Chicago Politics

Pot, meet Kettle. Let’s talk about your blackness.

1-800-OPINION

With the recent slate of Presidential-elect appointees, it appears we’re in for the Clinton Administration III for at least the next four years. I guess “Change” actually translates to “Rewind” in Obama-speak.
Just to keep things balanced, here’s a note to Republicans: Sarah Palin is not your girl to rebuild the GOP. I know she’s much more [...]

The People Have Spoken

Apart from the mainstream media practically falling over themselves in giddy delight to declare victory for Barack Obama, I enjoyed watching the returns last night. Thankfully, Obama was gracious in victory, John McCain was classy in defeat, and the sight of American flags (as opposed to partisan placards) in Chicago was a nice reminder that [...]

Election Day 2008

Feel free to share any good election day stories in the comments as well.

A Prayer for Our Next President

Reading some on the monarchy of Israel this weekend, I came across Psalm 72, a coronation prayer for the heirs of King David’s line (beginning with Solomon). Do yourself a favor and read the passage through in its entirety – it’s both beautiful and bold in its request for success in the task of ruling God’s [...]

The What and Why of How I’m Voting on Tuesday

In response to my previous post about bonding with Barry, a friend emailed to ask how I see things differently from Obama. Here’s his question:
“What do you disagree strongly about? I’m genuinely curious, meaning, your answers could shape my opinion because I value your insight. I’m probably going to vote for him, mostly because of [...]

Bonding with Barry

Anybody watch Obama’s infomercial Wednesday night? It was a whole family kind of deal at our house. I thought it was well-done and engaging, and Obama was as eloquent as ever.
I really like Obama as a person (or perhaps more accurately, as a personality), and marvel at how someone to whom I so enjoy listening is [...]

The Problem with Neo-Conservativism

David Brooks hits the nail on the head as to what’s wrong with the neo-conservatism of the past decade (and why John McCain is going to lose the election in November):
“Once conservatives admired Churchill and Lincoln above all — men from wildly different backgrounds who prepared for leadership through constant reading, historical understanding and sophisticated [...]

Thoughts from 4 Miles Away

It takes me about 12 minutes to drive from our house to Washington University, so it was semi-surreal watching the Vice-Presidential debate held here in St. Louis Thursday night. I thought both Joe Biden and Sarah Palin did well, but would give a slight edge to Palin for holding her own (though little more) on [...]

Bailing on the Bailout

I haven’t written too much about the current financial crisis/bailout/circus of late, partly because I’m still trying to figure it all out, and partly because I’ve written before about the problem of big government handling anything. While I love being right, I hate being redundant.
I was not in favor of a bailout, yet assumed it [...]

Don and the Dems

Author Donald Miller has a new website and blog. Miller gave the benediction on the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver and, though I’m always a little leery when evangelicals cozy up to the Left (for the same reasons I get leery when evangelicals cozy up to the Right), I liked [...]

A Funeral I’d Rather Miss

In a comment on my previous post, Ed points out that, “Everything you’ve blogged about the political process has been ambivalent, indifferent, or mildly disgusted.”
I’ll own up to the observations. I’m weary of enduring two years of campaigning to get what we get in the end (and don’t even get me started on the millions [...]

On Sarah Palin

Like most of the country, I’m still trying to figure out what I think about John McCain’s pick of Alaska governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate. While it’s way too early to draw any real conclusions, here are a couple of thoughts on the matter:
Initially, I felt what Joseph Bottum at First Things called a [...]

Sobering Up

Maybe I’m just suffering from a DNC hangover, but apparently I’m not the only one. You have to read David Brooks’ column in the New York Times today. It’s a little cynical for him, but see if you can spot some truth in and among the overstatement. Here’s his opening paragraph:
“My fellow Americans, it is an honor [...]

Summarizing on a Saturday

I recognize the past week has been less than impressive in terms of original content. Here’s an attempt at righting that wrong:
1. As I see it, the selection of Joe Biden as Barack Obama’s running mate makes a lot of sense…in the short term. Biden personifies age and diplomacy more than Obama does, and his [...]

Obama’s Rainbow Tour

Barack Obama, who, as a “citizen,” recently addressed 200,000 Germans (and the world) from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, is the new (choose the best answer):
A) Ronald Reagan
B) Winston Churchill
C) John F. Kennedy
D) Eva Peron
I’m going with D. The buzz emanating from Obama’s trip reminds me of the chorus from “Rainbow Tour” (re-written here for effect) from the [...]

It’s Hard to Soar Like an Eagle When You’re a Turkey

In case you didn’t know, Founding Father (sounds like a band name) Ben Franklin thought the turkey should be our national bird instead of the eagle. (I first learned this when I was doing the show 1776 – I played Richard Henry Lee – back in 1990 at the Jacksonville Theatre Guild.)
Though Franklin argues his [...]

Who Needs Curriculum When You’ve Got New York?

Last Monday, I started a unit with my ethics classes on the seventh commandment (“You shall not commit adultery”). For those watching the news cycle of late, you know that last Monday was the beginning of the whole Eliot Spitzer downfall and, as of yesterday, the disclosure of sexual dalliances by his replacement, David Patterson.
The [...]

Politics That Make You Go “Hmmm”

In light of the primaries tomorrow (supposedly a dead heat), two questions keep floating through my head. First, why has Clinton’s campaign been so poorly run (especially since January)? The second is, in light of number one, why is Obama not set to run away with the primaries tomorrow (and the democratic nomination as a [...]

Ron Paul for President

In light of Super Tuesday this week (on my 37th birthday, no less), I feel compelled to own whatever influence I may have in the blogosphere and endorse the candidate I believe would be the best choice for America. After months of discussion and thought, the candidate I will be voting for (both this Tuesday [...]