Print Magazine

February 2, 2009 Issue

Mark Gevisser on South Africa, Calvin Trillin on Roland Burris, Franklin J. Bruno on the history of jazz…

Cover art by: Cover illustration by John Mavroudis (key to names); design by Gene Case & Stephen Kling/Avenging Angels

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Editorial

Seeking Obama’s Center

The pundits insist Obama will govern from the center, but to me it seems he's dedicated to redefining where the center is.

Victor Navasky

Inaugural Journey

Traveling by train to Washington today, to witness an historic inauguration, summons memories of a very different inauguration, fifty-five years ago.

Victor Navasky

Prelude to an Inaugural

A modest proposal of words Barack Obama might say when he takes the oath of office in Washington on Tuesday.

Tom Engelhardt

Detroit’s Impaired Vision

In the end, it wasn't shoddy products or high wages that put the US auto industry on the ropes. It was a failure to innovate for global markets.

Barbara Crossette

Rick Warren’s Clout

How powerful is he? Take a look at his tax breaks.

Jon Wiener

Noted.

Ari Melber on Change.gov and torture, Esther Kaplan on an SEIU blunder, John Nichols on Obama's technology guru.

The Editors

The Crisis Is Global

Six months from now, if the Obama recovery does not materialize, the president may discover he has to reinvent himself.

William Greider

Ten Things You Can Do About the War in Congo

What you can do about the war in the Congo.

The Nation

For Progressive Patriotism

Love of country is expressed not just by civic virtue, but economic rights, rule of law and fair distribution of the nation's resources.

John Nichols

An Inauguration for the Ages

The spirits of the civil rights movement--and movements for social justice everywhere--were with Obama on this historic Inauguration Day. Artist John Mavroudis imagines the occasio...

The Nation

Column

A New Era of Accountability

As Obama gets down to work, what assurances do we have that he will break with the past--on an unfair and opaque bailout and the war in Afghanistan?

Robert Scheer

A Very Different 100 Days

Many comparisons have been made between Obama and FDR. But the forty-fourth president will have a very different first 100 days.

Nicholas von Hoffman

Drowning Our Sorrows, Lifting a Glass

A sobering toast to the dubious achievements of the worst president in American history.

Patricia J. Williams

Gaza Agonistes

There's panic in the neocon playground as young liberal Jewish bloggers refuse to be silenced.

Eric Alterman

Roland Burris

Calvin Trillin

Letters

Obama: Flexible, Intelligent, Pragmatic

Trenton, N.J.

Our Readers and André Schiffrin

Feature

The Work Has Begun

On a cool and bright Inaugural Day in Washington, the change an extraordinary leader has promised is beginning to be felt.

Victor Navasky

Rock for Barack

A concert unlike any Washington has seen unfolded Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, expressing the hopes and dreams of a nation on the cusp of enormous change.

Corbin Hiar

Let the Party Begin!

A mix of patriotism and Obamamania permeate the frigid air, as young Obama supporters stream into the Capital.

Corbin Hiar

Gaza Notebook

Israel's assault on Gaza is radicalizing mainstream Muslim opinion. And regardless how this war ends, Hamas will likely emerge a more powerful force than before.

Fawaz A. Gerges

An Epoch Named!

Your submissions to the Name Our Epoch contest were awesome: The Age of Avarice, The Crassical Period, The Bling Bang, The New Steal. And the winner is....

Chuck Collins and Sam Pizzigati

Social Movements 2.0

The tension around the pros and cons of online organizing has spurred a healthy debate in the social movement community.

Jeremy Brecher and Tim Costello and Brendan Smith

Holding Bush Accountable

Obama cannot let former Bush administration officials get away with breaking the law without violating his own oath of office.

Elizabeth Holtzman

Slumdog President

Many Indians believe Obama's victory makes all things possible for people of color--but for all the good will, there is little mention of India's ever-present racism.

Lakshmi Chaudhry

Germany’s Turkish Obama

Might a Deutschturke one day become chancellor of Germany? The prospect lies in the distant future.

Paul Hockenos

Italy’s New Racism

Once upon a time, this Catholic country prided itself that Italians were brava gente, good people and tolerant. No more.

Frederika Randall

Echoes of South African Redemption

If the last great redemptive moment in global politics was Nelson Mandela's liberation and ascent to power, Barack Obama's presidency will be the next.

Mark Gevisser