Here in the final stretch of the presidential campaign, things are getting even uglier, with the other side lobbing misleading verbal attacks while our side tries to remain above the fray. With this kind of negativity and distortion, it is hard to imagine the winning candidate being able to pull the country back together. But…
Despite Barack Obama’s recent surge in the polls, much could change between now and election day. While it looks like this election will be decided by the economy, unexpected events could dramatically change the campaign narrative. Terrorists could conduct an attack inside the US. Obama, despite his two years of steady poise, could say something…
Barack Obama would like the next two debates to be about the economy. John McCain would like them to be about anything but the economy, preferably with plenty of discussion of 60’s radicals and crazy preachers. McCain won’t get his way, of course. We will hear discussions of the bailout, taxes, health care and the…
This Friday, John McCain and Barack Obama will presumably (John McCain willing) square off in the first presidential debate of the season. For people like you, interested enough in politics to be reading this post, the outcome of the debate is already largely determined — your favorite candidate will not only win the debate, but…
This week’s version of John McCain — the populist version — is blaming our current, um, situation on greed. (With such strong fundamentals in our economy, we couldn’t call it a crisis.) Last week’s John McCain, and the one from the week before that, and the week before that, and the one who has served…
With the nomination of Sarah Palin as vice presidential candidate, the McCain campaign seems to hope that the election will hinge upon personality rather than policy, on candidates’ life narratives rather than their 15 point energy plans. Recognizing that they cannot win based on whose policies benefit the largest number of people — Republican health…
Seven days into the patient’s hospital stay, his doctors realized they had fought a losing battle. The patient, an overweight smoker with a touch of diabetes, had come to the emergency department with shortness of breath. After a series of tests in the emergency room, he was given a dose of antibiotics for possible pneumonia…
This year, for the first time, the Wimbledon Championship offered equal prize money to men and women, joining the U.S. Open more than 30 years after that tournament recognized the importance of equality between the sexes. Unfortunately, neither tournament has joined the idea of equal pay between sexes with the notion of equal play. Women’s…
We are in the midst of what will certainly be the most expensive presidential campaign in history. The political powers are already inundating us with negative ads. The candidates are flying around the country in a frenzy, holding events and rallies with their partisan flocks. And the parties are putting finishing touches on their made-for-TV…
As person, I’ve always been a contrarian. To quote Bruce Springsteen: when they said sit down I stood up. As a scientist, I’ve wedded my contrarian nature with a healthy dose of skepticism. When the majority of people in my field believe one thing, I’m the one looking for reasons they are all wrong. So…