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Photo August 31, 2004

Winning Or Not Winning The So-Called War Thing

Certainly, the world has gone crazy to be batting around the phrase “war on terrorism” with no sense that it’s just a metaphor. Do you notice that the press uses it now without quotation or qualification? God help us; someday we will look back on this period of time,...

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The Convention That Ate The Media

One of the most interesting themes of the Republican Convention is the way the GOP has railroaded the media. (This is in addition to the fact the conventions are hardly available to a wider audience, and the prime time speeches are timed to prevent even a moment of analysis.)...

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2nd Night RNC 2008 Springboard Competition. Contestant: Rod “No Child Left Behind” Paige

(This entry is part of our continuing coverage of the Republican National Convention Springboard competition. Each night, we rank the performance of various speakers for their ability to execute career enhancing maneuvers with their performance.) Dive: Backward Bureaucratic Flip Level of Difficulty (10 point scale): 100 Analysis: Mr. Paige...

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RNC 2008 Springboard Competition: Rudy “Prime Time” Giuliani

Dive: Offensive–Not Defensive, New York, 9/11, Munich, Klinghoffer, Churchill, Kerry, Edwards, 9/11, Reagan, Arafat, Russian, Construction Worker, 9/11, Chicago Cop, Syrian, Sudanese, Old Testament, 9/11, World War II, Forward, Backward, Reverse, Straight, Pike, Tuck, 9/11, Cannonball Level of Difficulty (10 point scale): 79 Analysis: Known primarily for a severe...

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RNC 2008 Springboard Competition: John “Can’t We All Just Get Along” McCain

Dive: Forward Straight Toe-The-Line Get In And Out Level of Difficulty (10 point scale): 1.6 Analysis: McCain executes a perfect, non-controversial In And Out, a dive popular with Republican and Democratic fans alike. (McCain causes mild stir when he bumps into Michael Moore and nearly knocks him into the...

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Convention Coverage: The First Night of the RNC 2008 Springboard Competition

Unless President Bush manages to change the constitution by executive order (or swing another deal with the Supreme Court), he is not going to be the Republican nominee in 2008. As a result, a central function of the Republican Convention this year is to provide a springboard for the...

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Photo August 30, 2004

One of the Largest Protests Hardly Anybody Ever Saw

Estimates of NYC march range up to 500k. Photoblog jumping off points: gothamist; rnc moblog; New York Newsday (notice how corporate media plays up mayhem imagery when march was primarily peaceful); indymedia. (image: matt law)

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Photo August 29, 2004

Political Orbits: The Lowering of the Bar

In the face of all the “I don’t read the polls, I don’t read the papers, I’m just focused on the job” nonsense, here (finally) is a great story on the real George Bush. Today’s piece in the NYTimes (link) reveals the obsessive, hands-on, hyperagressive W. with the chess...

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SPECIAL: “Shame” Ad, Yanked By Kerry Campaign, Still Viewable

The only shame of the “Shame” attack ad is that the Kerry campaign withdrew it so quickly. The ad, featuring 2000 debate footage of John McCain rebuking George Bush for impugning his war record, is far and away the most compelling political advertisement of the presidential campaign. The internet-only...

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Uncategorized Photo August 28, 2004

It’s a Bombshell, But Don’t Expect a Barnestorm Over It

(Spilling the Thirty Year Old Beans) Although the press never picked up on it, President Bush himself intimated (in his Meet the Press interview earlier this summer) that he used family strings to avoid the Vietnam draft. Now, former Texas lieutenant governor, Ben Barnes, has provided the smoking gun....

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RNC: Banner Week (#2)

image 1: corner of 26th and 5th. (nyc indymedia) image 2/3: gothamist.com via WNBC news helicopter

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Up in Arms

Playing off of the ‘Bush in 30 Seconds” contest, MoveOn is featuring a new video clip, created by leading directors and actors, each week until the election. Frankly, the more artistic campaign content I look at, the more I appreciate the problem of “creativity on demand.” The first piece,...

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Uncategorized Photo August 27, 2004

RNC: The Case for Protest

This video, featuring members of the New York Civil Liberties Union, makes the case for public protest during the convention. It outlines the points of contention between police and specific activist groups; traces policing problems since 9/11; and (in the latter portion) provides a primer for conduct and profiles...

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RNC: Banner Week

Of all the events and actions (they used to call them “happenings”) taking place in New York, I find the banners drops among the most dramatic. image: andrew stern link: nyc indymedia. More here

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BAGannouncements Photo August 20, 2004

Gearing Up

I’m taking a week off to gear up for the Republican Convention (which I’m expecting to hit pretty hard). In the meantime, I leave you with my takes on some of the best political clips of the summer. While I’m away, I’d be interested in your thoughts regarding: 1....

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Photo August 19, 2004

Foreign Policy Under The Radar

There are a lot of suspicious things going on right now in foreign policy. Behind the cover of the presidential race and the drama surrounding the 9/11 hearings, Bush and Co. are attempting some radical moves. In an editorial the other day, the NYTimes took on the administration over...

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Photo August 17, 2004

Election 04: Taking Out The Trash

This spot, created by the AdCouncil, has been around awhile. Of the wave of ads encouraging people to vote, however, I like how directly this one addresses the problem of apathy. There’s no question it puts the blame on the public and exploits feelings of guilt. What I see...

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