press is already dutifully lining up to report on last night's "Compassion Forum" in Pennsylvania, where Senators Clinton and Obama allowed themselves to be thrust into a "Dog and Pony Show for Jesus" contest to see who could "out-God" each other. At the end of this column I'll get to some more specific observations from the event, as promised in my short summary last … [Read more...] about Did we really need a Compassion Forum?
A Postcard From Small-Town Pennsylvania
Geez! I don't blog for a day or so and all hell breaks loose out on the old campaign tail. Many commentators have weighed in on Barack Obama's "bitter" remarks, and as someone who has worked in, traveled through and is blogging this week from one of the most depressed areas of small town Pennsylvania with among the nation's highest foreclosure, bankruptcy and unemployment … [Read more...] about A Postcard From Small-Town Pennsylvania
The Enduring Mystery of the Anasazi
The Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde (top) and The Castle at Hovenweep Except for the distant cry of a raven, there were only the sounds of my children, a friend and I peeling and munching on orange slices. It was noontime and we were squatting under the cottonwoods in a ravine beneath The Castle, an exquisitely constructed silo-like structure of sandstone at Hovenweep, a cluster … [Read more...] about The Enduring Mystery of the Anasazi