Newt Departs From the Island of Poliwonks Newt Departs From the Island of Poliwonks
(The saddest leave-taking since Max left the Wild Things) “Don’t go!” all the poliwonks started to croon. “What other Republican dared to harpoon The Mittster for being a heartless tycoon? Who’s left to start planning a town on the moon, As if he had stepped from the pages of Dune? Who never did hesitate once to impugn The press—his best foil—when it seemed opportune? Oh why, Newt, oh why must you leave us so soon?” But Newt, though quite portly, as well as jejune, Just floated away, like a hot air balloon.
May 2, 2012 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Marine Le Pen and the False Specter of European Fascism Marine Le Pen and the False Specter of European Fascism
Americans who worry about dangerous trends overseas should take a look at warning signs much closer to home.
May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Alexander Cockburn
Women: Occupy the Left Women: Occupy the Left
Why is it so hard to understand that women's rights are an economic issue?
May 2, 2012 / Column / Katha Pollitt
Mitt Romney’s Neocon War Cabinet Mitt Romney’s Neocon War Cabinet
Judging by his advisers, Romney would embrace Bush’s unilateral interventionism and massive military budgets.
May 2, 2012 / Feature / Ari Berman
Breivik’s Monstrous Dream—and Why It Failed Breivik’s Monstrous Dream—and Why It Failed
As his trial unfolds, Norway exorcises some of its xenophobic demons.
May 2, 2012 / Feature / Moustafa Bayoumi
Roger Williams, America’s First Rebel Roger Williams, America’s First Rebel
The founder of Providence was the first to see that religious freedom, and separation of church and state, was intimately connected with political freedom.
May 2, 2012 / Feature / John M. Barry
Empty and Full: On Stanley Whitney and Jacqueline Humphries Empty and Full: On Stanley Whitney and Jacqueline Humphries
When is a little more than enough in a painting?
May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky
Democracy and Education: On Andrew Delbanco Democracy and Education: On Andrew Delbanco
In College, Andrew Delbanco explains the reversal of the postwar project of democratic expansion in higher education.
May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Richard Wolin
Leviticus Again Leviticus Again
“And his issue is unclean,” 15:3 He is human and so will be humbled He is flesh and so will fail He is bone and so will be broken He is blood and so will bleed He has cheated and so will be changed He has deceived and so will be drained He has mocked and so will be muddied He is hollow and so will howl He has sullied and so will sadden He is nothing and so will be nought He is pain and so will perish He is emission and so will be missed He is water and so will weep He is cavernous and so will cry He is dross and so will disgust He is a carcass and so will be cast He has soured and so will stink He is rank and so will retch He is a worm and so will writhe He is corruption and will be betrayed He came forth, and so he will fade Palestine, sixth century CE (translated from the Hebrew by Peter Cole)
May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Yannai
All in the Family: On Thomas Frank All in the Family: On Thomas Frank
Thomas Frank’s Pity the Billionaire is confused about the connection between the Tea Party and conservative cultural populism.
May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Steve Fraser