blogging

McCain’s Move: Bold or Bonkers?

Ségolène Team Observers — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:02:20 +0200

Ed Mazza is The Observer's regional editor for the United States. From now on, he will be following the 2008 election online, and posting daily roundups of the latest from the campaigns and the blogosphere.

When John McCain suspended his campaign yesterday to return to Washington and focus on the economy, supporters cheered. This was exactly the kind of bold, unexpected move their "maverick" was known for, they reasoned. But supporters of Barack Obama were quick to point out that their candidate doesn't seem to have a problem focusing on the economy and the campaign simultaneously.

McCain also called for a postponement of Friday night's debate, the first scheduled meeting between the pair. Obama has said he'd like the debate to go on as scheduled.

Again, McCain supporters say it shows a man who won't settle for business as usual. But his opponents, especially some bloggers, have gone as far as calling the war hero cowardly. Ken Layne of "Wonkette" filed a McCain story under the tag "cowards" and collected his favorite Web responses, such as this one: "In honor of McCain trying to get out of Friday's debate, here's a recipe for chicken pancakes."

The conservative "Blogs for Victory" called the move "bold" and "a brilliant stroke." Similarly, "California Yankee" writes that McCain is "again putting ‘Country First' even as the Dems continue to put party first."

"This Modern World" created a doctored version of the McCain-Palin campaign poster, with "TIME OUT" written beneath it. Below that is a footnote, "How can you expect us to debate foreign policy when we've spent all week trying to figure out the economy?"

On the other hand, "Classical Values" mocks Obama's decision to stay out on the campaign trail. "Evidently he doesn't think his presence will help. I'm inclined to agree."

Many political blogs - especially the more liberal ones - are having a field day with the early reports from a taping of the CBS "Late Show With David Letterman." McCain was scheduled to be a guest, and then cancelled when he suspended his campaign.

Letterman apparently was not impressed. The host, according to the Drudge Report, told his audience "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves. I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."

Metamucil is a fiber supplement commonly used by senior citizens, among others.

The Web site also quoted Letterman as saying, "What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

McCain used Letterman's show to announce his candidacy back in February, 2007.

And finally, blogger Chris Cilizza of the Washington Post points out that the move "comes as two new national polls -- including one conducted by the Washington Post -- show McCain slipping in the head-to-head matchup against Barack Obama."

Only time will tell if it helps him regain the momentum he had after the Republic convention.

Grace, 27, stripper

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:47:45 +0200

Photo: Bruno Netto

Grace is 27. She's a stripper in a Texas club. Two years ago, she started a blog about her day-to-day life, telling tales far from the glamorous clichés of porno-chic bars. And she discovered a talent. Her writing is polished and to the point. Sometimes sad, but not always. She tells her story to the Observers.

What better than to spy on the guards that spy on you

Julien — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:01:14 +0100

Hu Jia films his jailers passing the time with a game of cards

Last month we publicised the case of blogger Hu Jia, arrested at his home on 27 December for openly criticising the organisation of the Olympic Games. Here we publish an extract from the documentary ‘Prisoners in Freedom City', that he and his wife Jeng filmed in the year before his arrest. This is the direct testimony of a Chinese dissident under 24h supervision by secret police.

Killed for filming police brutality on his mobile

Julien — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:52:26 +0100

When Wei Wenhu saw police forces beating up protesting villagers in Tianmen (central China), he took out his mobile and filmed the scene. But when he was spotted and tried to run away, he found himself being chased by around 20 police officers.

He cried that he would delete the photos and even give the policemen his phone. But it didn't make any difference. Wenhu was brutally beaten and succumbed to his injuries in hospital the same day, 7 January. The incident has outraged bloggers, whose online respects to this ‘citizen journalist' increase daily. Under pressure, the authorities have decided to undertake an investigation into the blunder, and have even fired the head of the city's police force.

In a country where the media is largely government controlled and heavily censored, images of police brutality usually find their way into the public eye on the internet. Here, some of those videos that the authorities would rather they didn't find their way out.

The American elections viewed from abroad

Julien — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:48:12 +0100

The U.S elections are followed from every corner of the world. From Colombia to Iran and Gibraltar, our Observers wonder who would make the best ‘president of the world'.