What does it say about us as a culture -- or, for that matter, the Internet as a publishing medium -- that most of the ads on the 'Net these days seem to be from corporations posing as random Joes and Sallys, pretending to offer their miracle cure for yellow teeth, acne, or large stomachs?  To me, it says (1) most of us are insecure, and (2) people ( Read more... )

Paul Krugman has an important column in the New York Times on the GOP's resentment strategy -- the argument that small-town and rural residents should vote Republican because the Democratic "elites" are laughing at them.  I noticed it a lot in Sarah Palin's VP speech at the Republican convention:

Long ago, a young farmer and habber-dasher from ( Read more... )

Even the AP is now noting that McCain, who journalists typically say is "hesitant" to talk about his prisoner-of-war status during Vietnam, is now using (or allowing his campaign and party to use) his capture and torture as the primary or secondary reason for his candidacy.

I'd been reading that John Kerry's speech at the Democratic National Convention yesterday was fantastic, and I agree -- he aggressively defended the Democrats' love of country and patriotism, tore apart the Republicans' smear-and-fear-based politics, and explained why the McCain of 2000 is not the McCain who's now running for election.  I recommend ( Read more... )

I'm dreaming -- Fox News said something really nice about a Democrat.  Here's Brit Hume (not the most "fair and balanced" of reporters) complimenting Michelle Obama's speech, and Juan Cole from NPR almost tearing up over it:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2MKvkx82uM

He really comes across as an intelligent and down-to-earth person in this interview -- check it out.

John McCain's new response to everything:  I was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for 5 years.  Hopefully, he'll overplay this card and people will start noticing that this is his response to all difficult accusations.

Why I Will Not Vote for John McCain, by Dr. Phillip Butler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgF39TRCPPE

From The Economist, of all places:

"SINCE tonight is mostly a matter of waiting for a fait accompli to hurry up and get accompli, there's no reason John McCain's speech in New Orleans, which is about to begin, should be any different.  . . .  OK, I lied, there's one surprise: The terrifying death rictus grin-and-snicker after every joke line. I don' ( Read more... )