Red Room Where the Writers Are

Your Whiteness Is Showing »

This is an open letter to those white women who, despite their proclamations of progressivism, and supposedly because of their commitme

Two Summers, One Agenda 1866, 2008 »

It was the summer of 1866. Congress with much rancor and many protests passed the 13th amendment.

That's Entertainment »

The post-mortems for the Clinton campaign still fill the punditverse, most of which fade into one long, annoying drone: hubris...didn't find her voice...no plan after

"Identity" Is Not So Simple »

For all the talk of identity politics in this past Democratic race, what strikes me is how little it really was about that.

The Apotheosis of Hillary »

The Apotheosis of Hillary 

When the Hell »

A quote from the New York Times that pretty much sums up the last two months in American politics for me:

Sorry if this stings »

I try to stay away from political blogging as much as so many seem to run towards it. I'm kind of cynical about all this posturing coming from the Clinton side.

The End at Last »

A few hours ago, the Associated Press announced that it had calculated that Barack Obama had secured the endorsement of enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination.

Fairness in Media »

An interesting study here on media treatment of Obama, Clinton, and McCain since the beginning of the year, conducted by Harvard's Joan Shorenstein Cente

Leaks in the Clinton Camp »

  A few months ago, Carla Marinucci told me that she thinks the current election has

Who Betrayed Whom? »

“Spitting in the eye of the strongest woman candidate in the history of the country.” That’s what Allison Fine called it when NARAL Pro-Choice America endorsed Barack Obama for President two day

Woman in power? Better watch your step »

As I watch the Democratic presidential campaign and realize with increasing dismay that it appears Amer

I'm sorry but this is hysterical »

Must...keep...going... »

This one's for my fellow Obama supporters. Those readers who prefer Hillary Clinton, John McCain, or V.I.

Using Our Powers for Good »

The same qualities Hillary Clinton is displaying now—commitment, tenacity, fortitude in the face of opposition and ridicule—need to be cultivated by anyone willing to stand up for an unpopular

May 9, 2008--Sex, Politics, and Pantsuits »

As a man who adores women of all varieties and vintage, but frequently finds himself more at their mercy than the most unrepentant misogynist, I'm fascinated by the dynamic of Clinton v Obama.

Theater of Politics »

Never in my lifelong observation of politics have I seen an election to match this one for extravagant theatricality: Laughter! Tears! Elation! Nausea!

Shock and Bore »

I have an exhibition opening this coming week at the Thorndyke Student Gallery at Southern Oregon University. The images being exhibited span my career as an artist.

Nachshon Obama »

Passover—Pesach—starts Saturday night.

The Spring of Hope-Forty Years Later* »

Since my last post, I've been thinking about the challenges of talking about race in our country.

Is it Pennsylvania yet? »

Ask me what the weather was like in Ohio on March 4th and I'll tell you. Go on, ask me!

Who's Bailing Whom? »

I have a dear friend who understands the world of finance as well as I know my way around my own kitchen.

Limbaughing Pennsylvania »

This follows on my post below, about how game-playing Republicans apparently gave Clinton her victory in Texas and prolonged the Democratic race by at least two months.

The Limbaugh Effect (for real) »

I'm sorry for going back to the math again—I’d much rather remain on a loftier plane—but this is something I think all Democrats should be aware of.

US Primaries - The View From Abroad »

US readers might be surprised to know that the primaries are dominating the attention of the rest of the world.  They often head the nightly news bulletins from London to Lima, and the level of in

Dear Senator Obama. Dear Senator Clinton. The World is Worried, and So Are We »

Dear Senator Obama and Senator Clinton,

Two Cheers for Women »

A few days before International Women's Day (March 8th, yesterday), a friend and I were talking about the results of the Ohio and Texas primaries.

Wouldn't It Be Nice? »

I have political fatigue.

If It's Not My Guy, I'm Not Voting »

Some liberal commentators and voters are so insulted that Hillary Clinton gathered support in Texas and Ohio that they have said that if Hillary Clinton is the nominee, they will simply stay home a

Change of Shift »

David Ignatius has just written a column in the Washington Post expressing his doubts that Barack Obama will be an effective bipartisan "bridg

The Law of Unintended Consequences »

The Law of Unintended Consequences says that the unintended consequences of an action are likely to have more impact that the ones that were intended.

Balance »

What keeps me confident in my support for Barack Obama, more than anything, is his grace under fire.

Get Real »

When I fly from California to Ohio next week, one of my jobs will be to go into blue-collar neighborhoods and convince people that they should vote for Barack Obama.

Caught in the Lights »

For years my son's favorite book was Watership Down, in which the novelist Richard Adams richly imagined the language and world view of a band of rabbits.

Hard Choice »

I wish my mom had lived to see this election. Leslie Jones was the definition of a Loyal Democrat.

I'm not your go to girl: Going Black or Going Woman This Election. »

A woman at dinner: You know, I would vote for Obama. but (eyeballing me) you know he is not going to win.

What evil lurks behind the curtain of the voting booth? »

How can you separate race from who Obama is? Or gender from who Hillary is? Or, say, "pretty-haired frat boy" from who Edwards is?

That Great Getting-Up Morning »

When Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York) lost the Iowa Caucuses, a part of me sighed.. and perhaps a part of me died.

When A Candidate Cries »

Listen, I'm certainly not the biggest Hillary Clinton fan in the world (which is not to sa