AltWeeklies Wire
The Strange Tradition of Washington's Political Turnovernew
Presidential transitions are odd times any time there's a change of parties in power, but after the last eight years, this one may be even more so.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
11-25-2008 |
Commentary
Election '08: We Enter the Fourth Quarter of the Ground Gamenew
How much of the GOP's defense will work in a year when the Democrats are fielding an offense for the ages? And how much of the field has already been tilted due to the work of Gonzales, Bush, and the Justice Department? The clock runs out on election day.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
10-28-2008 |
Commentary
The 'Ownership Society,' Circa 2008new
In 1969, the top tax rate was 69 percent, and we sent a man to the moon. Now it's under half of that, and bridges are collapsing at the same time the economy is, but we've spent eight solid years funneling money to the privileged classes and Wall Street Masters of the Universe.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
10-07-2008 |
Commentary
Sarah Palin and Personality Politicsnew
"This election is not about issues," John McCain's campaign manager recently said. If the McCain/Palin campaign gets its way, it probably won't be. Because if the American people start thinking about real issues -- the ones we've been dealing with for the last eight years -- the GOP ticket won't stand a chance.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
09-16-2008 |
Commentary
John McCain's POW Crutchnew
Being a former POW means something. Unfortunately for John McCain, that "something" doesn't answer a single question about him becoming president, no matter how often he brings it up.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
09-09-2008 |
Commentary
What Political Reporters Wantnew
In the end, what the media wants is A Story. How they get it is determined by little things that most often don't really matter. Which is why the AP last week ran a story on how its joint poll with Yahoo! News shows that among pet owners John McCain beats Barack Obama 42 percent to 37 percent. Which doesn't mean squat.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
07-22-2008 |
Commentary
Since When Does the President Have the Power to Silence People Who Want to Talk?new
It's fascinating to see the various uses George W. Bush's administration has made of the phrase "executive privilege." Most recently, Karl Rove has ignored a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee to testify about the prosecution of Don Siegelman, the former governor of Alabama, a Democrat who also happened to be that party's best chance to regain the governor's mansion. (Rove has already brushed off a subpoena from the Senate.)
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
06-10-2008 |
Commentary
What McCain and the GOP Really Mean When They Say They 'Support the Troops'new
One of these days, the American public is going to wake up and see that just because a candidate like John McCain can talk a good game about the military, and show off his pictures from the Vietnam days, it doesn't mean life will get any better for troops serving now.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
05-20-2008 |
Politics
Can This Election Season's News Coverage Get Any Dumber?new
It's cheaper and easier to talk about the ravings of some South Side Chicago preacher than it is to discuss the economic reasons why lifting the gas tax for a month would only cause consumers to see pennies while the oil companies rake in billions. Stupid sells. Policy doesn't.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
05-13-2008 |
Media
Take John Yoo to the International Criminal Courtnew
Yoo blithely tossed out the window the legal principle, enshrined in federal law, of posse comitatus, which says that the military cannot exercise law-enforcement functions that are the province of state officials. The president, in wartime, has the powers of a king, if you believe what Yoo wrote.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
04-15-2008 |
Commentary
Election '08: Enough With 'Concern Trolling'new
"Concern trolling" is the practice of asking ostensibly earnest questions, usually by partisans masquerading as someone "concerned" about an issue, usually about the other party. It's also a tactic practiced quite often by the mainstream media. This turns elections that should be about issues into drama criticism and popularity contests.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
03-18-2008 |
Commentary
Barbara, Phone Homenew
Got your cell phone handy? Good. Here, try something.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
02-05-2008 |
Commentary
The Next Phase of the Presidential Campaignnew
By this time next month, the primary election season will be all but over, and we will know who's going to be battling it out in November. I, for one, am partially looking upon this time with dread.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
01-15-2008 |
Commentary
Excusesnew
Come 2009, we may find out all sorts of things about what our government has been up to for the past seven years. But by that time, all the actors in the process will be gone, and the only thing left will be excuses.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
12-18-2007 |
Commentary
God in The Cabinetnew
Mitt Romney says that he wouldn't put a Muslim in the cabinet because there just aren't enough of them in the United States to warrant it. I guess that means that right off the bat, Romney's using a quota system to decide who does deserve cabinet posts under a President Mitt.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
12-11-2007 |
Commentary
