When I point out that it took me two days to get two offers that pay more than my job at Mother Jones, that I could make $9,600 a month -- $115,200 a year -- and the average starting salary for someone with humanities masters' like ours is $39,808, she sighs:

"I really don't know if I could stand banging some disgusting creep for money. But there are really some pretty compelling reasons to try."

It is the same sentiment that I've elicited from a lawyer, who says, "I paid 100 grand to go to law school, and I could make more money on my back," the same response I get from an executive assistant, a service-industry worker, and a teacher, who hold five degrees between them.

Even Rosen, after asking me how much I'm "worth," exclaims, "That's a lot! Think about your income. Think about mine. I'm not advocating this; I'm just saying I can understand the calculations."   more »

If only Obama said: "I am deeply concerned about the loss of civilian life in southern Israel and Gaza. I recognize Israel's right to defend itself but condemn the disproportionate and excessive used of force." Is that expecting too much "change?"

It's hardly an outrageous statement. But it's still too critical of Israel by American standards, where every politician has to kowtow to the Israel lobby and express unconditional support for Israeli aggression.

Here's the "correct" response: President Bush's national-security spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, said the United States regrets the loss of life on both sides, but he also noted, "There is a clear distinction between terrorist rocket attacks that target civilians and action in self defense."   more »

The "Saturday Night Live" parody

of the CNN Democratic debate,

showing interviewers being obsequious

towards Obama and aggressive towards Clinton

was an accurate portrayal of the gross

media bias in favor of Ba-Ba

during the presidential primaries

   more »

Keywords: fawning, obsequious, 2008, clinton, media, president, bias, obama, hillary

The unilateral independence of Kosovo has nothing to do with "democracy". But then what's the point of this North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) provocation towards Vladimir Putin's Russia - a historic ally of Serbia?

The ongoing saga revolves around two crucial, interrelated facts on the ground: Pipelineistan and the empire of 737 (and counting) US military bases in 130 countries operated by 350,000-plus Americans.

In short: it revolves around the trans-Balkan AMBO pipeline and Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, the the largest US base built in Europe in a generation.

It also lays bare continuity from the Bill Clinton to the George W Bush administrations - the US dictating the rules of the game as if in a one-party state.   more »

What was once an object of curiosity and even amusement has become an at times embarrassing example of national demagoguery.

The fervour with which some supporters of Barack Obama speak of their chosen candidate has transcended the boundary of enthusiasm and become a volatile strain of zealotry.

"Is this such a bad thing?" some have asked in response. "Isn't it great that people believe so much?" Indeed, it is a good thing when people believe in the possibility and the promise of politics.

But the so-called Obama mania phenomenon is not about the promise of politics, it's about the supposed redemption offered by one man, and it represents a misunderstanding of the idea of the political.   more »