In a year filled with election twists and turns, the pièce de résistance could very well come up at one of the three presidential debates. So, how did the first debate go on Friday? OFB editor-in-chief Timothy R. Butler and freelance analyst Jason Kettinger assess the aftermath.
The Daily Kos and others have picked up on a new mantra this past week: “Jesus was a community organizer [like Sen. Barack Obama] and Pontius Pilate was a governor [like Gov. Sarah Palin].” Tamara Butler asks, “whose side are the Daily Kos and its friends on anyway?”
Media bias is a topic almost everyone seems to have an opinion on, particularly when high profile examples occur, such as the New York Times’s refusal to run John McCain’s editorial this week. Many people will get quite upset about big media’s “bias,” yet depending on a person’s political orientation, the alleged bias will typically land on the opposite side of the spectrum. For those on the same side of the spectrum, the typical response is a thorough scratching of the head and a response of, “Bias? What bias?”
The elected representatives in Oklahoma passed a law to stem the tide of illegal immigrants and, faster than you can say “judicial supremacy,” a federal judge blocked its enforcement. The court suspended key sections of the law even before it was due to take effect on July 1.
WASHINGTON - For more than a year, Democrats and Republicans have been slugging it out in primary and caucus states as their candidates vied for the party faithful. That focus shifted dramatically last week as Barack Obama pivoted, Democratic mantle finally in place, to come to grips with running against GOP presidential candidate John McCain. Now in their sights is a significant bloc of independent voters who shun party labels and are just now tuning into the unfolding general election drama.
SAN DIEGO - Presidential candidate Barack Obama will travel to San Diego next month to join opponent John McCain in speaking at the annual convention of the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization.
Here's a way to get oil prices down, at least by a little: Take a regulatory whip to the speculators who've been bidding prices up.
CNS — Any reasonable analysis of recent events in Iraq would have to acknowledge progress. Consider that the Iraqi Army, after a botched offensive, has gained control of the formerly uncontrollable city of Basra, is patrolling in relative peace the long troublesome Sadr City and has launched an offensive in Mosul. May recorded the lowest number of U.S. deaths in Iraq since the war's start - 19. Iraqi oil production and exports have risen to their highest levels since the U.S. invasion in 2003.
The problem with idols has always been that they have an importance assigned to them that simply cannot survive reality. The stone falls from the pedestal, the emperor’s clothing is finally critiqued. As it was, so it is these days as the politician who had built a nearly messianic aura around himself turns out not to be above the fray, contrary to his promises.
Perhaps Sen. John Edwards is right to claim there are two Americas – or maybe four or six would serve as a fairer assessment. As the final reckoning for many presidential hopefuls approaches – surely most of the contenders will be eliminated in the aftermath of Super Tuesday, early next month – we found no single candidate we could come to a consensus on to endorse. Some clearly are more aligned with the interests of the people and the nation than others, however, and it is these that we will highlight.