Thank God. Can we go back to ignoring this guy now? I thought it was worth noting way back in July when the crazy “Burn a Qu’ran Day” was first announced, especially because it seemed to me then–and still now–that political conservatives like Newt Gingrich needed to either accept some responsibility for the Islamo-hatred they were …
An Unusual Pitch for Elected Office
My friend Christina Bellantoni over at TPM pointed this out to me. This guy, Phil Davidson, was hoping for the GOP nomination to be Stark County treasurer in Ohio. He, um, lost. But I feel for him — as I think a lot of folks do as this video has gone viral. He’s slightly angry, slightly desperate (the $260 a month he makes is as a …
40 Years of Political Experience…
…also means 40 years of tape. A rather brutal Exhibit A from California’s gubernatorial race:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TufO2AnYO50]
1,000 Words: Toss
The Paper Tiger?
In this week’s dead tree edition I have a story about Organizing for America, the remnants of the Obama campaign housed at the Democratic National Committee. I went canvassing on Long Island with OFA volunteers — a rather fruitless exercise as when they discovered I was with TIME they sent me door knocking to the homes of half the …
20,001: The Number That Matters In Delaware
In the new newsstand/iPad issue of TIME, I have a story about the Republican primary for the Delaware senate seat previously held by Joe Biden. (Sign up and we will mail you a copy.) It pits the patriarch of the state Republican party, Mike Castle, against an conservative pundit riding the Tea Party wave named Christine O’Donnell. Forty …
Morning Must Reads: Daylight
—The Fed sees “deceleration in overall economic activity.”
–Preisdent Obama used the word “Boehner” more than the word “hope” in his speech on the economy yesterday.
–A few bright spots from this morning: New jobless claims dropped to a two-month low last week and exports hit a near two-year high.
In the ArenaUncategorized
Latest Column
More road tripping.
In the ArenaUncategorized
Election Road Trip, Day 3: Happy Birthday Aimee Mann
She’s fifty…and so I thought I’d concentrate on some of the great songs by women singers I heard today:
1. Save Me–Aimee Mann (from her shimmering, transcendent contribution to the movie Magnolia)
2. Insult to Injury–Linda Thompson (imagine the decades of great music if she and Richard had stayed together; just a luscious, …
In the ArenaUncategorized
Election Road Trip, Day 3: What She Has Done For Us Lately
West Middlesex, Pa.
Traveling companions: None.
Event: Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper speaks to the Shenango Valley chapter of the American Business Women’s Association
One of the few provisions in the Obama health care reform that has actually gone into effect enables families to include their children, up to the age of …
In the ArenaUncategorized
Election Road Trip, Day 3: Mom and Dad
State College, Pa.
Traveling Companions: None
Event: Lunch with mom and dad.
Today was the first day of school in much of the country, which is an anniversary in our family: 85 years ago my mother and father met. It was the first day of kindegarten and the children were told to line up according to height, then walk into class …
Hillary, Obama and American Power
I’m struck by Hillary Clinton’s speech today about how we are in the midst of a “new American moment,” one that demands leadership from–and the values of–the United States to make the world a better place. Clinton’s message may seem like typical foreign policy mush. But in the current moment it amounts to a striking rejection of the …
Wave? Not yet in KY, CA & FL
Sure, all those pundits on cable and inside the Beltway may be predicting a wave year where Dems lose the House and maybe even the Senate. But the tsunami hasn’t yet been reflected in three new CNN/TIME/Opinion research polls of registered voters in Kentucky, California and Florida out today. In fact, most races were tied or just within …