Politics
Misplaced Anger, Prejudice and Casual Racism Brew at Tea Party
Colm McAuliffe :: Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 2:00 pm
According to the American Conservative Values blog, “Sarah Heath Palin is the defacto Shadow President of the United States right now. We hope very much she runs for President in 2012. She could change the world. She can save this country. We listen to her and are awed.” Last weekend’s Nashville meeting of the Tea Party under the aura of Palin is a prime example of these poujadist, little man against big, nasty government which sully the reputation of the democratic story.
Politics
Obama Gives Agnostic Thumbs Up to Tax Increase
Shannon Hassett :: Thursday, February 11th, 2010 7:45 pm
I think of two things when I hear the word ‘agnostic’: that band present but not quite cool enough to fit under the 80s NYHC tag, and everyone too cowardly to commit to atheism. Obama has been getting a lot of headlines for his use of the word, which truth be told, isn’t that far off from either of the aforementioned sentiments. The meteoric celebrity of his early presidency has steadily petered out, mostly based on the grounds of his refusal to commit to his own ideologies (or pretty much anything). It would seem a fairly simple rebuilding strategy to avoid employing words that draw attention to these criticisms, yet in the past week, Obama’s language has provided perhaps the strongest evidence yet that he will continue to go back on campaign trail promises. MORE »
News, Politics
Jon Stewart Gives Bill O’ Reilly A Verbal Beating on “The Factor”
Johnny Sanford :: Monday, February 8th, 2010 12:30 pm
For anyone who likes to keep tabs on the culture war that is brewing like a proverbial pot of tea, there was a fierce battle that occurred this past week when Jon Stewart headed down to “The Factor” to face off with Bill O’ Reilly. The debate consisted of this: Jon Stewart would do about three jokes and then hit O’ Reilly with unequivocal logic, then O’ Reilly would come back with loud, guttural shouts and the insane idea to run for President with Stewart as his VP. Luckily, O’ Reilly has a great editing team so it looked as if he won some of debate. But luckily, we have some unedited footage to take a look at. To see for yourself, make the jump! MORE »
Politics, Shit Going On In The World
Planned Parenthood Responds To Anti-Abortion Super Bowl Advertisement
Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 1:40 pm
The uproar following Tim Tebow’s anti-abortion Super Bowl advertisement has monopolized much of the media since it was announced. Planned Parenthood has responded by creating a video featuring professional athletes Sean James and Al Joyner. Its tone is wholly tasteful. It focuses on trusting and respecting women with their choices and is clearly unintended to be the least bit inflammatory or insulting to anyone (at one point in the video, James says “I respect and honor Mrs. Tebow’s decision”).
Politics, fashion
“Obama/Black” Shirt Pulled From Urban Outfitters
Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 12:05 pm
Urban Outfitters came under scrutiny last week when customers noticed that they could buy a shirt in the color scheme “Obama/Black.” As if that wasn’t weird enough, the shirt was gray. I have a few problems with this marketing strategy. Firstly, if you have to pick a politician to classify which color you’re using to market a shirt, wouldn’t it have been more fitting to use an old, silver-haired dude like Bush if the shirt in question is gray? Oh, but that’s so five minutes ago, and I’m sure the hipsters responsible for the brand would rather die than have their finger slightly to the right of the pulse. Then there’s the obvious fact that Obama is not, in fact, gray-skinned. What a shocker, right?
Politics, Shit Going On In The World
Rielle Hunter’s Wild Ride
Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, January 29th, 2010 4:20 pm
Horse murders! Scandal! Media pioneering! Passion! Generation X literature! Politico pregnancy! The Wikipedia article on Rielle Hunter is one of the most eye-poppingly bizarre things I’ve read in recent memory. Her history has already been featured in the books of Jay McInerney, her ex-boyfriend, and Bret Easton Ellis, but that was way back when she was seventeen. Since, she’s embarked on even crazier adventures, most notably seducing onetime presidential hopeful John Edwards, who sired her illegitimate love-baby. I think a new book, or possibly a movie, is definitely in order, but I’m sure the opportunists who write all those ugly political-scandal books are way, way ahead of me on this one.
Politics
State Of The Union 2010: The Drinking Game
Adam Kearney :: Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 4:00 pm
If you’re tuning into the State of the Union address tomorrow night (and don’t worry, it won’t interfere with the Lost reunion, the network squared that away) try to liven up the rhetoric with a fun drinking game based around President Obama’s most common catchphrases. So, grab a cool six-pack of American beer, and plunk yourself down for some real participatory democracy.
Here are the rules: MORE »
Politics
State of the Union Address: Health Care Debacle
Colm McAuliffe :: Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 12:45 pm
US health care is rationed by the size of a person’s wallet. The US profits-before-healthcare axiom claimed a (relatively) high-profile victim in paraplegic singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt and prior to Obama’s State of the Union address tomorrow, the health service here is perhaps the single most crucial national topic to be discussed.
Politics
Haiti Catastrophe: Is Bill Clinton The New Pat Robertson?
Colm McAuliffe :: Thursday, January 21st, 2010 3:00 pm
So, what’s the difference between Pat Robertson and Bill Clinton? Is there one? While Pat has denounced Haiti’s revolution as a pact with the devil. the silver-tongued Lothario that is Bill plans on reducing the nation into tourist hell. MORE »
Politics
John Edwards Scandal: Now He Is A Diaper Thief
Colm McAuliffe :: Thursday, January 21st, 2010 1:45 pm
John Edwards’ rapid fall from grace took a rather predictable turn when he revealed he was indeed the father of Rielle Hunter’s child. But things have taken an even more bizarre turn now as ABC has released a video containing an interview with Edwards one-time aide Andrew Young, whom he managed to cajole into claiming paternity of the child to ensure Edwards secret was safe. MORE »
Politics
Scott Brown’s Foxy Family
Amy Laviero :: Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 2:40 pm
Since winning the Massachusetts Senate seat yesterday, Scott Brown’s family is being Googled up and down by inquisitive Americans. As the first Republican to hold said seat since 1972, Brown fills the void caused by the death of Ted Kennedy last August. Sadly, he has promised to bury the Democrat’s health-care plan which Kennedy had helped push. MORE »
Politics
Health Care Reform Sans Diet Reform
Stephen Blackwell :: Thursday, September 10th, 2009 2:03 pm
It’s a good thing Michael Pollan chimed in with his New York Times Op-ed this morning, Big Food vs. Big Insurance. Books like Fast Food Nation and movies like Supersize Me haven’t had much luck bringing the nation’s detestable eating habits to the forefront of our national debate. Americans are obese, diabetic, and riddled with cancers. Pollan doesn’t point any fingers (hey, maybe he’s planning on running for office) but his message is clear: You can reform healthcare all you want, but so long as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, The Entire Dairy Industry, Philip Morris, and all their competitors keep pumping cheap poison into our veins, what’s the point? (Alcohol, however, is a slightly different story. It’s good stuff — just go easy on it kids!)
