Category Archives: The Obama Administration

Conor Friedersdorf’s Argument Against Drones

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Ampersand

Conor Friedersdorf’s entire argument against Drones is worth reading, but here’s a sample: In thought experiments, we may be able to separate the questions, “Should force be used?” and, “If so, what is the most ethical weapon available?” But the … Continue reading →

Posted in International issues, The Obama Administration | Comments Off  

On “the best looking Attorney General in the country”

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Ampersand

So at a party fundraiser, President Obama made a sexist remark about California Attorney General Kamala Harris: You have to be careful to, first of all, say she is brilliant and she is dedicated and she is tough, and she … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, sexism, etc, In the news, The Obama Administration | Comments Off  

Dear Obama: Women Are People. Not just the Wives, Mothers and Daughters of People.

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Ampersand

In the State of the Union, Obama used a habitual rhetorical device for referring to women: “We know our economy is stronger when our wives, mothers, and daughters can live their lives free from discrimination in the workplace, and free … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, sexism, etc, Language Politics, The Obama Administration | Comments Off  

Today in Orwellian Double-Speak: “Imminent Threat”

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Ampersand

From the Obama Administration’s newly-uncovered memo on when the President is allowed to order Americans assassinated: The condition that an operational leader present an ‘imminent’ threat of violent attack against the United States does not require the United States to … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, The Obama Administration | Comments Off  

The Racism in this NRA Video Needs to be Called Out

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I’ve seen this video written about in two places, The New York Times and The New Yorker. Neither of them takes on the video’s obvious (to me anyway) dog-whistle (and maybe not even dog-whistle) racism. First, there is the divide-and-conquer … Continue reading →

Posted in Race, racism and related issues, The Obama Administration | Comments Off  

Waves

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Jeff Fecke

The president was inexperienced, they said. Weak. Oh, he’d accomplished some great things in his year-and-a-half in office, but clearly he was doomed in a couple years. Meanwhile, Congress, which had been a rubber stamp for this Democrat, was seen … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics, The Obama Administration | Comments Off  

Democratic deference, not Republican resistance, is source of student sorrow

Posted on April 19, 2010 by Ampersand

The normally-excellent Dahlia Lithwick, writing about sad liberal law students: One of the most notable things about these events is the extent to which progressive students, faced with a Supreme Court vacancy, a Democratic president, and a Democratic Congress, are … Continue reading →

Posted in Supreme Court Issues, The Obama Administration | Comments Off  

Burn Him!

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Jeff Fecke

As you no doubt have heard by now, President Obama is expected to announce a non-defense discretionary spending freeze in tomorrow’s State of the Union address. Given that we’re only kinda, sorta on the way to recovery — and that … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and the like, The Obama Administration | Comments Off  

Reid and Lott

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Jeff Fecke

As you all most certainly know, an embarrassing quote from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., surfaced over the weekend. Reid apparently stated during the 2008 election that then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., would be an electable African-American candidate because he … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative zaniness, right-wingers, etc., Elections and politics, Race, racism and related issues, The Obama Administration | Comments Off  

Bruce Jenner Has an Opinion

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Jeff Fecke

Bruce Jenner is terribly, terribly upset at Barack Obama for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. And for some reason, the Politico cares. I think it’s only fair to run this trailer for the 1980 film Can’t Stop the Music, starring … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular (and unpopular) culture, The Obama Administration | Comments Off