On the heels of news about food riots breaking out in Africa and Central America, the Washington Post reports that North Korea is in danger of a massive food crisis of its own. TOKYO, April 16 -- Food-starved North Korea is facing a humanitarian crisis this year and will likely need large food donations from the international community, the U.N. World Food Program said … [Read more...] about Winning the Food Wars
Ferrell-Fouts Award Nominee
Christopher Borick, pollster, Muhlenberg College: ... if [Sen. Clinton] is going to have the chance to move beyond Pennsylvania in a meaningful way -- not just a desperation play -- she has to move voters. -------------------- Background: The Ferrell-Fouts Award is named after an SNL skit where Will Ferrell played former QB Dan Fouts as a sportscaster who makes … [Read more...] about Ferrell-Fouts Award Nominee
Further Proof of the Success of the Surge
IRAQI SOLDIERS FLEE AFTER DESERTING TUESDAY NIGHT IN SADR CITY How many more Americans will have to die before the folly of the Iraq war collapses in on itself? Hundreds? Thousands? (Some 25 have died this month alone, a return to pre-Surge levels.) Proving yet again that the Baghdad government is unwilling and unable to take advantage of the opening that the military … [Read more...] about Further Proof of the Success of the Surge
Barack Obama Bitter Cling To
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Barack Obama Bitter Cling To
West-Arab Divide: London Book Festival Attempts A Bridge
With its perpetually (and historically) rocky relationship, the Arab and European worlds have seldom met in a peaceful manner (or without suspicion) during the past half a millenium ever since the downfall of the Moorish civilization in Spain. In this context the on-going London Book Fair, with the "Arab World" as guest of honour and Arab writers present in force, provides yet … [Read more...] about West-Arab Divide: London Book Festival Attempts A Bridge
McCain Will Secure Bush’s Vicious Circle
From everything we can gather so far, there are few fans of a John McCain presidency in the Russian press - and the same can be said of President Bush. Asking what's wrong with Bush's Iraq strategy is the same as asking what the danger of a John McCain Administration would be. Galina Zeveleva of Russia's Novosti News Service writes, "Bush continues to rely on force, thereby … [Read more...] about McCain Will Secure Bush’s Vicious Circle
L.A. Times/Bloomberg Poll: Clinton Lagging In Pennsylvania And Indiana
In polling results that some websites and experts consider something of a surprise, a new L.A. Times/Bloomberg poll delivers a double whammy on Campaign 2008's big confrontation between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic Presidential nomination: 1. Clinton's campaign is now sagging in Pennsylvania and Indiana, despite her camp's big push on highly … [Read more...] about L.A. Times/Bloomberg Poll: Clinton Lagging In Pennsylvania And Indiana
Bill Clinton: Older Voters Are Too Smart To Be Fooled By Obama
Apparently the emergency case of duct tape hasn't arrived at Clinton campaign headquarters yet. This certainly doesn't seem to be a way to appeal to younger voters in the primaries (or the general election) -- and it certainly is not consistent with what former President Bill Clinton said just last week: Older voters gravitate to Hillary Clinton because they're too wise … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton: Older Voters Are Too Smart To Be Fooled By Obama
Damned
If Democrats nominate Clinton, young voters will permanently be disenchanted with the Democratic Party and cripple our election prospects for decades (and don't get me started on the Black vote). But if Democrats nominate Obama, frustrated women may stay home and likewise severely hamper Democratic efforts in the general and subsequent elections. Damned if you do, damned if … [Read more...] about Damned
Welcome to J Street
This is huge: (via The Washington Post) Some of the country's most prominent Jewish liberals are forming a political action committee and lobbying group aimed at dislodging what they consider the excessive hold of neoconservatives and evangelical Christians on U.S. policy toward Israel. The group is planning to channel political contributions to favored candidates in … [Read more...] about Welcome to J Street
Gallup Daily Tracking: Obama’s 11% Lead Over Clinton Biggest All Year
The newest Gallup Daily Tracking poll, conducted when Senator Barack Obama's comments about people in small-towns being bitter and clinging were widely covered in the media, now shows the Illinois Senator with his biggest lead yet over chief Democratic nomination rival Senator Hillary Clinton: Barack Obama is maintaining his lead over Hillary Clinton among Democrats … [Read more...] about Gallup Daily Tracking: Obama’s 11% Lead Over Clinton Biggest All Year
Obama’s Defining Moment
Tomorrow night's debate in Philadelphia could be the turning point. If he is the masterful politician he seems to be, Barack Obama will seize the moment to rise above the squabbling and bickering to define himself for American voters. Just as he broadened the Jeremiah Wright brouhaha into a statement about race in America in that same hall, Obama can use his "small town" … [Read more...] about Obama’s Defining Moment
Bush, The First Catholic President?: Some Think Pope Approves George Bush’s “Use” of Catholic Social Teachings?
Again, a disclosure: I am a Catholic. Catholic social teachings disagree with abuses of power, disagree with politics that omit and oppress the poor and needy, disagree with trampling the preciousness of the life force, disagree with any idea that preemptive war is good, disagree with any idea that humans are not worthy of justice and dignity... and much more. … [Read more...] about Bush, The First Catholic President?: Some Think Pope Approves George Bush’s “Use” of Catholic Social Teachings?
Sometimes The News Media Is Fooled
And not just by candidates. … [Read more...] about Sometimes The News Media Is Fooled
Clinton Supporter Lowers Bar On Success Margin Of Clinton Pennsylvania Win
Remember how most pundits wrote the conventional wisdom: that Senator Hillary Clinton was ahead by double digits in Pennsylvania and was expected to win big against her chief rival Senator Barack Obama in the Pennsylvania primary? Even with the furor over Obama's comments about small-town Americans being bitter and clinging, the conventional wisdom is that (a) Clinton should … [Read more...] about Clinton Supporter Lowers Bar On Success Margin Of Clinton Pennsylvania Win
Nancy Pelosi a ‘Disgusting Figure’
In terms of being the target of Beijing's vitriol, House Speaker Pelosi has now joined such luminaries as the Dalai Lama and Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian. According to this 'commentary' published by the strictly-controlled state run Xinhua news service: "If an Internet opinion poll were to be carried out in China to choose the most disgusting figure, U.S. House Speaker … [Read more...] about Nancy Pelosi a ‘Disgusting Figure’
Hillary Clinton Ad Raises Stakes In Her Use Of Obama Small-Town Bitter Issue
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