Author: michael o. allen

  • Facebook baby

    When I was a kid, I was crazy for Mad Magazine, and a passionate follower of Mad’s campaign against consumerism and materialism in general, and against Madison Avenue and the world of advertising in particular. Lots has happened since then. When Mad talked about advertising, it was talking about television, radio and newspapers. There was…

  • Newt Gingrich for Mother Jones

    Here’s an illustration in this month’s issue of Mother Jones, to accompany a story on Newt Gingrich written by their DC bureau chief. The article is about how Newt is the only Republican to come out of 2008 looking good, and that the face he’s presenting is a kinder, gentler Newt, all “tri-partisan” and Kumbaya.…

  • Where To, Mr. Daschle?

    Tom Daschle, President Obama’s nominee for secretary of Health and Human services, is facing some hard questions today regarding his failure to pay more than $140,000 in taxes, much of it related to a chauffeur-driven car provided to him by big-time Democratic donor Leo Hindery, Jr. To make things worse for Daschle, his tax problems…

  • Where To, Mr. Daschle?

    Tom Daschle, President Obama’s nominee for secretary of Health and Human services, is facing some hard questions today regarding his failure to pay more than $140,000 in taxes, much of it related to a chauffeur-driven car provided to him by big-time Democratic donor Leo Hindery, Jr. To make things worse for Daschle, his tax problems…

  • My friend, Todd

    The morning of Friday, Jan. 16, 2009 was one of the worst moments of my life. It was the first time in all the years that I’ve worked at the American Civil Liberties Union that I’ve come to work knowing that not only is my friend, Todd, not going to be there that day, but…

  • A little history

  • “Special relationship” with one side

    If Obama Is Serious He should get tough with Israel by Aaron David Miller, NEWSWEEK, from the magazine issue dated Jan 12, 2009 Jews worry for a living; their tragic history compels them to do so. In the next few years, there will be plenty to worry about, particularly when it comes to Israel. The…

  • The Middle East: Rivers of blood

    If You Want Peace, Work For Justice says the Central Virginia Progressive BILL MOYERS JOURNAL | Bill Moyers on Mideast Violence | PBS Transcript BILL MOYERS: In a city made noisy by hammers and saws preparing for the inauguration of a new president — a city already reverberating with partisan rancor, and with the constant…

  • A little history

    MIDEAST How We Got to This Point By Kevin Peraino, NEWSWEEK, From the magazine issue dated Jan 12, 2009 Three recent books chart the winding path from Kermit Roosevelt with his suitcases stuffed with cash to George W. Bush’s gloomy Nobel Prize prospects. Barack Obama said virtually nothing last week about the fighting in Gaza.…

  • . . . or Mexico

    Gaza Is Not Toronto: It Has Been Under Full Occupation For Over 40 Years By M.J. Rosenberg – January 10, 2009, 8:57PM “I ask any of my colleagues to imagine that happening here in the United States. Rockets and mortars coming from Toronto in Canada, into Buffalo New York. How would we as a country…