Back in September 2002, in a speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations as part of his laborious effort to justify the invasion of Iraq, George Bush asked: Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding, or will it be irrelevant? Now the wheel has turned, and the man who wasContinue reading “Bush Irrelevant, World Leaders Agree”
Category Archives: politics
Monsters in the Wilderness: the GOP Regroups
Paul Krugman is not just a Nobel Prize-winning economist. He's also a writer with real power and economy — one of the best columnists in the country. Here's an example, from a Wednesday post: ….for the past 14 years America’s political life has been largely dominated by, well, monsters. Monsters like Tom DeLay, who suggestedContinue reading “Monsters in the Wilderness: the GOP Regroups”
The Bigness of Our Problems; the Smallness of Our Character
Christopher Caldwell is that rare bird: a truly thoughtful conservative. His most recent column for the Financial Times reminds us that whoever wins the election tonight will have a huge economic problem to solve, and that we as a people in the West are in poor condition psychologically to face it: We should worry lessContinue reading “The Bigness of Our Problems; the Smallness of Our Character”
Will the Right Ever Get Tired of Blaming the Media?
From Eleanor Clift's article on "Wal-Mart Women" in Newsweek, in which she explains why under-$60,000 a year women will not (contrary to McCain's pollster) save his flailing campaign (see here). What's shaping up is not comparable to '92, the last time a Democrat won the White House. "It's much more serious and devastating to Republicans,"Continue reading “Will the Right Ever Get Tired of Blaming the Media?”
Barack Obama: A President Who Can Understand
In his recent appearance in Florida with Obama, Bill Clinton explains why he thinks Obama will be a good President, as only he can: You know our current President said something that's really true. The President is the decider-in-chief. And in this election you've got a very unusual thing I've never seen happen before. YouContinue reading “Barack Obama: A President Who Can Understand”
The One-Stop Guide to Republican Politics
An anecdote from the campaign trail: A Republican financial expert recalls attending a dinner with McCain for the purpose of discussing with him domestic and international financial complexities that clearly did not fascinate the senator. As the dinner ended, McCain's question for his briefer was: "So, who is the villain?" from George Will's column todayContinue reading “The One-Stop Guide to Republican Politics”
Alaska Politicians: Still Not Ready for Prime Time
From Don Young, Alaska's notorious anti-environmentalist, also facing corruption charges, a strangely guilt-ridden defense (via Roll Call) of his pal Ted Stevens after his conviction on seven counts: “I can remember Richard Nixon, you know, his years of service, what he’s done, and everybody [was] ridiculing him, and he ended up being the greatest presidentContinue reading “Alaska Politicians: Still Not Ready for Prime Time”
Why the GOP has Lost the Elites: Michael Barone
Well-known political analyst Michael Barone looks closely at Pennsylvania, concludes Obama will win, and explains why McCain thinks he has a chance. More importantly, he explains (here) why centrist voters around the country have turned against the Republicans. McCain is running even with or better than Bush in most of Pennsylvania but is running farContinue reading “Why the GOP has Lost the Elites: Michael Barone”
Why Sarah Palin Needed a $150,000 Makeover
According to Federal election campaign records found by Politico, Sarah Palin has spent over $150,000 in the last two months on clothes and hair styling, including $49,000 at Saks Fifth Avenue and $75,000 at Neiman-Marcus. (By contrast, the most Hillary spent on clothes in her long campaign was $3,000.) Why so much? Maybe this pictureContinue reading “Why Sarah Palin Needed a $150,000 Makeover”
Inside, Outside, and Giggling at the GOP Bubble
Inside the GOP bubble: DRUDGE POLL WHO WON THE FINAL PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE?… MCCAIN 74% 103,957 OBAMA 25% 35,541 NEITHER 1% 1,785 Total Votes: 141,283 http://polls.eproof.com/78.jsOutside the GOP bubble (via TPM) In the CBS poll of undecided debate-watchers, 53% say Obama won, only 22% say McCain won, and 24% say it was a tie. The CNNContinue reading “Inside, Outside, and Giggling at the GOP Bubble”
Kit Stolz 