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Thursday, February 21, 2008 - Posts

  • The Last Words


    Neither candidate exactly answers the last question, “What moment tested you?” Obama takes the opportunity to recite his entire biography. Hillary, however, pivots in a way that evokes, of all things, her Diner Sob . Only this time, she sets herself up: Read More...
  • Better Know an Army Division


    Obama wins the award for best regional pander. While discussing progress made by the surge, he points out that “the First Cavalry out of Fort Hood played an enormous role” in reducing violence. That must be worth five well-chosen Spanish phrases! Read More...
  • Health-Care Overtime


    Both candidates stampede the moderators after the commercial break by forcing a continued discussion of health care. Obama cites the Massachusetts plan as an example of mandates gone bad. “They have exempted 20 percent of the uninsured, since they’ve Read More...
  • Of Hats and Cattle


    John King: Are you saying your opponent is all hat and no cattle? Hillary goes for it! After a polite intro, she all but name drops Kirk Watson, who couldn’t name a single Obamaccomplishment . Obama's response is one you couldn't have seen him giving Read More...
  • Off the Fence


    Hillary nails the border fence question. Yes, I voted for a border fence in the context of comprehensive immigration reform. But no, I don’t agree with how the Bush administration is going about it. Her proposal recommends erecting a fence “where appropriate”—i.e., Read More...
  • A Note on Appearance


    Obama looks like a Roman senator. Hillary looks like a guest star in Star Trek: The Next Generation . Update 8:35 p.m.: A friend corrects me. More like Chronicles of Riddick . Read More...
  • The Belichick


    WAS OBAMA JUST PEEKING AT HILLARY’S NOTES? The clock reads 8:29—look it up later. Read More...
  • The Difference on Cuba


    The main difference between Clinton and Obama on the subject of policy regarding Cuba is that Clinton would make Cuba take the first step toward compromise, whereas Obama would be willing to have the United States do so. “I would not meet with [Raúl Castro] Read More...
  • Cheer-o-Meter


    I like how people stop applauding the second CNN’s John King enters. They start again when they realize it sounds rude. Applause is high when Hillary enters. They reach another decibel when Obama comes into view. The two candidates stand around for a Read More...
  • 19 and Counting


    Hard to believe, but it’s been three weeks since we huddled around the TV to watch Barack, Hillary, and Wolf chitchat on a garishly blue and red stage. This is the 19 th debate, so if you’re having trouble motivating yourself to watch, it’s understandable. Read More...
  • Two McFlurries


    If you, like us, have had your face buried the McCain lobbyist story for the past 24 hours, there’s a chance you missed developments in two mini-scuffles—from here on out, McFlurries—involving the senator from Arizona. The first involves public funding. Read More...
  • The Life Cycle of an Internet Meme


    Feb. 14: Barack Obama was your new bicycle . Feb. 16: Hillary Clinton was decidedly not . Feb. 17: John McCain tried to get in on the joke . Feb. 17: Ron Paul made it weird . Feb. 17: Michelle Obama made it annoying . Feb. 18: Steve Jobs made it jump Read More...
  • Move Over, “Yes We Can”


    In our quest to catalog every original song about a presidential candidate, we rarely come across tunes as infectious as this one . Think of it as Raffi meets will.i.am. A brief excerpt of the lyrics : Hey mama, Obama he got the mo, jama talkin' 'bout Read More...
  • The Times’ Timing: Three Theories


    The New York Times piece on John McCain's lobbyist ties has people scratching their heads over not just why the paper ran it, but why they ran it now. A few rationales being floated: Theory #1: The Times wanted to influence the election. Rush Limbaugh Read More...
  • Times Change


    From John McCain’s press conference today: I have many friends who represent various interests ranging from firemen to police to senior citizens to various interests that appear before my committee. McCain defending the honor of lobbyists ... it's not Read More...
  • The ValuJet Strategy


    When ValuJet flight 592 crashed in 1996, negative publicity caused the company’s stock to plummet. But then some genius thought of an easy fix: Rename the business! ValuJet thus became AirTran, and everybody was happy. Apparently, Hillary Clinton’s campaign Read More...
  • In Vice, I Mask


    The story that will set the political agenda over the next week is about whether John McCain is really as squeaky clean on Washington ethics as he claims to be. Except you won’t hear that side of the story. Instead, everybody will be buzzing about McCain’s Read More...
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