http://boztopia.com/?p=165Chicago-style, Donna Edwards, George W. Bush, Guantanamo Bay, Hillary Clinton, Iraq, Iraq war, John McCain, Superman, The Untouchables, Wolverinehttp://boztopia.com/?p=165#comments

It looks like Obama has heartily embraced Chicago-style campaigning, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m not one of those people you will hear calling for more civility, comity, and gosh-golly-can’t-we-all-just-get-along-ness in my politics. We’ve had eight years of Democrats sitting by meekly while the Bush regime has committed terrible crimes and been feted by a compliant media and a somnolent public. If there was ever a time to stand up and fight, this is it.

I was talking with a member of Donna Edwards‘ campaign staff not long ago, and we agreed that “you can be right when you win.” When you’re in the thick of it, your job is to distinguish yourself from your opponent and do whatever you can to make yourself stick stronger in the mind of the voter than they do. That means hitting hard, hitting fast, and aiming for every weak spot you can find. Once you win, then you can start taking the high road. There’s a time to be Wolverine and a time to be Superman. Right now, Obama needs to have the Adamantium claws out.

Obama has managed to combine an above-the-fray mentality with the strategic sense to know when to hit hard and hit below the belt. He gave as good as he got against Clinton, who knows how to fight dirty as well as anyone, and now he’s put McCain on notice that he can expect the same treatment. If trading barbs in the press and slinging mud in the debates means we’re one step closer to the end of American soldiers coming home in caskets, prisoners disappearing behind Gitmo walls, and our rights being steamrolled by a complacent, corporatist Congress, that’s a trade I can live with.

http://boztopia.com/?p=27Andrew Sullivan, Ben Domenech, Brian Michael Bendis, Bucky Barnes, Danny Rand, David Mack, Ed Brubaker, Kelowna, Luke Cage, Man Crush, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Power Man & Iron Fist, Ronin, Sentry, Spider-Man, The Atlantic, The Hood, Time, Winter Soldier, Wolverinehttp://boztopia.com/?p=27#comments

So Hillary Clinton is in it to win it. If you care about what I think, go read my comment over at </a></strong></a>kelowna’s place.

Meanwhile, in a curious bit of timing, Andrew Sullivan has bailed from Time to The Atlantic. This comes on the heels of Time’s recent bloody layoff of 289 staffers, and I wonder if the leaner, meaner Time just didn’t want to pay up Sullivan’s undoubtedly exorbitant rate, especially since he’s so stridently off message with his opposition to the war and torture.

I’m certainly not a Sullivan apologist–he deserves every last bit of this lacerating tongue-lashing–but as conservative pundits go, he’s more palatable and reasonable than most. My fear is that Time will replace him with some Ben Domenech-ass motherfucker, who’ll spit GOP talking points with half the insight and half the price. Ah, well, not like anyone reads that rag anymore anyway…

Speaking of reading and apologising, I am happy to say that, with the announcement of the New Avengers lineup, I am officially in Bendis’ camp once more. He’s really gotten back on the horse with the recent one-issue “Civil War” tie-ins, and I’m delighted to see him give a shine to The Hood, one of the best new creations Marvel’s made in recent years. I like Bendis not only because he’s unafraid to take chances and do new things, but because he helps his fellow creators out. First he put David Mack’s Echo back on the map, and now he’s getting people interested in BKV, which is never a bad thing. Sentry, Echo, Hood–it’s nice to see new faces alongside the classics.

Regarding the lineup itself, I was clowning on the reunion of Power Man & Iron Fist as more evidence of Bendis’ Cage Man Crush, but with more thought, it makes sense. They need someone with dollars to bankroll them since they’re rogues and Tony Stark is playing on the other team, and Danny Rand does have the funds. The team’s an interesting dynamic–I’m happy to see Spidey and Wolverine both remaining, even if Lenil’s phenomenal Logan is balanced by his slightly odd Spidey. The Mighty Avengers could totally asswhip the New Avengers blindfolded and crippled, though, so here’s hoping the inevitable clash plausibly portrays that.

As for the lack of Cap, I can only say this:

I doubt they’ll kill him, though given Brubaker’s own man-crush on Bucky Barnes Winter Soldier, it’s not unfeasible that Cap dies in Civil War, and Bucky takes up the mantle. This could then foil the Red Skull’s master plan for him in his own book, since he’d be setting things up for Steve Rogers, not the new badass Bucky. More likely, I think Cap goes underground and disappears after the war, and then quietly takes up the Ronin identity to express his discontent and loss of faith in his country.

And if you think Cap–Marvel’s #1 boy scout–couldn’t take up the guise of sword-wielding ninja killer Ronin, then you don’t know Cap, especially lately. Dude is hardcore.