The Big Debate is over and as the Pennsylvania primary approaches parts of the blogosphere are denouncing unfair and slanted assertions and questions, negative statements, and a piling on of negativity -- and that's just when they write about ABC's debate moderators. Polarization in the blogosphere reflects the polity. And here's our famous linkfest that takes you to blogs of … [Read more...] about Around The Campaign Sphere April 18, 2008
John McCain Helps The Middle Class
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about John McCain Helps The Middle Class
“Ostrich” Media, Blogs, Politicians… & World Food Crisis
Why is the media, and the blogs, overlooking the "real" issues? The recent Clinton/Obama debate once again brought under spotlight a serious lack of professionalism among journalists and their growing penchant to trivialize serious issues. To give another example, few seem interested at the looming food crisis that is likely to have worldwide political and economic … [Read more...] about “Ostrich” Media, Blogs, Politicians… & World Food Crisis
Senator Obama brushes it off (literally)
This is a record for me. Two YouTube videos the same day but sometimes you have to do what you gotta do (for lack of better words). Here is a video of Senator Obama in Raleigh, North Carolina today responding to Wednesday's debate in Philadelphia. One thing that jumped out at me was how different he looked and sounded in Raleigh as compared to Philadelphia. It's positively … [Read more...] about Senator Obama brushes it off (literally)
Cartoonists Look At Pope’s Visit To U.S.
Rainer Hachfeld, Neues Deutschland, Germany … [Read more...] about Cartoonists Look At Pope’s Visit To U.S.
Buck Up, Barack
Regular readers know I'm an Obama supporter. Granted, I'm still not ready to signal my voting intentions in November, but between the Senator from Illinois and the one from New York, I most certainly prefer the former. That said, unlike other Obama supporters, I'm taking the contrarian view on last night's debate, to wit: I thought the questions from ABC's commentators … [Read more...] about Buck Up, Barack
Baracky: The Movie (NOW SHOWING!)
After watching the below video from YouTube entitled "Baracky: The Movie", it's amazing to see how this campaign season has provided so much fodder for the creator(s) of this type of campaign "commentary". After watching this video, I'm looking forward to the endless entertainment that will be provided by the Supporter Video Wars on YouTube. Methinks there won't be one-sided … [Read more...] about Baracky: The Movie (NOW SHOWING!)
How the media are (not) paying attention to the Iraq War
American media attention was focused briefly, very briefly, on Iraq during and around the recent Petraeus-Crocker hearings on Capitol Hill, but, otherwise, the media are too busy sensationalizing every little development in the Obama-Clinton race to pay any sustained attention to the ongoing war and occupation, one that, according to the Republicans' choice for … [Read more...] about How the media are (not) paying attention to the Iraq War
The Myth of Small Donors
Jay Mandle, an economics professor on the board of the reform group "Democracy Matters", made this analysis of A Small Donor Democracy? He discovers that the majority of political donations under $200 still seem to come from those who are relatively well off. And so the Obama rationalization that his small donor army is comparable to a publicly financed campaign is dubious. … [Read more...] about The Myth of Small Donors
“Screw ‘Em”; or, Hillary’s Hypocrisy
This one pretty much speaks for itself. From HuffPo's Sam Stein: In January 1995, as the Clintons were licking their wounds from the 1994 congressional elections, a debate emerged at a retreat at Camp David. Should the administration make overtures to working class white southerners who had all but forsaken the Democratic Party? The then-first lady took a less than inclusive … [Read more...] about “Screw ‘Em”; or, Hillary’s Hypocrisy
Jack Cafferty’s ‘Dark Mentality’
Has CNN host Jack Cafferty and others criticizing China over Tibet and its human right record betrayed a "sense of superiority" and an often dormant "anti-Chinese racism?" Such is the conclusion of this article penned by Ding Gang, senior desk editor at China's strictly-controlled state run People's Daily. Dang writes, "Harboring hatred for China's development, the … [Read more...] about Jack Cafferty’s ‘Dark Mentality’
How Bad Was Last Night’s Debate For Obama?
The highly perceptive columnist/blogger Dick Polman, who is not hyping any candidate, says it was this bad. … [Read more...] about How Bad Was Last Night’s Debate For Obama?
Zogby Poll: Clinton And Obama Nearly Tied In Pennsylvania
A new Newsmax/Zogby poll shows rival Democratic Presidential nomination candidates Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama nearly tied in Pennsylvania -- but the poll was taken before last night's debate which some believe was disastrous for Obama (he didn't perform well) and others think could possibly help (backlash against the widely-panned ABC News moderators could help … [Read more...] about Zogby Poll: Clinton And Obama Nearly Tied In Pennsylvania
Scared to death: Obama, Clinton, and the Bitterness of the Working Class
This is from a few days ago, but, given that the Obama "bittergate" controversy continues to rage on within the confines of the chattering classes (even as the news media have begun to move on -- or maybe not, given last night's debate), I wanted to link to a helpful post by Nico Pitney at HuffPo. What Nico points out is that Bill Clinton said similar things while running for … [Read more...] about Scared to death: Obama, Clinton, and the Bitterness of the Working Class
Ollie Johnston (1912-2008)
MORE HERE. … [Read more...] about Ollie Johnston (1912-2008)
Matthews, Clinton & Colbert: Retributive Justice In The Modern Mediascape (Guest Voice)
This Guest Voice is by video and web producer Joe Windish, who wrote a well received column earlier this week. He takes another look at the dynamics between politics and cable political and comedy talk shows. Matthews, Clinton & Colbert: Retributive Jusice In The Modern Mediascape by Joe Windish Stephen Colbert ends his Philadelphia run tonight with a guest … [Read more...] about Matthews, Clinton & Colbert: Retributive Justice In The Modern Mediascape (Guest Voice)
Why We Should Go Slow On Prosecuting George Bush & His Torture Helpmates
It is now well known that when the White House needed justification for its endorsement of Nazi-like torture techniques, it turned to John Yoo. The young attorney in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel wrote a series of memos that he believed gave the Bush administration the legal fig leaf it needed to use torture and deny enemy combatants protection under the … [Read more...] about Why We Should Go Slow On Prosecuting George Bush & His Torture Helpmates
Race Relations in Movies Through the Years
Say what you will about the current crop of political candidates, but they have opened anew some old debates regarding our diverse society and how we view each other. The Democrats have restarted old dialogues on America's views on race relations and equality for women. Even John McCain is spurring discussions about aging as average lifespans continue to increase. Hollywood … [Read more...] about Race Relations in Movies Through the Years
The Sun Was Beginning Its Descent . . .
. . . over the far ridgeline, casting ever longer shadows across the green-tinged trees on the floor of the valley. My thoughts returned, as they have frequently, to whether Barack Obama has the right stuff. There was the unmistakable kree-eee-ar of a red-tailed hawk in the distance. Damn! I forgot to take dinner out of the freezer. I pondered Pope Benedict’s message to the … [Read more...] about The Sun Was Beginning Its Descent . . .
Clinton, Obama Debate, Schmebate
This was a debate? No. It was double jeopardy for both the candidates: the prosecution of an individual twice for the same offense. Take that back. It was umpteenth jeopardy. If most people were forced to watch the OJ trial all over again, they would consider it capital punishment. I sense strongly, that viewers were turning away from watching the kangaroo court, I … [Read more...] about Clinton, Obama Debate, Schmebate