By Peter Dreier and John Atlas

For the first time in American history, a major political party devoted a substantial portion of its national convention to attacking grassroots organizing.

Speaking Wednesday at the Republican National Convention, former New York Governor George Pataki sneered, "[Barack Obama] was a...

In my day job, I've worked with thousands of people directly, helping tens of millions of Americans with basics like jobs and housing. People are trustworthy and good, and get a lot done when organized at the grassroots level. Good people helping each other out, that's a great expression of...

It was nice to see Bristol and Levi sitting together looking happy at the Republican convention.

Only Nixon could go to China. Maybe only the Republican/Religious Right can dispel the Christian-based shame of unwed teenage pregnancy. I've been telling evangelicals that if they're serious about stopping abortions, they ought to...

In 2001, Sarah Palin drove from her Wasilla home, through the downtown streets of Anchorage, to a large home near the bluffs of muddy Cook Inlet. The home belonged to Bill Allen, one of the most influential businessmen and Republican donors in Alaska history. Allen ran the state's largest oil-contracting...

CHICAGOLAND -- On a pleasant Sunday afternoon in late August in the suburbs, I approached a handful of folks who were attending a backyard barbecue and asked if I could chat with them for a few minutes about the presidential contest.

It so happened that all...

The last time I felt this objectified, there were wolf whistles and halter tops involved. Leave it to the Republican party -- after spending the last eight years taking my money to fund a war I don't agree with, murdering and torturing people in the name of my homeland's "security,"...

Brainerd, Minnesota -- Brainerd is located just north of the geographical center of Minnesota. Perched on the banks of the Mississippi river, it was founded by Zebulon Pike as he searched for the river's headwaters and viable trade routes. Former railroad and mill town, the city center has faded with...

On a balmy September afternoon, Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as US Secretary of State, addressed an overflowing crowd at Bryn Mawr College. The line of students and guests waiting to hear Albright stretched across the sweeping campus lawn. The room filled so rapidly that students sat on...

Over recent weeks we've watched Sen. John McCain dabble at being a "candidate for change" to counter Sen. Barack Obama. From attempts to seek any distance available between himself and Dubya and establish that yes, he's still a "maverick" to flip-flopping, McCain's trying it all. While some of his moves...

Each presidential race has its controversies. While the past two were marred by questions of voting accessibility and vote counting, however, this race is plagued with gossip about...

The Democratic Party celebration at INVESCO field was only a week ago tonight, but it seems like a season past. It was supposed to be a hard act for the Republicans to follow. Barack Obama was supposed to get a Mile-High bounce from Denver. Bush and Cheney were going to...

After the Democratic Convention last week, Obama is again on a good trajectory to win in November. A CBS poll found Obama leading McCain by eight points, although other polls have a closer race. But Obama and the Democrats shouldn't get too cocky. The next two months will be...

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was widely lauded for her speech Wednesday night attacking Sen. Barack Obama's lack of "real" decision-making experience. She has been touted from the beginning as somebody who has made real decisions, has more decision-making experience than Obama and Sen. Joe Biden combined, and a person who...

Sarah Palin is a "Dominionist" with an apocalyptic End Times theological viewpoint that sees the war in Iraq as part of God's plan. More on the End Times in the next post. Let's talk about Christian Right Dominionism and tendencies toward authoritarian theocratic governance.

With a number of bloggers calling...

ST. PAUL -- John McCain delivered his acceptance speech on Day 4 of the RNC while standing in front of a "big-ass plasma TV," as it is known to industry insiders. Technically speaking, the backdrop was comprised of 561 four-millimeter Chroma LED panels seamlessly mounted together to form one of...

Love her or hate her, international bloggers say Alaska Governor Sarah Palin brought the house down when she addressed the Republican National Convention, in Saint Paul, Minneapolis. Some...

Judging by the applause, cheers and grins during the last thirty minutes of the Republican National Convention Wednesday night, Sarah Palin's speech was an unqualified success at this Manhattan viewing party packed with young professionals. But this doesn't mean John McCain is a shoo-in as the next President of the...

There wasn't anything subtle about John McCain's vice presidential selection. With the selection of Sarah Palin, Republicans clearly believe that adding a woman, any woman, to the ticket will lead women to vote for them. I decided to find out if they were right.

I interviewed professional women ranging in...

In the two main convention speeches Wednesday night -- the big night, Sarah Palin night -- the Republican Party revived a major theme of the Clinton primary campaign and made it a centerpiece of the general election, turning what was a contest between candidates, parties, and arguably genders, into one...

OffTheBus has received tons of submissions from contributors who watched Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin accept the Republican Party nomination last night. Many OffTheBus writers found Palin's remarks to be full of anger and light on substance. Here are some examples:

Ron Hebshie called her speech a "venting session."

"It...