AltWeeklies Wire
The Americans Brits Love to Hatenew
There are, believe it or not, more hated Yanks overseas than George W. Bush.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
07-17-2008 |
Commentary
Obama Faces Stiff Competition for Center Stage at His Own Nominationnew
He undoubtedly has to give Clinton a chance to deliver a prime-time speech and, no matter how nice she is to Obama, she (and not he) will be the focus of that evening's broadcast. Add in Bill Clinton and the ailing Ted Kennedy, and you can see why Obama took the final night speech to another venue.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
07-10-2008 |
Commentary
Conservatives are Missing the Mark on Obama's Vulnerabilitynew
Say what you want about Obama, he's no radical. So if the company he keeps continues to be the GOP's principal criticism through to November, it will ensure Obama's election. They'd be better off to stick to the flip-flop.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
07-03-2008 |
Commentary
The Era of TV Advertising in Presidential General Elections is Overnew
To the extent that TV ads have ever had an impact in a general election, that influence has been sharply diminished by the Internet and TiVo Ages. The proof is in the pudding. Remember those great ads from the Bush-Kerry race only four years ago? How about Clinton-Dole or Bush-Gore? Of course you don't.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
06-26-2008 |
Commentary
Who's Obama Gonna Bring as His Partner to the Dance?new
The importance of vice-president selections is always overrated. But in Obama's case, it will have more importance than usual, since voters will use this first "presidential" decision to size up his approach to governing. And in a close election, the selection could prove critical.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
06-19-2008 |
Commentary
For Obama to Win, He'll Have to Crib from Ronald Reagan's Playbooknew
Can a significant portion of the electorate abide Barack Obama as its next president? Right now, it's an open question. And for Obama to get the answer he wants, he's going to have to be another Ronald Reagan or another Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
06-12-2008 |
Commentary
Going Both Ways: A Strategy Sheet for McCain on How to Defeat Obamanew
To win in November, John McCain will have to run one of the best campaigns in modern history. How could he do it?
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
05-29-2008 |
Commentary
Hillary, It's Time to Say Goodnightnew
As entertaining -- and at times compelling -- as the Clintons' star turn as feisty underdogs out to beat the odds has been, it is wearing thin. So when the primary season closes on June 3, that'll be candidate Clinton's cue to exit the race.
Boston Phoenix |
Editorial |
05-29-2008 |
Commentary
It's Rather Un-American to Have an Election that Focuses on 'Big Issues'new
The media (and the voters) aren't focusing on the issues, but don't complain. From Lincoln's "ugly problem" to Grover Cleveland's love child, they never have.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
05-22-2008 |
Commentary
Never in His Long Career Has Ted Kennedy Been More Vital or Central to Political Lifenew
Forget relevant; Kennedy today seems indispensable. That makes the news that he is suffering from a malignant brain tumor all the more shocking and sobering.
Boston Phoenix |
Editorial |
05-21-2008 |
Commentary
If the Election Was Held Tomorrow, We'd Have a McCain-Obama Tienew
Making a projection today allows us to see, regionally speaking, where each candidate is strong and weak, and which states each must defend or pick off. Strategically, it can also help us to see how the candidates might plot their vice-presidential choices or an unusual strategy in order to put together a successful electoral coalition.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
05-15-2008 |
Commentary
Rev. Wright: Obama's Genie in a Bottlenew
Obama can only hope his Reverend Wright problem ends up like the Clinton Gennifer Flowers scandal.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
05-12-2008 |
Commentary
McCain's Judicial Pledge Would Further Compromise America's Futurenew
John McCain's recent pledge to extend the legacy of President George W. Bush by continuing to appoint radical, right-wing judges should come as no surprise to even casual political observers, particularly as he continues to pander to the hard-core conservatives of his party whose contributions and votes he must garner to have any chance of winning in November.
Boston Phoenix |
Editorial |
05-07-2008 |
Commentary
Is Barack Obama in Danger of Being Outmanned?new
Clinton is trying to emasculate Obama -- portraying him, in so many words, as a wimp.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
05-01-2008 |
Commentary
After Pennsylvania: A Reality Checknew
Increasingly obsessed with political gamesmanship, the presidential candidates must come back to planet earth.
Boston Phoenix |
Editorial |
04-25-2008 |
Commentary
