Lamentations of the Late-Night Comics Lamentations of the Late-Night Comics
While Jimmy Fallon tears his hair, Bill Maher laments, “It’s just not fair.” Dave Letterman begins to pout. They’ve heard that Herman Cain is out. In common with his late-night peers, Jon Stewart comes quite close to tears, He’d much prefer a case of gout To hearing Herman Cain is out. “The man is threatening our jobs,” Says Leno, as he softly sobs. Colbert is staggering about. He’s heard that Herman Cain is out. They pray together, on their knees: “Could we have Donald Trump back—please?”
Dec 7, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin
‘The Proud Liar Mitt Romney Claimed Today’… ‘The Proud Liar Mitt Romney Claimed Today’…
The MSM’s addiction to false equivalence continues to distort our political debate.
Dec 7, 2011 / Column / Eric Alterman
What’s Race Got to Do With Herman Cain? What’s Race Got to Do With Herman Cain?
His rise and fall are instructive about the way race, sex and class operate in presidential campaigns.
Dec 7, 2011 / Column / Gary Younge
Oh Say, Can You Shop! Oh Say, Can You Shop!
The season’s here. If you’re beset By crippling, horrifying debt, Amassing loads of costly booty Is still your patriotic duty.
Nov 30, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin
The Eurozone Meltdown The Eurozone Meltdown
The sooner Eurocrats dispense with their calls for more economic centralization, the better off we’ll all be.
Nov 30, 2011 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
Bishops vs. Women: Which Side Is Obama On? Bishops vs. Women: Which Side Is Obama On?
The president must decide what is more important: pandering to the Catholic hierarchy or protecting women's health.
Nov 30, 2011 / Column / Katha Pollitt
Newt Gingrich and Freddie Mac Newt Gingrich and Freddie Mac
Lambasting pols who got too close to Freddie, Newt failed to say that he himself already Got Freddie payments that were large and steady. As is his custom, Newt was undeterred. Hypocrisy’s not really what occurred. For Newt we’d need to find a stronger word.
Nov 22, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Do We Have Any Right to Privacy Outside Our Homes? Do We Have Any Right to Privacy Outside Our Homes?
The Department of Justice has told the Supreme Court that police should be allowed to secretly put GPS devices on our cars. But we have already surrendered more privacy than we rea...
Nov 22, 2011 / Column / Patricia J. Williams
Next Stop on the GOP Crazy Train: ‘Newtsville’ Next Stop on the GOP Crazy Train: ‘Newtsville’
Ever notice that anytime anyone tells the truth in the contest for the Republican nomination, a new scandal erupts?
Nov 22, 2011 / Column / Eric Alterman
Newt’s Surge Newt’s Surge
The pundits all can confidently speak Of Gingrich as the flavor of the week. The people who want anyone but Mitt Now say, in desperation, Newt is it. Yes, Newt’s astute—a crafty wheeler-dealer. His baggage, though, would fill an eighteen-wheeler— Affairs and ethics problems and, to boot, His mouth is something often off he’ll shoot. And if he’s scratched because he lacks decorum? What happens then? Get ready, Rick Santorum.
Nov 17, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin