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
Doing My Civic Duty & Getting Involved
It turns out that the local Hillary Clinton HQ is about a five-minute drive from my apartment, so I went over there this morning. Since I cannot phone-bank (I'm HOH) I took some yard signs to put up in likely places. Here is my handiwork at the busy intersection of Galbraith Rd. & Vine St: Being a responsible citizen, I will remove the signs after the election and … [Read more...] about Doing My Civic Duty & Getting Involved
Joseph C. Wilson Defends Hillary on Foreign Policy Issues; Questions Obama’s Judgment
Yesterday, during a campaign speech, Barack Obama criticized Hillary Clinton's 2002 Iraq war vote (The Swamp, via Memeorandum). This is not the first time that Obama has brought up the issue, so it's fair game. Yesterday, Joseph Wilson -- retired Ambassador to African nations and Iraq who worked under Presidents Bush-I and Clinton (and the husband of Valerie … [Read more...] about Joseph C. Wilson Defends Hillary on Foreign Policy Issues; Questions Obama’s Judgment
(Updated) Dumb, Dumber & Dumbest?
Charlotte Allen has unleashed a spitstorm with publication in the Washington Post of an op-ed piece in which she asserts that women are . . . well, dummies. While the piece itself is amazingly dumb, I was struck by the reaction of the feminist bloggers whom I sampled who to a woman didn't bother to offer intelligent point-counterpoint responses to the piece but instead … [Read more...] about (Updated) Dumb, Dumber & Dumbest?
Poll: Obama Gains In Ohio But Ohio Texas Democratic Primaries Too Close To Call
A new Zogby International poll for Reuters/C-SPAN/Houston Chronicle two-day telephone tracking poll shows shows the Democratic primary races in Ohio and Texas are "too close to call," although Obama seems to have gained slightly in Ohio. But, in essence, Ohio remains a see-saw stalemate: (See an earlier post HERE that details an Ohio Poll that has Clinton ahead by 9 … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama Gains In Ohio But Ohio Texas Democratic Primaries Too Close To Call
What a Difference a Year Makes
Last March 4th, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, arms linked with civil rights leaders, were reenacting the 1965 march in Selma, united in declaring their debt to the non-violence of Martin Luther King. Today, they are at the precipice of divisions that could be suicidal for their party in November. In Obama's grasp for the nomination and Clinton's last stand in Texas and … [Read more...] about What a Difference a Year Makes
Last Ohio Poll numbers have Clinton over Obama by 9%
From the Ohio Poll (it's a PDF) (dates taken: 2/28/-3/2): Clinton 51% Obama 42 Edwards 6 ME: 3.9% Republican: McCain 53% Huckabee 24% ME: 5.4% I sense Clinton will pull it out in Ohio but it's hard to say. The most disturbing thing I'm seeing in the Ohio blogs is a mini-blog swarm about how Clinton is paying people $10/hour to get out there for her, when I … [Read more...] about Last Ohio Poll numbers have Clinton over Obama by 9%
Unemployment, Underemployment, and Hunger Boosting Obama’s Chances in Ohio
Here in Logan, Ohio, where I've served as pastor of Saint Matthew Lutheran Church for four months, concerns about the economy run high. That's because this town of 6000, nestled in the beautiful Hocking Hills and county seat Hocking County, has been hard hit by a number of plant closings over the past decade. People who once worked decent-paying factory jobs are, in many cases, … [Read more...] about Unemployment, Underemployment, and Hunger Boosting Obama’s Chances in Ohio