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
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
Welcome to the 2012 Hunger Games Welcome to the 2012 Hunger Games
Sending debt peonage, poverty and freaky weather into the arena.
May 1, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Rebecca Solnit
David Stovall: What Can Hip Hop Teach Us About the World? David Stovall: What Can Hip Hop Teach Us About the World?
Hip hop and the Occupy movement have even more in common than you might think.
Apr 26, 2012 / Books & the Arts / On The Earth Productions
Ron Paul, Still Standing Ron Paul, Still Standing
Mitt’s opposite number is still in the race. Paul has his supporters; he has his own base. He has his own style, which is folksy, not canned. Religion? He’s got one. His prophet’s Ayn Rand. By Rand’s wacko theories he’s fervently gripped, So he won’t do flip-flops. He long ago flipped.
Apr 25, 2012 / Column / Calvin Trillin
The Road to Marjayoun: On Anthony Shadid The Road to Marjayoun: On Anthony Shadid
Anthony Shadid was an exceedingly rare reporter in the thinning ranks of American journalism.
Apr 25, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Scott Sherman