The Reality of War in Afghanistan

Despite their differences over how to pursue the US war in Iraq, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama both want to send more American troops to Afghanistan. Both are wrong. History cries out to them, but they are not listening.

Defending ACORN and the Right to Vote

Barack Obama's poll numbers are up - and the McCain campaign's gloves are off. This time the GOP's target isn't merely the Democratic candidate -- it's a poor people's group - and if we're not careful, the impact of the targeting may be felt long after the '08 election.

Why Is America So Content With Mediocrity?

I had intended to write this entire piece and then go back and remove the 'g' from every word that ended in one.

But then I thought that would make me a churlish, smart-arsed, lefty stereotype and alienate the very people I want to try to hear me. (Although I imagine there ain't gonna be many of them readin' the huffpost, huh?! Wait for the audience to realize they should clap and/or boo, nod, smile even more, carry on.) Sorry, I couldn't resist.

McCain Plays the Race Card

Having failed to convince voters that they represent a break from the tragic Bush presidency, Republican presidential candidate John McCain and vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin are careening into George Wallace territory to destroy the nation's first African-American nominee, Democrat Barack Obama.

Sins of Omission

Rhode Island has a long reputation of being a solidly Democratic state. Republicans in positions of power are so scarce that the fact that we have a Republican governor, Gov. Donald Carcieri, must be attributed partially to the gender of his Democratic opponent.   If she had been a he, with her history in public office, we would be enjoying her second term. In the aftermath of Hillary Clinton's success in RI, things may have changed for female politicians but back when Gov. Carcieri was elected, running-while-woman virtually guaranteed her defeat.

A Pit Bull Doesn't Lie

One of the complaints we hear from "ordinary" red-staters is that the Democrats mock them, condescend to them and look down upon them.

Hmm. Have they for even a fleeting instant considered which is really the party of mockery and bitter burlesque?

Seeds of Hatred

"What a man sow shall he reap -
And you know that talk is cheap..."
- Bob Marley

John McCain was right in August when he called John Lewis one of the "wisest people" he knew.

Why 'Change' Has Already Won

Guess what? Change has already won in Election 2008. Although the presidential election result itself has yet to be decided, it has become clear over the past weeks that John McCain is now attempting to run a political campaign against a social movement that a) agrees that there are fundamental injustices in the system, and b) is demanding a real, authentic change in political leadership.

Palin Drops the Puck

You cannot make this up. Sarah Palin, the best-known hockey mom in the United States, gets booed Saturday at the Philadelphia Flyers hockey game. And the game is played, of all places, at the Wachovia Center. It's all over YouTube: failing candidate, failed bank as corporate sponsor, the kind of anger that cannot be scripted.