“I don’t represent the big oil companies. I don’t represent the bigpharmaceutical companies. I don’t represent the Enrons of this world.But you know what? They already have great representation in Washington.It’s the rest of the people that need it.” — The text of what would havebeen Paul Wellstone’s final election ad Paul Wellstone never lost […]
Robert Borosage
Robert Borosage is co-director of the Campaign for America's Future and co-editor of The Next Agenda: Blueprint for a New Progressive Movement and Taking Back America: And Taking Down the Radical Right.
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The Mighty Wurlitzer
David Brock says he’s sorry. His extended mea culpa — Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex Conservative — recounts the tale of a recovering right-winger. He describes his journey from unformed gay, vaguely libertarian Berkeley undergraduate; to closeted right-wing wordsmith; to hit man on Anita Hill and Bill Clinton; to remorseful independent. […]
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The China Trade Debate
Next week, Congress will vote on permanent normal trade relations for China. The vote — which many people are calling the most important congressional vote of the year — would grant China the lowest tariffs and fewest restrictions possible on trade between the two countries. This status would not require annual review. Despite furious lobbying […]
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The Nader Factor
Should progressive voters in slam-dunk states vote for Ralph Nader? 10.26.00 Taking stock of the U.S. Electoral College system, George Orwell might have observed that all voters are equal — but some voters are more equal than others. Because all of a state’s electoral votes go to the winner of the state’s popular vote, the […]
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The Austerity Trap
“This is junior’s ‘read my lips,’” gloats former Clinton campaign adviser Paul Begala. Bush has broken his pledge not to dip into the Social Security surplus. Democrats are rolling out town meetings, television ads, and a press offensive to castigate Bush for “squandering the surplus” and to tell him to “keep his hands off […]
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Beyond Jeffords
Two headlines that appeared within 12 days of each other–“Jeffords Quits Republicans, Dems Take Control of Senate” (Associated Press) and “L.A. Turns to the Left as Top Office Goes to a Democrat” (the Los Angeles Times)–have given encouragement to millions of politically active progressives, many of whom have been in a dark funk since the […]
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Liberal Loss or Progressive Mandate?
This was the winter of Democratic discontent. By stealing the presidential election last fall, Republicans gained control of all branches of the federal government–the presidency, both houses of Congress, and, of course, the Supreme Court. Their dominance in state legislatures means that reapportionment is likely to carve out more Republican seats. And though lacking a […]
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The Heretical Mr. McCain
“I’m deeply concerned with a kind of class warfare going on now. It’s a growing gap between the haves and the have-nots in America, and unfortunately it’s building along ethnic lines. I’m not sure we need to give two-thirds of the tax cuts to the wealthiest in America. I believe we must save Social Security […]