Walt Whitman and the “Mad Men”
by James Patrick

Poetry’s Soul Sold for Jeans

THOUGHTS FROM AN UNQUIET MIND VI
by Jack Lindeman

Melville the man grows in my affections through his letters. I am glad I wrote in his defense against Edward Dahlberg’s ridiculous calumny (to the effect that in his subconscious mind M. desired to go to bed with a whale in preference to his wife Elizabeth).

Are Book Collectors Crazy?
by Chuck Brown

Unlike your real world, where even tea-baggers and conspiracy theorists can spout their opinions and are given the right to vote, book collectors would prefer you shut up for the first ten years until you know what you’re talking about.

PA Single Payer Gains New Co-Sponsors
by Ron Stouffer

I’d like to see our Berks reps, Tim Seip and David Kessler add their names in support of the PA single-payer bill.

Death on a Pale Horse*
by Richard O'Connell
1 Comment

Chance, and the losing bet that abides.

Mahmoud Darwish Contemplates Justice
by Jack Lindeman

As we may, when we consider the fate of a disposessed nation.

Subtle
by John Grey

Of change tolerable only as it is imperceptible.

What’s Hot and What’s Not in 2010
by Karen Feridun
2 Comments

I’ve heard several attempts to explain why it was that Democrats had such a poor showing in this year’s election - frustration with Congress, frustration with President Obama, low turnout in off-year elections, difficulty beating incumbents, etc. I’m not buying it.

Judge Stefan
by Stefan Kosikowski

So with just a little trepidation, I carefully opened the letter to find something unexpected. The letter was from Deborah Olivieri and was to inform me that I was elected via write-in votes to serve as the Judge of Elections for my voting precinct.

David Swanson on the Imperial Presidency and Your Activism
by CommonSense2 Editor
6 Comments

“Please stop promoting the idea that the Republicans matter. We gave the Democrats all the power in Washington. We’re waiting for them to use it.”

Rush to Judgment
by Walter Brasch

The reality is that flag-waving fact-impaired Rush Limbaugh has no idea what American ideals are, nor does he have respect for the legal history of the United States or the power of the Constitution.