No wonder McCain didn’t want to have the debate on Friday; it seemed like the night was rigged in Obama’s favor. For one thing, these debates focus on substance — at least, more so than the rest of the campaign. The knock against Obama is that he’s vague and airy. So when he shows up and has a clear list of policy proposals, he clears a very low hurdle. Also, his positions...
this is what ran through my mind after i watched the debate… i may not be the expert on foreign policy.. and i’m definitely not a politician… but i’ve been fortunate enough to have traveled the world and i have been to more countries in 6 months than most people have in their whole lives… and i know how people feel, how real “people” feel about Americans… i may not...
To say there’s a lot going on right now is an understatement. We’re in the middle of a historic and unprecedented financial crisis . We’re fighting two different wars. Global warming, health care, and social security are all huge, potentially catastrophic problems. And what am I getting e-mails about? Sarah fucking Palin. I’ve received more than 20 emails alerting me to a...
When I was in college, I took a class where the professor asked us to raise our hands if we considered ourselves feminists. Out of about 20 kids, I was one of two to raise my hand. I was horrified until the students who’d left their hands down explained what they thought it meant to be a feminist. They thought you had to be a lesbian man-hater who used words like “ womyn ” and only...
I generally think of Democrats as being funnier than the Republicans. While there are a few funny Republicans — like P.J. O’Rourke and Dennis Miller — the lion’s share of humorists are good old Hollywood liberals like Chris Rock, Jon Stewart and Tina Fey. But it seems like Republicans are getting more amusing these days. Just take a look at this video, an attack ad aimed...
One thing I hear from friends of mine in Los Angeles all the time is that this country is too racist to elect a black guy. Instinctively, I am suspicious of this argument. Last month, Jacob Weisberg wrote in Slate that “racism is the only reason McCain might beat [Obama].” Even if you think this is an overstatement, a lot of people state, matter-of-factly, that racism will...
Are you sick of global warming yet? The constant threats of dying polar bears , the rising sea levels , the spread of icky diseases ? Sometimes, I want to stick my head in the sand just so I don’t have to hear about my carbon footprint anymore. I recycle my cans; I drive a hybrid when I’m not taking the subway or walking; I don’t purchase goods from companies that I know to...
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for political television. We had two political conventions back to back followed by the somewhat tough Sarah Palin interview on ABC, the very tough McCain appearance on The View , and the horribly boring joint forum on national service. Since she was picked to be John McCain’s vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin has sucked up most of...
“She epitomizes class and American style.” I’ll give you a dollar if you can tell me to whom that quote refers. Katherine Hepburn? Grace Kelly? Cher? None of the above. Everyone’s favorite public policy rag, Us Weekly , actually snared that gem from none other than Tim Gunn of Project Runway in reference to our potential First Lady, Michelle Obama. When asked...
I do man hugs. I have to. I live in Los Angeles. Men don’t just shake hands here. That would make sense. Los Angeles is not big on sense. When any male Angeleno who lives within a 20-mile radius of the 405-10 interchange greets or says goodbye to another male he’s known for more than two weeks, we hug it out - bro-style. I have theories on why we do this. For starters, Los...
