In what some election observers are terming an ‘extreme, possibly misguided–and certainly un-American in its excessive Japaneseness–response’ to the US Supreme Court’s Citizens’ United decision freeing companies from restrictions on using corporate funds to endorse and campaign for political candidates, several large American employers have called for mass, public harakiri in the event that Barack ObamaContinue reading “Bosses Call For Mass Harakiri In Event of Obama Victory”
Tag Archives: Barack Obama
Respecting the President and ‘The Ideology of Kingship’
In reporting on the second presidential debate, Charles Blow writes: There is a fine line between feistiness and testiness. Romney has never negotiated that line well in debates and last night he fell over it again. At one point he scolded the president — the president of the United States! — “you’ll get your chance in aContinue reading “Respecting the President and ‘The Ideology of Kingship’”
Flippin’ Channels to the Debate and Stayin’ Right There
A few days ago, I posted a note here saying I would not deign to pay attention to the debates. Last night, after a dinner date with my Brooklyn College colleague, Corey Robin, during the course of which I remarked, ‘Debates are to you what sports are to me’, I returned home, intending to watchContinue reading “Flippin’ Channels to the Debate and Stayin’ Right There”
‘But Already It Was Impossible To Say Which Was Which’
It is almost accepted wisdom among political punditry that in recent times, American political and cultural life is characterized by two revolutions: the Fiscal Rectitude one and the Cultural License one. The former was won by the Republican party: it is committed to austere deficit reduction and budget balancing by attenuating social programs and tax cutsContinue reading “‘But Already It Was Impossible To Say Which Was Which’”
Debates: Good for Drinking Games
In 2008, during that year’s interminable election season, bars in my neighborhood posted signs they were showing the Democratic primary debates, the presidential debates, the vice-presidential debates; we all seemed to be comfortable and enthusiastic about the notion of election debates as spectator sport. I made plans to watch the vice-presidential debate between Sarah PalinContinue reading “Debates: Good for Drinking Games”
Marijuana Legalization: States Lead, the Center Follows, and Obama Stops Giggling?
Jacob Sullum at Reason.com looks at the marijuana legalization initiatives under way in Colorado, Washington and Oregon, and notes that there might be parallels with the repeal of alcohol prohibition, where the lead was taken by state initiatives: By the time the 21st Amendment ended national alcohol prohibition in December 1933, more than a dozenContinue reading “Marijuana Legalization: States Lead, the Center Follows, and Obama Stops Giggling?”
United Against Teachers on Teacher’s Day
The Facebook statuses of some friends of mine who live in India acknowledge September 5 as the date for the observance of an Indian holiday, not, I think, ‘observed’ with any particular enthusiasm in the United States: Teacher’s Day. (A confession: I did not realize there was a Teacher Day in the US till IContinue reading “United Against Teachers on Teacher’s Day”
Should Latin America End the War on Drugs?
Should it? That’s the question asked in today’s ‘Room for Debate’ over at the New York Times. Well, depends. Only if it does not want to persist in its present commitment to the expensive, counterproductive and catastrophic-to-civil-liberties course of action that the United States is currently pursuing. The real question–as most would acknowledge–is not whetherContinue reading “Should Latin America End the War on Drugs?”
Must One Vote for President to Be Political?
I concluded yesterday’s post by saying: There is a far more fundamental problem…it centers on my disillusionment with elections–especially in modern politics in this nation–and with my evolving understanding of my political responsibilities. I should have been more specific above. I have acquired a profound dislike of presidential elections: the campaigning by candidates, the so-calledContinue reading “Must One Vote for President to Be Political?”
Not Nearly Enough Change I Can Believe In
Yesterday’s post and Dan Kaufman’s comment on it, have prompted me to pen some thoughts on Barack Obama (and elections). In 2008, I made two separate donations of $50 to Barack Obama’s campaign. I also drove down with some friends to Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania and spent the day walking around several neighborhoods, knocking on doors,Continue reading “Not Nearly Enough Change I Can Believe In”
Samir Chopra 