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Category Archives: Columns
Scary New GOP Poll – The Daily Beast
On the heels of health care, a new Harris poll reveals Republican attitudes about Obama: Two-thirds think he’s a socialist, 57 percent a Muslim—and 24 percent say “he may be the Antichrist.” To anyone who thinks the end of the … Continue reading
Billboards of Hate
The stunningly cynical and stupid Republican National Committee PowerPoint pulled the curtain back on the sleazy culture of hyper-partisanship that is at the root of Washington’s dysfunction. But its impact extends beyond the Beltway… These appeals have been deployed since … Continue reading
The Tenthers and the Return of the Confederacy
There’s a place in the Wingnut universe where the rights of states to secede is still asserted, the New Deal is characterized as unconstitutional, and desegregation is considered tyranny imposed by the federal government. They’re not fans of the federal … Continue reading
The GOP’s War on Teddy Roosevelt – The Daily Beast
Here’s how crazy our politics have become: Legendary Republican President Theodore Roosevelt is being called a socialist by conservatives like Glenn Beck. The man on Mount Rushmore, the Rough Rider president, is getting caught up in a party-purity dragnet 91 … Continue reading
The Birchers Are Back at CPAC
It’s CPAC time again—the Conservative Political Action Committee’s annual Washington cattle call begins Friday. This year, they’ve attracted an all-star lineup in a bid for renewed respectability: a half-dozen GOP presidential hopefuls (Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, … Continue reading
Praying for the President’s Death
At a time when some people confuse losing an election with living under tyranny, it’s perhaps no surprise that a day set aside for marking past presidents’ birth has become, for some, a day for praying for the current president’s … Continue reading
Antichrist Politics – The Daily Beast
The Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill on Wednesday that bans companies from tracking their employees with implanted microchips. On the surface, the bill sounds libertarian, albeit in a far-sighted Blade Runner sort of way. But it turns out … Continue reading
Gay group in conservatives’ gathering splits GOP – CNN.com
The Conservative Political Action Conference’s annual Washington convention this week is not where you’d expect to find a new front in the gay civil rights movement. But that’s going to be the story this week at CPAC. America has been … Continue reading
The ‘Birthers’ Began on the Left
The Birthers were back in force at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville. WorldNet Daily founder Joseph Farah used his prime-time speaking slot, broadcast on C-Span, to pump up claims that President Obama was not born in the United … Continue reading
Top 5 Misconceptions About the Tea Party Movement
One year ago, the first Tea Party protest hadn’t even been held yet and the phrase remained safely ensconced in American history textbooks. This weekend, the first national Tea Party Convention will be held in Nashville, and the fractious movement … Continue reading
Posted in Columns
Tagged 2010 Elections, Elections, Independent Voters, The Daily Beast
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10 Congressmen Who Should Be Fired
With less than 100 days left to the midterm elections, it’s clear that anti-incumbent anger is going to be a bad wind blowing through Nov. 2. But not all incumbents are created equally weasel-y, and the best way to judge … Continue reading
A Rediscovery of Themes – The Daily Beast
In his confident, sprawling State of the Union speech, the president refocused on issues from the ’08 campaign—highlighting a return to fiscal responsibility and offering policy outreaches to both left and right. It was a Clintonian speech—and I mean that … Continue reading
TSUNAMI OF SLEAZE – New York Post
NEW York, New Jersey and Connecticut: We have a problem. And it’s not just the fiscal crisis. It’s the bipartisan culture of corruption that has swamped tri-state politics. Longtime NY state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno’s indictment last Friday on … Continue reading
New Wingnut Target: ‘RINO’ Scott Brown – The Daily Beast
From savior to heretic in one week—well, that was fast. Some conservative activists are already taking aim at Massachusetts Senator-elect Scott Brown by calling him a RINO, or Republican in Name Only. With Martha Coakley out of the way, they’ve … Continue reading
Red Vs. Blue Is Over – The Daily Beast
Obama should use the State of the Union address next week to declare an end to playing-to-the-base politics. As Massachusetts’ Senate race shows, voters don’t want more ideology—they want problem-solving. Avlon is the author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe … Continue reading
Rush and Robertson: Shameless Haiti Wingnuts – The Daily Beast
Tragedies like the earthquake unite most of us—except the Wingnut fringe, who can’t understand the suffering of those outside their tribe. That’s why Limbaugh and Robertson put such a nasty spin on the devastation, says John Avlon. With the horror … Continue reading
How Wingnuts Hijacked Obama’s First Year – The Daily Beast
Twelve months ago to the day, Barack Obama looked out over a National Mall that represented a 70 percent overall approval rating, and support from most political factions. How both political extremes dashed that promise of hope. One year ago, … Continue reading
A Reminder from History: Politics Can Lift You Up – CNN.com
Politics is history in the present tense. And this week has been crowded with historic anniversaries that should adjust our expectations upward when it comes to the dark carnival of contemporary politics. This week we marked both the 50th anniversary … Continue reading
Swing Voters Will Decide Kennedy Seat – CNN.com
On Tuesday, the eyes of the political world will be turned to Massachusetts where an unexpectedly close special election is being held to determine who will succeed Ted Kennedy in the Senate. Conventional wisdom labels Massachusetts a liberal bastion, but … Continue reading
WFP on trial – New York Post
‘Enough already,” Jus tice Anthony Giacobbe sternly said yesterday at the Richmond County Supreme Court on Staten Island. He was admonishing attorneys representing the Working Families Party and its for-profit corporate arm, Data Field Services, for suddenly disclosing hundreds of … Continue reading