Weiner: what a rubbish sex scandal
The Anthony Weiner incident shows that politicians are now so lame that they don’t even do scandal well.
Read my spiked article in full here.
Not the only Weiner
How to describe Anthony Weiner? Creepy, pathetic, cringe-inducing… but even those words seem too generous.
For those outside the US who haven’t followed this story (or Americans who have been living in a cave), let me briefly provide some background. ...
“Mediscare”: the US politics of fear
The debate over Medicare shows that both Republicans and Democrats now rely on panic over principle.
Read my spiked article in full here.
New York City’s “Department of Moral Guidance”
New Yorker covers are usually very good, but this week’s is especially so. The drawing, by Bruce McCall, is called “Moral Guidance”. It depicts three New Yorkers in stocks – for offences of smoking, salt ...
This week’s articles of note
“The end of history man,” Financial Times [Francis Fukuyama interviewed by Martin Wolf]
“The future of innovation: can America keep pace?” Time, by Fareed Zakaria
“Excuses, excuses: a litany of special factors exposes the recovery’s fragility,” The Economist
“Everything you’ve heard about fossil fuels may be wrong,” Salon, by Michael ...
My review of The Social Animal is published in Sweden
Voltaire, a Sweden-based political/cultural online magazine, has re-published my review of David Brooks’ The Social Animal.
If you can read Swedish, you can read it here.
The “Mediscare” election: both parties are running on fear
Last week the Democrats scored an upset victory in a special election in New York’s 26th district, which encompasses the upstate territory between Buffalo and Rochester. Republicans were supposed to be on the upswing since the midterm elections held just six months ago, and the seat has been Republican since ...
This week’s articles of note
“The Osama Bin Laden exception,” Salon, by Glenn Greenwald
“Jerry Brown’s last stand,” New York Times Magazine, by Adam Nagourney
“The 4 percent solution: promoting growth, not reducing debt, is the key to restoring prosperity,” National Review, by James K. Glassman
“Top green admits: ‘We are lost!’,” The American ...
Ai Weiwei Sculpture in New York
Yesterday saw the unveiling of a magnificent bronze sculpture by Ai Weiwei in New York, his first major public installation in the US.
“Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads” is at the Pulitzer Fountain in front of The Plaza Hotel, close to the Southeast entrance to Central Park. Weiwei is the renowned artist and social activist ...
The killing of bin Laden and the American response
The reaction in America to the news that Osama bin Laden was killed by US commandos is not what it seems from the media reports.
The TV images have focused on the groups of people waving flags and shouting “USA-USA-USA” in Times ...
