The Obama campaign is a boa constrictor, slowly, methodically, and inexorably choking the life out of the McCain campaign. What we are seeing right now is what one might consider the death throes of the McCain campaign.
Aw, come on Mr. Coates. You knocked it out of the park, and lit the lamp with those last posts. Since this campaign is now a sprint and not a marathon, we need you to take extra shifts. It ain't over til the fat lady sings. The ball's on the spot, take your shot.
hey, keep them coming.
the sports metaphors work wonderfully.
can't think of a better way to draw a compelling and accurate picture for a reader. or at least for most readers.
I wasted this comment on a completely unrelated post yesterday so let's try one more time...
Let's say you're a fan of the most historic and storied franchise in NFL history: your team has won the most championships, has the biggest stadium, the most revenue, etc. But the team has fallen on hard times - a couple of big free agent busts and some poor draft choices and now you've missed the playoffs two straight years. Your crazy Dan Snyder-esque owner decides on a gimmick - the fans get to choose the QB and his backup from two available pairs:
Pair #1) Starting QB is Jason Campbell, a young black quarterback who's been in the league only a few years but shows an uncanny ability to keep cool under pressure and never makes mistakes. He has a strong arm and can throw downfield when needed but mostly completes short, accurate passes. He'll be backed up by Brad Johnson, an old hand who's getting on in age but has played in virtually every system and knows the ins and outs of the game better than anyone around.
Pair #2) Brett Favre, the all-American superstar of yesteryear who has already come out of retirement once. The media loved him unconditionally in the past, even when he was dealing with personal issues like an addiction to painkillers, but now is beginning to question his selfishness. A known gunslinger, he can definitely win you a game but is just as likely to throw an interception as a touchdown in crunch time. He'll be backed up by..............Kathy Ireland. Yes THAT Kathy Ireland. She's hot and sassy and will really energize the team. Sure, she isn't a football player but she played one in Necessary Roughness.
So who do you pick to lead your flailing team for the next 4-8 years - Campbell/Johnson or Favre/Ireland?
Here's a piece no one cared about. Meh, whatever, probably the most enjoyable article I did during my stint at TIME. Premiered a month before I got laid-off. The nail in the coffin? Ya think?
Here's me going after Al. I didn't so much have a problem with him, as I had a problem with media acting like this dude was the go-to guy for everything black.
This was my first real story at time. I was writing for the Business section, a real change of direction for me. At any rate, it's about Wal-Mart's attempts to colonize the inner-city. As much as I enjoyed this piece, I mostly enjoyed going out to Chicago, which is a beautiful, beautiful city.
This a piece I did about the cops just outside our nation capitol, in Prince George's County, a few years back. I wanted to offer a counter to the dumb, conventional wisdom that if you paint your police force black, you could eradicate police brutality. In fact, Prince George's--one of the richest, blackest counties in the country--also had one of the most brutal police force's in the country.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
But I liked the sports metaphors.
It's Friday, it's the perfect time for football metaphors.
(And my Washington Huskies WILL NOT lose this week.)
I was hoping for something involving the Buffalo Sabres.
Can we move on to animal metaphors?
The Obama campaign is a boa constrictor, slowly, methodically, and inexorably choking the life out of the McCain campaign. What we are seeing right now is what one might consider the death throes of the McCain campaign.
Needs more hockey and pro wrestling.
That's okay, Ta-Nehisi. We know you came to blog. And you always give 110%, and leave it all out on the screen.
Throwing in the towel?
Aw, come on Mr. Coates. You knocked it out of the park, and lit the lamp with those last posts. Since this campaign is now a sprint and not a marathon, we need you to take extra shifts. It ain't over til the fat lady sings. The ball's on the spot, take your shot.
Can you explain to me why you think the Marxist Weather Underground and Black Panters should be leading this country of 300 million Americans?
TNC,
OK, but your metaphors ain't over till their over.
;)
Hey, Red, White & Blue, I think you're a Black Panter. Goes right with the Brownshirts.
hey, keep them coming.
the sports metaphors work wonderfully.
can't think of a better way to draw a compelling and accurate picture for a reader. or at least for most readers.
Thank you! (Unless you want to use baseball metaphors.)
LMAO!!!!
i wanted to say something about the football metaphors, but i decided to keep mum since this isn't my blog.
however, it is a trademark of yours and isn't too annoying.
:]
I wasted this comment on a completely unrelated post yesterday so let's try one more time...
Let's say you're a fan of the most historic and storied franchise in NFL history: your team has won the most championships, has the biggest stadium, the most revenue, etc. But the team has fallen on hard times - a couple of big free agent busts and some poor draft choices and now you've missed the playoffs two straight years. Your crazy Dan Snyder-esque owner decides on a gimmick - the fans get to choose the QB and his backup from two available pairs:
Pair #1) Starting QB is Jason Campbell, a young black quarterback who's been in the league only a few years but shows an uncanny ability to keep cool under pressure and never makes mistakes. He has a strong arm and can throw downfield when needed but mostly completes short, accurate passes. He'll be backed up by Brad Johnson, an old hand who's getting on in age but has played in virtually every system and knows the ins and outs of the game better than anyone around.
Pair #2) Brett Favre, the all-American superstar of yesteryear who has already come out of retirement once. The media loved him unconditionally in the past, even when he was dealing with personal issues like an addiction to painkillers, but now is beginning to question his selfishness. A known gunslinger, he can definitely win you a game but is just as likely to throw an interception as a touchdown in crunch time. He'll be backed up by..............Kathy Ireland. Yes THAT Kathy Ireland. She's hot and sassy and will really energize the team. Sure, she isn't a football player but she played one in Necessary Roughness.
So who do you pick to lead your flailing team for the next 4-8 years - Campbell/Johnson or Favre/Ireland?
1. Hey, why not use my "marrying a stripper" analogy? jk
2. Please read Jackie Robinson and his revenge.
3. Disrespecter/disrespectee-- see also James Fallows discussion of Chuck Spinney.
Dave, neither 1 or 2.
You get Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman and hope the defense stays healthy (oh, and that Hester has more magic in his tank).
But seriously folks, it's a World Cup (South Africa 2010) qualifying day all over the world. So much futbol to watch!
I wonder how many Cubans will defect before/after/during today's match in DC?