Calvinism Gone Wild: Billionaires Dominate Politics  5/16/2013 
Andy Kroll: Article  Political parties no longer have much power to choose candidates. Billionaires control the process now. The IRS cannot or will not do much about it. The media ignore all this.

A President for Everyone, Except Black People  5/7/2013 
Kevin R. Johnson: Article  A pastor in Philadelphia wonders why a black president is taking black people for granted, in both his appointments and his policies....not a transformational president.

The Second Amendment was Ratified to Preserve Slavery  1/15/2013 
Thom Hartmann: Article  The 2nd Amendment is not about individuals owning guns. It is about Southern racial fears that the federal government would not allow slave patrol militias in Southern states. Read the real history!

Feeding Fear: The Sad History of the National Rifle Association  1/15/2013 
Steven Rosenfeld: Article  The NRA supported gun restrictions after the killings of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy. Then in 1977 it was taken over by violence-prone libertarians.

Romney's Latest Terrible Lie: 'Obama Sympathizes With Muslim Rioters'  9/12/2012 
Dave Johnson: Article  Even Republicans like Peggy Noonan realize that Romney should not crassly use violence overseas to engage in political attacks, especially when his facts are wrong.

People Can't Believe the Level of Cruelty in the Paul Ryan Budget  9/2/2012 
Joshua Holland: Article  People want to believe their leaders are truthful and sincere, so they have trouble believing how extremist conservative Republicans have become.

Paul Ryan: A Young Man Who Lies for a Living  8/30/2012 
Ed Knudson: Article  A story at Fox News details the lies of the Republican vice-presidential candidate during his convention speech.

The Romney Campaign: Massaging Racial Anger and Resentment  7/31/2012 
Paul Waldman: Article  Romney is taking an Obama comment ('you didn't build that') out of context to portray him as giving free stuff to people who don't deserve it.

The Gingrich Winning Formula: Racist Backlash Rhetoric  1/22/2012 
Adele M. Stan: Article  Gingrich won in South Carolina by playing the race card over and over. He is a dangerous, demogagic figure threatening to the future of justice in this country.

The Tea Party Republican Problem: A Continuation of Backlash Politics by Angry, White, Southern Males  12/22/2011 
Robert B. Reich: Article  Here backlash politics, a big theme of this website, is clearly documented, with reference to Newt Gingrich.

Newt Gingrich Began the Politics of Hatred and Division, Receives Cheap Grace  12/19/2011 
Max Blumenthal: Article  Evangelical leader James Dobson first hated Gingrich then offered him cheap forgiveness. Here is the paradigmatic backlash politician from the South, now a front runner Republican.

Romney Should Not Be Elected by Hiding His Faith  10/21/2011 
Madison Shockley: Article  A UCC pastor says voters have a need to know the specifics of a candidate's faith. Romney wants people to accept his Mormanism without telling them it's strange teachings.

Empire of Chaos: How 9/11 Shaped the Politics of a Failing State  9/11/2011 
Arun Gupta: Article  The role of neoconservative ideology figures large in this excellent interpretation of recent American history.

Dr. James Leininger: Funding the Religious Right  9/8/2011 
Bill Berkowitz: Article  Rick Perry would probably not be running for president were it not for this rich Texan who made his money selling hospital beds.

One Party is More Rotten than the Other: The GOP as Apocalyptic Cult  9/4/2011 
Mike Lofgren: Article  A Republican congressional staffer quits because his party has gone loony. Here is an excellent analysis of current political culture.

Rick Perry: A Tool of Extremist Element of Religious Right  8/16/2011 
Rachel Tabachnick: Article  Two Republican presidential candidates are now explicitly associated with extremist religion. Here's more on the Dominionists and the New Apostolic Reformation.

The New Apostolic Reformation Wants to Make the U.S. a Theocracy  8/6/2011 
Paul Rosenberg: Article  C. Peter Wagner of 'church growth' fame picks Rick Perry for president, along with other religious right leaders participating in Perry's prayer festival.

The Uncivil War of the GOP  7/20/2011 
Sam Smith: Article  The Republican Party is now threatening to take down the government of the United States. This article begins to provide historical understandings for why they are willing to do so.

Donald Trump: Public, Blatant Racism  4/28/2011 
Ari Melber: Article  Obama provides a long-form birth certificate, but birther craziness will continue because it's about deep racism in the U.S., not facts

Sometimes the Truth is Told about Current Politics  4/10/2011 
David Michael Green: Article  Very large numbers of people believe the lies they are being told by public officials and corporate media. Here is a better interpretation of recent history.

A Study Guide on Sources of Conservative State Legislation  3/28/2011 
William Cronon: Article  A big controversy has erupted over this piece by a history professor at the University of Wisconsin who Republicans now want to smear.

A Teacher Tells the Truth about Wealth and Unions  3/25/2011 
Jim Mamer: Article  Republican leaders and policies create economic chaos and budget deficits. Then they blame teachers, firemen and police officers. Don't believe them.

Wisconsin May Be a New American Awakening  2/22/2011 
David Michael Green: Article  Barbaric Republican politics is finally exposing truth: corporate powers want all money for themselves, leaving the people as wage slaves with no power to fight back, in a democracy no less!

Political Cartoon: Sinking US Economy  2/22/2011 
George Hall: Article  Here is what conservatives want to throw out of the sinking boat of the US economy.

Talk of Civility Masks the Truth: Capitulation  1/23/2011 
David Michael Green: Article  Everyone's talking nicey-nice after a political shooting. But a real war has been going on for three decades now. A plutocracy enriches itself at the expense of working, middle, and poorest classes.

The New American Oligarchy: How the Few Got So Rich  12/2/2010 
Andy Kroll: Article  It started actually with Jimmy Carter in the 70s, Democrats betrayed the New Deal heritage, structured the economy to favor the wealthy few.

How Millions of Evangelicals were Duped into Voting for a Corporate Agenda  11/10/2010 
Frank Schaeffer: Article  The Republican Party continues to appeal to evangelical conservatives fixated on end times, reconstructionism and abortion, terribly skewing the political process in this country.

The Great Predicament Facing Obama  11/6/2010 
Lawrence Goodwyn: Article  A historian comments on the meaning of the 2010 election, the great corporate deception visited upon the American people, and the promising patience of Obama.

The Corporate Domination of American Politics  11/4/2010 
Chalmers Johnson: Article  The U.S. constitution is suspicious of democracy and sets up a system of rule by the elite, a truly conservative notion. A corporate elite now in power makes democracy an illusion.

Ten Commandments for Progressives after the November Defeat  11/4/2010 
Michael Lerner: Article  Obama has not pushed for a real progressive agenda, so electoral losses are not a rejection of progressive policies. A caring society is possible.

Ballot Box Blues  11/2/2010 
Tom Engelhardt: Article  Why the 2010 election is the most dispiriting election of a lifetime of watching elections since the 60s.

A Rhetoric of Death: Inside the Campaign to Destroy the Legitimacy of the First Black President  9/24/2010 
Max Blumenthal: Article  The Republican Party is allowing itself to become dominated by the anger, fear, hatred and hostility of the corporate-funded, so-called Tea Party movement.

Another Dark Age Descending upon the World?  8/25/2010 
David Michael Green: Article  The author looks at the facts about today's political culture and sees much evidence for American decline due to regressive political leadership.

Guns and God: The Tea Party-Christian Reconstructionism-Militia Connection  7/13/2010 
Sarah Posner: Article  There are direct links among Tea Party Republican political candidates and extremist Christian movements in this country.

Newt Gingrich: The Explicit Use of Religious Language for Political Purposes  5/20/2010 
Ed Knudson: Article  In his new book, the former House Speaker suggests he is the messiah who will 'save America' from socialist secularism. This is a real form of fascist talk and should be rejected by people of faith.

Inside the Democratic Party on Achieving Health Care Reform  4/10/2010 
Ryan Grimm: Article  The role of progressives in the process of adopting health care reform is discussed here, with attention to specific personalities and the role of Blue Dogs. Want to run for office?

The Rising Tide of Racial Anxiety and Secessionist Sentiment  3/23/2010 
Melissa Harris-Lacewell: Article  Verbal attacks on black legislators expose the underlying racism of the tea party movement and echo a long terrible history in this country.

Overheated Talk is Seriously Hurting Republicans  3/22/2010 
David Frum: Article  Having a credible minority party is important in a two party political system, but Republicans are now speaking such irrationality that their views are no longer credible, even for Republicans.

A Country Steeped in Violence, Political Stupidity, Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, and Religious Magic  3/7/2010 
David Michael Green: Article  Everything looks bad in politics and economy these days, better to face facts and keep the passport handy.

The Racism of the Tea Party Movement is Confirmed  3/4/2010 
Alexander Zaitchik: Article  The attack of Glenn Beck on Van Jones demonstrates the so-called Tea Party movement is generated by racism clear and simple.

Corporatism: Merging the Worst Parts of Big Government and Big Business  2/3/2010 
Christopher Hayes: Article  America is in the midst of a system failure. Only a wave of democratic participation can save this country from the 'iron law of oligarchy' of Robert Michels.

The Southern Dominance of Real Politics Can End  1/22/2010 
Ed Knudson: Article  The South has and does dominate the politics of the United States. Ordinary Republicans can help end this now. Or, maybe not.

Progressives Should Use Protestant Churches as an Organizational Infrastructure  1/7/2010 
Ed Knudson: Article  With a history of protest, the primary Protestant churches and pastors can be partners for social and political change today all over the country.

Obama: You Have to Believe Something  12/23/2009 
Drew Westen: Article  The president can compromise on policy but not principle. His problems are not from the left, but the center. Independents don't think he stands for anything.

Obama Accepts Nobel Peace Prize  10/9/2009 
Article  This is the text of President Obama's statement on hearing he was awared the Nobel prize for his leadership for international peace.

The Racism of Tea Party Fundamentalists  9/22/2009 
Adele M. Stan: Article  The Values Voter Summit reveals differences between the religious right and a new, virulent form of civic religion, constitutional fundamentalism.

Obama and the Racial Divide  9/17/2009 
Naomi Klein: Article  Racist attacks on Obama continue even though he is not carrying out policy which actually benefits black people, such as the UN Durban Conference.

The Problem of the Small State Senator  8/24/2009 
Article  Small states like North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming with three percent of the population can determine what happens in health care for everyone else in the country.

Real Nazis Hate Socialism  8/14/2009 
Ed Knudson: Article  The word socialism is being used again and again in the health care debate by the right along with Nazism. But who are the real Nazis? Not to speak up today is same as not speaking against Hitler.

Pissed Off and Ready to Fight  8/14/2009 
David Michael Green: Article  The ugliness of town hall disruptions ought to make progressives so angry they begin to actually organize to counter corporate GOP extremists creating a public climate like that in Germany in 1933.

Republicans Turn to Fascism  8/6/2009 
Sara Robinson: Article  As America declines the possibilities for fascism increase. This article discusses actual political markers on the road to fascism in America today which need to be taken very seriously.

Blue Dog Democrats Fail to Represent Interests of Their Districts  7/21/2009 
David Sirota: Article  These conservative Democrats against health care reform need money from lobbyists so they vote against the needs of their people.

Celebrity Culture Produces Junk Politics  5/6/2009 
Chris Hedges: Article  Brand Obama will not prosecute the Bush administration for war crimes. It effectively masks the wanton internal destruction and theft being carried out by our corporate state.

Grief over Dead Gods: No More Magic Market  3/10/2009 
Ed Knudson: Article  The three gods of Republican politics are failing them; the grief will be extensive; here is some pastoral counseling.

Is the Left Opposed to Religion?  3/15/2005 
Michael Lerner: Notes  Rabbi Michael Lerner discusses why the left is hesitant about religious believers.

Keeping the Democratic Faith  2/15/2005 
Ed Knudson: Article  Post-election analysis has lots of people talking about how Democrats can address issues of faith and politics: Michael Lind, Peter Dreier, George Lakoff, John B. Judis, Ruy Teixeira, etc.

Bush Fails to Implement Faith-Based Initiative  2/15/2005 
Article  David Kuo who worked in the White House reveals lack of interest there for really pushing for faith-based programs.

A Real Ownership Society  1/20/2005 
Robert B. Reich: Article  Robert B. Reich spells out what he thinks would be a real ownership society.

The Great Backlash  1/19/2005 
Comment  Thomas Frank talks about political culture since the 1960s.

Shirley Chisholm: First Black Woman to Seek White House  1/7/2005 
Byron Williams: Article  Presidential candidate, seven-term congresswoman forged her own moral compass By Byron Williams

Howard Dean on the Future of the Democratic Party  12/9/2004 
Article  Remarks made by Governor Howard Dean on the Future of the Democratic Party. Given at The George Washington University on December 8, 2004.

A Radical Leftist: Dwight D. Eisenhower  11/24/2004 
Article  Just how extreme are the policies of George W. Bush is reflected in this speech by Dwight D. Eishenhower in 1953.

The Political Fundamentalism of the Bush Administration  11/22/2004 
Article  David Domke of the University of Washington has researched statements by and news coverage of the Bush administration.

It's Time to Reconfigure the United States  11/22/2004 
Article  Twelve liberal states should be expelled from the union: California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maryland, and Delaware.

It's Not Your Father's Republican Party Anymore  10/6/2004 
Article  Clyde Prestowitz worked in the Reagan administration but as a conservative is alarmed with the current direction of the country.

Yes, Indeed: Republicans Want to Cut Social Security  10/5/2004 
Article  Liberals are accused of scaring our elders by saying conservatives want to cut Social Security; but it's true. Paul Krugman talks about Greenspan.

Let the South Fade Away  10/1/2004 
Article  The worst elements in the South have come to power nationally with George W. Bush, according to a book by Anthony Dunbar.

Market Fundamentalists Created Current Iraq Crisis  10/1/2004 
Article  Naomi Klein explains how the Bush-Bremer reconstruction plan has misaberably failed and caused resistance and violence in Iraq.

The Uncertain Faith of George W. Bush   9/16/2004 
Article  The president prays to God for wisdom but won't meet with faith leaders who disagree with him.

Suckers for Jesus   9/15/2004 
Article  Why evangelical Christians should not vote Republican, by Ernest Partridge of Crisis Papers.

More Character Assassination: Bush on Drugs   9/5/2004 
Ed Knudson: Article  A new book by Kitty Kelly accuses Bush of taking drugs. But it's Karl Rove and Republicans that have put character assassination at the center of politics.

Outstanding Public Schools   8/27/2004 
Article  When was it decided that public schools were so bad?

What's the Matter with Kansas (and Middle America) ?   6/22/2004 
Article  Thomas Frank's book discusses why the middle and working classes vote against their own interests.

The Truth about Ronald Reagan   6/11/2004 
Article  Sam Smith puts together several responses to the death of Mr. Reagan.

Marcus Raskin on Reagan the Movie Star   6/10/2004 
Article  Ronald Reagan's film background influenced his presidency.

The Use of Congregations for Political Purposes   6/3/2004 
Comment  The Bush campaign wants to use 1600 Pennsylvania congregations to help re-elect him president.

Who made the grade? Middle-Class 2003: How Congress Voted   5/27/2004 
Article  The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy has published a major study on middle class values and congress.

A Better Strategy to Respond to Terror   5/26/2004 
Article  Rabbi Michael Lerner writes an excellent article on the role of corporations in creating conditions for global terror.

Frenzied Crowds in Fallujah   4/1/2004 
Article  Photos from Fallujah, Iraq, on March 31, 2004, when four American contractors were attacked and burned.

Religious Belief and Political Parties   2/11/2004 
Article  An article by Jim Wallis of SoJourners discussing how religious faith has affected political movements.

Paul O`Neill Exposes White House Workings   1/13/2004 
Article  Former Treasurer Secretary tells it like it is in the Bush White House.

The Weird Men Behind George W. Bush's War   9/16/2003 
Article  A reprint by Michael Lind in the New Statesman.

Cynical Exploitation of Human Suffering   9/15/2003 
Article  Paul Krugman makes clear the degree to which the Bush administration has used the 9/11 attack to promote its right wing agenda.

Racism in Republican Politics   8/20/2003 
Article  Karl Rove and Tom Delay seek to redraw congressional district lines in Texas.

Iraq War Increases Terrorist Threat   4/1/2003 
Ed Knudson: Article  Stephen Holmes disagrees with the argument of Robert Kagan about weak and strong powers and suggests Iraq is the wrong war if the goal is defeating terrorism.

Ashamed of My Country: the Views of an Eighty Year Old   3/31/2003 
Article  An eighty year old man, a veteran of WWII, speaks his views about the Iraq war.

The End of History and American Empire   3/31/2003 
Article  Francis Fukuyama has written a book on The End of History influencial among newconservatives, helping to create the consciousness now supporting the Iraq war. Here is a 1989 article by him.

US Marines turn fire on civilians at the bridge of death   3/31/2003 
Article  American news media are keeping the full horror of war from the American people. Here is the reality in Nasiriya.

Shocking and Awful   3/30/2003 
Dan Brook: Article  Terrorism comes in many forms, yet always has the same result.

Ex-general Jay Garner Slated to Run Iraq   3/26/2003 
Article  Garner's career is one of tight ties with both the US military and high-capital defense industry.

The Thirty-Year Itch   3/24/2003 
Reprint  Three decades ago, in the throes of the energy crisis, Washington's hawks conceived of a strategy for US control of the Persian Gulf's oil.

Outrageous Agenda Manipulation: Congress Passes Big Tax Cuts   3/22/2003 
Article  It is hard to believe that the Bush package of huge tax cuts causing massive deficits has been passed in the middle of a war. The Bush program asks our children to pay for what we are doing now.

A Rule-based and Justice-oriented, Democratic Multilateral order   3/22/2003 
Article  David Held discusses what should replace the conservative commitment to war. You are encouraged to read this outstanding article.

Don't Look for Democracy: Predictions About the Iraq War   3/21/2003 
Article  Chuck O'Connell predicted the Gulf War in 1999, and offers some more predictions here.

When Democracy Failed: The Warnings of History   3/20/2003 
Article  Thom Hartmann writes a chilling article. Be sure to read this as you ponder the meaning of the Iraq war.

Project for the New American Century  3/20/2003 
Reprint  Statement of Principles of this neoconservative group promoting world empire.

Political Trouble for Lois McMahan   3/11/2003 
Article  A state representative of the religious right speaks wrongly about Islam and finds herself in trouble with the public.

I Want You to Join Us in War   2/27/2003 
Article  A graphic poster points to the nature of war.

Bowling for Columbine   11/26/2002 
Article  Michael Moore's movie tells the truth about why there are so many gun killings in the United States.

To Have and to Have Not  11/17/2002 
Michael Lind: Article  Economic and social inequality have been growing in the United States, but it's against the rules to talk about a rapacious American oligarchy.

Making a Killing: The Business of War   11/13/2002 
Comment  International Consortium of Investigative Journalists publishes an eleven part series.

Who Knows about Islam?   11/9/2002 
Comment  Edward W. Said tells the truth about Bernard Lewis, Samuel Huntington, and Karen Armstrong.

The Skewing of American Politics   11/7/2002 
Ed Knudson: Comment  Wtihout the religious right Republicans would not be claiming victory after the 2002 election.

Outstanding Senator Dies   10/25/2002 
Comment  Paul Wellstone, Senator from Minnesota, dies in plane crash.

The Eagle Has Crash Landed   7/3/2002 
Comment  Provocative thoughts from Immanuel Wallerstein in Foreign Policy

The Republican Tradition of Theodore Roosevelt   2/14/2002 
Reprint  It may be time for Republicans to reconsider their heritage.

Reclaiming the Human   9/30/2001 
Comment  9/11 brought some unlikely people together.

The Power of Compassion   9/29/2001 
Photos  Photographs depicting human solidarity across international boundaries; economic calculation may not be as central in human relations as some believe.

The Realism of Violence   9/29/2001 
Photos  A graphic slideshow of photos depicting the horror of the September 11 attack.

Drawing Back the Curtain from the United States   9/20/2001 
Comment  JoAnn liked what Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson had to say.

• The Democratic Party. The Democratic Party is committed to keeping our nation safe and expanding opportunity for every American. That commitment is reflected in an agenda that emphasizes the strong economic growth, affordable health care for all Americans, retirement security, open, honest and accountable government, and securing our nation while protecting our civil rights and liberties.
• The Republican Party. The symbol of the Republican Party is the elephant. During the mid term elections in 1874, Democrats tried to scare voters into thinking President Ulysses S. Grant would seek to run for an unprecedented third term. Thomas Nast, a cartoonist for Harper's Weekly, depicted a Democratic donkey trying to scare a Republican elephant - and both symbols stuck. For a long time Republicans have been known as the "G.O.P." with party faithful believing it meant the "Grand Old Party." But apparently the original meaning (in 1875) was "gallant old party."
• Alliance for Justice. A national association of more than 90 organizations dedicated to advancing justice and democracy. For 30 years we have been leaders in the fight for a more equitable society on behalf of a broad constituency of environmental, consumer, civil and women's rights, children's, senior citizens' and other groups. Alliance for Justice is premised on the belief that all Americans have the right to secure justice in the courts and to have our voice heard when government makes decisions that affect our lives.
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