http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog Rory O'Connor's blog Wed, 14 May 2008 00:44:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en With Democratic enthusiasm waxing, Republican energy waning, and more than four out of five voters convinced the country is now on the wrong track, one would think hard-right wing talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh would be near-suicidal. But no! As it stands, Limbaugh – now in his twentieth year as ... http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/05/13/rush-limbaugh-the-biggest-winner/ As the seemingly endless Democratic presidential primary slog enters its second spring, one amazing woman has managed – by relentless dint of hard work, long experience, sharp intelligence, quick wit, quicker quips and a winning smile – to shatter the glass ceiling and take her rightful place in the traditional ... http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/04/09/rachel-maddow-progressive-medias-next-mainstream-star/ As the war in Iraq marked its fifth anniversary, thirteen Iraqis were killed as dozens of mortar shells were fired at the “heavily fortified Green Zone” in what the New York Times called “one of the fiercest and most sustained attacks on the area in the last year.” The attack ... http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/03/24/bushs-war-and-our-own/ When I was last in China, I was informally told that it would be acceptable to ask government and Party officials about virtually anything I wanted – unless of course it involved one of the forbidden “three T’s.” “T” for Taiwan, Tiananmen, and Tibet. All were apparently “T” for Taboo. I ... http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/03/18/the-whole-world-is-watching-chinas-media-war/ There's a clever, effective technique often employed by coaches in the National Basketball Association, used to gain a subtle but demonstrable edge in close games, known as “working the refs.” In essence, it involves endless and bitter complaints about your opponents’ supposed advantages -- to your own future advantage. Aggressively ... http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/03/05/working-the-refs/