Not a whole lot of good has come the way to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) these days. The only organization I can think of that gets more right wing scorn has been ACORN, who I think mostly get picked on because they don’t fight back. Another ally, Health Care for America Now (HCAN), [...]

After less than two months of Barack Obama’s presidency, pundits across the spectrum are competing to “frame” the new administration. There are lots of narratives, but, in my mind, the most potent ones are expressed in two editorials appearing today.
From the negative side, Janet Daley at Britain’s Telegraph argues that Obama is handing the reins [...]

One thing that has long baffled me has been the idea on the American Right that Europe is some kind of socialist hell-hole that borders on Communist. The thrust of the argument always seems to be that European government is so large and intrusive, and it public mores so lacking and dare I say [...]

Robert Stacy McCain has a scathing post that seeks to permanently douse the concept of a left-libertarian coalition ever being a real possibility, which includes this little bit:
As a political impulse, the sort of libertarianism that scoffs at creationism and traditional marriage wields limited influence, because it appeals chiefly to a dissenting sect of the [...]

Me, elsewhere:
Over the last few months, there has been much finger-pointing as to which particular sect of the old GOP coalition is to blame for the policy failures of the last 8 years and the electoral failures of the last 2 years…..I think these accusations are deeply misplaced – the problems have not been caused [...]

They wanted him to appoint left wingers. He hasn’t.
So what to make of this?
Obama talks…
WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama, rejecting liberals’ criticism of his emerging cabinet, today strongly defended his decision to choose more experienced, centrist aides for his inner circle, arguing that the nation needs sure hands in a time of turmoil — and [...]

William Greider of The Nation wonders if Barack Obama’s recent appointments indicate he won’t be the progressive savior many of the left hoped he’d be.
Obama’s choices have begun to define him. His victory, it appears, was a triumph for the cautious center-right politics that has described the Democratic party for several decades. Those of us [...]

P. J. O’Rourke takes a rhetorical tire iron to the conservative movement of which he’s been on the libertarian side of since the 1970s. If you know O’Rourke, you know he has about as much love for modern liberals as dogs have for cats. Seems he now finds modern conservatives just as hideous.
You don’t have [...]

Here’s what hardcore partisans on both sides often fail to understand: winning an election doesn’t mean most of the country agrees with their ideology. In fact, both the hardcore right and the hardcore left are minority positions whose influence is inflated not by numbers but by passion. They might be the “bases” of our two [...]

As Barack Obama continues to attract throngs of supporters and polls keep indicating he will win by a more than comfortable margin, I find myself wondering how much of the Obama phenomenon is simply a massive rejection of President Bush and how much is an honest-to-God shift in our political culture.
On one hand, the Obama [...]

Circulating the wires today is a 2001 Barack Obama radio interview clip concerning wealth redistribution. As with all things political, your perspective and your prejudices will determine your interpretation of this clip.
Some see it as no big deal. Others see it as proof that Obama is all but a Marxist.
I understand the right’s desire [...]

Will he be “at war” with his base or “at war” with the nation?
If he wants to be a two termer, he’ll be at war with his base.
What do you think?

Need a woman’s point-of-view this election season? How about two? CitizenSugar provides readers with an entertaining look at breaking news, politics, and the most hotly debated issues.
Featuring summaries of the day’s headlines, profiles of newsmakers and the people behind their success, discussions of the issues that matter most to women, and a regular look [...]

Nothing turns me off like partisan anger. I know a lot of people like to get wrapped up in the false fury propagated by certain partisans, but I try to keep my irrational outbursts focused primarily on my beloved Dallas Cowboys. I don’t really understand those who feel the need to bring the gladiatorial spirit [...]

Virginia for the first time in 40 years is up for grabs.

During the Vice Presidential Debate on Thursday night, Senator Joe Biden had this to say about John McCain’s health care plan:
… do you know how John McCain pays for his $5,000 tax credit you’re going to get, a family will get? He taxes as income every one of you out there, every one of you [...]

As much as the Democratic surge in power has delighted progressives, there are those who are quite unhappy with the conduct of Congress. Glenn Greenwald has a solution: kick conservative Democrats out of office.
Greenwald’s screed reads practically like satire, but since he’s got all the humor of a slab of granite, he’s clearly decided that [...]

The real story is the reaction to the cover by Obama, his campaign, his supporters, and the attitudes betrayed by the reaction. As always, the tone is set at the top, with staff and supporters taking their cues from the leadership.

Dick Morris has an interesting column pointing out that Barack Obama’s center-ward drift could mean very little once he has to work with a liberal Democratic Congress. Morris reminds us that the two most liberal (and ineffective) years of the Bill Clinton presidency were his first two when a Democratic-controlled Congress forced him to pursue [...]

On Wednesday Olbermann completed a pair of truly jaw-dropping contradictory broadcasts on the issue of FISA, telecom immunity, and of course, Obama’s support for same. Glenn Greenwald called him on it in his column Thursday and kicked off a left field food fight in the process.