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2008

A Chinese American at the Olympics (or, an American Chinese?)

Deanna Lee | Posted 08.18.2008 | Media

Read More: Chinese American, Yang Yun, Beijing, 2008, Yang Wei, Olympics, Michael Phelps, Asian American, Gymnasts, Liu Xiang, China, Gymnasts Age, Media News
Deanna Lee

As an ABC-- American-Born-Chinese -- I had to settle for a less personal sort of honor and pride in "returning" to my family's homeland.

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Friday Talking Points [43] -- And The Gold Medal For Snarkiness Goes To...

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.15.2008 | Politics

Read More: Strongly-Worded Letter, Patrick Leahy, American Federation of Labor, Campaign, China, Veterans, Military, 2008, Midotw, John Edwards, Veterans Administration, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Running on Empty, Rovezaleeker, Union, Hollow Words, Elitist, Where McCain Lives, Presumptuous, Nbc, 08, Barack Obama, Election, Influence, 08 Election, Elections, Mddotw, Presumptuousness, Corsi, Almost Half, Brave New Films, Blaws, Elitism, Vacation, Donations, GI Bill, Beijing, Va, Bush, Meghan McCain, Congress of Industrial Organizations, Foreign Lobbyist, Elite, Voter Registration, Ohio, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Gymnastics, National Enquirer, Keating Five, John McCain, Children's Book, 2008 Elections, Afl-Cio, War Room, 2008 Election, Beach Volleyball, Olympics, Lobbyist, Dhl, 08 Campaign, 2008 Presidential Race, Georgia, Another President, Jackson Browne, Leahy, Lockstep, 95%, Tinfoil Hat, Anteaterhomer, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I don't usually comment on sports, so take anything I say with a grain of salt. I'm no professional sports guy, nor do I play one on the web. But I h...

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Thank You, John Edwards

Erik Ose | Posted 08.13.2008 | Politics

Read More: Howard Wolfson, Veepstakes, Politics, 2008 Primary Campaign, Rielle Hunter, John Edwards Affair With Rielle Hunter, Presidential Campaign, Barack Obama, 2008 Presidential Election, 2008 Primaries, Politics News, Edwards Affair, 2008, Love Child Scandal, John Kerry, 2004 Presidential Election, John Edwards, Democratic Nomination, Affair, Hillary Clinton, General Election, John Edwards Love Child, Campaign Scandals, Cheaters, John Edwards Scandal, Politics News
Erik Ose

Because Edwards is out of office, not on the ballot, and now out of the running for a convention speech, VP slot or cabinet post, the scandal will have little effect on Democrats' chances this fall.

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The Bradley Effect v. The Obama Effect

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.11.2008 | Politics

Read More: John McCain, Youth, Youth Vote, Poll, 2008 Elections, 08, Campaign, Undecided, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Pollsters, Obama Effect, Elections, Nate Silver, 08 Campaign, 2008 Presidential Race Polls, Opinion Poll, 2008, 2008 Campaign, Turnout, Young Vote, Cell Phones, August, Pollster, Bradley Effect, September, Opus, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Will Obama's white voter support in the polls be higher than his actual support on Election Day? Will this be a regional factor, or a nationwide factor? And how big a factor is it?

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I'm Disappointed in John Edwards

Erik Ose | Posted 08.08.2008 | Politics

Read More: Democratic Nomination, Love Child Scandal, Rielle Hunter, General Election, John Edwards Affair With Rielle Hunter, 2008, Presidential Campaign, Campaign Scandals, John Edwards Love Child, 2004 Presidential Election, $400 Haircuts, Affair, John Edwards, Edwards Affair, Veepstakes, Andrew Young, Politics News
Erik Ose

In retrospect, Edwards' entire political career was a flash in the pan, a triumph of hype over substance, and a big let-down for any progressives who were fooled into thinking Edwards was the second coming of FDR.

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Friday Talking Points [42] -- Get Up, Stand Up, Barack

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.08.2008 | Politics

Read More: GI Bill, Lies, Mudslinging, Wealthy, Cindy McCain, Drew Westen, Campaign, Swiftboat, Veterans, Soundbite, Wealth, 2008, Elite, Smear, John Kerry, Midotw, Distributor, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Student Loan, 2008 Campaign, Celebrity, Fight Back, Campaign Contributions, Elitist, Bill Clinton, Gas, Lying, John McCain, Strategy, Tony Sachs, Beer, Campaign Ads, Private Plane, Let Them Eat Cake, 2008 Elections, 08, Webb, Rich, Lie, 2008 Election, War Room, Barack Obama, Oil Companies, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Barack ObamaMost Impressive Democrat of the Week, Respectable Republican Cloth Coat, Get Up Stand Up, 08 Campaign, Mddotw, Budweiser, Tax Returns, 2008 Presidential Race, Credit Card, Elitism, Trash Talk, Attack Ads, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I have to assume if you're reading this that you're sick of the Olympics already. Wow, that was fast. Is NBC's coverage going to be twice as bad as ...

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Pass S. 223!

Paul Blumenthal | Posted 08.07.2008 | Politics

Read More: Transparency, Senate Elections, Politics, Senate, 2008, Disclosure, Activism, Campaign 2008, Campaign Finance, Politics News
Paul Blumenthal

Thanks to outdated rules, Senate campaign finance information takes weeks, if not months, to reach the public after it is disclosed. Now it's time to change that.

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Electoral Math Charts Updated

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.06.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Chart, Elector, 2008 Electoral Graphics, Electoral Vote, John McCain, State, Poll, 2008 Elections, 08, Campaign, Abulsme.com, Charts, Electoral College, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Electoral Votes, Election, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, 2008, Electoral, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, State Polls, Electoral College Map, Politics News
Chris Weigant

It's time once again to take a look at the Electoral College math from state-level polling. Nationwide polls are not completely meaningless, but they are pretty irrelevant as that's not how we elect a president.

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Bill Clinton, Middle East Envoy?

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.04.2008 | Politics

Read More: Vice President, Bill Clinton, Turkey, Running Mate, Palestine, Iraq, 2008 Elections, Legacy, Campaign, 08, Peace, 2008 Election, Palestinians, Election, Barack Obama, 08 Election, Iran, Vp, Elections, 08 Campaign, Clinton, 2008, Envoy, Middle East, Hillary, 2008 Presidential Race, Israel, 2008 Campaign, Hillary Clinton, Statesman, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Politically, this would give both the Clintons a personal stake in the race, and would go a long way towards healing the wounds inflicted in the primaries on both sides.

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Friday Talking Points [41] -- The Silly Season

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: Paris Hilton, Ads, Gas Prices, Mudslinging, Britney Spears, Homosexual, Iraq, Diplomacy, Media, Campaign, Withdrawal, Republican, California, Iran, Television, Specifics, 2008, Sofa, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Celebrity, Status of Forces, Keating Five, Andres McCain, Rove, John McCain, Gas, Karl Rove, Gasoline, Deval Patrick, Timeline, War, Campaign Ads, Democrat, Massachusetts, 2008 Elections, 08, Gay, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Price of Oil, Elections, 08 Campaign, Mddotw, Convention, 2008 Presidential Race, Oil, Maliki, News, Britney, Media Bias, Gay Marriage, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I have a confession to make. I actually watch the network news. Maybe I should enter into a twelve-step program or something. But I don't watch the ...

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Operation: Barr Tab

Ron Mwangaguhunga | Posted 08.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: 2008, Libertarian, Barack Obama, Election, Bob Barr Spoiler, Rush Limbaugh Operation Chaos, Politics News
Ron Mwangaguhunga

In retaliation to Limbaugh's Operation Chaos, I present you with Operation: Barr Tab, in which we help fund former Congressman and Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr.

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A Speech For Obama To Give... In Alaska

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.30.2008 | Politics

Read More: Paris Hilton, Corruption, Wounded Soldiers, False, Indict, Ted Stevens, Speech, Begich, Straight Talk Express, Indicted, Bribery, Campaign, Republican, Bribe, Mark Begich, Stevens, 2008, Liar, Ethics, 2008 Campaign, John McCain, Karl Rove, Gas, Alaska, Attack Ad, Bush, Campaign Ad, Democrat, Ad, 2008 Elections, 08, Lie, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, Oil Companies, Big Oil, 08 Election, Elections, Patriotism, 08 Campaign, Earmarks, Anchorage, 2008 Presidential Race, Oil, Oil Company, Senate, Alaskan, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Barack Obama made a campaign promise to visit the state of Alaska before the election. And what better time than right now to follow through on this promise?

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Sixty Years After Desegregation, Ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.28.2008 | Politics

Read More: 1948, Dewey Defeats Truman, Executive Order 9981, Homosexual, Civil Rights, Sexual Orientation, Harry Truman, Racial, Campaign, Race, 1948 Election, 9981, Dadt, Military, 2008, 2008 Campaign, Integration, Black, Democratic Convention, Dixiecrat, 2008 Elections, Gay, 08, 2008 Election, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Army, 08 Campaign, Morale, African American, Segregation, Don't Ask Don't Tell, 2008 Presidential Race, Desegregation, Elaine Donnelly, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Being gay should be no more of a barrier to serving the United States military than being black now is. My guess is that sixty years from now, people will wonder what took us so long.

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Friday Talking Points [40] -- Obama Shines, McCain Whines

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.25.2008 | Politics

Read More: New Orleans, Gaffe, Gop, Bill of Rights, First Amendment, Speech, Giants, Atlas, Pakistan, Berlin, Czechoslovakia, Free Speech, Whine, Canada, Democratic, Iraq, Campaign, National Convention, Minimum Wage, Redskins, Oil Spill, 2008, Midotw, Victory Column, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Democratic National Convention, Mississippi, Risk, Dncc, Tiergarten, John McCain, Germany, Football, Whiny, Oil Rig, Democrat, 2008 Elections, Democratic National Convention Committee, 08, Photo-Op, Nfl, Democrats, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Senior Moment, Presidential, Elections, Desperation, Free Speech Zones, 08 Campaign, Mddotw, Talking Heads, Convention, 2008 Presidential Race, Afghanistan, Burning Down the House, Mississippi River, Democrat-Lite, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Be careful what you wish for, John. That seems to be the message of the week for Senator John McCain. He took some campaign consultant's idea a few w...

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NY Times Blows It On McCain Op-Ed

Lester Feder | Posted 07.23.2008 | Home

Read More: David Shipley, John McCain, 2008, Timetable, New York Post, Op-Ed, Iraq Troop Withdrawal, New York Times, Iraq, Barack Obama, Home News
Lester Feder

The whole point of McCain's rejected op-ed, published Tuesday in the New York Post, is that he doesn't think it is wise to offer the kind of Iraq statement that would satisfy the Times.

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Charting The Electoral Math Looks Good For Obama

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.21.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Chart, Elector, Electoral Vote, John McCain, State, Landslide, Poll, 2008 Elections, 08, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Electoral Votes, Election, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, 2008, Electoral, 2008 Presidential Race, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

It's been about a month since we last took a look under the microscope at the possible outcomes of the Electoral College vote this November, so it's time for an update.

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Netroots All-Stars Need YOU: 4 Steps to A Progressive Majority

Christine Pelosi | Posted 07.21.2008 | Politics

Read More: Congressional Candidates, Dnc, Actblue, Al Gore, Campaign Boot Camp, 2008, Dailykos, Netroots Nation, Politics News
Christine Pelosi

Our Netroots All-Stars have important work in the countdown to Election Day. Americans are hungry for change and eager to be part of something larger than themselves.

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Friday Talking Points [39] -- Republican Elitism Edition

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.18.2008 | Politics

Read More: Al Gore, Timetable, Cindy McCain, Gas Tax Holiday, Campaign, Withdrawal, Ubs, Tax Haven, N-Word, Pete Stark, Nuts, UBS Bank, 2008, Condoleezza Rice, Dennis Kucinich, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Contraception, Swiss Bank, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Carl Levin, Health Care, Override, Abortion, The Pill, Elitist, John Conyers, Impeach, Time Horizon, Private Plane, Barrel, Non-Carbon, Congress, Joe Biden, Green, 08, Imperial Presidency, Barack Obama, Election, Ted Kennedy, 08 Election, Elections, Birth Control, Mddotw, Elitism, Contraceptive, Maliki, Gas Prices, Impeachment, Iraq, Arizona, Diplomacy, Bush, Iran, Electricity, Elite, Phil Gramm, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Hhs, Health and Human Services, Offshore Account, John McCain, War, Let Them Eat Cake, 2008 Elections, Jesse Jackson, 2008 Election, Golf, 08 Campaign, 2008 Presidential Race, Aspirational Goals, Oil Prices, Medicare, Veto, Fundraising, Politics News
Chris Weigant

For only the fourth (or fifth, depending on how you count) time in his presidency, George W. Bush had a veto overridden by both houses of Congress thi...

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The China Code: From Robotic Depersonalization to Epic Ambition

Tom Doctoroff | Posted 07.17.2008 | Business

Read More: China Code, 2008, Chinese Culture, Beijing Tourism, Chinese Behavior, Psychology, China, Culture, Olympics, Business News
Tom Doctoroff

When 500,000 foreign visitors descend on Beijing during the Olympics, they will experience a kaleidoscope of contrasts -- some maddening, others glorious -- that disorient and confuse.

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McCain's Aging Cocoon

Lester Feder | Posted 07.17.2008 | Home

Read More: John McCain, Media, Press, 2008, Age, Election, Old, Home News
Lester Feder

Doctors can alleviate any concerns about McCain's health. But Americans can rightly wonder whether he truly understands the faltering economy that he will have to steer back to health if he becomes president.

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War Is Over (If Maliki Wants It)

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.16.2008 | Politics

Read More: October Surprise, Timetable, United Nations, Sovereignty, Iraq, Campaign, War Is Over if You Want It, Withdrawal, Bush, Iran, 2008, Sofa, Bridge Agreement, War Is Over, 2008 Campaign, Un, Status of Forces Agreement, Prime Minister, John McCain, Time Horizon, Yoko Ono, War, 2008 Elections, Democracy, 08, 2008 Election, Agreement, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Elections, John Lennon, 08 Campaign, Sovereign, Bridge, Sadr, 2008 Presidential Race, Bilateral, Purple Finger, Nouri Al Maliki, Aspirational Goal, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Without a microscopic examination of the seething cauldron of Iraqi partisan politics, it's safe to say that Maliki knows which way the wind is blowing. The Iraqi people want to know -- "when is the U.S. leaving?"

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Obama Frames Iraq Right, Bush And McCain Slow To React

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.14.2008 | Politics

Read More: Al Qaeda, Troops, Timetable, American, Iraq, Campaign, Withdrawal, Military, Surge, 2008, Occupation, 2008 Campaign, Status of Forces, Parliament, John McCain, War, 2008 Elections, Congress, Democracy, 08, 2008 Election, Surrender, Election, Barack Obama, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, 2008 Presidential Race, Maliki, Politics News
Chris Weigant

McCain's going to have to come up with some new spin to explain why Obama and Maliki are now singing from the same songbook on timetables for withdrawal.

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Friday Talking Points [38] -- Whiners And Cheeseheads

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.11.2008 | Politics

Read More: National Convention, Timetable, Pow, Fisa, Immunity, Campaign, Withdrawal, Telecom, Rnc, Nuts, 2008, Sofa, Mccain Flip-Flop, Dennis Kucinich, Midotw, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Status of Forces, Leni Riefenstahl, Football, Amnesty, Democrat, Nuremberg, 08, Acceptance Speech, Platform, Democrats, Barack Obama, Election, Sister Soulja, 08 Election, Stadium, Elections, Mddotw, Martin Luther King, Whiners, Maliki, Russ Feingold, Cheesehead, Speech, Senator, Impeachment, Iraq, Pittsburgh, Anniversary, Denver, King, Republican, Lion of the Senate, Phil Gramm, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Mental Recession, Green Bay Packers, John McCain, Mlk, Prisoner of War, 2008 Elections, Jesse Jackson, Green Eggs and Ham, 2008 Election, Teddy Kennedy, Recession, 08 Campaign, Convention, 2008 Presidential Race, I Have a Dream, Telecommunications, Medicare, Steve Schmidt, Flip Flop, Steelers, Broncos, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Welcome back to Friday Talking Points, after a one-week hiatus! While plenty has happened in the past two weeks which bears close and careful analysis...

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Gay Weddings and 32 Funerals: Remembering the UpStairs Lounge Fire

Erik Ose | Posted 07.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: New Orleans, Glbt, Gay History, Louisiana, Gay Pride Weekend, Metropolitan Community Church, Lesbian, Same-Sex Marriage, UpStairs Lounge, 1973, Firebombing, Gay, Fire, GLBT History, California, Anti-Gay Violence, Mcc, 2008, California Supreme Court, Homophobia, Christianity, June 24 1973, Bigotry, Gay Marriage, Rip, Gay Rights, Politics News
Erik Ose

To fully understand recent events, it's important to remember a tragedy that happened thirty-five years ago, and how much things have changed for gays and lesbians since then.

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The Coming Together Of McCain And Obama On Iraq

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.02.2008 | Politics

Read More: Doublethink, John McCain, Petraeus, Timetable, Iraq, 2008 Elections, Media, Campaign, 08, Policy, 2008 Election, Withdrawal, Election, Barack Obama, Foreign Policy, 08 Election, Iraq War, Middle, Elections, Troop Withdrawal, 08 Campaign, Surge, Troop, 2008, 2008 Presidential Race, Victory, 2008 Campaign, Politics News
Chris Weigant

McCain knows that the electorate wants America out of Iraq, even faster than Obama has proposed. He also knows that his ties to Bush's foreign policy are an albatross around his neck.

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