Bin Gotten Bin Gotten
The killing of Osama bin Laden was a just and necessary undertaking, but it should not be an occasion for joy.
May 4, 2011 / Column / Eric Alterman
Al-Assad Al-Assad
Al-Assad An autocrat named al-Assad Decided he’d not spare the rod. His thugs kill at will, But we wonder still: What happens when he’s shot his wad? Some say his reaction is odd: They say this Assad is no clod. But he learned from pop To play the bad cop. Who knows how it ends? Maybe God.
Apr 28, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin
The Bitter Tea of Greg Mortenson The Bitter Tea of Greg Mortenson
How did he dupe us all? Americans love to be inspired by simple solutions to complicated problems—especially when the solutions are cheap and the problems are far away.
Apr 27, 2011 / Column / Katha Pollitt
For Birthers, Obama’s Not Black Enough For Birthers, Obama’s Not Black Enough
As a black man, Obama's confident knowledge of his lineage is precisely the thing that makes his American identity dubious.
Apr 27, 2011 / Column / Melissa Harris-Perry
Memo to a Wall Street Highflier Memo to a Wall Street Highflier
“After Widespread Reckless Banking, Dearth of Prosecutions” —Subhead in the New York Times It’s more than likely that you caused this wreck By schemes like selling what you knew was dreck. And ordinary folks have paid the cost: Their homes are gone, their livelihoods are lost. But friends on high have guaranteed the onus Is not on you. Relax. Pick up your bonus.
Apr 21, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin
How Low Will the ‘Washington Post’ Go? How Low Will the ‘Washington Post’ Go?
The newspaper should be taking a stand against education scams—but it’s dependent on one such program for its profitability.
Apr 21, 2011 / Column / Eric Alterman
The Royal Wedding Is a Class Act The Royal Wedding Is a Class Act
The one thing I never thought I’d have to explain to Americans is why monarchy is a bad idea. Apparently, I’m wrong.
Apr 21, 2011 / Column / Gary Younge
A Bare-Bones Analysis of Tim Pawlenty’s Candidacy A Bare-Bones Analysis of Tim Pawlenty’s Candidacy
The news from Minnesota‘s Tim Pawlenty Is Tim Pawlenty‘s in New Hampshire plenty. He hopes to win in ’12, ’16 or ’20. But that’s not likely, say the cognoscenti.
Apr 17, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Yet Another Chapter in Trickle-Down Economics Yet Another Chapter in Trickle-Down Economics
“C.E.O.’s in finance, technology, energy and beyond are pulling down multimillion-dollar paychecks. What many of these executives aren’t doing, however, is hiring.” —the New York Times If you await a downward trickle, You’ve just received a wooden nickel.
Apr 14, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Rupert Murdoch’s Watergate Rupert Murdoch’s Watergate
An invasion of privacy scandal threatens the careers to two of Murdoch's top executives and the apparent heir the News Corp. empire.
Apr 14, 2011 / Column / Alexander Cockburn