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The ‘Awakening’ of Muqtada al-Sadr: What is Iran’s Role?

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Now that the man once described by the U.S. government and media as 'radical Shiite cleric' Muqtada al-Sadr, has extended the truce observed by his Mahdi Army Militia, some are wondering what could be behind his apparent embrace of peace. It may well be that the inter-Shiite violence that was ripping parts of Iraq apart was not to Iran's liking. Elias Harfouche of Lebanon's Dar … [Read more...] about The ‘Awakening’ of Muqtada al-Sadr: What is Iran’s Role?

Five British Hostages In Iraq “Alive”

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An Arabic TV channel, Al-Arabiya, has aired a video claiming to show one of five Britons captured in Iraq eight months ago. A BBC report says: "The five men were seized from Baghdad's Finance Ministry by gunmen wearing police uniforms on 29 May 2007 without a shot being fired. He (the hostage) asks Prime Minister Gordon Brown to free nine Iraqis in exchange for the release of … [Read more...] about Five British Hostages In Iraq “Alive”

News Media, Pundit And Weblog Reaction To Obama Clinton Ohio Primary Debate

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What was advance- billed as likely to be an "oh my" debate in Ohio turned out to be more of an "oh well" debate in Ohio where neither front-runner Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton scored a record-setting home run or embarrassingly self-destructed, in the view of many mainstream and "new media" analysts and observers. Will its timing before the pivotal March 4th Texas and Ohio … [Read more...] about News Media, Pundit And Weblog Reaction To Obama Clinton Ohio Primary Debate

The Brain-Dead Republicans

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It's been nearly seven months since the bridge collapse here in Minnesota. Right or wrong, it has become a symbol of our crumbling transportation infastructure. For several years, transportation has been a burning issue. We were slow to light rail transit, and our freeways, built when the Twin Cities was a much smaller metro area, are full. Governor Tim Pawlenty (a … [Read more...] about The Brain-Dead Republicans

Live-blog post from Cleveland Debate: Make them play war games

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They are all here - David Axelrod, David Wilhelm. Jesse Jackson, Ted Strickland. Andrea Mitchell, Candy Crowley. On and on. I've got lots of video and pictures that I feel confident no one else got - particularly the video. But what I'm also certain you won't hear is anything that isn't spin. You can hear it as you walk from cluster to cluster, how each politician or … [Read more...] about Live-blog post from Cleveland Debate: Make them play war games

Live-blog post from Cleveland Debate, 10:12pm EST

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The Cleveland audience is listening intently but the atmosphere in the auditorium is somber. Brian Williams and Tim Russert play a game of good cop/bad cop. Sitting behind me: a college student who studies photography, got her ticket through the lottery and hadn't thought about the election until she heard about the debate. She is undecided but wants to hear about health … [Read more...] about Live-blog post from Cleveland Debate, 10:12pm EST

Obama speaks to members of Cleveland’s Jewish community

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One of the things that's bothered me a great deal in this primary campaign is the hesitancy with which many Jews have approached Barack Obama's candidacy. I think it is rooted, first and foremost,, in steadfast support for Hillary Clinton among the Jewish community. I completely respect that relationship and I myself have always admired her. But I also think there are some in … [Read more...] about Obama speaks to members of Cleveland’s Jewish community

Twenty-Three Questions for Tonight’s Debate

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While tonight's debate between senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama may be an academic exercise, one that, besides, promises only a recitation of their by-now canned set-pieces in response to equally predictable questions, it would be helpful if it offered voters more than this. Here are twenty-three questions I'd like to be asked and answered tonight: 1. Senator Obama, … [Read more...] about Twenty-Three Questions for Tonight’s Debate

Which Hillary?

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In desperation now, the Campaign That Couldn't is giving us a montage of Hillary Clintons--defiant, angry, scolding, sarcastic--in Ohio and Texas, but how will she blend those stump personas into a coherent candidate for the side-by-side setting of tonight's crucial debate? In New Hampshire, the sensitive Hillary won over voters in the final days and, at the end of last … [Read more...] about Which Hillary?

Class Act

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Though I'm still undecided about my general election vote, I am (indisputably) a John McCain fan. Accordingly, I am perhaps too quick to jump to the "class act" conclusion, like Andrew Sullivan did, after reading this news report. But if that's the case, so be it. Hence, another reason why I'm looking forward to an Obama-McCain contest, because I suspect those campaigns … [Read more...] about Class Act

Open Thread, Cleveland Debate: On the ground & in the audience for TMV

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I'm here in the media filing center. The Ohio Democratic Party top dogs have given an overview that I didn't really hear because I was busy figuring out where I am, uploading photos and saying hello to other press. There is supposedly going to be over 500 press here. In Ohio, it's 3:30pm EST. I will be blogging through until about 7:30 or so, when I have to go into the … [Read more...] about Open Thread, Cleveland Debate: On the ground & in the audience for TMV

Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Seek Common Ground

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In the Wall Street Journal A bipartisan group of eight House members offered a snapshot Monday evening of some of the potential legislative challenges and advantages the next president may face in dealing with Congress. ...Republicans reiterated support for tax cuts and a heightened need to curb federal spending, while Democrats argued a bigger slice of the pie needs to … [Read more...] about Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Seek Common Ground

America’s Prestigious Orchestra Serenades An “Axis of Evil”

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While Ms Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, interacted with the Chinese leaders about the nuclear disarmament in North Korea, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra held a historic concert in the heart of North Korea --- a nation still considered as an enemy by the US. The East Pyongyang Grand Theatre echoed with the strains of North Korean national anthem 'Patriotic Song', … [Read more...] about America’s Prestigious Orchestra Serenades An “Axis of Evil”

From my (red) corner of Texas

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I showed up a few minutes early yesterday to pick up Adorable Child from a birthday party, and as has happened with nearly every adult encounter in the last week, another parent and I began talking about the primary election. While people eddied about us (including an entire family decked out in Obama t-shirts), our dialogue ran along now-familiar lines: he watched the … [Read more...] about From my (red) corner of Texas

When ‘Happiness Pills’ Don’t Work…

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It will be surprising if anyone claims that he/she has not been depressed at some time or the other in life. Our marital/personal/professional life, in this whirling and topsy-turvy modern world, faces extreme challenges in an attempt to retain a modicum of sanity. However, the popular myth that the 'happiness pills' help us come out of depression received a severe jolt … [Read more...] about When ‘Happiness Pills’ Don’t Work…