Rights and Democracy
Uttering the G Word
Wow. In his second inaugural speech, President Barack Obama finally sounded like the guy progressives thought would be governing the United States starting in 2009. If he puts those poetic words into action, he may leave a much stronger legacy after eight years than...
Why I’m Singing the Inauguration Blues
President Barack Obama's second inauguration definitely had its high points: his uncharacteristically liberal speech, weather that broke 30 degrees, and a tour-de-force from inaugural poet Richard Blanco. This was my first barely-up-close-and-not-so-personal...
Border Fears Riddled with Holes
Senator John Cornyn recently discussed immigration reform at a meeting of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. "I think there have to be some conditions satisfied. One is that people know we've done everything we can to secure the border," the Republican said at the...
A Chance to Invest in TV News
If you live in a swing state you might be wondering, what happened to all the money television stations got for airing the nonstop spew of political ads right up until Election Day? You'd think television stations, whose news departments at least try to lay claim to...
Forget Fake Girlfriends, Republicans Have an Imaginary President
The bizarre story of Manti Te'o, the Notre Dame football player, and his dying girlfriend gives new meaning to the term "fantasy football." Te'o very nearly rode the heart-rending story of his tragic online romance into a Heisman Trophy (college football's highest...
7 Progressive Steps Obama Should Take in His Second Term
Most progressives aren't exactly thrilled with President Barack Obama's track record so far. Sure, he came out in favor of gay marriage, raised taxes on at least some of the richest Americans, made history by being the first non-white man to occupy the White House,...
Filling Solis’s Shoes Won’t Be Easy
As President Barack Obama's second term begins, change is coming. Change to his cabinet, that is. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis is the latest of the administration's leaders to announce her resignation. Obama's cabinet was already becoming more male and pale. With...
What Happened to the Violence Against Women Act?
Democrats and Republicans in Congress are having a hard time agreeing on anything these days. But there are some things that should never fall victim to partisan bickering. One of these is protecting women against domestic violence and sexual assault. But for...
Why does a university need a Chief Marketing Officer?
A new fad is sweeping across America's university campuses — and it's seriously goofy. This latest craze is not led by students making a cultural statement, but by top administrators trying to make a corporate one. It's called "rebranding," an attempt to modernize the...
Don’t Blame Me if Obama’s Second Term Disappoints
Lesser evil Ain’t enough, Back someone Who’s got the stuff. It’s hard for me to vote against an incumbent Democratic president — especially after those eight abysmal years with George W. Bush at the helm. Indeed, it seemed unlikely to me that any sentient creature...
