The Republican Finalists The Republican Finalists
Regarding those still in the race And all the sighs they engender, All small-time pols quote Brando now: “I coulda been a contender.”
Mar 14, 2012 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Gaddis’s Kennan: Strategies of Disparagement Gaddis’s Kennan: Strategies of Disparagement
Intent on blaming the cold war simply on Soviet perfidy, John Lewis Gaddis does a disservice to the subject of his biography—and to his readers.
Mar 14, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Eric Alterman
Romney and Santorum: Two Faces of GOP Capitalism Romney and Santorum: Two Faces of GOP Capitalism
There may be tension but there isn’t a class war within the Republican Party, because they’re all on the same side.
Mar 14, 2012 / Column / Gary Younge
Contraception (of All Things) Contraception (of All Things)
Republicans are bashing birth control, As candidates far-rightward scurry. The voters haven’t heard such talk in years. We’re going backward in a hurry.
Mar 7, 2012 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Lessons From Fukushima, One Year Later Lessons From Fukushima, One Year Later
No matter how appalling the catastrophe, the nuclear industry will insist on the safety of nuclear power.
Mar 7, 2012 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
Protect Pregnant Women: Free Bei Bei Shuai Protect Pregnant Women: Free Bei Bei Shuai
Bad things happen when laws to protect fetuses are turned against the women who carry them.
Mar 7, 2012 / Column / Katha Pollitt
I Thought That I Would Never See a Pol Who Loved the Height of Trees I Thought That I Would Never See a Pol Who Loved the Height of Trees
“I love this state. It seems right here. The trees are the right height.” —Mitt Romney, in his home state of Michigan Away from here, I find no trees that please— No trees at such a perfect height as these. For me, I cannot ever be at ease With trees that grow no higher than one’s knees Or too tall trees that splinter in a freeze. Wisconsin, sure, has bragging rights on cheese. And California’s rich in Cantonese. And Colorado’s where to take your skis. Connecticut, of course, has Lyme disease. At none of these am I prepared to sneeze. But here we have the perfect height of trees.
Feb 29, 2012 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Right-Wing Racism: Past, Present—and Future Right-Wing Racism: Past, Present—and Future
The GOP panders to racists, and liberals are blamed for a “neurotic” obsession with race.
Feb 29, 2012 / Column / Eric Alterman
We Pick Rick We Pick Rick
(A Santorum campaign song, sung to the tune of “I Like Ike,” by Irving Berlin) We pick Rick. Yes, Rick’s with whom we will stick. He’s the guy All over whom we’re swarming. We pick Rick. Though some imply that he’s thick, He well knows There is no global warming. He’ll say on CNN The sins that we must smother. And he can keep those men From marrying each other. We pick Rick ‘Cause he’ll tell liberals real quick What God says No matter if they’re willing: Abortion’s baby-killing. So we pick Rick.
Feb 15, 2012 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Wislawa Szymborska, 1923–2012 Wislawa Szymborska, 1923–2012
The great Polish poet disclaimed grand political schemes in favor of irony, wit, skepticism and the individual.
Feb 15, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Katha Pollitt