‘Poem about My Rights’: Todd Akin, Meet June Jordan ‘Poem about My Rights’: Todd Akin, Meet June Jordan
Todd Akin, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan all have me thinking of June Jordan’s great “Poem about My Rights.”
Aug 22, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Laura Flanders
Ayn Rand Ayn Rand
(Sung to the tune of “Blue Moon”) Paul Ryan has said that the writings of Ayn Rand were what inspired him to go into public life. —News reports Ayn Rand Because of you I’m now free. Because of what you have taught, I know it’s all about me. Ayn Rand You taught we should be ambitious, And strive to be avaricious, Since money’s truly delicious. And we shouldn’t share a nickel of this money With citizens who can’t prevail. The government is not the Easter Bunny. The poor are weaklings who deserved to fail. Ayn Rand Before you I was immobile But then you taught me to know That being selfish is noble.
Aug 22, 2012 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Liehards: On Political Hypocrisy Liehards: On Political Hypocrisy
Hard truths about lying in politics
Aug 22, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Sophia Rosenfeld
Behind the Bureau: On the FBI Behind the Bureau: On the FBI
Tim Weiner’s Enemies is not so much a history of the FBI as a compendium of interesting historical material.
Aug 22, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Beverly Gage
A World of Hillbilly Heroin A World of Hillbilly Heroin
The hollowing out of America, up close and personal.
Aug 21, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco
What’s Ahead in the ‘Voting Wars’? Certainly Not Peace What’s Ahead in the ‘Voting Wars’? Certainly Not Peace
A conversation with election law expert Richard Hasen on the true scope of voter fraud, the power of the ACORN myth and John Roberts’s scary interest in the Voting Rights Act...
Aug 17, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Brentin Mock and Voting Rights Watch
Citizen Vidal Citizen Vidal
As an elegant essayist and critic of empire, Gore Vidal had no peer. Oh, how the Republic misses its persistent suitor!
Aug 8, 2012 / Books & the Arts / The Editors
Mitt Visits Foreign Lands Mitt Visits Foreign Lands
(And not to hide money) The Mittster, while taking a three-nation swing, Showed talent for saying the very wrong thing. He teed off our English friends lickety-split; The tabloids in London town called him a twit. Apparently having no motives ulterior, He seemed to be calling the Arabs inferior. In English and Arabic venom Mitt bathed. ’Twas only in Poland he came out unscathed. His trip, meant to show foreign-policy cred, Because of Mitt’s gaffes was a model instead Of what not to say when abroad one doth roam. So here’s the consensus: he should have stayed home.
Aug 8, 2012 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Fatherland: On Héctor Abad Faciolince Fatherland: On Héctor Abad Faciolince
Oblivion re-creates the life of one of the many innocent victims of the Colombian conflict.
Aug 8, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Jorge Volpi
The Reaches of Stringency: On Philip Larkin The Reaches of Stringency: On Philip Larkin
Self-congratulation, deceptions and the art of failure.
Aug 8, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Michael Wood