Lyndon Johnson

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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

Democrats against Obama

Now that the midterm wipeout has concluded, analysts are already sizing up the GOP challengers to a weakened Barack Obama. Not only that: some Democratic party elders are considering the once-unthinkable scenario of a debilitating challenge to Barack Oba
Even before the rout at the polls, Democrats were nervous about their President. The left felt sold out, and moderates were frightened. Now it's payback time.
By STEVEN STARK | November 05, 2010

Why did the liberals help construct our concentration camps for the poor?

Why did middle-class liberals, historically the leaders of compassionate social reform, allow, with nary a peep, the construction of our colossal Prison Complex? Two books, one new and one a few years old, explain why liberals not only went along with
Prison complex
By LANCE TAPLEY | September 10, 2010

Is genius immortal?

No disrespect to the man who let there be electric light, but Ray Kurzweil is Thomas Alva Edison on steroids.
Tech god Ray Kurzweil is a modern-day Edison. Now he's battling to stay alive — forever
By CHRIS FARAONE | April 30, 2010

Hallelujah!

The Democrats won and the Republicans lost. That, in a nutshell, is the bottom line.
Health-care reform is a new high-water mark
By EDITORIAL | March 26, 2010

Keep streets safe and children in school

Thank you for your very insightful "War Over Peace" article.
Letters to the Boston editor, February 19, 2010
By BOSTON PHOENIX LETTERS | February 19, 2010

Afghanistan: Just say no!

The idea that the war in Afghanistan has reached a critical junction, a “now-or-never” moment that requires an additional 40,000 troops to win, is rubbish.
Plus, Obama and the Nobel
By EDITORIAL | October 16, 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

Going Mobil

Washington – If ideology wasn't already dead in presidential politics, the plug was pulled on its support system last Monday, when the Kennedy campaign announced that its advertising and polling would be organized by Mobil Oil's vice-president of public
Kennedy hires an idea-marketing man
By MARCO TRBOVICH | August 28, 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

Carter vs. the Clamshell: round one is a standoff

The presidential party arrives in a rush through the side door near the stage, and those in the audience at Portsmouth High School stand to applaud. Many are on their toes and crane their necks to catch a glimpse of Jimmy Carter in the confusion down fr
Inside, an impeccable incumbent fields the easy questions
By DIANNE DUMANOSKI | May 08, 2009

Sunshine on the ACLU: a mea culpa

"Standing up to your political enemies is easy, fun, and often profitable," writes Barney Frank, on the lead jacket blurb for Worst Instincts: Cowardice, Conformity, and the ACLU.
Freedom Watch
By HARVEY SILVERGLATE | May 08, 2009

Spare Change?

A tension lies at the heart of the Obama presidency. After 100 days in office, the public still seems uncertain how to interpret the historic nature of the election last November.
At the 100-day mark, Barack Obama still doesn't have a clear mandate for sweeping reforms
By STEVEN STARK | May 01, 2009

Review: Virtual JFK: Vietnam If Kennedy Had Lived

There's not much "virtual" in Kosi Masutani's thoughtful if artless documentary about the JFK administration — which is to its credit.
What would JFK do?
By PETER KEOUGH | April 10, 2009

The Center of the universe

Real-life quantum leaper Richard Goodwin was sort of a 1960s political Zelig — everywhere you looked, there he was.
JFK speechwriter and Renaissance man Richard Goodwin explores the roots of today's religious wars by channeling 17th-century anti-hero Galileo in a play called Two Men of Florence
By SARA FAITH ALTERMAN | March 04, 2009

Revenge of the nerds

Barack Obama's new administration has been characterized many ways — as a return to liberalism, a Chicago Mafia, and the harbinger of a new age.
For the first time since JFK, 'the best and the brightest' are back in the White House. Will Ivy-League intellect be enough to set the country straight?
By STEVEN STARK | January 21, 2009

Down and out at Thanksgiving

In a time of widespread layoffs, decimated retirement accounts, and uncertainty about the fallout of the ongoing fiscal crisis, downsized requests for help are a sign of the times.
Social needs are rising across Rhode Island, and things will get worse before they get better
By IAN DONNIS | November 19, 2008

Hope restored

Barack Obama's election has sparked international wonder. His task, however, is great.
Barack Obama's election has sparked international wonder. His task, however, is great.
By EDITORIAL | November 05, 2008

Interview: Dick Smothers

The Smothers Brothers have spent 50 years in funny business.
Mom always liked him best
By TED DROZDOWSKI | September 17, 2008

Easy to love

Given the water wings of a viable performance, one-person shows about historical figures tend to sink or swim on the raconteurship of their subjects.
According to Tip debuts at New Rep; the ART sings Cole Porter
By CAROLYN CLAY | July 01, 2008

Sputnik Mania

The film underlines the political consequences of the space race.
A brisk, informative documentary
By BETSY SHERMAN | June 11, 2008

Campaign spying is an old, old game

This article originally appeared in the May 22, 1973 issue of the Boston Phoenix.
Ward 8
By MARTIN LOMANSEY JR. | May 22, 2008

Issues, shmissues

During the past few weeks, we’ve heard yet more media laments from our self-appointed guardians of political civility, warning us that this campaign is about to go over a cliff.
Never mind the complaints about how the media are not focusing on the issues. Historically, they never have.
By STEVEN STARK | May 21, 2008

Clinton fatigue

This past week, Vermont senator Patrick Leahy urged Hillary Clinton to quit the Democratic race in the interests of party unity.
What is driving the widespread movement pressuring Hillary to drop out, even though she is very much still in the race?
By STEVEN STARK | April 02, 2008

Iraq: Five years later and time to go

March 19 will mark the fifth anniversary of America’s war in Iraq.
Plus, updates on the Cowans case, performance artist Milan Kohout, and the BPL
By EDITORIAL | March 12, 2008

Know your superdelegates

If they choose wisely, they’ll follow the will of the people all the way into the Oval Office.
Democratic insiders in Maine and throughout the country will decide the party's nominee
By BRIDGET HUBER | March 12, 2008

One for the books

It’s hard to believe that we just had a week without a primary.
Can tales of the Democratic party’s glory days help Obama and Clinton?
By STEVEN STARK | February 27, 2008

Slime time

Nasty presidential races are nothing new.

We already know about politicians’ capacity for coarse behavior. But how low can the press go?

By ADAM REILLY | February 20, 2008

Obama needs to get back to ‘change’ and other basics

First, and most importantly, Obama’s campaign needs to reignite the change vs. experience debate.
Presidency 2008
By MATT JERZYK | January 16, 2008

The Granite State’s last hurrah

In a few days, New Hampshire voters will take their quadrennial place at the center of American politics, and this time, the stakes will be even higher than usual.
This could be the last election in which the New Hampshire primary, and its quaintly irrelevant retail politics, really matters
By ADAM REILLY | January 02, 2008

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