It seems increasingly likely that, at best, Clinton will win narrowly today, perhaps by a few points in Ohio and by a point or two in Texas. (She'll lose Vermont, but she'll win Rhode Island.) In terms of delegates, not much will change. Still, victories in Ohio and Texas would be huge. Obama has won 11 contests in a row -- and everything since Super Tuesday -- but the … [Read more...] about Momentum and Expectations: Keeping the Obama-Clinton Race in Perspective
Texas primary – A personal view from Austin
Austin, TX – Texas, a whole other country, that’s a slogan used to promote tourism a few years back, and there is more truth to it than most people realize. I live in Austin, which although it is the capital of the state does not really reflect the culture of the state as a whole. The main campus of the University of Texas is located in Austin, and both the students and the … [Read more...] about Texas primary – A personal view from Austin
8 Questions That Today’s Primaries Could Answer
A MUST READ from The Washington Post. … [Read more...] about 8 Questions That Today’s Primaries Could Answer
Today, I’m glad I’m not a Democrat
As Joe wrote in a prior post, it looks as if Hillary Clinton's embrace of negative campaigning is working. When tomorrow comes, if Hillary Clinton has taken Ohio (as I expect she will), and come close in Texas (which I also expect), then I'm certain she'll declare her intention to continue her campaign to Pennsylvania and beyond. For her supporters, this is no doubt very … [Read more...] about Today, I’m glad I’m not a Democrat
Poll: Clinton Takes Lead In Texas Democratic Primary And Among Late Deciders
A new Zogby poll has good news for Senator Hillary Clinton and fits into some of the other polls that suggests the prevailing political conventional wisdom may have to be tossed out again: it shows Clinton narrowly taking the lead in Texas and winning over still-deciding voters. The race in Ohio remains deadlocked: On the strength of some strong campaigning in Ohio and … [Read more...] about Poll: Clinton Takes Lead In Texas Democratic Primary And Among Late Deciders
A Nice Little Primary Day Diversion
When I was a kid I had a toy Simplex typewriter like this one, albeit a few years newer. It was a great rainy day diversion and held me in good stead when I graduated to my first real typewriter a few years later. Alas, the typewriter is going the way of the buggy whip and on the very rare occasions that I hear its "tap, tap, tap" it stops me dead in my tracks. Richard … [Read more...] about A Nice Little Primary Day Diversion
Palestinians Abandoned By Arabs, America and World
Is Israel's latest incursion into Gaza an attempt to put an end to the firing of rockets from Gaza into Southern Israel, or is it something much more? According to this analysis from Algeria's French language Le Quotidien, what people in Gaza and Lebanon are now witnessing is the build-up to a joint U.S.-Israeli 'settling of accounts' to 'reconfigure the balance of power in the … [Read more...] about Palestinians Abandoned By Arabs, America and World
Dr. E. from TMV, is a New Columnist for The National Catholic Reporter
The name of my new weekly Monday column at The National Catholic Reporter online, is El Rio Debajo El Rio: The River Beneath The River. I'm honored to join the four talented, long-time online columnists there at NCR, all of whom are tireless social justice and peace activists and prize-winning journalists: Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister; Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton; the … [Read more...] about Dr. E. from TMV, is a New Columnist for The National Catholic Reporter
My Take on Ohio’s Primary…
and other stuff, as discussed when Rick Moore interviewed me on his Internet radio show on Monday night. Go here to listen to this scintillating radio. Here are links to posts mentioned during the interview: Tears in New Hampshire Fearless Predictions How Christians Might Think About the 2008 Presidential Election As Ohio Goes See here and here on public school funding … [Read more...] about My Take on Ohio’s Primary…
‘North American Empire’ Seeks to ‘Internationalize’ Conflict with Colombia …
The governments of Venezuela and Ecuador are massing troops along the border with Colombia, and are charging that the United States is behind a Colombian attack on Ecuadorian territory that killed a FARC commander and 16 others on Saturday. According this news account from Tal Cual of Venezuela, that nation's foreign minister said Monday, 'Colombia has become the launching … [Read more...] about ‘North American Empire’ Seeks to ‘Internationalize’ Conflict with Colombia …
Is Hillary Clinton Poised For Comeback In Ohio And Texas Primaries?
Is Hillary Clinton poised for a dramatic comeback in the Ohio and Texas Democratic Presidential nomination primaries? That seems to be the undercurrent in some emerging media narrative and conventional wisdom on Crucial Tuesday eve. Campaign media narratives often follow a pattern: the candidate doesn't have a chance, the candidate wins, the candidate is now front-runner, … [Read more...] about Is Hillary Clinton Poised For Comeback In Ohio And Texas Primaries?
Republican panic sets in over Dems’ financial dominance
Crooks and Liars has a piece today on the advantage Democrats have in raising money, ideological consensus and voter enthusiasm. One commenter suggested that this is why the Democrats should say no to Public Financing. But I have another point of view. Even if Obama accepts the limitations of Campaign finance it is easy enough to redirect the donor enthusiasm to The … [Read more...] about Republican panic sets in over Dems’ financial dominance
Democracy in Action: The What You Need To Know Ohio Primary List
I could point you to more bandwidth and pulp that contains information you should know as you monitor headlines and the Internet over the next three days for any and all news related to the Democratic presidential primary competition between Senator Hillary Clinton (NY) and Barack Obama (IL) than you would ever be able to consume, but what will any of that tell you that you … [Read more...] about Democracy in Action: The What You Need To Know Ohio Primary List
In Texas, an Ivins-fulfilling prophecy
I sure do wish Molly Ivins were alive and writing about the vote in Texas this week. The rest of us writers can and will try, but we all know, particularly us old Texans who know who Molly Ivins was, that we’d all come in a damn near invisible second, if God decided to hook Molly onto Eternal Press International, and let her description of this election appear in tomorrow … [Read more...] about In Texas, an Ivins-fulfilling prophecy
For Russia, Obama’s the Best of a Bad Lot
Who does the Kremlin favor to be the next U.S. President? Is it John McCain, the hard-nosed hawk who grew to maturity during the Cold War? Or is it Hillary Clinton - the militarily well-studied Senator from New York? Nope - it seems that, according to this op-ed article from Russia's Kommersant newpaper, Barack Obama is the best bet for Russia - although only marginally so. … [Read more...] about For Russia, Obama’s the Best of a Bad Lot
Another Economic Millstone . . . Er, Milestone
Oil prices today passed their all time, inflation-adjusted record, flirting with $104 a barrel. Barry Ritholtz, for one, thinks that this commodity has legs. … [Read more...] about Another Economic Millstone . . . Er, Milestone
Sen. Clinton Channels John Paul Jones
AP via CBS News: "I'm just getting warmed up," Clinton told reporters, looking ahead to a busy day of campaign events in Ohio and Texas where polls show a close race ahead of Tuesday's primaries. Famous Revolutionary War Naval Hero John Paul Jones: On September 23, 1779, Jones fought one of the bloodiest engagements in naval history. Jones struggled with the 44-gun … [Read more...] about Sen. Clinton Channels John Paul Jones
The Golan Factor
Studying in Damascus in 2005-6, I was struck by the Syrian obsession with the Golan Heights. Since the Israelis took the fertile territory back in 1967, the Syrians have made its reacquisition a central goal of their foreign policy. They tried unsuccessfully to retake the land in 1973, and they now jealously guard a UN-staffed ceasefire line. The Syrian town along the … [Read more...] about The Golan Factor
If Iraq asked us, would we leave?
Iran's president doesn't appear to have had anything new to say during his visit to Iraq: BAGHDAD - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday dismissed U.S. accusations that his country is training extremists and demanded that the Americans withdraw from Iraq. My first reaction was that his opinion on the matter isn't the one that counts. If it were the Iraqi … [Read more...] about If Iraq asked us, would we leave?
On Israeli Journalism
A must-read for foreign affairs watchers: Yonatan Mendel's recent article in the London Review of Books. … [Read more...] about On Israeli Journalism