News

Sarah Palin’s “Target” List Could Backfire

Andrew Belonsky :: Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 3:40 pm

From attending Tea Party conventions to hanging with Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin’s done a great job transforming herself into the right-wing’s unspoken leader. Or, at the very least, a main attraction. The right wing has become increasingly angry, not to mention irrational, and Palin’s latest stunt, issuing a list of electoral “targets” could make her more of an outlaw than a rebel.

Has Health Care Made America Sybil?

Andrew Belonsky :: Monday, March 22nd, 2010 2:00 pm

Republicans are none-too-happy about health care reform’s passage yesterday. That comes as no surprise. Nor do their pledges to use the legislation as a wedge issue in the upcoming midterm elections. Though none of this strikes me as out-of-the-ordinary, it makes me wonder, “Is health care America’s collective Sybil?” Is this evidence that our nation, which claims to be United, has split personalities?

Soda Tax Will Tear Us Apart

Andrew Belonsky :: Friday, March 19th, 2010 3:40 pm

Of all the political discussions bubbling up across the nation, the one on the so-called soda tax seems, on the surface, to be one of the more absurd. Take a deeper look, however, and one quickly sees that this debate is pitting rich against poor, doctors against businessmen and journo against journo. Could this be the unique culture war that tears the States asunder?

Rand Paul: An Outsider on The Inside Track

Andrew Belonsky :: Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 11:30 am

Rand Paul’s well on his way to being a Republican candidate in Kentucky’s Senatorial race. This comes as no surprise: Paul, an eye surgeon and son of Congressman Ron Paul, started the race as an outsider, and emulates many of the populist ideals coarsing through America’s collective vein right now: he’s for limited government, wants to lower taxes and describes himself as a “candidate of the people,” a man who can cure Washington of its ills. But Paul, who got his start in his state’s tax reform movement, also straddles the “outsider” divide and has courted support from the likes of Sarah Palin and Dick Armey. He is the outsider insider, and here Paul explains why he doesn’t want to be grouped with the far right, how the media works against third parties and why health care needs more, not less, capitalism. Oh boy…

Education, Texas Style, Whitewashes Democratic Ideals

Andrew Belonsky :: Monday, March 15th, 2010 12:40 pm

Yee-haw! Texas conservatives prevailed in their academic culture war Friday, when the state’s education board approved a plethora of amendments that could alter curriculums across the nation. The move unabashedly injects some right-wing ideology into the nation’s collective syllabus, and, however unintentionally, runs counter to the very democratic ideals the board members celebrate. This episode provides quite the lesson in how to whitewash American history. Literally.

Recession Scorches American Dream, Reveals Inevitable Dark Side

Andrew Belonsky :: Monday, March 1st, 2010 11:00 am

It’s undeniable that the recession has unleashed anger across the nation. And that anger’s rapidly devolving into madness. From Joe Stack’s flight into an IRS building to Terry Hoskins, the man who bulldozed his house ahead of foreclosure, seemingly average Americans are lashing out in crazy ways. While Stack’s attack qualifies as the most dramatic outburst, the Hoskins incident, hardly isolated, provides a far more telling glimpse into the ways the economic crisis has soured, and scorched, the American dream.

Yeah, Obama’s Radical, and The Right Should Be, Too

Andrew Belonsky :: Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 5:20 pm

The political lexicon relies in large part on buzzwords, like “patriot” or “socialist.” And then there’s “radical,” which the right wing applies more tenaciously to President Obama than almost any other term. The most recent usage stems from the word that Sean Hannity will soon publish a new book, Conservative Victory. Not surprisingly, it’s being billed as a guide to defeating Obama’s “radical agenda.” In light of this news, let’s take a moment to look at the myth of radicalism, which consistently misses the mark because every American, including Republicans, needs to be more radical, dude.

Dick Of The Week: Hayley Franklin, First Grader

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, February 12th, 2010 5:20 pm

Hayley Franklin, you six-year-old dick! News broke this week that Hayley Franklin, a first-grade student at Parkway Elementary School in St. Lucie County, Florida, began a violent, hour-long tantrum when her teacher asked her to do something. She flailed, kicked, screamed, and caused bodily harm to at least one of the school’s staff members - most notably, PUNCHING HER EIGHT-MONTHS-PREGNANT PRINCIPAL IN THE STOMACH. She actually had to be put in handcuffs in order to keep her restrained.

Are You A Bad American For Not Liking Olympics?

Andrew Belonsky :: Friday, February 12th, 2010 3:20 pm

The Olympics officially kick off this evening, and millions of people plan on tuning in tonight and over the next few weeks. An estimated fifty-three percent, actually. Although that number’s down a bit from the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, it’s still a significant amount. Yet, unlike these people, I can’t bring myself to give a damn…not about the stats and scores, anyway. I don’t much care whether we win in figure skating, the most popular sport, or bobsledding, the gayest. Nor does roughly forty-seven percent of the nation. I wonder: Does that make us bad American, or good ones?

Osama bin Laden’s Climate Stance Should Shame Right

Andrew Belonsky :: Friday, January 29th, 2010 12:30 pm

Osama bin Laden took a break from his typical insanity today to blast an international enemy even President Obama loathes: climate change. Though his uninspired solutions only reinforce bin Laden’s image as a madman who’s entirely out of touch with reality, they at least make him look better than some of our elected officials. How shameful!

Sam Alito’s “Outburst”: Unsurprising but Dangerous

Andrew Belonsky :: Thursday, January 28th, 2010 12:20 pm

President Obama addressed key national issues last night: health care, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, green energy. All of this is well and good, but the real action of State of the Union comes in the form of broadcasted dissent. Though typically criticism comes from Congressional enemies like Joe Wilson, who last year infamously yelled “You Lie” at the Commander-in-Chief, this year’s big scuffle came from a more judicious source: Sam Alito.

Gorillaz Return with New Album, Plastic Beach, March 9

Amy Laviero :: Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 4:00 pm

Five years after the release of their sophomore album, Demon Days, your favorite animated band is back. Gorillaz have announced a March 9 release date for their third studio album, Plastic Beach. The first single off the record, “Stylo,” features Bobby Womack and Mos Def, and will have its radio debut tonight. Fans can (legally) download the single beginning next Tuesday, January 26. Although, based on Murdock’s tweet only three hours ago, it seems as though “Russian pirates” have leaked the new single. MORE »

Anderson Cooper Saves Haitian Child, Actually Manages To Become Even More Impressive

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 1:10 pm

Anderson Cooper has always been dashing - how could the American public not idolize a refined, silver-haired hottie, attractive to both men and women, who is always calm and intelligent in temperament and delivery? I’m fanning myself just thinking about it. So, yesterday, when he extricated a badly-injured Haitian child from a violent conflict stemming from a looting, he managed to impress his viewers even further. Somehow, it was all caught on video by CNN.

The Salahis, Congress and the Celebrity-Industrial Complex

Andrew Belonsky :: Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 12:10 pm

It’s hard not to be disappointed in Washington these days. The health care debate’s dragging on. There’s an unemployment crisis. Scott Brown has won a seat on the Senate. As you can probably tell, there’s ample material for critical fodder. As if this weren’t enough, there’s Tareq and Michaele Salahi, who gained fame after crashing a state dinner at 1600. Everyone under the sun, from officials to the public, was absolutely furious, of course, and the Secret Service launched an official investigation into the matter. Apparently, that wasn’t enough, because Congress also launched its own review. Already, some of the stylists involved with the Salahis, arriving in a stretch SUV limo, have faced a grand jury, and today the Salahis themselves will plead the fifth before the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security. The appearance won’t amount to much. It does, however, mark the final thrust in Washington and Hollywood’s tawdry affair.

Jay Reatard dead at 29

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 4:37 pm

Jay Reatard, Memphis rocker and current cover feature of Death + Taxes Magazine, has been reported dead. He was found at approximately 3:30 a.m. in his bed this morning. This statement has been posted on the website of Goner Records: “It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our good friend Jay Reatard. Jay died in his sleep last night. We will pass along information about funeral arrangements when they are made public.”

Rest in Peace, Jay. Thank you for the insane memories and incredible music; we’ll miss you, and we’re very grateful for having had the chance to speak with you.

Death + Taxes cover feature about Jay Reatard’s music and lifestyle.