Tuesday, November 4 2008
Raging in the Streets
With America rejecting conservative politics, the time is ripe for Rage Against the Machine's return. The band has rediscovered creative and political confidence that fits these tumultuous times perfectly.
Monday, November 3 2008
Are We the Rockstars We’ve Been Waiting For?
Barack Obama may be Radiohead and Sarah Palin a riot grrl punk, but they aren't rockstars. The reason why is that the rockstar is dead.
20 Questions: Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman
Tom Morello is as passionate about politics as he is about music. With the US Presidential elections looming, Morello chats with PopMatters 20 Questions about those who inspire him and the range of cultural and political genres they represent.
Friday, October 3 2008
The Olbermann Effect
Keith Olbermann has transformed news into entertainment. Countdown viewers no longer expect the facts; they expect to laugh and to think. Thank goodness.
Thursday, July 17 2008
International Lampoon: (Don’t Be) Mad (At The) Magazine
The New Yorker may have outsmarted itself. Its core readership is left of center and they care about the things that Obama cares about. But the cartoon may have the effect of encouraging Obama's opponents to step up their mythmaking because they've been provided with "cover" by a respected liberal magazine.
Tuesday, July 8 2008
Pleased to Meet Me: A Pre-Post Racial Tribute to Barack Obama
Maybe the Obama phenomenon is neither the beginning nor the end of the national conversation on race. Maybe it's half-time.
Thursday, June 5 2008
Sister Christian: An Open Letter to Hillary Clinton’s Disenchanted Supporters
Obama has, with his résumé, his upbeat tone, and even his nondescript "even Steven" haircut, positioned himself as the metaphorical love child of Al Gore and Will Smith -- the perfect brew of debonair and nerdy that is the only formula possible for a black man trying to win the US Presidency.
Friday, May 9 2008
Out of Africa: Barack Obama in Pan-African Music
While Barack Obama's candidacy has sparked new political interest within the United States, perhaps the best indication of his foreign policy advantage may be found in the music praising Obama coming from other countries around the world.
Wednesday, February 13 2008
Yes Wii Can vs. R3ady
How the ongoing video game console war parallels the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries.
Tuesday, January 8 2008
Mike Huckabee’s Family Guy Values
The bass-playing presidential hopeful from Arkansas loves pop culture and Chuck Norris. Has Huckabee made irony the stalking horse for social conservatism?
Monday, October 9 2006
My Own Private Enron
How many more corporate scandals are out there? A former employee at film-ratings firm Veritasiti tells of the day he and his co-workers were let go without warning, amid reports of SEC investigations and bouncing paychecks.
Friday, October 6 2006
Here’s My Autograph… Now How ‘Bout Your Vote? On Confusing Celebrity for Credibility
No matter one's ideological leanings, it seems US voters are most interested in supporting those candidates who will ultimately provide them with the most entertainment for their political dollar. It's quite telling that our country's most viable celebrity politicians have come primarily from one of two categories: action-film heroes and sports stars.
Tuesday, January 18 2005
Red, White and Purple: The Downfall of a Toothless Democratic Party
Alas, the Democratic Party is lost. The reason it's lost is because it sucks at being the minority party.
Thursday, December 30 2004
The Year In U.S. Politics: New Lows and Scattered Saving Graces
Ooooh to writh under the blinding glare of his piercing eye, to bear the stinging lash of his sassy tongue. It smarts to be pinned down so and held in the vise-like critique of Terry Sawyer, but 2004 revealed so many deserving people... Ah, but the sparks that fly from this year in review also light up the darkness, giving us glimmers of hope. Not all is lost. Read on.
Friday, November 5 2004
Emigration Dreaming
Give us your tired, hungry, oppressed and downtrodden. Of course we mean Canada. Can we convince them to take us?
Saturday, October 30 2004
More of the Same: Bush, Kerry and the War on Terror
Distinctions between stopping terrorist organizations and disarming 'rogue' nations are glossed over in favor of ever-shifting rhetorical positions which seem to follow the polls in a vertiginous ballet of double-speak.
The Gremlin Assist: On the Last of the 2004 US Presidential Debates
The Presidential debates are no supposed to be like the Special Olympics; everyone is not a winner for simply trying.
Wednesday, October 27 2004
Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad 527?
The reality is that while speech, assembly, and petition are guaranteed 'free' that does not mean they do not have a cost.
Wednesday, October 20 2004
Hollywood Babbling On
Naturally, Kerry will be judged by the company he keeps, but it's not like he is consorting with Satan Worshippers or Neo-Nazis.
Monday, October 11 2004
Kerry Cakewalk: The Second of the 2004 US Presidential Debates
It's stunning to see the President think that's he's handily dealt with his opponent's charges when he's in fact just lit another one of his hallmark stupidity flares.
