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Most of the progressive reforms that we now take for granted were pushed through during narrow windows of opportunity—which subsequently slammed shut with the work not yet complete. The Oval Office's most effective inhabitants have always understood this. Does Barack Obama? Here's what history suggests is the right approach to get dramatic change out of Washington. 
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How Do We Seize The Obama Moment?
August 17th, 2008
It's more than ten weeks before voters choose their next president, but progressives should start thinking now about strategy for a Barack Obama presidency. How do we make sure our priorities are Obama's priorities, and how do we get those priorities addressed in a political landscape where resistance to change will still be intense? For the next two weeks, we want you to join us in a dialogue on these questions that we hope will help us claim a progressive mandate for change after the election. The dialogue starts with this article, excerpted from the September 1 cover story in The Nation. Add your comments, and watch for other articles from our senior fellows and other progressive leaders.... more »
TRADE REPORT: Your Weekly Fill of What's Really Going On
By David Sirota
August 14th, 2008
With this week's reemergence of globalization and trade as major 2008 campaign issues, we thought it as good a time as any to launch our regular report on globalization, helping you sort through what is too often an esoteric and inaccessible discourse on one of the most important set of issue more »
The Great Corporate Tax Heist
August 12th, 2008
Remember the old Steve Martin routine on how to make a million dollars and not pay taxes: "First, make a million dollars... Second, don't pay taxes." Turns out Martin's joke is standard operating procedure for corporations in the United States — only, in comparison, Martin was a piker.
Ten Things You Should Know About China
August 11th, 2008
If global economics were an Olympic sport, here are key reasons why China would be winning gold medals, while the United States would be an also-ran. This list helps make the case for a new American industrial policy.... more »
Why We Don't Shoot Back
August 5th, 2008
Progressives have been picking at the whys and wherefores of liberal presidential candidates being brought down by withering attacks from the right ever since Adlai Stevenson lost to Eisenhower. But there's one fairly simple and glaring factor that I'm increasingly convinced plays at least some role in this—the different cultural roots of conservatism and liberalism. Seen this way, some solutions become obvious.... more »
On Wickedness (Part One in a Series)
August 6th, 2008
I've started a diary on the subject of conservative turpitude. And liberal depression. And the annoying habit we progressives have of believing that the mere act of debunking conservative lies, "telling the people," and proving the cosmic correctness and justness of our positions, is enough to turn the political tide. It isn't. It doesn't. And that's what makes us depressed.... more »
Yes Conservatives, Inflating Tires Beats Coastal Drilling
By Bill Scher
August 4th, 2008
The latest conservative lie -- regarding Sen. Barack Obama and fuel efficiency -- actually has a great amount of truth to it. more »
Latest From Our Bloggers
aug
20
2008
2:54 pm
2:54 pm
Criticizing right-wing eliminationism can be hazardous to your health.
aug
20
2008
2:48 pm
2:48 pm
I was just gazing adoringly at the following addition to my inbox:
Dear Fellow Conservative,
Do you know which special interest has given more money to the Obama and Clinton campaigns than any other?
If you guessed "trial lawyers" -- well, okay, that's too easy. But can you guess which special interest came in second? more »
aug
20
2008
1:59 pm
1:59 pm
Take a peek at the map below, and tell me what you think it depicts. I'll post the answer tomorrow. (P.S.: I've erased two comments, and also an accidental hint. Come on, dear readers: no cheating! If you saw the same article I did and recognize the map, hold back.)
aug
20
2008
12:45 pm
12:45 pm
One of the more interesting developments in this campaign year is the extent to which Democrats have sought out the so-called "values" vote --- the mostly evangelical and catholic voters who have tended to vote Republican in the past. With the guidance of a newly formed Democratic religion lobby, the presidential campaigns all formulated a sophisticated outreach effort to appeal to voters who had formerly voted Republican but were open to Democrats by broadening the agenda to include other issues of interest to Christians, like poverty and the environment. more »
aug
20
2008
10:14 am
10:14 am
In recent posts, I've shown that conservative talk of an "All of the Above" energy policy flies in the face of repeated conservative actions to defeat anything that significantly i more »
aug
19
2008
6:19 pm
6:19 pm
I just read something very, very unpleasant because it felt very, very true. In fact, though it's only a short sentence, it's so disturbing I can't bring myself to type it out myself. more »
aug
19
2008
5:37 pm
5:37 pm
aug
19
2008
4:44 pm
4:44 pm
Let me explain the spit take that ended the last segment. One of Mark's other guests was a fellow who won, yes, a national skilz contest for coffee baristas—supposedly, this is the cat who literally makes the best coffee in America. He brewed some up for all the guests. I pretended it was foul swill, and—comedy gold. more »
aug
19
2008
4:34 pm
4:34 pm
Musical guest, by the way, was Jon Langford, formerly of the Mekons. Later on that same evening, he went on stage with his band the Waco Brothers accompanied, of all things, by a thirty-man Welsh choir, most of them senior citizens. more »
aug
19
2008
4:31 pm
4:31 pm
Be it resolved: all book interviews should take place in bars. Last month I appeared on "The Interview Show," a Chicago institution in which humorist Mark Bazer puts on what basically feels like a version of the old Dick Cavett Show, onstage at the Hideout Bar. While I finish up a long post, enjoy your blogger talking about NIXONLAND whilst delightfully lubricated with vodka and cranberry juice. more »
