Mike Lester, The Rome News-Tribune … [Read more...] about Spitzer Punchline
Spitzer and Sex Education
In one of those telling front page-back page juxtapositions, the headline news about Eliot Spitzer overwhelms a government study showing that one out of every four American teenage girls is infected with a sexually transmitted disease. After seven years of a federal government promoting abstinence only, both stories are reminders that the gap between what Americans say in … [Read more...] about Spitzer and Sex Education
The New Seal Of New York State
Aislin, The Montreal Gazette … [Read more...] about The New Seal Of New York State
An Independent Office of Congressional Ethics
The Common Cause Blog celebrates Ethics: VICTORY. The House voted to have this independent office because of the perception by the public that colleagues may not be very forceful in dealing with ethics issues that they themselves might be abusing. It seems to me to be a good thing because as it becomes harder to rationalize certain behaviors as ethical it becomes easier to … [Read more...] about An Independent Office of Congressional Ethics
Could Eliot Spitzer’s Resignation Hurt Hillary Clinton?
Could the resignation New York Governor Eliot Spitzer hurt Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign? There is one school of thought that feels it could. The Washington Post notes that the scandal is drowning out much of Clinton's presidential campaign message and worse: the scandal is leading to upsummer paragraphs in news stories about the Monica Lewinsky … [Read more...] about Could Eliot Spitzer’s Resignation Hurt Hillary Clinton?
VeepTalk; or, a Crock of Clinton
(Note: I wrote this post before yesterday's Mississippi Madness. Given Obama's decisive victory, he is now even more clearly the frontrunner.) I'll let Jon Chait explain, then comment: Hillary Clinton's main argument for the presidency is that she is ready to be commander-in-chief, and Barack Obama is not. At the same time, her campaign has repeatedly floated the prospect … [Read more...] about VeepTalk; or, a Crock of Clinton
Spitzer Resigned
The New York Times: Spitzer Resigns, Citing Personal Failings - Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson Set to Succeed Him Gov. Eliot Spitzer, reeling from revelations that he had been a client of a prostitution ring, announced his resignation today at his headquarters in Manhattan. … [Read more...] about Spitzer Resigned
Jack Kerouac: An Appreciation
I'M NOT A BEATNIK, I'M A CATHOLIC -- JACK KEROUAC Like a lot of college kids who came of age in the Sixties, reading Jack Kerouac's On the Road was a rite of passage for me, one that occurred a few days into my freshman year when my considerably more sophisticated dormitory roommate loaned me his dog-eared copy. I caught the Kerouac bug so bad that I went on to read … [Read more...] about Jack Kerouac: An Appreciation
The Spitzer Affair: A Thriller Without a Crime
The case of Eliot Spitzer - as is often the case when an American politician is charged with a lack of moral rectitude - leaves many Europeans scratching their collective heads. According to this editorial from Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, 'From a Central European perspective, the Spitzer Affair has a rather outlandish aspect to it. New York’s once dreaded “Mister … [Read more...] about The Spitzer Affair: A Thriller Without a Crime
The Sad Saga of the Galveston Giant
With the Mann Act in the news courtesy of now former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, it seems appropriate to reprise the story of Jack Johnson and one of the most pernicious political prosecutions in American history. Johnson, nicknamed the "Galveston Giant" for his Texas hometown and imposing size, arguably was the best heavyweight boxer of his generation. As the first … [Read more...] about The Sad Saga of the Galveston Giant
NOTA: Addendum #2
I will eventually publish a second part to the series I started here. But that second installment requires some research, and time for said research is scarce right now. In the meantime -- adding to Roger L. Simon's confession from the right -- I discovered this morning a counterbalance confession from the left, by David Mamet. An excerpt: ... I wondered, how could I … [Read more...] about NOTA: Addendum #2
Pondering Political Labels
David Mamet writes in the Village Voice Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal' This remarkable author of soul searching plays about the choices we make when we are under stress reflects on his political beliefs. As a life long liberal he begins to reconcile his experiences with his beliefs and finds a weakness. While the title makes it sound like he switches from liberal … [Read more...] about Pondering Political Labels
One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, Three . . .
It is ironic that allegations that Hillary Clinton is running a racist campaign have reached a fever pitch as the black voters of the state of Mississippi -- where so much blood was spilled in the American civil-rights movement -- handed Barack Obama a 61 to 37 percentage point victory yesterday in the last primary until the big Pennsylvania smackdown six weeks hence. Let's … [Read more...] about One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, Three . . .
New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer
Christo Komarnitski, Bulgaria … [Read more...] about New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer
Open Letter to Hillary
Senator Clinton: You remember that Fleetwood Mac song about "Don't Stop Thinkin About Tomorrow" because "Yesterday's Gone"? Let's change tracks on that album. "Do you know how to pick up the pieces and go home?" Yes, dear, it's that time. You're behind on real delegates, and your answer was to ask for the rules to be changed regarding Michigan and Florida, and to say … [Read more...] about Open Letter to Hillary
Obama Wins Mississippi Primary
Democratic Senator Barack Obama has defeated Senator Hillary Clinton in the Mississippi primary -- and although this is already being billed as giving Obama "Big Mo" once again, polls showed he has been almost universally favored to win that state for months: Democrat Barack Obama easily beat rival Hillary Clinton in Mississippi on Tuesday, giving him new momentum in … [Read more...] about Obama Wins Mississippi Primary
Hillary Clinton’s “Pyrrhic Victory?”
A Wyoming native looks at Obama's win in Wyoming and the increasingly bitter race between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama. It's certainly food for (perhaps at times angry) debate. Read it...and start the debate.. … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton’s “Pyrrhic Victory?”
The Top 10 Reasons Bloggers Don’t Succeed
Some fascinating advice and observations from veteran and popular conservative blogger John Hawkins of Right Wing news HERE. … [Read more...] about The Top 10 Reasons Bloggers Don’t Succeed
The long fall from perfection
Americans always start with the assumption that their elected officials, and others in leadership office, are saints. Maybe it is because of our cultural faith in goodness, or maybe we are just generous. How much easier, however, and more practical, the American experience would be, if we just turned the assumption around, and looked at any candidate for office, high or low, as … [Read more...] about The long fall from perfection
Diminishing The Black Dude
HEY BLACK FOLKS! THE PRESIDENCY IS A CINCH SINCE YOU'RE BLACK! As fellow co-blogger Pete Abel pointed out, former Democratic vice-president candidate Geraldine Ferraro thinks that Senator Obama is where he is in this nomination process simply because he's a black dude (courtesy of The Daily Breeze): When the subject turned to Obama, Clinton's rival for the Democratic … [Read more...] about Diminishing The Black Dude