rssPosts by Sridhar Pappu
Did Midas Write the Future?
In 1987, Michael M. Thomas, my former colleague at The New York Observer, published “The Ropespinner Conspiracy.”
The title derives from a remark attributed to Lenin, “The capitalists will sell us the rope with which to hang them.” The book is a twisted tale of economic ruin, in which a More…
Can McCain Come Back Again?
There are 18 days until the end of Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign. Having begun this campaign as the clear front-runner — not only for the Republican nomination but for the presidency — and as the supposedly moderate force who could bring order to Washington, the Arizona senator finds himself More…
The Final Throw-Down
Have we finally reached the end?
Much has changed since Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama debated last month in Mississippi — all of it for the worse, as far as the country and the economy are concerned. Now we have one more meeting, one more moment, with the old More…
Heeeerrrrrrre’s Johnny!
This Thursday, Sen. John McCain, a day after the third and final debate with his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, will return to the Ed Sullivan Theater and appear on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”
You’ll remember that he canceled an appearance on the show last month when he More…
McCain for a Moment
For a moment we saw him — the real John McCain.
It was at a town-hall meeting Friday. A McCain supporter rose and declared that he was frightened by the prospect of waking up to an America led by Sen. Barack Obama. Another woman said of Obama, “He’s an Arab.” More…
Virginia Looks Ever More Blue
Friday afternoon, former Virginia state Sen. Russ Potts, who once ran for governor as an independent, opened his Winchester home for a landmark event. Ten prominent Republicans gathered to endorse the Senate campaign of former Gov. Mark Warner before a fund-raiser attended by 200 people — Republicans, Democrats, independents.
More More…
Base, schmase
Several months ago, I asked many Republicans if Sen. John McCain could win the election without the support of the party’s base.
After all, the base — social conservatives, small-government types and foreign-policy hawks — handed George W. Bush two terms in the White House. Social conservatives, in particular, moved More…
Obama’s Victory Route Runs Through Florida
The town-hall style presidential debate is over, the swords — for the moment — withdrawn.
For most of the evening at Belmont University in Nashville, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain attacked each other over domestic spending, foreign affairs and the best way to emerge from the cloak of economic More…
Palin’s Color Commentary
Yesterday, watching the Bengals fumble their way to their fifth consecutive loss, I realized there was one thing missing (besides an inexplicable ability of running back Chris Perry to hold onto the ball): Sarah Palin.
Yes, the GOP vice presidential nominee. She would have made my afternoon of misery complete. More…
Palin and Folksiness
Somewhere after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s fourth “Gee” in last night’s vice-presidential debate, I lost it. In writing about the presidential campaign, I think I’ve been fair in calling people out when called for and praising people when they deserve to be praised.
But Palin’s performance last night was more More…
