Sarah Palin’s speech this evening was written by Matthew Scully, a Republican speechwriter, says the WSJ. Scully is a fine writer and gave Palin an solid text, but anyone who has ever read Scully on hunting or factory farms must wonder how he really feels about writing for a candidate who is not only anContinue reading “Sarah Palin Has Her Way with Matthew Scully”
Category Archives: politics
Sarah Palin: “Over” Before her First National Speech
Ever read a book that’s so great you just don’t want it to end? Sarah Palin is like that for lefties. Her crash and burn is so spectacular that the fun’s all but over before she’s even appeared on the national stage. That’s according to Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, famed for her speechwritingContinue reading “Sarah Palin: “Over” Before her First National Speech”
John McCain: Vetting is for Wimps
Achenbach has an enviable sense of humor about the Sarah Palin pick: The Sarah Palin saga may be appalling for some viewers, and deeply disturbing, but I find it inspiring. Once again we see why America is a great country. You can be anyone, from anywhere, with any level of professional qualifications, including none atContinue reading “John McCain: Vetting is for Wimps”
The Latest on Sarah Palin: “A Colossal Screw-up”
She was vetted by a Google search by the McCain team, according to the Los Angeles Times. One Republican strategist with close ties to the campaign described the candidate’s closest supporters as "keeping their fingers crossed" in hopes that additional information does not force McCain to revisit the decision. According to this Republican, who wouldContinue reading “The Latest on Sarah Palin: “A Colossal Screw-up””
No One Frames an Election Better than Bill Clinton
As Barack Obama, Matt Miller (of the influential radio show Left, Right and Center), and now Frank Rich of The New York Times all agreed, a well-known Democrat gave one heck of a speech this week at the Democratic National Convention. No one frames an election better than Bill Clinton. Here, I think, is theContinue reading “No One Frames an Election Better than Bill Clinton”
Sarah Palin: Global Warming Doubter
The newly-chosen GOP vice-presidential candidate doesn’t really believe in global warming, unlike her would-be boss John McCain, according to a brief interview with far-right Newsmax: What is your take on global warming and how is it affecting our country? A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I’mContinue reading “Sarah Palin: Global Warming Doubter”
True Conservativism
In a new book of essays by Gore Vidal, Jay Parini describes old-fashioned conservatism succinctly. "…Vidal is conservative in many respects,” writes Parini. “He stands behind individual choice, the limitation of executive power, and preservation of the environment. Like his grandfather, he dislikes the empire. … He would return us, if possible, to the pureContinue reading “True Conservativism”
Memo to Joe Biden: Represent!
Ezra explains the Biden pick better’n anyone else. For progressives, this is encouraging pick. More encouraging than Bayh, or Kaine, or even, in a way, Sebelius. More encouraging than picks who might have been more progressive, but less pugnacious. Elevating Biden suggests that the Obama campaign has decided to have an argument. Not try toContinue reading “Memo to Joe Biden: Represent!”
Hope vs. Greed, the Future vs. Today, Obama vs. McCain
The self-sacrifice involved in mutual sharing and co-operative action is impossible without hope. When today is all there is, we grab and hold on. We are afloat in an ocean of nothingness and we hang on to any miserable piece of wreckage as if it were the tree of life… Those without hope are dividedContinue reading “Hope vs. Greed, the Future vs. Today, Obama vs. McCain”
McCain: At Least He’s Capable of Embarrassment
In the liberal New Republic, Jonathan Chait confesses that despite John McCain’s "nauseating" attempts to deny his bipartisan past, he can’t get too upset about the possibility that McCain might win. Chait writes: Liberals tend to view the press’s love affair with McCain as a wildly unfair act of bias. They have a point. OnContinue reading “McCain: At Least He’s Capable of Embarrassment”
Kit Stolz 