Foreign coverage of the U.S. elections reveal a lot that one might never expect. For example, change seems afoot in Nicaragua, now being governed by Ronald Reagan's old Sandinista nemesis, Daniel Ortega. In this editorial from La Prensa of Nicaragua, which is heaped with praise for the U.S. election process, sharp criticism of Mr. Ortega's rejection of primary elections is … [Read more...] about In Nicaragua and Around the World, ‘Admiration’ for U.S. Primary System
Candidates Fight to Be Underdog, A Great Risk: The Boy Who Cried Wolf
In the primaries, petty accusations and imagined slights and slings and arrows seem rife--- and arguing about such matters ad infinitum and ad nauseum. Every day, this media or that flogs one or another candidate for doing, saying, being, acting...re some insignificant thing. And sometimes, the candidates themselves turn to seemingly 'out-victiming' one another by petty … [Read more...] about Candidates Fight to Be Underdog, A Great Risk: The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Clinton Campaign Can’t Say It Never “Borrowed” Anyone Else’s Rhetoric
It turns out that, after raising the issue of Senator Barack Obama "borrowing" someone else's campaign rhetoric, the Clinton campaign reportedly not only says it can't guarantee that it never did the same thing -- but it also now suggests that if even if it did, it would not be a big deal if it involved Hillary Clinton. So we not only have two campaigns...apparently two … [Read more...] about Clinton Campaign Can’t Say It Never “Borrowed” Anyone Else’s Rhetoric
Texas Is Supposed To Be A Clinton Campaign Firewall
But have they just realized that the firewall may be soggy? … [Read more...] about Texas Is Supposed To Be A Clinton Campaign Firewall
Sweet-Talk Express
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about Sweet-Talk Express
Barack Obama Loves You. Yes, You
In fact, Barack Obama is your new bicycle. According to this site, he: Skated all the way from the beach just to see you Saved his dessert for you Saved you from drowning Set your voice as his ringtone Built you a robot Best of all: Barack Obama folded you an origami crane I'd definitely catch the 'Obamamania' if he folded me an origami crane. There … [Read more...] about Barack Obama Loves You. Yes, You
Disqus commenting system issues
The Disqus commenting system is down right now affecting this blog and others like Captain's Quarters. We are currently investigating this issue with the Disqus Team. Sorry for the inconvenience. UPDATE #1 Disqus commenting system back up. Have fun! … [Read more...] about Disqus commenting system issues
Clinton And Obama Campaigns Accuse Each Other Of “Borrowing” Rhetoric
The radio talk shows are starting to focus on it. The blogs -- some of them increasingly and openly identified with one camp or another and morphing into virtual campaign websites -- are starting to screech about it. But the bottom line now is: the Clinton and Obama campaigns are now accusing each other of borrowing campaign rhetoric. It isn't that there aren't any … [Read more...] about Clinton And Obama Campaigns Accuse Each Other Of “Borrowing” Rhetoric
Oops Obama: Close Scrutiny Begins…
Some people are beginning to listen to what Sen. Obama says rather than how he says it: While some bloggers (including our own T-Steel) discuss whether Obama's statement: I understand that Senator Clinton, periodically when she’s feeling down, launches attacks as a way of trying to boost her appeal is sexist or not, others say he's plagiarizing from Mass. Gov. Deval … [Read more...] about Oops Obama: Close Scrutiny Begins…
The Sound of Silence
China is playing a spoiler role not only in Sudan, but now in Kenya as well. In the midst of the country's post-election turmoil, Beijing has steadfastly refused to put any pressure on the warring parties, despite (or perhaps because of) its "large and growing economic stake." Numerous countries have already sent envoys, as have the AU and the UN -- China's absence from the … [Read more...] about The Sound of Silence
Pakistan Polls Over: Musharraf Sings A New Tune
President Pervez Musharraf has told Jemima Khan in an interview published in the British daily The Independent that: "My role as a president is simply the checks and balances, the seatbelts... a sort of father figure to the prime minister, but I won't have to see him for weeks." Jemima is the ex-wife of Pakistani politician/famous cricketer Imran Khan. "Talking peace, … [Read more...] about Pakistan Polls Over: Musharraf Sings A New Tune
Can Obama Win Texas?
The question is perhaps ill-timed. After all, Wisconsin is tomorrow; Texas not for another two weeks. But time is proving no obstacle for some Obama hopefuls in Texas, who have thorough knowledge of the state's unique primary system. Consider this post by Phillip Martin at Burnt Orange Report. The analysis is well-constructed and seemingly well-informed. The crux of … [Read more...] about Can Obama Win Texas?
The Trouble With Too Much Charisma
Those who oppose him in both parties are attacking Barack Obama with a double-barreled cultural stereotype, the old film noir thesis that good looks can be deceptive and dangerous combined with a Jim Jones analogy about followers suicidally drinking in hope with laced Kool-Aid. In yesterday's New York Times, Sean Wilentz, a Princeton historian and Clinton supporter, … [Read more...] about The Trouble With Too Much Charisma
In Which We Compare 1968 & 2008: The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowin’ In the Wind
Having been eligible for the draft and an all-expenses-paid trip to Vietnam since I was 18, 1968 was the year that I turned 21 and finally was old enough to drink and vote, which I did in that order and with great enthusiasm. I had a front-row seat for this year of great change -- including antiwar protests, the King and Kennedy assassinations, and the coming of age of the … [Read more...] about In Which We Compare 1968 & 2008: The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowin’ In the Wind
When Facts Get In the Way of a Good Rant
Christine Flowers, a conservative Republican attorney, has provoked something of a storm over "I'm Immune to the Obama Swoon," a factually challenged rant on the Democratic presidential contender in the form of a Philadelphia Daily News op-ed column. The column reveals why people smugly ensconsed in the status quo -- in Flowers' case a career measured in billable hours at a … [Read more...] about When Facts Get In the Way of a Good Rant
Poetic Political Commentary: Election (Under) Coverage
If you try really hard and know where to look, you can find the major presidential candidates' positions on important issues. But you sure won't learn these things from what passes in this country for prime time election coverage... Election (Under)Coverage The media treats this election Like a sporting event where the need Ain't informing the voters' 'bout … [Read more...] about Poetic Political Commentary: Election (Under) Coverage
Meet TMV’s Newest Voice
For nearly two years TMV has been honored to run the incredibly creative -- and often on target -- political and economic poetic commentaries of Michael Silverstein aka Wall Street Poet. But he has another side as well: he's a former senior editor with Bloomberg Financial News, who now writes financial poetry and prose from his Philadelphia home-base. We've run virtually … [Read more...] about Meet TMV’s Newest Voice
U.S. military intervention, occupation in Muslim world: at best inadequate, at worst counter-productive, on the whole, infeasible
That's how the Rand Corporation is describing the large-scale intervention we've gotten ourselves into in their most recent study. This is from the Rand Corp., which, I am pretty sure, is supposed to skew conservative. From the press release: Recognizing that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will not be the last of their kind, a new RAND Corporation study issued today … [Read more...] about U.S. military intervention, occupation in Muslim world: at best inadequate, at worst counter-productive, on the whole, infeasible
Obama – Savior Superstar
Says France's Le Monde, The United States is a country that prides itself on its insistence on the merits of individualism. Nothing is more embarrassing to this country than these great moments of collective obsession (shared, of course, with Superbowl frenzy), where every critical faculty appears to have been abandoned in the service of a universal pursuit. And the … [Read more...] about Obama – Savior Superstar
The Olympic Games and the U.S. Elections: Bad Timing for Beijing
What do the Olympic Games and Steven Spielberg have to do with the U.S. elections? It all has to do with the calender. According to Pierre Rousselin, deputy editorial page editor of France's Le Figaro, The rage of Steven Spielberg is not in itself conclusive. But it's significant for what it announces. Spielberg is Hollywood. And Hollywood is an arm of the Democratic Party … … [Read more...] about The Olympic Games and the U.S. Elections: Bad Timing for Beijing