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The author discusses the media coverage of the 2012 U.S. presidential election, and argues that trivial, misleading stories about Republican talking points are more common than substantive reporting. News media such as Fox News television channel, multimedia news organization Politico, and "The New York Times" newspaper are discussed, as well as coverage of political figures such as Donald Trump, Condoleezza Rice, and George Pataki. Media ethics and presidential nominees Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are discussed, and the nominees' debates are described. Vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan are also mentioned.

In this article the author discusses ways in which to mend democracy in the United States. He notes that the system as it is currently constituted needs to be fairer, the role of money should be reduced, and the press and politicians made aware of ideology and ignorance. A number of topics are addressed including the false hopes of the 2008 election of president Barack Obama, the Supreme Court and the decision to grant to corporations rights as humans, and the dysfunction in the nation's senate.

The article presents the author's opinion on U.S. President Barack Obama's comments on the lack of accountability in mainstream press and their shallow reporting. The author mentions the comments of many from the mass media industry on President's remarks, who said his remarks are hollow as his administration follows the practice to prosecute whistleblowers who leak to journalists more times than all previous administrations combined.

The article discusses how many U.S. securities industry officials are making financial donations to Republican political candidates, focusing on the claim that U.S. President Barack Obama's administration has been beneficial to the rich people in America. It states that 95 percent of the fruits of America's economic growth between 2009 and 2012 went to the wealthiest one percent of Americans. Corporate profits and a study conducted by economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman are mentioned. INSET: REAGAN TRICKLES DOWN.

The article focuses on how the mainstream media's resentment of the intellectual level demonstrated U.S. President Barack Obama led to the election of Republican candidate Donald Trump. Topics discussed include the sensationalism sought by the press and the media's criticism of the president's inclination to deliberate for a long period. The ethnocentrism and eccentricities displayed by the Republican presidential contender are then mentioned.

The article looks at the tenure of former U.S. President Richard Nixon, focusing on the Watergate scandal and its legacy. The author expresses the view that Nixon's actions heralded an erosion of the limits on executive power, particularly in the area of national security. Topics include the book "The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It" by former Nixon staff member John Dean and U.S. President Barack Obama's support of officials the author says are responsible for abuses of power.

The article presents the author's opinion on the "New York Times" columnist and political pundit Maureen Dowd, citing examples from some of her columns. Topics include Dowd's critique of U.S. President Barack Obama and her belief that as president he should fix everything, Dowd's use of a baseball metaphor in analyzing Obama's leadership techniques, and Dowd's references to literary editor Leon Wieseltier.

The article looks at mass media coverage of the fatal September 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and its aftermath, as of January 2014. The author cites an extensive recent report by "New York Times" reporter David Kirkpatrick, saying it disproves many accusations that Republicans and conservatives have made against U.S. President Barack Obama and then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concerning their alleged failures and cover-ups in the episode.

The article discusses U.S. foreign policy as of December 2013 from the perspective that U.S. President Barack Obama's approach to eliminating Syria's chemical weapons stock and preventing Iran's acquisition of a nuclear weapon have been criticized as appeasement in the media. Media sources noted include an essay by Perry Anderson in a current issue of the periodical "New Left Review" which comments on foreign policy leaders. Topics include the containment doctrine and immoral foreign policy.

Letters to the editor and a response by author Eric Alterman are presented in response to the articles published in the special section "Debating Obama" published in the August 30, 2010 issue.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles including "Film," from the January 28, 2008 issue, "Election '08," from the January 7, 2008 issue, and "The Liberal Media," from the January 7, 2008 issue.

The article offers the author's perspective on "National Journal" editorial director Ron Fournier who said U.S. President Barack Obama's credibility has been weakened by two political scandals. Fournier's views on the allegations against the Cincinnati, Ohio's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office's treatment of tax-exempt applications from organizations related to the Tea Party as well as his views on the government's handling of the 2012 attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya are noted.

The article presents the author's comments regarding U.S. President Barack Obama's nomination of the Republican politician Chuck Hagel as U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2013. Topics include Hagel's political experience and qualifications; his opposition to the Iraq War; and foreign policy in the U.S. regarding Israel and Arab countries in the Middle East.

The article presents the author's views regarding misstatements and untruths by political candidates during campaign debates preceding the November 2012 U.S. election. Topics include the first presidential debate between U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney in October 2012, with a critique of each candidate's performance; the level of factual accuracy of statements by Romney; and the vice-presidential debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Paul Ryan.

The article looks at press coverage of U.S. politics during the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama. The author argues that the mainstream press failed to report the Republican Party's political strategy of rejecting any bipartisan compromise outright in order to weaken Obama, instead framing Republicans and Democrats as equally intransigent. He discusses research by scholars Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein on Congressional politics.

The article discusses the use of racism by the right-wing media and U.S. Republican politicians and their supporters. An overview is provided of the history of racism in U.S political campaigns, its use against U.S. President Barack Obama and talk show host Oprah Winfrey and racism's influence in the future in political discourse.

The article reports on the media reaction to a campaign television commercial for Mitt Romney that misrepresented a quote from U.S. President Barack Obama. The ad truncated a remark made by Obama directly quoting a Republican campaign strategist so that it appeared that Obama himself had made the statement. Instead of criticizing the ad, much of the media coverage used it to claim that the presidential race was becoming more aggressive and to assert that both political parties use such tactics.

The author criticizes the views of newspaper columnist Thomas Friedman on how to address the U.S. budget deficit. In his view Friedman is mistaken to argue that a comprehensive solution to the deficit must include cuts to the Medicare and Social Security programs. He believes Friedman fails to recognize that U.S. President Barack Obama supports much of what Friedman proposes, but has been thwarted by intransigent Congressional Republicans.

The article examines how criticisms offered by U.S. President Barack Obama concerning the bonuses and salaries of financial executives during the recession that began in 2008 may impact his campaign finances during the 2012 presidential election. Many of these executives contributed funds to Obama for his first presidential campaign but are refusing to do so again. The author attests that this behavior is unnecessary.

The author makes the claim that a substantial proportion of people in the U.S. who call themselves Republicans are idiots, and cites several facts in support of this contention. He says 25% of Republicans polled say the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is planning to steal the 2012 U.S. election, and that 48% have questions over whether President Barack Obama was born in the U.S.

In this article the author discusses the actions of Bill Sammon, a vice president of Fox News and the Washington, D.C. bureau chief for that organization. At issue is Sammon's mendacity when claiming that U.S. president Barack Obama is amenable to socialism and is drawn to Marxists. According to the author this lie invalidates the notion expressed by Fox that some programming presents right wing and conservative opinion, while the news operation is objective and offers a balanced version of the news.

In this article the author examines the U.S. presidency of Barack Obama following the 2010 midterm elections that saw the president's Democratic Party experience significant defeats. The leadership displayed by Obama when he was running for president is compared and contrasted with that shown after he won election. A number of topics are addressed including the voting habits of young people, Obama's inability to turn around the U.S. economy, and the president's assumption that the Republican Party would be open to his reforms.

In this article the author discusses aspects of the U.S. presidential press corps. He accuses the members of that organization of being self-important and obsessed with trivial matters. He refers to a number of reporters including Ed Henry of the Cable News Network, Chip Reid of CBS News, and Dave Briggs of Fox News. The author expresses his opinion that Fox News is not a legitimate news outlet, contending that it is a propaganda organ for the Republican Party and religious extremism, and for advocacy against U.S. president Barack Obama.

This article discusses how the nomination of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Barack Obama has resulted in another effort by conservatives to complain that Kagan does not represent mainstream America. The author argues that Kagan is a victim of identity politics. Not only has her nomination been questioned by conservatives for her lack of judicial experience, but she will also be doubted because she is a single woman.

In this article the author comments on the case of David Frum, a U.S. conservative commentator who ran afoul of his right wing colleagues when he criticized some aspects of conservatism in the United States. He urges liberals not to feel sorry for Frum, characterizing him as an unrepentant right wing idealogue. A number of issues are addressed including William Kristol, a fellow conservative, the health care reform act pursued by U.S. president Barack Obama, and the role of radio commentator Rush Limbaugh in the conservative movement.

In this article the author discusses the criticism of the Fox News television channel voiced by the administration of U.S. president Barack Obama. At issue is the charge that Fox is not an outlet for legitimate journalism but is in the business of broadcasting propaganda. The central focus of the article is proof offered by the author that supports that contention and illustrates the right-wing, Republican Party bias manifested by Fox News.

In this article the author reflects on the the similarity of the issues that faced U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1930s and 1940s and those confronting president Barack Obama in 2009. The central issue of the article is Roosevelt's approach to ending the Great Depression and Obama's handling of the global financial crisis of 2008-09.

The article discusses the career of U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel who received the political endorsement of then-New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. The author lists Rangel's alleged acts of political corruption, including using rent-stabilized apartments, tax loopholes, and the rental income he had not declared on his taxes. The article compares Rangel's indiscretions with U.S. Congressman Charles Schumer's, and concludes that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama should avoid Rangel.

The author discusses the end of U.S. President George W. Bush's term, and the way conservative pundits such as William Kristol have inaccurately stated that the U.S. won the Iraq war. The author analyzes "Newsweek" editor Jon Meacham's attack on U.S. liberals and liberal presidents such as U.S. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon Baines Johnson. The author argues that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will not fall victim to the problems that bothered those presidents.

The author discusses how the U.S. mainstream media when accused of being too liberal has often over-compensated by becoming more conservative on issues like economics and war. The author analyzes articles by "Washington Post" columnist Deborah Howell which state that the media was too soft on U.S. President-elect Barack Obama concerning his teenage drug use and his relationship with fundraiser Antoin Rezko. The author shows how conservatives influence liberal journalists such as Howell.

The author of the article discusses U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's election victory and questions which members of the political establishment will try to become closer to Obama's administration. The author discusses the ways that the "Washington Post" newspaper and columnists such as Dana Milbank supported candidate John McCain and criticized Obama. The author states that the "New York Times" election coverage was good except for commentary from conservative William Kristol.

The author of the article discusses a news reports in the "Washington Post" about capitalism, and one in the "New York Times" by David Brooks that covers the ways that conservatives disdain the educated classes. The author questions what's wrong with the fact that U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama wants to provide universal healthcare and a green movement revolution. The author quotes the singer Sam Cooke about the coming of change.

The article discusses the negative television and media campaigning that occurs in a U.S. presidential candidate's campaign in the weeks before the election. The author cites examples of how then-U.S. presidential candidate George H.W. Bush produced negative television advertisements about candidates Bill Clinton and Michael Dukakis, and how Fox Television News allows even more negative messages about candidate Barack Obama.

The author of the article discusses U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama's speech at the U.S. Democratic Party National Convention, and gives his reasons why he considered it a strong speech. The author points out that even conservative politician Pat Buchanan called it a great convention speech, and offers his rebuttal to political journalist David Broder who criticized the speech.

The article discusses the campaign being run by U.S. presidential candidate John McCain, and how he is treated by the U.S. media. The author points out how McCain has changed his positions on immigration, taxes, campaign finances, and reproductive choice, while making sexist remarks about U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea. The article states that journalists such as "The Washington Post's" Dana Milbank openly support McCain while criticizing Barack Obama.

The article uses an October 2002 speech made by U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama to illustrate the futility of the Iraq war, and how the threat posed by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was negligible. The author points out how opinions on the war differ along political lines, and how most conservatives, with the exception of "The Atlantic's" Andrew Sullivan and Jonathan Rauch, have failed to provide intellectual discussion on the war.

The article discusses a comment made by "National Review" writer Rich Lowry who said that U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is "the Joe Lieberman of the Democratic Party." This comment came after U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman endorsed Republican John McCain for the presidential election over Democrat Barack Obama. The author traces the hatred of U.S. liberalism back to the 2006 U.S. Congressional races when liberal candidates were compared to Al Qaeda and Khmer Rouge members.

The author offers opinions on U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton and how her campaign has been presented by political journalists. It is deemed ironic that Clinton, frequently denounced as a symbol of liberalism by conservatives, is now campaigning to the right of her Democratic party rival Barack Obama. The author believes Clinton's campaign is given more importance in the press than its status warrants.

The author offers opinions on foreign relations scholar Samantha Power. Power resigned as a foreign policy adviser to U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama after making a disparaging remark about rival Hillary Rodham Clinton. The author notes that this mistake was derided with glee by many well-known U.S. political journalists. This is seen as evidence of those reporters' intellectual insecurity and shallowness.

The article offers commentary on the U.S. presidential election and the movement against candidate Barack Obama that is being waged by some conservative Jewish leaders such as Debra Feuer of the American Jewish Committee, Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America, and Malcolm Hoenlein of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. These organization have tried to claim Obama is anti-Semitic because he is friends with officials who have been accused of anti-Semitism.

The author of the article describes how U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is being affected by a "National Journal" story describing him as the U.S. Senate's most liberal member. The author discusses the political labels that were applied to the 2004 presidential candidates John Kerry and John Edwards, and his book "Why We're Liberals: A Political Handbook for Post-Bush America."

The article offers commentary on the way that the U.S. presidential candidates John Edwards and Barack Obama are being treated by various media sources. Richard Cohen and Michael Dobbs of the "Washington Post" newspaper have described John Edwards and Barack Obama as liars, and William Kristol of the "New York Times" lambasted any leader who opposed the Iraq war or trade agreements such as NAFTA.

The article discusses how liberals in the United States can compete with the right-wing media to gain voters in future elections. The author criticizes Democrat academics Elaine Kamarck and William Galston for suggesting that Democrats support more conservative policy proposals. It is suggested that liberals find a way to build trust among voters by appealing to voters' values and self-interest. Democratic Senator Barack Obama is praised for his Weblog supporting respectful discourse that will lead to a workable progressive majority.