TheNextReport

McCain Spears Obama In the classic 1939 film "The Wizard of OZ" Dorothy Gale goes on a journey in a magical land to find a wizard who will help her find her way back home. Arriving at the Emerald City, she and her fellow travelers are given an audience with the Wizard who puts on a fantastic light show, only to be revealed as a fraud - an ordinary song and dance man - when Dorothy's little dog Toto pulls back the curtain of the control room. For those watching the 2008 presidential campaign who had not yet been convinced that the Republican party lives in the Land of Oz, John McCain’s campaign released an attack ad that equates Barack Obama with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Ridiculous you say; harmless stupidity that no one will take seriously? In John McCain’s Land of Oz it's no surprise to discover that when we pull back the curtain, the wizard who is telling people what they should think is really a political functionary with a video budget - what is sometimes

The Flap Over the Cover The flap over the The New Yorker Magazine cartoon cover that depicted Barak Obama in Islamic garb and his wife Michelle packing an Ouzi was a revelation for those who monitor the sometimes silly state of American political discourse. The outrage expressed by Obama supporters and opinion makers on the left was enough to make even the most cynical observer scratch his head in disbelief. Otherwise intelligent and widely respected commentators in the progressive media were quick to condemn the magazine for publishing a cartoon that, on its surface, seemed to give credence to the most damning false characterizations used by ultra-conservatives to attack the Obama campaign. These commentators apparently feared that, in addition to insulting the Obamas, the cartoon could sway opinions of those trying to make up their minds about the presumptive Democratic nominee. They dutifully attacked the New Yorker for not providing “context” to the image; some even demanded an apo

A Sour Grape Couldn't be More Sweet With the primary season over and the political conventions on the way, talk of selection of presidential running mates again is filling the airwaves. The situation encourages more speculation of the sort that the media thrives on and points up once again how our political system is really an exercise in crass commerce. Now, as both Senator Obama and Senator McCain review their short lists and again weigh the value of choosing their most ardent primary opponents among those who could be possible running mates, American voters will be reminded how easy it is for us to disbelieve what our leaders say. We shall be reminded that, when it comes to winning, it is okay, even expected, that those running for political office are hypocrites. It would seem unlikely that after the grueling primary campaigns Barack Obama would choose Hilary Clinton or John McCain would choose Mitt Romney to be second in command. Yet, cable news pundits and other political c