The Pennsylvania primary is over and done with, and I for one am thrilled with how utterly inconclusive it was. In the previous 44 contests, the Democratic candidates were too focused on wooing voters via tactics like discussing how best to implement nationwide health care or proposing solutions to America’s mortgage crisis that don’t involve not doing anything. Nice try, Dems, but you know who else didn’t have health insurance or homes? Hobos. Yet they weathered the Great Depression just fine and became beloved comedic stereotypes in the process, despite all the efforts of FDR and railroad bulls.

Thankfully, Hillary Clinton has shown real leadership in the last few weeks by moving discourse away from the issues and toward the things that really matter, like the flaws of her opponent, Barack Obama. Read the rest of this entry »

If you wade through the thick plume of pollution bellowing from the constant traffic jams, construction sites, and YMCA locker room showers, you’d notice an overriding “un-zen” vibe of frustration in the air among the general American public. It’s the never-ending Iraq wars, the plummeting economy, and the off-kilter scale of injustice. But there is one hot-button topic that I am having trouble getting my pants un-pleated about, the American health care coverage… or lack there of.

I can’t help but question the public’s frustration over the “problematic” health care plans offered in this fair state. The way I see it, a proper, full-coverage health care plan is nothing more than a curse to the health conscience. It’s like buying the best tasting burrito ever, and then feigning disappointment when you finish it. If you never buy that delectable burrito you can never finish it, thus, never be disappointed. And if you never cover yourself with health insurance, chances are you’ll never get hurt. It’s that law written by that guy Murphy, or whatever. Read the rest of this entry »

New York City doesn’t have enough hate. Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton would surely agree with these sentiments. I say this confidently while coming off recent experiences of overwhelmingly selfless generosity and kindness in this concrete jungle. Like when a pack of strangers helpfully shoved me onto the train I coincidentally needed to catch. Or when a man in a miniature toboggan graciously handed me a free Orangina fruit beverage—in what may or may not have been an intricately designed advertising campaign that entailed snapping a photo of me holding said drink and signing a waiver that gave the toboggan driver free reign over my likeness.

And I’m not the type to buy into advertising, but I was parched, and what better to quench my thirst than a crisp, refreshing Orangina? A drink that has all the flavor of a freshly squeezed orange with only a quarter of the pulp! And as I chugged my free juice beverage I was reminded: New York City doesn’t have enough hate. Read the rest of this entry »

The 2008 election is shaping up to be one of the greatest Spike Lee films of our generation. Throw in Denzel Washington as the black, wealthy lawyer-turned-presidential-candidate (who can appeal to the black vote), Rosie Perez as the female, wealthy lawyer-turned-presidential-candidate (who can appeal to the Hispanic vote), and Harvey Keitel as the aging white, wealthy politician-turned-presidential-candidate (who can appeal to the crazy old man vote)… and much like a Spike Lee film, we can be entertained by the mirage of progress, while ignoring the prominent issue that unites them. Class. Admittedly, I find our grandpa’s argument over class much more interesting than the thin sexy membrane of race, gender and age… but sexy sells. Let’s face it, if debates were technology, “class” would be to a BlackBerry what “race,” “gender” and “age” are to an iPhone. But, it’s 2008, we can’t just settle for a tussle in a pizza shop… we need subtext: enter John Turturro, as the Jewish wealthy campaign manager, brought in to replace the female wealthy candidate’s former female wealthy campaign manager in the eleventh hour of a flailing campaign. End scene. Add subtext with religion vs. gender in an already intense environment and you have cinema that sells. Read the rest of this entry »