AltWeeklies Wire
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
Barack Obama's Stand-In Performance for Ted Kennedy at Wesleyan Was Low-Keynew
Traffic was light, the weather was beautiful, and parking was a breeze. Security outside consisted of smiling and helpful Wesleyan undergraduates in red "event staff" T-shirts and courteous Wesleyan Public Safety officers. As for demonstrators, I bumped into three standing on the periphery of the event.
Boston Phoenix |
Peter Keough |
05-29-2008 |
Politics
Is a Senate Shuffle on the Horizon for Massachusetts?new
Massachusetts hasn’t had a Senate-seat vacancy in nearly 25 years. Now we may have two. Let the speculation begin.
Boston Phoenix |
David S. Bernstein |
05-29-2008 |
Politics
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
If Obama and Clinton Can't Sort This Thing Out, There's Always Al Gorenew
If the Democrats want to have their best chance to win an election in November that six months ago it looked like they couldn't lose, they may have only one option at this point: they can turn to Al Gore.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
04-24-2008 |
Commentary
John McCain's Beijing Bouncenew
No matter how well American athletes do in the Olympics, McCain should get a lift from the Games.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
04-17-2008 |
Commentary
Rev. Wright Tarnished Obama's Image as America's Anointed Savoirnew

The Obama campaign and the press may want to put the Reverend Jermemiah Wright back in the bottle, but that's hard to do if you're running as a messiah.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Stark |
04-10-2008 |
Commentary