About a month ago, Newsweek reported that Wal-Mart, after years of embracing conservative politics, was beginning to draw some criticism from the right. In particular, some conservatives believe the retail behemoth was “being too nice to unions.” It seemed like an odd complaint, given that Wal-Mart has been vehemently anti-labor since, well, forever. But in […]
In the spring, Democratic primary voters didn’t fall for misguided gimmicks on energy policy. But if recent polling is any indication, Americans in general are so worried about gas prices, many of them are actually falling for the scam being pushed by John McCain and the rest of the Republican establishment. A CNN poll this […]
It’s easy to rail against the political media’s fascination with trivia, but the frustration often misses the mark. Some reporting on human-interest stories relating to presidential candidates is normal; news outlets aren’t going to be all-substance, all-the-time. Adding some trivia to the mix can help make coverage of the campaign, for lack of a better […]
The WaPo’s E. J. Dionne Jr. noted in passing this morning that the McCain campaign’s strategy is “almost a parody of George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 exertions.” At no point has this been clearer than it was yesterday. I had an idea as to how I’d characterize yesterday’s events, but it looks like Time’s […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * ExxonMobil’s profits in the second quarter were $11.68 billion, the biggest quarterly profit any U.S. corporation has ever had. * And how much of that money will be directed towards alternative energy? About 1%. Great. * The bad news out of Iraq: “A suicide car bomber rammed an explosives-laden […]
Barack Obama brought up John McCain’s instantly infamous campaign commercial featuring Britney Spears and Paris Hilton today, asking McCain, “[I]s that the best you can come up with? Is that really what this election is about? Is that what is worthy of the American people?” As it turns out, McCain was asked about the same […]
The president spoke briefly this morning from the White House, heralding the “success of the surge” for creating “sustained progress” in Iraq. Soon after, Joe Lieberman announced that he and Lindsey Graham are “introducing a resolution recognizing the strategic success that the surge has achieved in a central front — the central front of the […]
Before Barack Obama had even reached American soil again after his overseas trip, the McCain campaign had arguably the most insipid campaign commercial of the year, arguing that Obama blew off wounded U.S. troops: “[H]e made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn’t allow him […]
As expected, the McCain campaign’s new TV ad, comparing Barack Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, made quite a splash yesterday. When pressed for a reaction, Obama told reporters yesterday, “You know, I don’t pay attention to John McCain’s ads, although I do notice he doesn’t seem to have anything to say very positive […]
For the better part of the year, the McCain campaign, the Republican Party, and the conservative movement in general has gone to great lengths to portray Barack Obama as “the other.” He’s “different.” There’s a “mainstream” in America, and Obama’s not in it. And Obama frequently acknowledges those differences. In his speech in Berlin last […]