Sonia Sotomayor: a breath of fresh air
For everyone who's lamented that Obama is turning out to be just like George W. Bush, I present you with Exhibit A for the defense: Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Sotomayor is 54, from the Bronx, Puerto...
Category: Politics
Thunder Bay & lessons not learned from residential schools
Canada's now defunct residential school system will go down in history as one of our grossest violations of human rights and dignity. On July 11, 2008 Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a public...
Life, Inc.: an interview with Douglas Rushkoff
In his new book, Life, Inc., Douglas Rushkoff lays bare the history of corporations and how our society became shaped in their image. He theorizes that corporatism has such a hold on us that we tend...
Obama meets and greets Netanyahu
...And? So? Or as they say here, nu? Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.S.A. President Barack Obama have met. Pleasantries were exchanged, both said the other was a swell guy,...
Next year, Mr. President, give a commencement speech at an HBCU
If I could give any piece of advice to President Obama besides the obvious ones for any transperson lucky enough to get some face time with him would, it would be this: Next year, give a commencement...
Israel’s Troika: Barak is no Barack
In Israel, the peace process rests in the hand of the “troika”. With the first meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama looming (May 18th, saves the...
The monarchical democracy of Lebanon: excerpt
For those Arabs who believe in liberal democracy, the Lebanese election is a source of both inspiration and despair. For where else in the Arab world is there an election that will actually produce...
What’s it all about, Arlen?
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, one of the three Republicans who compromised on Obama's stimulus bill, has decided that he's no longer a Republican. When Minnesota finally gets Al Franken seated,...
Torture – debated
They call it a “debate” like there's anything to debate. As if international law and Dick Cheney's snarling are both equally valid. As if torture “working” makes it defensible. Despite the...
Torture – declassified
“Shocks the conscience.” That's the test that Steven G. Bradbury, acting head of the Office of Legal Counsel in Bush's Justice department used to decide whether or not an “enhanced...