John McCain’s Convention Speech

Friday, September 5th, 2008

A wordle word cloud of McCain's and Palin's speeches [mattlehrer / Flickr] It's been a long two weeks of conventioneering. And so without further ado, here are three reactions to the very last speech: John McCain's. Lori is a Republican "Army brat" who has settled into Arizona and its dating scene. The whole ...

Alternative Terrorism

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

James Pence of Glendale, Kentucky, doesn't mince words. He explains here, in a calmly biting commentary on the Bush administration's handling of the economy, healthcare, civil liberties, and other issues central to the election, how he -- if he were a terrorist -- would undermine America: That rocking chair somehow takes ...

What It Takes to Be a Muslim

Monday, July 21st, 2008

With last week's New Yorker flap and Obama in Iraq today, it seems a good time to feature this find from Sarolta Cump. It's a video made by 19-year-old Louma about what it means to be a Muslim. Directly relevant to the election? Maybe not. But vilification of Islam ...

The New Yorker Cover

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

This week's New Yorker cover shows Barack Obama dressed as a Muslim, Michelle outfitted as a Black Panther/terrorist, a flag burning in the fireplace, and Osama bin Laden in a gilt frame on the wall. It is, of course satire. Or it's supposed to be. It seems to be confusing ...

Terror Helps McCain?

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008

Foot in mouth [g-hat / Flickr] So Charlie Black, political advisor to McCain, recently said, rather impolitically, that a terror attack in the US would boost McCain in the campaign. This isn't a reaction roundup; just two snippets. Damian J. Penny, blogging from Halifax, Nova Scotia, questions whether there's any logic to ...

Gas Prices

Thursday, April 24th, 2008

Beth Fitzgerald, a junk food and photography lover from Gulfport, Mississippi, documented prices at a local gas station earlier this month (via Ann Raber): [bfitz85 / Flickr] The Pete from Los Angeles, California, sold his car about five years ago but is also documenting fuel prices in his hometown. He writes, in ...