September 29, 2008 Issue

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September 29, 2008 Issue

Cover art by: Cover illustration by Karen Caldicott; cover design by Steven Brower.

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Features

Sarah’s Way–or the Highway

The idea that Sarah Palin is experienced, ethical and wise would be laughable, if it weren't so alarming.

Barbara Koeppel
Q&A With Thomas Frank

The central thesis of Thomas Frank's new book, The Wrecking Crew, is that the kind of obscene depravity witnessed at the Department. of Interior is the natural result of the conservative philosophy of governance.

Chris Hayes
The Relentless Activism of Tom Morello

The Rage Against the Machine guitarist recounts his raucous RNC protest and explains his inspiration for melding politics and popular music.

Z.P. Heller
Apocalypse Palin

McCain's running mate says she's ready to launch World War III, but on whose behalf?

Mark Ames
The Land of Nod

This Week: Various players get ready for the Big Sleep.

Gary Phillips
Juvenile Junction

Can Congress build a platform to change America's juvenile justice system?

Will Di Novi
Millennials Could be Key Voters in Swing States

Young voters could be the key to victory for Obama and Democratic Congressional candidates. Here's how they're changing the electoral map.

Peter Dreier
Nixon Dirty Trickster on McCain Team

The man instrumental in a White House move to deport John Lennon in 1972 now heads McCain's transition team.

Jon Wiener
Alaska Women Cool to Palin

As the Palin bandwagon gathers steam, progressive Alaskans who know her raise objections.

Michelle Goldberg
UN Summit Must Address Population Issues

As the UN meets today to assess its plan to heal a suffering world, the billions of women who still lack fundamental rights--especially reproductive rights- must be heard.

Barbara Crossette
America’s Love/Hate Relationship With Itself

Veteran journalist Dick Meyer discusses America's love-hate relationship with itself.

Sarah O’Leary
The McCain-Follieri Love Boat

What are we to make of a straight-talking maverick who spends his 70th birthday on the yacht of an A-list con man?

Ari Berman and Mark Ames
The New Humanitarian Order

Recent war crimes charges against the Sudanese president reveal the rights-based politics of the world's "new humanitarian order."

Mahmood Mamdani
Wrong Path to Conservation in Papua New Guinea

Dangling cargo to win local support, Western enviros have instead aroused ire in Papua New Guinea.

Mark Dowie

Editorials

Screw Wall Street

Sorry, but I have no sympathy for the sudden poverty of investment bankers who've gamed and likely destroyed our financial system in the relentless pursuit of wealth.

Jason Flores-Williams
What’s Daddy’s Roommate Doing in Wasilla?

Sarah Palin's self-appointed role as censor of her local public library takes center stage as librarians observe Banned Book Week.

Nancy Kranich
AIG’s Rotten Investments Could Bring the House Down

The house of global finance is on fire--and the lightning bailout of AIG raises serious question about government's capacity to extinguish the flames.

William Greider
Creative Destruction on Wall Street

An epic deflation of wealth sweeps away arrogant financiers and their fraudulent gimmicks, settin the stage for reform.

William Greider
Sarah’s Steel Ones

Her politics are detestable, but can we take a moment to recognize that Sarah Palin is one tough woman?

Amy Alexander
Turning Point in the Gang Crisis

Will the missing issues of gangs, poverty, dropouts, the inner city and policing redefine the presidential debate?

Tom Hayden
McCain Unwisely Makes Sex Ed An Issue

With his deceptive ad linking Obama to condom ed for kindergartners, McCain broaches he'd best avoid.

Sharon Lerner
Nation Notes

We are pleased to note several additions to our masthead.

the Editors
Beauty and the Beast

The old warrior deploys sex as a central political weapon to recharge his potency and his party's fortunes. Is there a trap here?

JoAnn Wypijewski
Noted.

Reading Bob Woodward, defending Amy Goodman, evaluating Governor Palin.

the Editors
Our Polar Bears, Ourselves

Sarah Palin played a key role in the Bush administration's effort to ditch the Endangered Species Act.

Mark Hertsgaard
Backward Bailout

Instead of bailing out the money guys who created the housing crisis, Washington should concentrate on healing the victims.

the Editors
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Columns

Great Depression II

Fifty-seven million American families, who put their money in theoretically stable investments find themselves staring into the abyss.

Nicholas von Hoffman
AIG Bailout Sparks Taxpayer Anger

As bigwigs get bailouts, taxpayers ponder layoffs, ruined retirements and wiped out college funds. Yet neither McCain or Obama have tapped into that anger.

Nicholas von Hoffman
Obama: Find Your Inner Populist

To win this election and save the country, Obama must renounce the scoundrels from both parties who plunged us into economic crisis.

Robert Scheer
The Economy Seeks Bottom

If we can collectively resist the urge to sell and cement our losses, the cratering economy could finally hit the floor

Nicholas von Hoffman
Heck of a Job, Bernanke

Taking over Fannie, Freddie, banks and brokerages is one thing; knowing what to do with them is something else.

Nicholas von Hoffman
Remembering the Bear

Don Haskins made his mark on college basketball and on America, as he fought to make the hardwood a level playing field for all.

Dave Zirin
Lipstick on a Wing Nut

Ten tough questions for Sarah Palin. Really tough.

Katha Pollitt
Fatal Distraction

Obama's responses to the crises of the war and the failing economy are so flimsy, no wonder the GOP has so handily changed the subject.

Alexander Cockburn
On Sarah Palin’s Revelations of God’s Will

God's girlfriend is never wrong.

Calvin Trillin

Books and the Arts

The Relentless Activism of Tom Morello

The Rage Against the Machine guitarist recounts his raucous RNC protest and explains his inspiration for melding politics and popular music.

Z.P. Heller
Nixon Dirty Trickster on McCain Team

The man instrumental in a White House move to deport John Lennon in 1972 now heads McCain's transition team.

Jon Wiener
America’s Love/Hate Relationship With Itself

Veteran journalist Dick Meyer discusses America's love-hate relationship with itself.

Sarah O’Leary
Amy Winehouse and the (Black) Art of Appropriation

Just about the only thing Amy Winehouse hasn't repackaged from the black music archives is the one thing she could use: a lesson in Motown etiquette.

Daphne A. Brooks
A Hungry Mind: Giordano Bruno, Philosopher and Heretic

Ingrid Rowland's Giordano Bruno rediscovers the Renaissance philosopher and heretic.

Paula Findlen
An Inky, Well-Paneled Place: Comics and the Cold War

Comic books, once the source of cultural panic, have achieved a dominant hold on the public imagination.

D.D. Guttenplan
Eel

Eels are slimy creatures.
But never lie. If they sense
the slightest pretence, they'll
bite off your finger. Carefully
study the hands of politicians.

Jeffrey Yang
The stakes are higher now than ever. Get The Nation in your inbox.

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Letters

Letters

The Evil Twin Gets the Credit, Again

St. Paul, Minn.

Christian Parenti and Our Readers

Crossword

Crossword Classic #17

From the February 7, 1948, issue.

Frank W. Lewis
Puzzle No. 3137

ACROSS

1 and 5 One sometimes does before shaving--with heavy exercise, too. (5,2,1,6)

Frank W. Lewis

Log In

September 29, 2008 Issue

Features

The idea that Sarah Palin is experienced, ethical and wise would be laughable, if it weren't so alarming.

The central thesis of Thomas Frank's new book, The Wrecking Crew, is that the kind of obscene depravity witnessed at the Department. of Interior is the natural result of the conservative philosophy of governance.

The Rage Against the Machine guitarist recounts his raucous RNC protest and explains his inspiration for melding politics and popular music.

McCain's running mate says she's ready to launch World War III, but on whose behalf?

This Week: Various players get ready for the Big Sleep.

Can Congress build a platform to change America's juvenile justice system?

Young voters could be the key to victory for Obama and Democratic Congressional candidates. Here's how they're changing the electoral map.

The man instrumental in a White House move to deport John Lennon in 1972 now heads McCain's transition team.

As the Palin bandwagon gathers steam, progressive Alaskans who know her raise objections.

As the UN meets today to assess its plan to heal a suffering world, the billions of women who still lack fundamental rights--especially reproductive rights- must be heard.

Veteran journalist Dick Meyer discusses America's love-hate relationship with itself.

What are we to make of a straight-talking maverick who spends his 70th birthday on the yacht of an A-list con man?

Recent war crimes charges against the Sudanese president reveal the rights-based politics of the world's "new humanitarian order."

Dangling cargo to win local support, Western enviros have instead aroused ire in Papua New Guinea.

Editorials

Sorry, but I have no sympathy for the sudden poverty of investment bankers who've gamed and likely destroyed our financial system in the relentless pursuit of wealth.

Sarah Palin's self-appointed role as censor of her local public library takes center stage as librarians observe Banned Book Week.

The house of global finance is on fire--and the lightning bailout of AIG raises serious question about government's capacity to extinguish the flames.

An epic deflation of wealth sweeps away arrogant financiers and their fraudulent gimmicks, settin the stage for reform.

Her politics are detestable, but can we take a moment to recognize that Sarah Palin is one tough woman?

Will the missing issues of gangs, poverty, dropouts, the inner city and policing redefine the presidential debate?

With his deceptive ad linking Obama to condom ed for kindergartners, McCain broaches he'd best avoid.

We are pleased to note several additions to our masthead.

The old warrior deploys sex as a central political weapon to recharge his potency and his party's fortunes. Is there a trap here?

Reading Bob Woodward, defending Amy Goodman, evaluating Governor Palin.

Sarah Palin played a key role in the Bush administration's effort to ditch the Endangered Species Act.

Instead of bailing out the money guys who created the housing crisis, Washington should concentrate on healing the victims.

Subscribe Today and Save $129!

Columns

Fifty-seven million American families, who put their money in theoretically stable investments find themselves staring into the abyss.

As bigwigs get bailouts, taxpayers ponder layoffs, ruined retirements and wiped out college funds. Yet neither McCain or Obama have tapped into that anger.

To win this election and save the country, Obama must renounce the scoundrels from both parties who plunged us into economic crisis.

If we can collectively resist the urge to sell and cement our losses, the cratering economy could finally hit the floor

Taking over Fannie, Freddie, banks and brokerages is one thing; knowing what to do with them is something else.

Don Haskins made his mark on college basketball and on America, as he fought to make the hardwood a level playing field for all.

Ten tough questions for Sarah Palin. Really tough.

Obama's responses to the crises of the war and the failing economy are so flimsy, no wonder the GOP has so handily changed the subject.

God's girlfriend is never wrong.

Books and the Arts

The Rage Against the Machine guitarist recounts his raucous RNC protest and explains his inspiration for melding politics and popular music.

The man instrumental in a White House move to deport John Lennon in 1972 now heads McCain's transition team.

Veteran journalist Dick Meyer discusses America's love-hate relationship with itself.

Just about the only thing Amy Winehouse hasn't repackaged from the black music archives is the one thing she could use: a lesson in Motown etiquette.

Ingrid Rowland's Giordano Bruno rediscovers the Renaissance philosopher and heretic.

Comic books, once the source of cultural panic, have achieved a dominant hold on the public imagination.

Eels are slimy creatures. But never lie. If they sense the slightest pretence, they'll bite off your finger. Carefully study the hands of politicians.

The stakes are higher now than ever. Get The Nation in your inbox.

Letters

The Evil Twin Gets the Credit, Again

Crossword

From the February 7, 1948, issue.

ACROSS 1 and 5 One sometimes does before shaving--with heavy exercise, too. (5,2,1,6)

Eels are slimy creatures.
But never lie. If they sense
the slightest pretence, they'll
bite off your finger. Carefully
study the hands of politicians.

ACROSS

1 and 5 One sometimes does before shaving--with heavy exercise, too. (5,2,1,6)