AltWeeklies Wire
Obama's Idea of Swapping One Quagmire for Another is Hardly a Brilliant Foreign Policynew
If Barack Obama's idea of ending the occupation in Iraq is to transfer most of the troops to Afghanistan, he won't have accomplished much. He's right that we should not be in Iraq, but we also shouldn't be in Afghanistan.
The Memphis Flyer |
Charley Reese |
08-01-2008 |
Commentary
McCain Adopts Rovian Scorched-Earth Attack on Obama's Patriotism and Integritynew
The presidential race is starting to turn nasty — at least on one side. John McCain said last week that opponent Barack Obama was willing to "lose a war in order to win a campaign." McCain also ran an ad falsely claiming that Obama canceled a meeting with wounded vets in Germany because "cameras weren't allowed."
The Memphis Flyer |
Bruce VanWyngarden |
08-01-2008 |
Commentary
White Denial: Obama, Race and America's Selective Memorynew

Obama's election would be a stunning step forward. John McCain's election would be a stunning step backward, at a time when America can ill afford another false step. What's wrong with Obama? Not much that I can see, not compared to what's wrong with you if you think his election is a threatening proposition.
INDY Week |
Hal Crowther |
07-31-2008 |
Commentary
The Election Ain't Over Yet -- Quite a Few Hurdles Remain for Obamanew
In the wake of Barack Obama's triumphant European tour, the political press continues, by and large, to declare the election all but over.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
07-31-2008 |
Commentary
The Biggest Story from the Trail Lately: Which Candidate is More Lackluster?new
In the roughly two months since we've known the identity of both major party's presumed nominees, a remarkable thing has happened: neither John McCain nor Barack Obama has done virtually anything to bolster his candidacy.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
07-31-2008 |
Commentary
McCain's Telemarketers Invade Bostonnew
The McCain team opened phone-bank operations here in Boston on July 14, but has largely focused on New Hampshire, where the race is still within single digits. Volunteers are conducting a combination of marketing and polling.
Boston Phoenix |
Scott Lieber |
07-31-2008 |
Politics
Five Myths About Barack Obama and John McCainnew
The rhetoric that is floating around these candidates, also known as "spin," is astonishing. With this in mind, I thought it would be fun to explore and possibly explode the falsehoods in which these two giants have encased themselves. As we count down to Nov. 4, let's start poking at a few myths.
Creative Loafing (Charlotte) |
Nsenga Burton |
07-31-2008 |
Commentary
Illinois' Three-Headed Monster Continues to Battle Itselfnew
The state's most vulnerable citizens suffer as the state's leaders feud.
Illinois Times |
Rich Miller |
07-31-2008 |
Commentary
Pelosi Backs Bush on Iran Plansnew
How in the world does the representative of perhaps the most antiwar city in the country sign off on the United States doing this to another nation?
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Tom Gallagher |
07-31-2008 |
Commentary
Is Barack Obama Too Scared to Win?new

The people who back Obama may be energetic young progressives, but they are not unlike the vast majority of Americans when it comes to what they look for in a candidate. Longtime progressive activist Glenn Hurowitz explains in Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party that a major factor determining any voter's choice is whether the candidate fights well (a characteristic described in polling data as being a "strong leader").
Portland Phoenix |
Jeff Inglis |
07-31-2008 |
Politics
How the Neocons Gave Obama the Worldnew
Republican talk radio says Obama's popularity overseas is simply a reflection of the big government socialism Europe has become accustomed to. Talk host Sean Hannity even said that Germans have long been attracted to charismatic personalities, implying that Obama's appeal was more fuhrer than philosophical. Nonsense.
Charleston City Paper |
Jack Hunter |
07-30-2008 |
Commentary
Radovan Karadzic Arrest Recalls a Visit to Croatia and the Horrors of Warnew
I thought immediately of Novoselic and my time in Croatia when I heard the news that Radovan Karadzic had been arrested. I'd become intensely interested in the origins of the strife while abroad and picked up a copy of Misha Glenny's The Fall of Yugoslavia, which is how I learned about Karadzic's evildoings.
San Diego CityBeat |
David Rolland |
07-30-2008 |
Commentary
Can Obama Make Democrats Face Up to Economic Reality?new

There is no doubt that Obama would do a better job on the economy. But during these challenging and worrisome economic times he, and Democrats running for Congress, seem to be promising a lot -- the sky, in fact: less taxes for most people and more services for all. At the moment, it just does not add up.
Boston Phoenix |
Phoenix Editorial |
07-30-2008 |
Commentary
Why is Afghanistan Suddenly in the News Again?new
Egged on by the Democratic nominee, the president and the Republican candidate trying to succeed him are finally acknowledging that Afghanistan needs more U.S. troops if the Taliban is to be redefeated. But neither Republican acknowledges that the U.S. invasion of Iraq turned the War On Terrorâ„¢ into a game of whack-a-mole.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Andisheh Nouraee |
07-30-2008 |
Commentary
Rep. Bart Stupak Pushes for Regulating Oil Speculatorsnew
The sophisticated finance boys on Wall Street are making fun of Stupak, the Michigan congressman who is so much of a hick he cares about poor people who are having trouble affording gasoline. What really bothers them is that he is now in a position where he may be able to do something about it.
Metro Times |
Jack Lessenberry |
07-29-2008 |
Politics