The 2008 Campaign
Party Chairmen Differ on Election
The heads of the Democratic and Republican parties have different takes on Election 2008. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. November 6, 2008
At the White House, an Obama Party
Young Americans poured into the streets near the White House, celebrating both the victory of Barack Obama and the repudiation of George W. Bush, reports Robert Parry. November 5, 2008
Palin Gets Positive 'Troopergate' Ruling
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin got a favorable ruling on the "Troopergate" scandal from a report released by the Republican-controlled state personnel board, Jason Leopold reports. November 4, 2008
Fear and Racism on the Campaign Trail
A top aide to John McCain called southern Virginia the "real Virginia," but it has become a target of Barack Obama's campaign, confronting generations of racism and distrust, reports Brian Barger. November 3, 2008
The American Republic in the Balance
Beyond the silliness of Campaign 2008, there rests a momentous issue: whether George W. Bush's neocon vision for world conflict and for an imperial presidency will be ratified or rejected. November 3, 2008
McCain's 'Real-ly Stupid' America
John McCain is tying his last-ditch election hopes to more guilt-by-association smears against Barack Obama and more Joe-the-Plumber appeals to voters, Robert Parry writes. November 2, 2008
Sounds of Voting and Check-Writing
The excitement around Campaign 2008 has come with a steep price tag, as Bill Moyers and Michael Winship observe. November 1, 2008
Justice Department Balks on Ohio Vote
Pressure from Ohio Republicans and President Bush appears to have failed to get the Justice Department to intervene in Ohio. October 31, 2008
Is 'Voter Fraud' a Republican Fraud?
As Americans head to the polls, Republicans again are complaining of voter fraud. Is it real? Watch TheRealNews.com's video. October 31, 2008
Health Care and the Candidates
America's health care is wildly cost-ineffective. But would the candidates' plans make it better? Watch TheRealNews.com's video. October 31, 2008
Two Troubling Election Arguments
Eight years ago, many on the American Left rejected the idea of voting for "lesser-evil" Al Gore and contributed to the "election" of George W. Bush. Some of the same arguments are back today. October 29, 2008
The A-Word Intrudes on Campaign '08
The angry rhetoric of the McCain-Palin campaign and the arrest of two "white power" advocates have injected concerns about assassination into Campaign 2008, writes William Loren Katz. October 28, 2008
The Logic of al-Qaeda's McCain Choice
Al-Qaeda feels its success depends on continuing George W. Bush's blundering "war on terror," explaining why some operatives favor John McCain, according to Ivan Eland in this guest essay. October 28, 2008
Bush Intervenes in Ohio Voter Dispute
Facing the possible loss of the White House to a Democrat, President George W. Bush has asked Attorney General Michael Mukasey to take the Republican side in a fight over eligible Ohio voters. October 25, 2008
Military Voices Like Colin Powell's
Like Gen. Colin Powell, other Republican military voters are breaking with John McCain over his rashness to commit U.S. troops to dubious conflicts, as film producer Julie Bergman Sender recounts. October 25, 2008
McCain Enflames 'Partisan Rancor'
After vowing to end "partisan rancor," John McCain has run one of the nation's nastiest campaigns, raising the question: How bitterly divided would the country be if McCain wins? October 24, 2008
McCain-Pundits: End of a Love Affair?
After decades of fawning press coverage, John McCain is mad that his new persona as an angry, negative campaigner isn't going over so well, notes Brent Budowsky in this guest essay. October 23, 2008
Al-Qaeda Leaders Root for McCain
Favoring a continuation of George W. Bush's "war on terror" policies, al-Qaeda strategists are pondering whether a last-minute terrorist attack might help John McCain win, reports Robert Parry. October 22, 2008
New Front in Palin's 'Troopergate' Mess
An Alaska lawmaker calls for an independent probe of whether John McCain's staff tampered with witnesses to protect Sarah Palin from the "Troopergate" scandal, reports Jason Leopold. October 21, 2008
Palin, the Energy Expert?
Sarah Palin touts her energy expertise, but her accomplishments may be more illusory than real, reports Barbara Koeppel. October 21, 2008
Why Listen to Colin Powell, or Brokaw?
A danger of this era is that many American opinion leaders are implicated in some of the nation's worst mistakes, yet still are listened to, like Colin Powell and Tom Brokaw, observes Robert Parry. October 20, 2008
The GOP's 'FBI-Is-Investigating' Smear
The Bush administration's leak that the FBI is investigating ACORN's voter registrations lent a helping hand to John McCain's campaign, but such leaks have a troubling history, writes Robert Parry. October 19, 2008
The Republican ACORN Hoax
The myth of ACORN's "voter fraud" returns every election cycle, but the amnesiac U.S. news media always forgets that the Republicans have pulled this hoax before, observes Michael Winship. October 18, 2008
GOP Exploits ACORN Probe
In a replay of "prosecutor-gate" tactics used in 2004 and 2006, Republicans are trumpeting criminal investigations into ACORN's voter registration drives, reports Jason Leopold. October 17, 2008
McCain's Colombia 'No-Brainer'
Was John McCain right when he called the Colombia free-trade agreement a "no-brainer"? Watch TheRealNews.com's video. October 17, 2008
Is John McCain Losing It?
John McCain's flailing debate performances often have raised more doubts about his own fitness to be President than about Barack Obama's, observes Robert Parry. October 16, 2008
Last Debate Turns to Theatre
John McCain got angry, but neither candidate confronted the financial crisis. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. October 16, 2008
Are You Palling Around with Terrorists?
The McCain-Palin campaign's linking of Barack Obama to Vietnam War-era radical Bill Ayers is a warning to all Americans -- watch out who you associate with, writes Nat Parry. October 15, 2008
Palin's New 'Troopergate' Troubles
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin insists she's been cleared in the "Troopergate" investigation, but her troubles actually appear to be growing, with civil lawsuits likely to be filed, reports Jason Leopold. October 14, 2008
Why Are McCain Backers So Angry?
As Americans grapple with the disasters of the Bush years, one might think they have more reason to be angry about Republicans than Republicans do to be angry about Barack Obama, writes Robert Parry. October 12, 2008
Gov. Palin Cited for Ethics Violation
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's use of her office to try to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from the state troopers has led to a finding that she abused her power, Jason Leopold reports. October 11, 2008
McCain/Obama on a New Cold War
John McCain and Barack Obama are taking similar hard lines toward Russia. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. October 10, 2008
Todd Palin Defends Trooper Actions
The husband of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin takes some of the heat from the "Troopergate" case, Jason Leopold reports. October 10, 2008
Should Palin Forgive Bill Ayers?
Sarah Palin is attacking Barack Obama over guilt by association with ex-radical Bill Ayers, but Sherwood Ross asks in this guest essay why Ayers doesn't deserve some Christian forgiveness? October 10, 2008
McCain-Palin Put 'Country Last'
With their ugly rhetoric about Barack Obama, John McCain and Sarah Palin are stirring up the angry Right in a way that creates new dangers and puts "country last," writes Robert Parry. October 9, 2008
McCain Detours to the Low Road
John McCain and his top advisers decided that their only hope to win was to divert attention from the desperate economy onto questions about Barack Obama's associates, Michael Winship says. October 9, 2008
McCain Shows Disdain for Obama
Falling behind in the polls, John McCain gets nastier toward Barack Obama. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. October 8, 2008
Election '08: Here Comes the Sludge
Sarah Palin's new guilt-by-association attacks on Barack Obama's patriotism mark Campaign 2008's long-expected descent into the sewers, reports Robert Parry. October 6, 2008
Alaska GOP's Last-Ditch Palin Defense
Only days before a scheduled report on Gov. Sarah Palin's "Troopergate" scandal, Republican allies in Alaska are trying to shut down the inquiry, Jason Leopold reports. October 6, 2008
Neocon Desperation Is Showing
Neoconservative commentators cheered Sarah Palin's debate performance, but the praise was so excessive it had a touch of desperation to it, Robert Parry reports. October 3, 2008
John McCain v. The Truth
John McCain -- known to some colleagues as "Sen. McNasty" -- is letting his dark side out as his campaign goes through some dark days, writes Robert Parry. October 2, 2008
New Witness Said to Implicate Palin
A key witness in Alaska's "Troopergate" investigation now recalls getting pressured by aides of Gov. Sarah Palin to punish her ex-brother-in-law, reports Jason Leopold. October 1, 2008
To Joe Biden: Time for Confession
Sen. Joe Biden has voiced regret for backing George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq, but former CIA analyst Ray McGovern feels it's time for a fuller confession of complicity in this bloody disaster. September 30, 2008
Debate Evades Dark Realities
Barack Obama and John McCain weren't even asked possibly the biggest foreign policy question, whether they would continue the Bush Doctrine of preemptive war, notes Robert Parry. September 27, 2008
Obama-McCain Debate Disappointment
The first debate between Barack Obama and John McCain left a lot on the sidelines. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 27, 2008
Alaskan Officials Allege Palin Cover-up
A lawyer for the Alaskan lawmakers investigating an alleged abuse of power by Gov. Sarah Palin claims the McCain-Palin campaign is behind an obstruction of the inquiry, Jason Leopold reports. September 26, 2008
Obama, McCain Spar over Bailout
The proposed $700 billion Wall Street bailout could shape the next administration. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 23, 2008
John McCain's 'Straight Mess Express'
Though a devotee of deregulation, John McCain says he can handle the financial crisis. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 22, 2008
Palin's 'Troopergate' Battle Rages
Sarah Palin's push to stop the investigation into her firing of Alaska's public safety commissioner is running into resistance from lawmakers unwilling to surrender, reports Jason Leopold. September 20, 2008
Who Is Sarah Palin, Really?
In tracking the mystery of who is Sarah Palin, historian Lisa Pease looked back on the Republican vice presidential nominee's early days as mayor of the tiny town of Wasilla. September 17, 2008
Lipstick on Polar Bears
While Campaign '08 focuses on metaphors about lipstick on various animals, the world's global warming problem is like the Titantic heading for a shrinking iceberg, Michael Winship observes. September 16, 2008
Palin Claims Right to See All State Files
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is fighting a probe into an alleged abuse of power by claiming an unlimited right to pry into the files of her ex-brother-in-law and all other state workers, Jason Leopold reports. September 14, 2008
Will McCain-Palin Lies Hurt Them?
John McCain and Sarah Palin are stretching the limits on campaign dishonesty as they tell lies about their records and their opponent. But Robert Parry asks, will they pay a price? September 13, 2008
Sarah Palin Stares Down the World
The Republican vice presidential nominee vows not to "blink" in the face of U.S. enemies. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 13, 2008
Equal Time for Joe Biden
If ABC News interviews Joe Biden covering the same ground as Sarah Palin, the voters might get a better sense of who's qualified, Mary MacElveen suggests in this guest essay. September 13, 2008
The Truth and Sarah Palin
When Sarah Palin was plucked from obscurity, we didn't focus on her personal life; we zeroed in on her record -- and discovered a very different reality from what was first reported. September 12, 2008
Mocking Constitutional Rights
Sarah Palin's derision toward Barack Obama for wanting to read terrorism suspects "their rights" underscored the growing contempt in the GOP for the U.S. Constitution, notes Nat Parry. September 10, 2008
ACLU Challenges RNC Arrests
The ACLU sees hundreds of preemptive arrests at the GOP convention as part of a pattern. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 10, 2008
Palin's Strange Probe of a Trooper
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband Todd appear to have conducted a rogue investigation into worker's comp claims by her ex-brother-in-law, a state trooper, reports Jason Leopold. September 9, 2008
Storm Troopers at the RNC
George W. Bush may have skipped the Republican National Convention but his theory of "preemption" was there in the pre-convention police raids against protesters, as Ray McGovern reports. September 8, 2008
Sarah Palin's Media No-Show
Three of the four big party nominees were slated for the Sunday talk shows, but not Sarah Palin, who refuses to submit to serious questioning from the political press corps, notes Mary MacElveen. September 7, 2008
Palin's 'Trooper-gate' Cover-up
Sarah Palin is learning from the GOP cover-up playbook as she obstructs a probe into her alleged abuse of power, trying to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from the state troopers, reports Robert Parry. September 6, 2008
McCain's Neocon Evolution
GOP presidential nominee John McCain has aligned himself with the neocon movement. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 6, 2008
McCain Cites His 'Love of Country'
John McCain portrayed himself as a man saved by his "love of country." Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 6, 2008
McCain-Palin: 'Phonies Squared'
The John McCain/Sarah Palin ticket is hailed as "Maverick Squared," but a closer look at their records suggests a more accurate nickname might be "Phonies Squared," writes Robert Parry. September 5, 2008
Convention Police Bust the Press
Outside the Republican National Convention, police rounded up protesters and the independent journalists who were covering the protests, as Michael Winship explains in this guest essay. September 5, 2008
A Dissent on Palin's Success
The U.S. news media is oohing over Sarah Palin's speech to the Republican convention, but Brent Budowsky disagrees about the long-term success of her negative tone. September 5, 2008
Palin Pits Herself as GOP 'Pit-Bull'
Sarah Palin energized the GOP with her eagerness to serve as John McCain's "pit-bull." Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 4, 2008
McCain Keeps Distance from Bush
Fighting to protect his "maverick" image, John McCain seeks separation from George Bush. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 4, 2008
The Anti-Obama Hate-Fest
The overwhelmingly white Republican National Convention is letting loose on Barack Obama with ridicule and contempt, but many of the GOP claims aren't true, Robert Parry reports. September 4, 2008
Lieberman Hails McCain's 'Fear' Factor
Sen. Joe Lieberman says John McCain would spread "fear" among America's enemies. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 4, 2008
Amy Goodman Describes Arrest
Democracy Now's Amy Goodman and others were caught in police sweeps at GOP Convention. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 3, 2008
Palin's 'Reformer' Myth
Sarah Palin built her short political career on an image as a "reformer," but some Alaskan journalists discovered she was committing the same abuses that she was decrying, writes Jason Leopold. September 3, 2008
Supposed Reformer Secured Earmarks
Many U.S. reporters bought the myth of Sarah Palin as government reformer, but it turns out she played the traditional lobbying game to secure pork spending, as Brent Budowsky notes. September 3, 2008
Palin Favored the 'Bridge to Nowhere'
You might say Sarah Palin was for the "Bridge to Nowhere" before she was against it. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 2, 2008
Did Palin Family Feud Affect Troopers?
Alaskan police representatives claim Gov. Sarah Palin may have let her animosity toward one state trooper spill over into retaliation against the entire department, reports Jason Leopold. September 2, 2008
Palin's Trouble with the Police
In her two executive jobs in Alaska, Gov. Sarah Palin has fired senior police officials whom she deemed insufficiently loyal -- and now faces a probe into an abuse of power, writes Robert Parry. September 1, 2008
Obama v McCain on Iran
Barack Obama and John McCain offer different approaches toward confronting Iran. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. September 1, 2008
Is Putin Right on US Politics & Georgia?
Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin saw U.S. politics as a factor in the Russia-Georgia clash. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 31, 2008
What to Expect from Obama-Biden
Could an Obama-Biden administration really change the course of U.S. foreign policy?Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 31, 2008
McCain VP Pick Has History of Clashes
John McCain's vice presidential choice, Sarah Palin, has a history as a small town mayor and novice Alaska governor of petty squabbles and retaliation, as Jason Leopold reports. August 30, 2008
How the Republicans Win
Barack Obama emerged victorious from the Democratic convention, but he now enters the phase of the campaign when Republicans show their mastery of the dark political arts, reports Robert Parry. August 29, 2008
The World According to Joe Biden
Joe Biden brings some foreign-policy heft to the Democratic ticket, but also some baggage. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 29, 2008
Should Clinton Backers Back McCain?
A lingering question from the Democratic National Convention will be how many disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporters will defy her and vote for John McCain, as Mary MacElveen asks in this guest essay. August 28, 2008
Hillary's Still-Angry Supporters
Despite Hillary Clinton's eloquent appeal for unity, some of her supporters prefer nursing their grievances than heeding her warning that "the fate of our nation" hangs in the balance, Robert Parry reports. August 28, 2008
Hillary as Unifier
Hillary Clinton's appeal for Democratic unity is getting a mixed response from her backers. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 28, 2008
The Obama-Biden View of the World
Would Barack Obama and Joe Biden really make substantive changes in U.S. foreign policy? Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 28, 2008
What a McCain Victory Would Mean
As the Democrats squabble over who has shown insufficient respect to whom, editor Robert Parry looks at what a John McCain victory would mean for the American Republic -- and the world. August 26, 2008
Democratic Divisions & a World to Win
The Democratic Convention opened with the uplift of speeches from Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama -- and the downer of bickering about disunity, as Brent Budowsky notes in this guest essay. August 26, 2008
The Obama Challenge to the Left
The American Left is faced with a quandary over Barack Obama's ground-breaking candidacy. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 26, 2008
Obama, McCain on Global Warming
Barack Obama and John McCain favor action on global warming, but will it be enough? Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 25, 2008
Curious Rules for Convention Parties
Despite new ethics rules, special interests have found loopholes to let them sponsor some 400 parties at the Democratic and Republican conventions, says Michael Winship in this guest essay. August 24, 2008
McCain's Ties to Neocon Hard Lines
One of John McCain's top advisers embodies two key prongs of neocon global strategy: pushing to remove hostile regimes in the Middle East and encircling Russia, reports Jason Leopold. August 21, 2008
Obama Joins in Criticism of Russia
Facing attacks on his patriotism, Barack Obama slams Russia over the Georgian conflict. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 20, 2008
Being Stupid, Sounding Strong
The recent Russian attack inside Georgia underscores the limits of the tough-talking neoconservatism embraced by John McCain, as Stephen Crockett observes in this guest essay. August 19, 2008
A Book Written to Defeat Obama
Soaring to the top of the New York Times bestseller list is a new book by right-wing author Jerome Corsi, whose stated goal is to deny Barack Obama the presidency, reports Beverly Bandler. August 19, 2008
Big Oil Seizes on Gas Price Shock
On offshore drilling, oil corporations exploited the political opening created by high gas prices. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 19, 2008
McCain's 'Cone of Silence' Caper
John McCain bested Barack Obama in back-to-back responses to the same questions. But Americans were misled when told McCain had been in a "cone of silence," shielded from the questions. August 18, 2008
John McCain's Party of Hate
One of the biggest surprises of Campaign 2008 is that John McCain is acting like a typical Republican presidential candidate, relying on the politics of lies and hate, as Brent Budowsky observes. August 16, 2008
The Lies About Obama
John McCain has settled on a campaign strategy of sustained personal attack on Barack Obama. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky asks the press for some fact-checking on the lies. August 12, 2008
WPost Admits Bungling Obama Quote
The Washington Post's ombudsman admits that two reporters failed to check out the context of a quote from Barack Obama before using it to portray him as a megalomaniac, reports Robert Parry. August 10, 2008
Where Is Al Gore?
It's becoming a Campaign 2008 mystery. Why -- when politicians are exploiting high gas prices to press for more oil drilling -- has Al Gore been so silent, as Brent Budowsky asks in this guest essay. August 9, 2008
A Novel Approach to Politics
Presidential politics is getting so weird -- with Paris Hilton making more sense than John McCain -- that you might need a novelist to explain it all, Bill Moyers and Michael Winship write. August 9, 2008
McCain Adopts Cheney's Energy Plan
Casting aside his environmental credentials, John McCain is casting his lot with the pro-drilling, pro-nuclear energy plan of Vice President Dick Cheney, reports Jason Leopold. August 7, 2008
Why McCain May Well Win
John McCain may seem to have a steep hill to climb given George W. Bush's unpopularity. But McCain may have a secret helper in the major U.S. news media, Robert Parry reports. August 6, 2008
McCain's Future Wars
The Iraq "surge" has revived John McCain's hopes for an expanded war against radical Islam. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 6, 2008
Reality Check on McCain's 'Surge'
John McCain is basking in the U.S. media's glow about the Iraq "surge." But what's the truth? Watch TheRealNews.com's video. August 5, 2008
McCain, Anthrax & the Afghan Blunder
John McCain's loose talk about Iraq's possible role in the 2001 anthrax attacks underscores his key role in the disastrous decision to pivot too quickly from Afghanistan to Iraq, Robert Parry writes. August 3, 2008
Tax-Factless Wall Street Journal-omics
A long op-ed in Rupert Murdoch's Wall Street Journal trashes Barack Obama's tax plan -- and does so in a highly misleading way, observes Baltimore Chronicle managing editor Alice Cherbonnier. August 2, 2008
WPost Calls Out 'Uppity' Obama
The Washington Post distorted a quote by Barack Obama to promote a theme that he is -- in the words of one Post editorial writer -- an "uppity" black man, who has gotten too big for his britches. July 31, 2008
McCain Lies about Obama on Troops
John McCain is lying about Barack Obama's canceled visit to see wounded troops, writes Brent Budowsky in this guest essay. July 30, 2008
Video: McCain's Afghan Blunder
At the forefront of America's hasty pivot from Afghanistan to Iraq was John McCain. Watch the ConsortiumnewsVideo. July 30, 2008
McCain's Spin on the 'Surge'
John McCain touts his political courage and national-security judgment in his support for the Iraq troop "surge," but the facts could be read in a very different way, reports Jason Leopold. July 29, 2008
Europeans Mixed on Obama's Message
Barack Obama, in his Berlin speech, hit some off-key chords for many Europeans. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. July 29, 2008
Big Media Hectors Obama on 'Surge'
Star journalists, some of whom cheered on the Iraq War in 2003, now are demanding that Barack Obama admit he was wrong about the troop "surge," Robert Parry reports. July 28, 2008
McCain Goes Over-the-Top Negative
John McCain's angry side is coming out in ways that puzzle those who've known him, writes Brent Budowsky in this guest essay. July 28, 2008
Obama's Palestine Visit Was Brief
Some Arabs are miffed that Barack Obama spent less than an hour in Palestine. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. July 27, 2008
Protecting McCain; Pounding Obama
Accused of favoring Barack Obama, U.S. news personalities are bending over backwards to bash Obama and protect their longtime favorite, John McCain, as Brent Budowsky notes in this guest essay. July 23, 2008
McCain's Afghan Strategic Blunder
John McCain claims he was right to advocate the Iraq War "surge," but he ignores that he was a leading voice in the grand strategic blunder that turned U.S. attention from Afghanistan to Iraq. July 22, 2008
Obama's National Security Challenge
Is there hope that Barack Obama might shake the grip of the military-industrial complex? Watch TheRealNews.com's video. July 20, 2008
Obama & the Foreign Policy Elite
Can Barack Obama escape the clutches of a foreign policy establishment that did the Iraq War? Watch TheRealNews.com's video. July 18, 2008
Obama's Brave New World
Barack Obama offered an ambitious vision of how his presidency could change the world. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. July 16, 2008
Obama Helps Give Bush a Victory
Barack Obama backtracked on fighting amnesty for telecoms that helped wiretap Americans. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. July 12, 2008
The Lobbyist Whom McCain Won't Fire
With John McCain's senior economic adviser, Phil Gramm, disparaging American financial fears as a "nation of whiners," we are re-posting a piece on Gramm's key campaign role. July 10, 2008
America's 'Security Gap'
A rising political issue in Campaign 2008 is the deepening sense of insecurity that Americans face on a variety of fronts, as Brent Budowsky explains in this guest essay. July 9, 2008
Ellsberg Warns about Wiretap Bill
Daniel Ellsberg, the famed Pentagon Papers whistleblower, objects to expected Senate passage of a new wiretap law. July 9, 2008
Will the Democrats Ever Learn?
Democratic leaders -- and Barack Obama -- appear poised to let George W. Bush off the hook on his warrantless wiretaps without even letting the American people know what abuses were committed. July 8, 2008
Readers' Comments
Readers commented on patriotism and politics. July 4, 2008
What Patriotism Is, and Is Not
Barack Obama addressed the touchy issue of patriotism in a major speech even as scurrilous attacks against him continue to proliferate. In this guest essay, Michael Winship ponders true patriotism. July 3, 2008
McCain Pushes Colombia Trade Pact
Traveling to Colombia, John McCain stresses his support for a U.S.-Colombia "free trade" pact. Watch TheRealNews.com's video. July 3, 2008
Bush, Colombia & Narco-Politics
Amid new interest in Colombia, we are reposting a story from last year, by journalist Andres Cala, about the connections between Alvaro Uribe's government and narco-politics. July 3, 2008
Moon Shot, Obama
Countering John McCain's $300 million better-car-battery bounty, Barack Obama called for a JFK-man-to-the-Moon commitment on energy, an idea that Brent Budowsky fleshes out in this guest essay. June 25, 2008
Help Us Cover Campaign 2008
Election 2008 may be the last chance to face up to America's mounting crises and to turn back the neoconservative vision for the future. Please help us raise $40,000 to cover this historic race. June 24, 2008
Campaign Finance Reform Has Failed
Barack Obama's opting out of the federal campaign finance system has a little-understood backdrop, an unhappy reality that the three-decade-old reform movement often has made matters worse. June 23, 2008
Alarm over 'Unfair' Campaign Money
TV news stars, who traditionally tout candidates with fat warchests from wealthy donors, are alarmed at Barack Obama's success in raising money from the net-roots, media critic Jeff Cohen notes. June 22, 2008
The Republic on a Knife's Edge
By one vote, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected President George W. Bush's right to imprison people he calls "unlawful enemy combatants" indefinitely at Guantanamo Bay. But this issue of an all-powerful Executive may spill over to the November election. June 13, 2008
Does Obama Truly Stand for 'Change'?
Barack Obama faces tough choices on where and when to break with Bush's policies. Watch TheRealNews.com's video report. June 12, 2008
Ron Paul, Others Urge Talks with Iran
Rep. Ron Paul and a diverse group of politicians urged talks, not war, with Iran. Watch TheRealNews.com's video report. June 12, 2008
McCain Makes Stuff Up
John McCain falsely accused Barack Obama of claiming that "bitter" small-town voters were clinging to "the Constitution." But the U.S. news media gave Mr. Straight Talk Express a pass on the lie. June 12, 2008
Make No Mistake: McCain's a Neocon
John McCain has stressed his differences with George W. Bush over military tactics in Iraq. But the bigger picture is that McCain is every bit the neocon that Bush is -- if not more so. June 8, 2008
Has Obama Moved Right on Israel?
Speaking to AIPAC, Sen. Barack Obama tilted toward a pro-Israel hard line. Watch TheRealNews.com's video report. June 6, 2008
RFK's Death & the Hope of the Young
The 40th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination recalls another time when young Americans wanted change and many parents had other interests. Today, the generation gap is between youth for Barack Obama and some of their mothers favoring Hillary Clinton. June 5, 2008
McCain at AIPAC: Drumbeats of War?
In John McCain's speech to AIPAC, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee beat the drums for a harder line against Iran and mocked calls for negotiations. Watch TheRealNews.com's video report. June 4, 2008
Politics of Murder and the 'A' Word
Nearing the 40th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination, the 'A' word has surfaced ghoulishly in Campaign 2008. In this guest essay, historian William Loren Katz recalls the damage inflicted on the United States by the politics of murder. June 3, 2008
The Lobbyist Whom McCain Won't Fire
John McCain has purged several lobbyists from his campaign, but has balked at ousting long-time confidant Phil Gramm -- although the ex-senator is a UBS lobbyist with embarrassing links to the sub-prime mortgage mess, the Enron scandal and other ethics issues. June 2, 2008
GOP Contender Linked to Attorney Firing
A top Republican contender in a key New Mexico congressional race played a behind-the-scenes role in the firing of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, meaning that the Bush administration's prosecutor scandal could haunt GOP efforts in that swing state. May 28, 2008
What's Wrong with Oklahoma?
The Republican-dominated state legislature of Oklahoma is defining the frontier for xenophobic laws against immigrants as well as harsh rhetoric against gays and Muslims. As journalist Richard Fricker reports, it is a glimpse into one possible American future. May 28, 2008
End of the Bush-Clinton Era?
Hillary Clinton's reference to Robert Kennedy's assassination in 1968 -- while explaining why she's continuing her campaign against Barack Obama -- may mark a troubling end point to a failed period of American history, which could be called the Bush-Clinton era. May 25, 2008
Hillary's Shark-Jumping Moment
A "shark-jumping moment" -- when believability is stretched beyond the breaking point -- can afflict TV shows, movies and even political campaigns. In this guest essay, historian Lisa Pease spotted such a moment when Hillary Clinton cited RFK's 1968 assassination. May 24, 2008
Rove Protégé to Dig for Dirt on Obama
The Republicans reportedly have recruited Timothy Griffin, a central figure in the U.S. Attorney scandal and a Karl Rove disciple, to help dig up dirt on likely Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Griffin held similar jobs for the Bush-Cheney campaigns. May 23, 2008
McCain Defends 'Enron Loophole'
John McCain has vowed to fight the $300 billion farm bill because of alleged waste, but his chief economic adviser Phil Gramm also wants to block part of the bill that would regulate energy futures trading by closing what's called the "Enron loophole." May 19, 2008
Danger: Tough Talk & Wishful Thinking
America has paid a high price in the Iraq War because of the Bush administration's dangerous tendency to mix tough talk and wishful thinking. But George W. Bush and John McCain were at it again in speeches given on opposite sides of the world. May 16, 2008
Bush Operative Pushes Voter-ID Law
A Bush-Cheney campaign veteran is trying to influence the outcome of Election 2008 by pushing new restrictive laws in Missouri and other swing states, which would require proof of citizenship to vote -- and thus hold down the turnout of low-income and new voters. May 14, 2008
McCain and the 'Unitary Executive'
John McCain's promise that he will follow George W. Bush's lead in appointing right-wing jurists, like Samuel Alito, to the U.S. Supreme Court means that Election 2008 could decide whether Bush's imperial presidency becomes the law of the land. May 13, 2008
The Night the Old Politics Died
Often it's hard to spot true turning points. What looks important one day can fade into obscurity the next, and other times we overlook the event that really changes history. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky argues that May 6 marked the end of the old negative politics. May 7, 2008
US Media Trivializes Campaign 2008
Every four years, the U.S. press corps vows not to get lost in campaign trivia or obsessed with negative "oppo," but soon falls off the wagon. On NBC's "Meet the Press," Tim Russert became the latest big-name journalist to trivialize the selection of the President. May 6, 2008
The Clintons and the 'War on Obama'
Even before the first votes were cast, Hillary Clinton's campaign had prepared guilt-by-association attack themes that would raise doubts about Barack Obama's patriotism. After a halting beginning, this "War on Obama" has finally begun to click. May 4, 2008
'Beware the Terrible Simplifiers'
Why have Jeremiah Wright's outbursts gotten so much more attention than objectionable comments by other politicaly connected preachers? In this guest essay, Bill Moyers considers some answers. May 3, 2008
Hillary's 'Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy'
As the "War on Obama" grinds on, Hillary Clinton has struck a tactical alliance with what she once called the "vast right-wing conspiracy." In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky ponders this strange turn. May 3, 2008
The Right's America-Hating Preacher
America's Right is having a field day blasting Barack Obama's ex-pastor Jeremiah Wright as anti-American. But many of the same conservatives look the other way when their benefactor, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, denounces the United States. A Special Report. May 2, 2008
Fastened to a Dying Animal
Campaign 2008 is taking on the distractive qualities of so many previous campaigns, like those that gave George W. Bush two terms. Someday, historians may shake their heads at this sad decline of the American Republic, but for now, poet Phil Rockstroh is shaking a fist. April 29, 2008
Campaign 1988 Lives!
Some Americans hoped the days of smear-and-slime politics were over, that the severity of the nation's crises would negate the kind of attack politics unveiled by George H.W. Bush in 1988. But Hillary Clinton's 10-point win in Pennsylvania has dashed those hopes. April 24, 2008
Unhappy Republicans Weigh Switch
Even in some Red States, traditional Republicans are leery about signing on for another four years of George W. Bush's policies on the Iraq War and the economy. That attitude has created an opening for Democrats, if they don't splinter their own party. April 19, 2008
Are the Clintons Playing Joe McCarthy?
In the 1950s, Joe McCarthy used guilt by association to impugn the patriotism of decent Americans. Now, Hillary Clinton's campaign is employing similar tactics in a desperate bid to derail Barack Obama's drive for the Democratic nomination. April 18, 2008
The Weather Underground 'Theme'
Behind the scenes, Hillary Clinton's campaign has been pushing the Weather Underground "theme," a tenuous connection between Barack Obama and a Vietnam-era radical. The work paid off in Wednesday's debate with Sen. Clinton even adding a false link to 9/11. April 17, 2008
Would Obama Hold Bush Accountable?
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have shied away from grassroots demands for holding George W. Bush and his top aides accountable for torture, war crimes and other offenses. But Obama told one reporter that if elected, he would order a Justice Department probe. April 16, 2008
Clinton's Experience: Fact and Fancy
Hillary Clinton's claim of 35 years of experience has some truth to it, but also exaggerations and omissions. Investigative reporter Barbara Koeppel looks at the mixed picture. April 15, 2008
Bill and Hillary's 'Stockholm Syndrome'
In their bid to return to the White House, Bill and Hillary Clinton have taken on characteristics of their Republican tormentors from the 1990s, a slash-and-burn, win-at-all-costs approach. It has the look of a Stockholm Syndrome victim identifying with a tormentor. April 14, 2008
Hillary Low-balled Bill's Pay in Forms
In public disclosure forms, Hillary Clinton listed Bill Clinton's income from companies run by two major political backers as "over $1,000" when the couple's tax records show the former President earning six- and seven-figures from the two sources. April 6, 2008 (Updated April 16, 2008)
Readers' Comments
With all the news about Iraq and the presidential campaign, readers had a lot to say. Here is a selection. March 29, 2008
Hillary Sinks with the 'Kitchen Sink'
The Bush family wrote the book on how to neutralize your own high negatives by driving up those of your opponent. But Hillary Clinton has found that her similar approach, throwing the "kitchen sink" at Barack Obama, may have only dragged her down more. March 27, 2008
Why Is Hillary Clinton Lying?
Hillary Clinton's whopper about braving sniper fire in Bosnia is perhaps most troubling because it's not an isolated case. She's been "misspeaking" about both domestic and foreign issues, often in the context of attacking her chief rival or puffing up her record. March 26, 2008
Obama's 'Michael Douglas Moment'
Barack Obama's speech on race recalled the climactic scene from "The American President" when Michael Douglas decries the politics of division and urges "serious people" to address "serious problems." But the unanswered question from both the movie and Obama's speech is whether today's media/political circus will give way. March 22, 2008
Hillary's Problem with the Truth
Hillary Clinton's insistence that she is a tested crisis manager appears to have led her into a new exaggeration, a tale of derring-do on a 1996 trip into war-torn Bosnia. The Washington Post's fact-checker awarded the former First Lady "four Pinocchios" for the "whopper." March 22, 2008
Obama's Passportgate: Historical Echo
The State Department's disclosure that three contractors penetrated Barack Obama's passport files on three occasions this year recalls a similar case in 1992 when President George H.W. Bush's operatives searched through Bill Clinton's files in a bid to challenge his patriotism. Bush's tracks were then covered by a GOP prosecutor. March 21, 2008
Obama's Greater Challenge
By addressing America's divisions about race, Barack Obama gambled that a U.S. political system dominated by angry talk-show hosts and "gotcha" campaign consultants can rise to a higher level. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky challenges Obama to go even further. March 19, 2008
Clinton's Child-Health Hype
A staple of Hillary Clinton's stump speeches -- that she rebounded from the catastrophe of her 1994 health-care plan to help enact a popular state-by-state child health insurance program three years later -- looks to be mostly a fabrication. March 17, 2008
Neck Deep, Iraq War & Campaign '08
The U.S. news media's habit of turning politics into trivia is back, as if no lessons were learned from the last two presidential campaigns, which gave the nation the catastrophe of George W. Bush's two terms. That's a key reason we wrote the book, Neck Deep, so the Bush Legacy could be defined and the painful history wouldn't be repeated. March 16, 2008
Suddenly, a Dangerous Turn
Two events have depressed hopes for a U.S. military disengagement from the Middle East. One was the sudden resignation of Admiral William Fallon, a key opponent of air strikes against Iran. The other is the harsh Clinton assault on Barack Obama, the most dovish of the three remaining presidential candidates. March 14, 2008
Clinton's Up-Is-Down World
As the Democratic race gets nastier, Hillary Clinton's campaign has taken some lessons from George W. Bush's situational ethics toward truth and fairness. The question for Democrats is whether they object to this harsh brand of politics or feel it's the only way to win. March 10, 2008
Guess What? Obama Is Winning Texas
Hillary Clinton beat Barack Obama by a 51-48 margin in the Texas primary and claimed a net gain of four delegates. But Obama appears to be more than erasing Clinton's advantage by winning the Texas caucus phase, as historian Lisa Pease reports. March 6, 2008
Hillary Plays the 'Gender Card,' Again
Hillary Clinton's campaign achieved two key goals in its March 4 victories: portraying Sen. Clinton as the victim of gender bias to solidify her support among older white women, and giving whites and Hispanics new reason to see Barack Obama as an unqualified "black candidate." March 6, 2008
Hillary Clinton's 'Celestial Choir'
Though many political observers shook their heads at Hillary Clinton's imitation of Barack Obama calling down a "celestial choir," the question she raised may be the last one for Democrats to answer: which candidate has the best chance to achieve meaningful change? February 28, 2008
Obama's Sub-Prime Conflict
Barack Obama has slammed the banking industry for its predatory use of sub-prime mortgages, which are pushing millions of American homeowners toward foreclosure. But his campaign's Finance Chair, Penny Pritzker, owned a failed Chicago thrift that helped pioneer sub-prime financial instruments and faced accusations of abuse. February 28, 2008
Dismissing Ron Paul
For most of George W. Bush's presidency, the U.S. press acted the part of the submissive subjects of the vain emperor who pranced about naked thinking he was wearing fine clothes. In Campaign 2008, Rep. Ron Paul was the child who stated the obvious -- and was dismissed as a kook. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland dissents. February 28, 2008
Why the War on Obama
The intensifying personal attacks on Barack Obama reflect a growing realization among entrenched Washington insiders that his campaign -- funded largely by small donations -- could dilute their influence. Neocons, in particular, are joining with Clinton supporters in spreading rumors about his patriotism and his past. February 26, 2008
Obama's One Million Donors
Barack Obama's supporters are mocked as naive, even cult-like. But that may be the sound of the Democratic Establishment worried that the Obama campaign's one million small donors are striking at the heart of the old order's power -- control of campaign cash. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky looks at this revolutionary potential. February 26, 2008
Readers' Comments
We received a number of reader comments about our recent stories on Campaign 2008, from John McCain's lies to the Democratic battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. February 24, 2008
Is John McCain a Liar?
John McCain may have fended off suspicions that he had an affair with a female lobbyist, but his blanket denials about doing favors for her clients are disintegrating. The evidence keeps building that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee doesn't deserve his reputation as either a reformer or a straight-talker. February 23, 2008
McCain's 'Never' Is a Long Time
Republican presidential frontrunner John McCain reacted to a New York Times article about his friendship with a female lobbyist by issuing a statement that he has "never done favors for special interests." But this categorical denial is simply not true. February 21, 2008
Hillary Clinton's Options
Barack Obama's ten-contest winning streak -- often by double-digit margins -- has provoked desperation inside Hillary Clinton's campaign, which has turned increasingly negative. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky asks Sen. Clinton to stop the wrecking ball. February 20, 2008
Clintons Plumb Absurd Depths
Like the Bushes, the Clintons appear to believe that they have such an entitlement to the White House that whatever they do to get there is justified. In going negative, Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing Barack Obama of "plagiarism" for using a rhetorical argument recommended by his friend, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. February 19, 2008
An Odyssey to See Barack Obama
Barack Obama's oratory not only has touched the idealism of young people but has jogged the memories of the less-young, who recall the Kennedys and Martin Luther King. In this guest essay, historian Lisa Pease recounts her odyssey from Los Angeles to Madison, Wisconsin, to get a glimpse of Obama -- and this new chapter of history. February 17, 2008
Explaining Our View on Clinton-Obama
Some Democratic readers have criticized some of our critical reporting on Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama; they want us to focus more on John McCain and the Republicans. We feel we owe it to our readers to offer an explanation of our views. February 16, 2008
How Far Will the Clintons Go?
Hillary Clinton is making clear that she will do what she must to secure the Democratic nomination, even if that means overriding the majority will of voters and skirting campaign finance laws. While some rank-and-file Democrats like this fighting spirit, others fear the Clintons are letting their personal ambitions harm the party and the nation. February 15, 2008
Stomping on Their Children's Dreams
The Obama-Clinton showdown has set up a painful generational conflict between many mothers (who want Hillary Clinton to be the first woman president) and their children (who are inspired by Barack Obama). The battle offers a poignant echo of how an earlier generation of idealistic young people saw their dreams stomped on, in 1968. February 11, 2008
Hillary's Curious Campaign Loan
By giving her campaign a $5 million loan, Hillary Clinton opened herself to questions not only about the financial health of her presidential bid but also about how she and her husband amassed a fortune over the past seven years. A window opened on "Clinton Inc." February 9, 2008
Readers' Comments
Readers express their views on Campaign 2008, the GOP attack machine, the fifth anniversary of Colin Powell's lies and more. February 9, 2008
Where Would Obama Take the Nation?
The endorsements of Barack Obama by members of the Eisenhower and Kennedy families suggest that they see in him a hope for returning to the peaceful ideals of an earlier era. Or as Obama says, his goal is not just to end the Iraq War but "the mindset" behind the war. February 4, 2008
'Stepford Republicans' Caught on Tape
A mystery of modern politics is why Republican leaders who can sound thoughtful in private often lose that quality when trying to sell themselves to arbiters of right-wing ideology. In this guest essay, media critics Jeff Cohen offers a tongue-in-cheek explanation. February 3, 2008
Obama, Clinton & GOP Attack Machine
Whoever wins the Democratic nomination, one thing seems certain: either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton will be the target of the powerful Republican attack machine. One question the Democrats must ponder is which candidate would be more vulnerable. February 2, 2008
The Clinton Audacity
Some Democrats -- bruised by three decades of hardball Republican tactics -- are admiring how Bill and Hillary Clinton are applying similar strategies to tear down Barack Obama. Like Republican strategist Karl Rove, the Clintons are showing the audacity to attack Obama even on issues where they may be more vulnerable. January 25, 2008
Were Republicans 'the Party of Ideas'?
Hillary Clinton twisted Barack Obama's words when she suggested that he favored right-wing policies. But there is a legitimate question about what Obama meant when he called the Republicans of recent years "the party of ideas" -- and whether he was right. January 24, 2008
The Democrats-Praise-Reagan Game
Over the past two decades, national Democrats often have judged it safer to join the Ronald Reagan fan club than to fight it. But Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have learned the hard way that there's a risk in playing the praise-Reagan card. Many in the Democratic "base" view Reagan's legacy as disastrous for the nation. January 23, 2008
The Bush Debacle: One Year to Go?
George W. Bush's lease on the White House expires in one year, but his troubling legacy may endure, especially in the Iraq War. The Republican presidential frontrunner John McCain promises to keep the war going indefinitely, and Democrat Hillary Clinton may come under heavy pressure from neocon backers to go slow on any withdrawal. January 20, 2008
Obama's Dubious Praise for Reagan
Barack Obama raised some eyebrows when he cited Ronald Reagan as an example of a political leader who "changed the trajectory of America." Though Obama now says he wasn't endorsing Reagan's policies -- only recognizing Reagan's historic importance -- the comment begs the question of what change Reagan actually wrought. January 19, 2008
Saving Hillary, at Least for Now
The Clinton political machine has shown once again that it knows how to play hardball, using a full complement of tactics to gain Hillary Clinton a reprieve from Barack Obama's early momentum. From appealing for sympathy to sliming a rival, Clinton and her supporters did what was necessary to save her campaign, at least for now. January 18, 2008
Iraq War: 1,760 Days and Counting
Sen. John McCain may have stunned some Americans with his projection that the U.S. occupation of Iraq may last 100 years or more. But the political pressures in Washington can make ending a war harder than starting one. In this guest essay, Robert Higgs discusses what it might take to bring the troops home. January 17, 2008
Will Anyone Pay for the Iraq War?
With John McCain and Hillary Clinton as the presidential front-runners -- and with major U.S. newspapers giving high-profile jobs to neocon writers -- it looks increasingly like no one will be held seriously accountable for the disastrous Iraq War. President Bush is even on what looks like a self-proclaimed victory tour for his "surge" strategy. January 15, 2008
Hillary Plays a Risky 'Gender Card'
Hillary Clinton played the "gender card" in her comeback victory in New Hampshire, craftily portraying herself as the victim of sexism. But Clinton's strategy -- especially as the campaign turns into a two-person race with Barack Obama -- runs the risk of setting up a competition over who's been treated worse, blacks or women. January 10, 2008
Where Are Tears for GIs, Iraqis?
The Iraq War has dropped off as a pressing campaign issue, with the New Hampshire primary going to two candidates, Hillary Clinton and John McCain, who were longtime supporters of the invasion and occupation. In this guest essay, Mary MacElveen warns that America will get little change unless war enthusiasts are rejected. January 10, 2008
'Iron My Shirt' Taunt Helps Hillary
An apparent publicity stunt by two shock jock employees -- taunting Hillary Clinton to "iron my shirts" -- may have helped swing the New Hampshire primary in her direction. Clinton cited the heckling as a case study of male oppression -- and one insider says the incident energized the women's vote for Hillary. January 9, 2008
The Logic of Obama-mania
Hillary Clinton argues that Democrats would be foolish to take a chance on the lightly experienced Barack Obama. But Obama might offer the Democrats their best chance for a transcendant victory; he also could help them break with their recent, uninspiring history of endless "triangulation" and troubling sell-outs. January 8, 2008
Bush-Clinton Duopoly Loses in Iowa
The vision of the Bush and Clinton families again swapping power was dealt a severe blow as Barack Obama trounced Hillary Clinton in Iowa's Democratic caucuses. And on the Republican side, upstart Mike Huckabee bested Mitt Romney, a Bush family favorite. All told, it was a bad night for the Bush-Clinton duopoly. January 4, 2008
Will 'Clinton 44' Become Inevitable?
Though only the first votes cast in the presidential race, the Iowa caucuses may decide whether Hillary Clinton locks down the Democratic nomination or whether a wide-open race ensues. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky predicts that Hillary's route to a "Clinton 44" presidency may be derailed by independents and young voters. January 3, 2008
Hillary Signals Free Pass for Bush
Former President Bill Clinton's comment that his wife's "first thing" as President would be to send him and former President George H.W. Bush on a worldwide fence-mending tour has a political subtext. It signals that a second Clinton administration would give a free pass to the second Bush administration on its abuses. December 31, 2007
Huckabee & the 'Persecuted' Christians
In his sudden rise to the top of the Republican field, Mike Huckabee has tapped into Christian conservative resentment over perceived attacks on Christmas. This persecution theme was injected into the American body politic by Fox News and other right-wing media outlets via the "War on Christmas" notion two years ago. December 21, 2007
Is Hillary or Barack More Vulnerable?
Hillary Clinton's campaign operatives have dropped hints that Barack Obama can expect Republican attacks aimed at his youthful drug use. But some people close to the Clintons fear that Republican access to seven years of Secret Service records on the Clintons could make them even more vulnerable to GOP smears. December 19, 2007
Huckabee's Chairman Hid Payoff Secret
Ed Rollins, the new chairman of Mike Huckabee's Republican presidential campaign, has been sitting on a dark secret, the details that he learned about an illegal $10 million cash payoff from Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos to President Ronald Reagan. Rollins mentioned the cash delivery in his 1996 book but refused to name names. December 18, 2007
America's Judicial Coup
While accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, Al Gore noted the painful moment seven years ago when five Republicans on the U.S. Supreme Court handed the presidency to George W. Bush. Given the importance of that moment in Gore's life -- and in the life of the American Republic -- we are presenting this excerpt from Neck Deep. December 12, 2007
Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize
Al Gore's acceptance speech in Oslo, Norway. December 10, 2007
Another Day of Infamy
President Franklin Roosevelt famously dubbed Dec. 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy" because of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. But Dec. 12, 2000, may join it in the annals of ignoble history. As Mary MacElveen notes in this guest essay, that was the day the U.S. Supreme Court short-circuited American democracy. December 12, 2007
Why the Democrats Could Lose
The Democratic congressional leadership and Hillary Clinton's campaign are suffering from a growing perception that they don't stand on principle and think the public is just interested in new social programs. As it turns out, rank-and-file Democrats -- and many Americans -- are looking for something more inspirational. December 9, 2007
Six Years After 'Gore's Victory'
Six years ago, eight news organizations published the findings of their unofficial recount of Florida's disputed ballots. The recount discovered that Al Gore would have won the decisive Florida election if all legally cast ballots had been counted. But the big news outlets concealed that finding from the American public. November 12, 2007
Democrats' Year of Living Fecklessly
One year ago, Democrats won control of Congress, stirring hopes across the country that the Iraq War might end and George W. Bush's arrogant governing style would be checked. But Democratic leaders have failed to stand up to Bush in a year of living fecklessly. November 7, 2007
Hillary Clinton's Unspoken Vulnerability
Hillary Clinton's unique status as the first First Lady to seek the presidency has a potential dark side. She is also the first presidential candidate who -- along with her spouse -- has been under the regular, long-term surveillance by an agency of the Executive Branch controlled by the opposing party. November 6, 2007
How Bill Clinton Let Bush I Off the Hook
With Hillary Clinton the Democratic frontrunner for 2008, it's important to recall how Bill Clinton and other accommodating Democrats let George H.W. Bush off the accountability hook after winning in 1992 -- and opened the door for a Bush restoration. Robert Parry's Secrecy & Privilege tells how that happened. (To read more, click here.)
Why Big Media Slimes Al Gore
New York Times columnist Paul Krugman observes that the Right's media goes berserk when dealing with Al Gore, in part because he had the audacity to outpoll their hero, George W. Bush, in 2000. But right-wing pundits aren't alone in this animosity. The big U.S. news outlets, including the Times, have taken their share of unfair shots at Gore. Even after he won the Nobel Peace Prize, CNN and the Washington Post editors couldn't resist the need to denigrate him. But why? October 16, 2007
More Reader Comments on Al Gore
Readers expressed their thoughts about Al Gore, his Nobel Peace Prize, his viability as a presidential candidate and his treatment by the U.S. and British news media. October 17, 2007
Smearing Al Gore: Here We Go Again
In a replay of Campaign 2000's "war on Gore," the right-wing news media and key mainstream outlets have made a big issue out of a ruling by an obscure British judge alleging that he found nine "errors" in Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth." The judge's querulous ruling, however, misstates what Gore actually says in the documentary, in effect setting up straw men to knock down. Nevertheless, the ruling is helping to discredit Gore and his Nobel Peace Prize. October 13, 2007
Al Gore's Moral Imperative
In a conversation at a recent climate-change conference, Al Gore told New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and his teenage son that the global-warming crisis was so severe that young people should be blocking bulldozers building coal-fired power plants. But Gore's lament raises a moral question: If Gore truly believes that young people should put their bodies in front of bulldozers, why won't he undergo the personal unpleasantness of another run for the presidency? October 11, 2007
Should Al Gore Run?
As the clock ticks down on deadlines for key Democratic primaries, supporters of Al Gore are imploring the former Vice President to enter the presidential race. These rank-and-file Democrats believe Gore has a mix of foresight, experience and gravitas lacking in the other Democratic hopefuls. Gore also has a unique claim on the fairmindedness of the American people, having won the popular vote in Election 2000 only to have his victory stolen by George W. Bush. October 10, 2007
If You Want Al Gore to Run...
You should get your hands on Neck Deep, the new book by award-winning investigative reporter Robert Parry and two of his sons, Sam and Nat. It explains what really happened in Election 2000 and debunks many of the lies that will surely be revived about Al Gore. October 12, 2007
The Clintons and the Bushes
After entering the White House in 1993, Bill Clinton helped sweep under the rug major geopolitical scandals implicating his predecessor, George H.W. Bush. Clinton apparently thought his gesture of bipartisanship would be reciprocated. Instead it only encouraged Republican attacks on him and led to the eventual restoration of the Bush family dynasty. Now, with Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton's tempted by the same misguided "pragmatism," we are posting the entire first chapter of Robert Parry's 2004 book, Secrecy & Privilege. October 3, 2007
Hillary Prods Bush to Go After Iran
Hillary Clinton and 75 other senators apparently feel that George W. Bush hasn't been belligerent enough toward Iran. They want him to hurry up and label a large part of Iran's army an international "terrorist" entity for allegedly supplying Iraqi insurgents with bombs that have killed American troops. Despite a warning from Sen. Jim Webb that the Senate vote could be read as another war resolution, Democratic presidential hopeful Clinton jumped onboard the bandwagon, again. September 28, 2007
If the Democrats Want to Lose...
Far from the high hopes of last November, congressional Democrats are in disarray and retreat. Their leaders have repeated many of the same mistakes of 2002, surrendering both on George W. Bush's demands for more "war on terror" powers and blank checks for the Iraq War. The hard truth for Democrats is that the political dynamics of Washington have changed little over the past five years -- and that reality could undermine their chances in Election 2008. August 22, 2007
Many Democrats Wrong on Iraq, Again
Before leaving for an August recess, the Democratic congressional leaders vowed to return with renewed determination to challenge George W. Bush on his Iraq War policy and his extraordinary claims of presidential power. Now, however, they are signaling another round of posturing and equivocation. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky challenges the party's Washington establishment to finally act on principle. August 22, 2007
Democrats Need 'Conviction Politics'
Karl Rove's resignation may mark a significant personnel change in George W. Bush's inner circle, but it doesn't mean a reversal of the Bush-Rove strategy for amassing presidential power and seeking continued Republican domination of the U.S. government. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky writes that to counter that, the Democrats need their own "conviction politics" that is equally strong-willed. August 15, 2007
Battle for Democrats' Spine & Soul
The Democrats are caught in a struggle between their recent past -- as triangulators seeking narrow victories by blurring differences with Republicans -- and their potential future -- as politicians willing to challenge the status quo and trust that the American people are fed up with the GOP's intimidating tactics. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky sees Hillary Clinton personifying the old approach and the likes of Al Gore and Barack Obama representing the new. August 11, 2007
Hillary's Nuclear 'Tough-Gal-ism'
When Barack Obama rejected the option of using nuclear weapons against al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan or Afghanistan, Hillary Clinton saw an opening to bash her rival for his supposed lack of experience. Burnishing her "tough-gal" credentials, Sen. Clinton said no President should make "blanket statements" foreswearing use of nuclear weapons. However, in her slap at Obama, she also dissed her husband, who as President ruled out nuclear attacks on non-nuclear states. August 3, 2007
If the Democrats Want to Win...
By taking impeachment and an Iraq War fund cut-off off the table, Democratic leaders have handed George W. Bush victory in his showdown with Congress even as the battle is supposedly just being joined. If the Democrats really want to prevail over Bush -- both on his Iraq War policy and his assertion of expansive presidential powers -- they have no choice but to consider limiting war spending to what's needed for an orderly withdrawal and to commence impeachment hearings against Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. July 18, 2007
Is Obama Getting 'Colin-ized'?
Barack Obama's foreign policy flirtation with Colin Powell has given the Democratic presidential hopeful a boost in Official Washington. But the connection to George W. Bush's former Secretary of State may unnerve the Democratic "base" which recalls other ill-fated alliances with "moderate" Republicans. Many rank-and-file Democrats also view Powell as a liar and opportunist, not a "wise man." June 23, 2007
Thompson Courts the Right-Wing Base
As Fred Thompson gears up his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, the actor and former senator is making sure that he has George W. Bush's old pugnacious right-wing political base on his side. So, while other Republicans distance themselves from Bush's scandals, Thompson calls for pardoning convicted White House aide Lewis Libby and considers hiring a key figure in the U.S. Attorney scandal. June 9, 2007
Readers Comment on Gore Article
We received a flurry of comments about our article “The New Assault on Al Gore.” June 9, 2007
GOP/Media Rewrite Iraq War History
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has adopted one of George W. Bush's favorite lies about the Iraq War, that he had no choice but to invade because Saddam Hussein barred the U.N. weapons inspectors. But perhaps even more noteworthy is that the eagle-eyed U.S. press corps again failed to correct the record, as it has failed to do since President Bush started rewriting the history four years ago. June 8, 2007
The New Assault on Al Gore
Like addicts who can't shake a bad habit, the Washington insider clique is trashing Al Gore again, this time over his new book, The Assault on Reason. The U.S. news media, led by the nation's prestige newspapers, mocked Gore during Campaign 2000 when he presented himself as better qualified than George W. Bush and ridiculed him in 2002 when he warned against the Iraq War. Now, commentators are reprising one of their favorite themes, that Al Gore is a know-it-all. June 5, 2007
Reader Reactions
Not surprisingly, we got a number of comments about the Democrats cave-in on Iraq War funding, but also opinions about Al Gore on reason, George W. Bush on global warming, the imperial presidency, the Hariri murder case, and the danger of the Pakistani bomb. June 5, 2007
Dem Consultants: Calculations of War
Since 2002, Democratic consultants have been whispering in the ears of party leaders to give George W. Bush what he wants on Iraq to avoid accusations that they are "soft" or "unpatriotic." The results of those calculations can now be measured in the growing lists of dead and wounded as well as in the Democrats' plummeting poll numbers. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky looks at the politics of war. May 30, 2007
Gingrich's War on 'Secularism'
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was known as a worldly and even hedonistic guy. But he appears to have spotted a political opening for his planned comeback, convincing right-wing Christians that they are being persecuted by "radical secularists." In what sounds like a year-round version of the "war on Christmas" complaint, Gingrich wants the fundamentalist Christian base of the Republican Party to view themselves as the victims and him as their defender. May 20, 2007
Gore's Other Global Warning: Iraq War
The Academy Awards are casting the spotlight on Al Gore for his global-warming documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth." But Gore also was one of the few brave political souls who dared challenge George W. Bush over his plans to invade Iraq and over Bush's extraordinary claims to unlimited power to imprison Americans. February 25, 2007
Thanking Al Gore for His Service
Though a favorite punching bag for the Washington news media, Al Gore has built a record as one of the most far-sighted political figures in modern American history. The acclaim for his work in alerting the public to the dangers of global warming is only part of Gore's extraordinary story. In this guest essay, political analyst Brent Budowsky takes note of those accomplishments. February 25, 2007
The Clintons' Real Trouble with Truth
Hollywood mogul David Geffen angered Hillary Clinton with a comment about the "ease" with which the Clintons tell political lies. Though Geffen's comment may have been harsh, the reality is that the Clintons showed little commitment while in the White House to bring to light important historical truth.February 24, 2007
Rev. Moon's Anti-Obama Agit-Prop
As Rev. Sun Myung Moon's media operations have done for two decades, the Korean cult leader's Insight magazine has stepped up to inject an early dose of poison into Campaign 2008. In this case, Moon's weekly magazine was peddling a bogus story suggesting that Barack Obama is a clandestine Islamic agent and that Hillary Clinton's operatives were dishing the dirt. January 23, 2007 |