Author Archives: Jeff Fecke

Al Franken Takes the Lead

Posted on October 9, 2008 by Jeff Fecke

I was always an Al Franken skeptic. Don’t get me wrong — I like Al. Having talked to Al at Drinking Liberally, I really do believe that he’s running for the right reason: he really believes that he can serve … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics | 2 Comments

Bankers of the World, Unite!

Posted on October 8, 2008 by Jeff Fecke

So, we’re nationalizing the banks: Having tried without success to unlock frozen credit markets, the Treasury Department is considering taking ownership stakes in many United States banks to try to restore confidence in the financial system, according to government officials. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and the like, Libertarianism | 3 Comments

Battle Without Honor or Humanity

Posted on October 4, 2008 by Jeff Fecke

Johnny Maverick has decided, at this late date, to simply shred any last bit of honor he used to have, and go for broke: Sen. John McCain and his Republican allies are readying a newly aggressive assault on Sen. Barack … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics | 18 Comments

There Are No Words

Posted on October 4, 2008 by Jeff Fecke

I hope, in her academic career, that my daughter encounters teachers who disagree with her. Learning to understand and respect other positions helps us to strengthen and challenge our own beliefs. If my daughter grows up to vote straight-party Democratic … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Race, racism and related issues | 4 Comments

Minnesota GOP: We're Not Not Playing the Race Card!

Posted on October 4, 2008 by Jeff Fecke

Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District is one of the Democrats’ strongest pickup opportunities this cycle. With moderate Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., retiring, the inner-ring suburban district has a chance to pick a congressional representative in keeping with the district’s political lean, … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Elections and politics, Race, racism and related issues | 1 Comment

The Reverse Bechdel Test

Posted on October 3, 2008 by Jeff Fecke

The Bechdel Test is a well-established feminist principle for looking at a piece of art. Named for Allison Bechdel, the artist behind Dykes to Watch Out For, who popularized it, the test is laid out by a character who explains … Continue reading →

Posted in Media criticism | 17 Comments

Rich Lowry's Ejaculation

Posted on October 3, 2008 by Jeff Fecke

The right is fond of complaining that feminists and feminist allies hate Sarah Palin because she’s pretty. We don’t. She’s conventionally attractive, yes, but that’s not really surprising. Most politicians are on the pretty end of the spectrum, from Barack … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics, Feminism, sexism, etc | 5 Comments

Dee-Bate!

Posted on October 2, 2008 by Jeff Fecke

Well, the debate is over. And Joe Biden won it, though Sarah Palin defied expectations by speaking in complete sentences almost throughout the entire debate. For the most part, the debate played out as I expected; Biden pulled his punches … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics | 18 Comments

A Song for a Thursday Afternoon

Posted on October 2, 2008 by Jeff Fecke

For no apparent reason, here’s Randy Newman:

Posted in Whatever | 1 Comment

The Times, They are a-Changing

Posted on October 2, 2008 by Jeff Fecke

Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO speaks bluntly about fighting racism, how it’s used to divide workers, and why it’s very wrong to vote against Barack Obama because of the color of his skin: The right spent a long time working … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics, Race, racism and related issues | 2 Comments