John Kennedy

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Does Obama have the cojones to win?

To make sense of this bizarre and dispiriting moment in American politics, here are the things one needs to appreciate.
This WTF moment
By EDITORIAL | July 29, 2011

Taking the long view

The surprising and dramatic death in Pakistan of Osama bin Laden at the hands of American Special Forces operating under shoot-to-kill orders from President Barack Obama was a triumph of singular rarity in the annals of international conflict.
Obama's secret. Plus, Bill Taylor, RIP.
By EDITORIAL | May 06, 2011

Say what?

Barack Obama is much more of an establishment-style president than the public generally realizes.
Obama should forget the feel-good and seize the opportunity in the Gulf
By EDITORIAL | June 18, 2010

Tropicália storm

When Sérgio Dias takes to the Somerville Theatre stage this Sunday with the current incarnation of Os Mutantes, it's a safe bet he'll be beaming with gratitude. "I'm riding the same wave," he says of his band's legendary Brazilian albums, "but this time
The long awaited return of Os Mutantes
By GUSTAVO TURNER | October 02, 2009

Tormenting Teddy

After 32 years in the US Senate, Ted Kennedy remains a force to be reckoned with, both for his legendary family history and his considerable accomplishments.
Republicans threaten Kennedy reign
By BOSTON PHOENIX STAFF | August 28, 2009

The annunciations

The broad brush strokes of Teddy Kennedy's presidential announcement may have uplifted liberal hearts, but Jerry Brown's announcement challenged liberal thinking with some pencil-sharp specifics about the role of government in economic planning for the 1
East Coast, West Coast: It's the Ted & Jerry Show
By MARCO TRBOVICH AND CHARLES P. PIERCE | August 28, 2009

Mixed moods

The painting that sticks in my mind from "Beyond Will Power: The 5th Annual Top Drawer Group Show" at Top Drawer Art Center (2731 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence, through September 4) is Anthony Brun's mixed-media painting Jason Killed Freddy .
Big statements at Top Drawer Art Center
By GREG COOK | August 21, 2009

Robert McNamara, RIP

As secretary of defense under President Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert McNamara prosecuted the Vietnam War on a day-to-day basis, just as Donald Rumsfeld orchestrated the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq for George W. Bush.
Memories of Vietnam should speed Obama's exit plans for Iraq and Afghanistan
By EDITORIAL | July 10, 2009

The problem with liberals' dislike of Rick Warren

The need to be consistent in the defense of the rights of all in our country — even those whose views we may find abhorrent.
Uncivil Liberties
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | December 23, 2008

Captain chaos

The past two weeks or so have seen at least one historic meltdown.
Steering a suddenly lost GOP ship,
By STEVEN STARK | October 02, 2008

Portland scene report: August 22, 2008

Eric Bettencourt dropped us a line to say Shadow Shine Records is close to its first releases, one of which will be a Strange Pleasure live album.
Sibilance starts now
By PORTLAND PHOENIX MUSIC STAFF | August 20, 2008

By George, it's Barack!

Right now, everyone is focused on Barack Obama’s vice-presidential choice. But historically, convention acceptance speeches matter even more.
To win over the working class, Obama should study the acceptance speech of George H. W. Bush
By STEVEN STARK | August 20, 2008

‘Great’ is definitely the wrong word

When I come across an obvious factual error in a book, my initial inclination is to wince in sympathy for the soon-to-be-embarrassed author. Unless, that is, the mistake is infuriatingly egregious, in which case I’m more apt to throw the book up against
Richard Bradley’s fact-challenged book on the Sox-Yanks’ ’78 season finale is filled with Buckner-esque errors.
By GEORGE KIMBALL | May 28, 2008

Beyond the spin

The day after Barack Obama inched ahead of challenger Hillary Clinton in the superdelegate count, the indefatigable Clinton won the West Virginia primary.
Why Clinton's commanding West Virginia win is more show than substance
By PETER KADZIS | May 14, 2008

The player

The exit of Boston Globe business columnist Steve Bailey this past week to take a post in London as a general-interest news editor with Bloomberg signifies the exhaustion of a tradition.

Trying to find some meaning in ace biz-boy columnist Steve Bailey’s move to London

By PETER KADZIS | April 02, 2008

Precedent-breaking president

With the news that Florida and Michigan are unlikely to redo their primaries, it’s become even more probable that Barack Obama will be the Democratic presidential nominee.
An Obama win in November would be historic for reasons beyond race
By STEVEN STARK | March 26, 2008

The old neighborhood

Some call Charles “Teenie” Harris’s five decades of photos of Pittsburgh one of the grandest chronicles of African-American life ever assembled.
Charles ‘Teenie’ Harris at Gallery Kayafas, plus videos at MIT
By GREG COOK | December 12, 2007

It’s time for real change

The Pawtucket schools used to offer a course called “Problems in Democracy.”
And Barack Obama is the guy to bring it
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | November 15, 2007

Listen up, newbie

Hey, kid. Yeah, you with the hat on backward. New in town? Big city, huh? Not at all like back home. Scary. Unfamiliar. Fraught! Want some advice?
We will make you one of us — all you have to do is trust
By CLIF GARBODEN | September 04, 2007

More rules for pols

Well, there are less than 21 months before the election, and the “Tote Board” is already computing the odds.
Even Richard Nixon could get himself elected today with these tips
By STEVEN STARK | February 21, 2007

Let the horse race begin

Welcome to the 2008 Presidential Tote Board.
Odds are you won’t be able to avoid the run-up to 2008, so you might as well start laying your bests now
By STEVEN STARK | February 14, 2007

Ongoing recovery

Rhode Islanders at a packed State House hearing last week got a close-up look at how US Representative Patrick J. Kennedy is managing his very public struggle with addiction and mental illness.
Kennedy pushes the fight for parity on mental health
By BRIAN C. JONES | January 24, 2007

The conspiracist

“Assassination-conspiracy theorist” is a relatively recent addition to Paul Kuntzler’s résumé. Watch Paul Kuntzler on the JFK assassination
Gay-rights crusader Paul Kuntzler turns a sharp mind for detail to the JFK assassination
By MIKE MILIARD | January 11, 2007

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