What we see in this story is the chronic problem of treating Latino voters as a block. Seriously, what do Cuban, Mexican, Salvadoran, Puerto Rican and other's who may or may not even speak Spanish have in common with each other? Not much when one gets down to it, though the Democratic Party's courtship of this demographic might come apart over the fact that they fail to see (as Republicans also miss) the fact that they tend to be social conservatives owing to their Catholic culture. Social and economic justice along with support for small business might be a winning theme, but Democrats have basically bungled that message by failing to connect enough to the 3rd and 4th + generation Latinos most likely to actually turn out at ... More »

It is good in that it shines a light on one aspect of the Tea Party movement. It is not so good in that it could use more context, especially in linking it to populist and libertarian strains that have operated in the U.S. at least as far back as Andrew Jackson. Republican manipulation of the movement should be explored for its potential to transform the party. It appears to be attempting what I'd call, the "Texas Strategy,

It is definitely a POV piece, but important if only to cast a light on a demigogue who just might get traction in these stressful times. I can't help but think of CABARET in that the threat of fascism (and make no mistake about Glenn Beck as a classic fascist personality in a very clinical sense) was endlessly spoofed to its closed audience of sophisticates but ended up doing no good. I'd be catastophic to think that Jon Stewart and the DAILY SHOW would have the same result. Report like this can bring a lot of light and offer some media literacy, but unfortunately the HP is closer to the cabarets of Berlin than say, CNN or CBS. Whenever I watch Glenn Beck who actually is telecast in Seoul Korea of all places, and he says, ... More »

Begins this very timely topic contextual theme and maintains it throughout. However, Mr. Fernholtz makes an all too common error in identifying defense spending as "bloated" forgetting that about half of that expenditure is on people and about half of it is on "stuff". The people side of the equation is remarkable because it includes support of the largest educational institution in the world and a highly desirable route out of economic marginality for a significant number of young people. What's more, it is the best model of cradel to grave socialism in history; something that should be bludgeoned (rhetorically speaking of course) into the heads of every congressperson and talk-show host who hurls that term about like a ... More »

Perhaps no other issue since the decision to go to war in iraq has been so muddied by sloppy and lazy reporting. Any story that actually contributes to the public learning curve on the facts of health care reform is welcomed.

The author's first line was off-putting citing House Democrats as the critical players in the health care reform debate. They are important to be sure, but their key provisions are hardly radical though they are going to have to come to grips with overall costs in the face of the bad deficit news that recently came out. It would seem that the Senate Democrats and Kennedy's long-time friends on the country club Republican right would be the ones to provide them with a legacy-capping bill with those elements required for it to be credible reform.

Informative point of view. Nice witty reference to the "American Taliban" milling around outside of Obama's address to the VFW. My principle critique is with Juan's critique of the President's 3 key points on his strategic assessment in Afghanistan. Juan faults the President on not being more specific but this is not the audience for him to get even more professorial than he already tends to be in such venues. It was enough for him to just offer broad brushstrokes with the details lefft to the brain trust at the Pentagon and in the field.

It is a straight report from a variety of substantive sources all on the public record. It captures as a snapshot the current status of the health care debate and its dramatic dynamics. It included the points of view from key political players.