There’s been a fair amount of interest lately about John McCain’s contributions from the oil industry. It’s not surprising some of the donations raised eyebrows — that’s what happens when a middle-class family that rents their home in Queens donates more than $60,000 to the Republican campaign. The concern, of course, is whether McCain’s generous […]
Last week was all about John McCain’s campaign going on the offensive, launching negative ads, and trying to define Barack Obama by exploiting cultural insecurities. This week, apparently, is all about Obama turning the tables and going on the offensive himself. On Monday, the Obama campaign unveiled its first “contrast” ad of the general election, […]
I’m reluctant to post this because it’s a celebrity web video, and I hate celebrity web videos. But given that it’s a celebrity web video that actually relates to politics, explores an important policy issue, and has instantly become something of a political sensation, it’s probably worth taking a closer look at this Paris Hilton […]
For nearly a week now, Republicans, including John McCain, his surrogates, and his aides, have been mocking the notion that routine auto maintenance can contribute to fuel efficiency. Yesterday, at an event in Ohio, Barack Obama mocked them back. For those who can’t watch clips online (and in the unlikely event you haven’t seen the […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Uh oh: “The possibility of a mistrial emerged on Tuesday in the United States’ first war crimes trial at Guantanamo, after prosecutors said the judge gave flawed instructions to a jury of military officers in the case against Osama bin Laden’s driver. Prosecutors asked the judge to revise the […]
Call it a hunch, but I don’t think John McCain’s remarks at a biker rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, yesterday are going to help him win over women voters. McCain felt so comfortable at the event that he even volunteered his wife for the rally’s traditional beauty pageant, an infamously debauched event that’s been known […]
I really didn’t intend to return to the whole “tire gauge” nonsense, but let’s do one more. This one’s amusing. After Barack Obama noted that routine auto maintenance can improve fuel efficiency, John McCain told a group of voters, “[Obama] suggested we put air in our tires to save on gas. My friends, let’s do […]
As a rule, I’m inclined to cut senators (from both parties) some slack for missing votes during their presidential campaign. It’s tough to hold down a day job while running for president. But it’s much harder to be understanding when a candidate fails to show up for work for months on end, and then lambastes […]
Most of the time, the conservative culture-war efforts are simply annoying. Some far-right activists will try some stunt, it’ll fail in the courts, and the rest of us can focus our attention on real problems. But it’s much harder to tolerate conservative intolerance when national security is at stake. This morning’s Christian Science Monitor reports […]
John McCain has been pursuing a risky campaign strategy of late, going relentlessly negative and attacking Barack Obama’s character. This has offered a short-term benefit — McCain has made real gains in the polls — but has created a long-term threat, by seriously undermining his “brand.” McCain had developed a reputation for “straight talk” and […]