AltWeeklies Wire
In Memorium of the Anti-War Warrior: Howard Zinn, 1922-2010new

Howard Zinn was like a daddy to Boston University students of the Vietnam War era. The author of A People's History of the United States has been revered by generations of students, reviled by more conventional academics, and, mostly, re-read.
Boston Phoenix |
Raymond Mungo |
02-04-2010 |
Politics
Man Sparks 'Louisiana Watergate' After Allegedly Gaining Access to Senator's Phonenew
A man arrested for his involvement in a bungled Watergate-style phone-tapping of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu's office was once the editor of a monthly conservative publication at the University of Minnesota-Morris. Joseph Basel, 24, was arrested in connection with the bizarre incident.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Kevin Hoffman |
02-03-2010 |
Politics
After Massachusetts, What Will Democrats Do?new
Republicans and conservatives are ecstatic that Scott Brown won Ted Kennedy's seat in the Senate and that the Supreme Court has put the fix in on elections. I'm troubled by both. But I'm also troubled by Democrats who don't seem to know what they want, and who are in a panic over Scott Brown's victory.
City Newspaper |
Mary Anna Towler |
02-02-2010 |
Commentary
Gunning For the Job: Todd Evans for El Paso County Sheriffnew
Todd Evans, the Republican Party's leading candidate for El Paso County sheriff, tried pot as a teen, twice shot suspects, and currently runs security for Colorado Springs Christian Schools while also serving as a bodyguard for a movie star he won't name.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Pam Zubeck |
02-02-2010 |
Politics
What the Supreme Court's Decision Means For Younew
Citizens United should not be seen as the death knell of campaign finance reform. Indeed, this decision is so unprecedented and far-reaching that it could be the catalyst that prompts elected officials to start taking money-in-politics reform more seriously.
INDY Week |
Chase Foster |
01-28-2010 |
Commentary
Obama Needs to Get Tough and Follow Throughnew
The president is getting the usual bad advice from Democratic "moderates" who say Obama needs to scale back his agenda to mere Clinton-esque "little steps," and be satisfied with "more modest expectations."
Creative Loafing (Charlotte) |
John Grooms |
01-27-2010 |
Commentary
Cable TV vs. America: The Problem With Paid-For Punditsnew

When Franklin D. Roosevelt took office on March 4, 1933, the United States economy was in a state of near-collapse, with the nation's banks about to close. The new president came into office having pledged to balance the budget and reduce federal spending, but quickly realized that would have meant disaster.
Metro Times |
Jack Lessenberry |
01-27-2010 |
Commentary
Was Haiti's Earthquake Actually a Man-Made Disaster?new
People don't die because earthquakes shake them. For the most part, people die in earthquakes because the buildings they're in fall on top of them. By and large, Haitians lived and worked in shoddily built structures.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Andisheh Nouraee |
01-26-2010 |
Commentary
Supreme Court Ruling Could Influence Connecticut Campaign Lawnew
The new U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning federal bans on corporate political spending is creating a firestorm of protest, and disagreements here in Connecticut about how it might impact legal challenges to this state's landmark public campaign financing program.
New Haven Advocate |
Gregory B. Hladky |
01-26-2010 |
Politics
Is Obama Going To Force Leftists To The Center?new
Dean didn’t say this, but I will. Calling someone a Nazi is harsh, yet Republicans nowadays embrace parts of the Nazi ideology, which is a peculiar mixing of racism and phony populism. In hard times like we got, it sometimes works.
Random Lengths News |
Lionel Rolfe |
01-22-2010 |
Commentary
Can Alexi Giannoulias Make it to Washington, D.C.?new
Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias leads the pack of Democrats running for U.S. Senate, but can he overcome criticisms concerning his time at the family bank and in office?
Illinois Times |
Patrick Yeagle |
01-21-2010 |
Politics
Meet the Invisible Hands Behind Some of Minnesota's Biggest Billsnew

There are few things lawmakers like talking about less than the lobbyists they work with on a daily basis. This despite the fact that lobbyists write 90 percent of bills, clue legislators in on what backlash they can expect, and prep lawmakers on minutiae they don't have time to ponder.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Matt Snyders |
01-20-2010 |
Commentary
Oba-Meh: Some Oregonians are Losing Hope in Their Presidentnew

Today, Roey Thorpe is still thoroughly behind Obama. But after a year of incremental progress on the economy, heavy compromises on healthcare reform and escalation of the war in Afghanistan, Thorpe hears from Democrats who are losing hope.
Willamette Week |
James Pitkin |
01-20-2010 |
Commentary
Barack Obama: David Dinkins Redux
Obama is much like David Dinkins, elected in 1989 as New York City's first black mayor. Dinkins, an affable Democrat, made the mistake of thinking that African-Americans were his political base. They weren't. White liberals were.
Maui Time |
Ted Rall |
01-19-2010 |
Commentary
What's Next for a Congressman Who Rode in on Obama’s Coattails?new

People did vie to shake his hand and share his lunch table, but having U.S. Rep. Gary Peters at a homeless shelter last week for a meeting of community group leaders wasn't exactly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people there.
Metro Times |
Sandra Svoboda |
01-19-2010 |
Commentary