Slate's Political Gabfest for Aug. 29.

Slate's Political Gabfest for Aug. 29.

Slate's Political Gabfest for Aug. 29.

Slate's weekly political roundtable.
Aug. 29 2008 4:06 PM

The DNC Wrap-Up Gabfest

Listen to Slate's review of the week in politics.

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The Political Gabfest has moved! Find new episodes here.

Listen to the Gabfest for Aug. 29 by clicking the arrow on the audio player below: You can also download the program here, or you can subscribe to the weekly Gabfest podcast feed in iTunes by clicking here.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz wrap up the Democrats' big week in Denver. The news of John McCain's vice-presidential pick Sarah Palincame in during the taping, so the gabbers give their first impressions.

The e-mail address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (E-mail may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

Posted by Andy Bowers on Aug. 29 at 4:18 p.m.

Aug. 22, 2008

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Listen to the Gabfest for Aug. 22 by clicking the arrow on the audio player below: You can also download the program here, or you can subscribe to the weekly Gabfest podcast feed in iTunes by clicking here.

John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Terence Samuel talk politics. This week, the presidential race tightens going into the Democratic Convention, chaos continues in the Caucasus, and the Olympic Games wind down.

Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned in the show:

The presidential race has tightened this week, with John McCain moving within three points of Barack Obama in some polls for a statistical tie. A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll shows Obama slightly ahead while the latest Reuters/Zogby poll shows McCain taking a lead over his Democratic rival.

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McCain provided an opening for Obama this week when, during an interview, McCain could not remember how many houses he owns.

David points out that one of the big questions for the Democratic Convention, getting underway on Monday, is how the Clintons will behave. The convention presents a major opportunity for the Obama camp to show party unity heading into the November elections.

This week, President George W. Bush began talking about removing Russia from the so-called G-8. His call comes following Russia's invasion of Georgia. David mentions Daniel Gross' piece outlining the strong economic ties Russia has with Western nations and how this diminishes the possibility of a violent confrontation with the United States.

David mentions that he has watched the 1984 movie Red Dawn a number of times recently; he finds interesting parallels between the movie's Cold War paranoia and the current situation in Eastern Europe.

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The three discuss the amazing performance of athletes from Jamaica, who have struck gold in this year's Summer Olympics. In particular, David says seeing sprinter Usain Bolt run is like watching a god, while Terry says watching Shelly-Ann Fraser run is more like watching someone fly.

John remembers an argument between William F. Buckley and Gore Vidal at the 1968 Democratic Convention. The discussion took place during a series of debates between the two men carried by ABC television.

Terence discusses a speech given by Sen. Hubert Humphrey at the 1948 Democratic Convention. He says that, in some ways, Humphrey's speech on civil rights started a process that has led to Obama's nomination.

David chatters about a battle underway in San Francisco over the installation of dedicated roadway lanes for bikers.

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The e-mail address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (E-mail may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

Posted by Dale Willman on Aug. 22 at 12:13 p.m.

Aug. 15, 2008

Listen to the Gabfest for Aug. 15 by clicking the arrow on the audio player below:

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You can also download the program here, or you can subscribe to the weekly Gabfest podcast feed in iTunes by clicking here.

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Josh Levin talk politics. This week, Obama is in Hawaii, the Russians are in Georgia, and politics is dirty.

Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned in the show:

Barack Obama is being attacked by some Republicans, and even Democrats, for taking his vacation in Hawaii.

The just-released New York Times best-selling book The Obama Nation attacks Barack Obama and his presidential candidacy. Critics have leveled charges that the book is a political hatchet job on Obama and is full of errors.

David insists that books critical of Barack Obama are not a major concern but simply a part of a political campaign. And he says all politics is dirty, so such things should just be expected.

John McCain has been talking tough concerning the recent military skirmish between Russia and Georgia. He says European NATO members should reconsider Georgia's admission to the alliance as a way to stop Russian aggression.

David talked about the Russian-Georgian conflict in terms of the Olympics. The two countries have met in several events at the Games, including in women's beach volleyball, which was won by Georgia. David pointed out that the players for Georgia were not even native-born (although they are from Brazil and not Argentina, as David said).

Emily chatters about the conviction of Osama Bin Laden's driver, Salim Hamdan, by a U.S. military jury and remarks on the government's statements that even after Hamdan has completed serving his term, he may still be held as an enemy combatant.

Posted by Dale Willman on Aug. 15 at 4:22 p.m.

Aug. 8, 2008

Listen to the Gabfest for Aug. 8 by clicking the arrow on the audio player below: You can also download the program here, or you can subscribe to the weekly Gabfest podcast feed in iTunes by clicking here.

Emily Bazelon is on vacation, so John Dickerson and David Plotz talk politics with Will Saletan. This week, it's the presidential race, the Beijing Olympics, and the end of the anthrax case.

Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned in the show:

The trio discusses the latest on the death of the government's prime suspect in the anthrax attacks of September and October 2001.

David and John both mention a "fifth column" in their discussion of the anthrax scare.

This week, Obama and McCain continue to spar about oil as Republicans try to use the issue to attack Obama.

The Beijing Olympics open on Friday amid concern about politics and pollution.

John chatters about his growing role as a lifehacking coach.

Will expresses dismay at California's regulation of trans fats in restaurants.

David is hooked on America's Best Dance Crew.

The e-mail address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (E-mail may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

Posted by Dale Willman on Aug. 8 at 11:15 a.m.

Aug. 1, 2008

Listen to the Gabfest for Aug. 1 by clicking the arrow on the audio player below: You can also download the program here, or you can subscribe to the weekly Gabfest podcast feed in iTunes by clicking here.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, nad David Plotz talk politics. This week, John McCain accuses Barack Obama of playing the race card, Obama's law school exams are under review, and the Justice Department faces charges of illegal hiring.

Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned in the show:

McCain accused Obama of "playing the race card."

David says McCain can win the presidency only by scaring people into voting for him.

This week, the New York Times put class materials from Obama's time as a law professor at the University of Chicago Law School on its Web site.

The inspector general of the U.S. Justice Department testified on Capitol Hill this week, telling a Senate committee that Bush administration appointees politicized the hiring process at the DoJ.

John chatters about a new book that explains all the policy decisions the next president will face.

David talks about a new study that shows it might one day be possible to take a pill to increase your athletic endurance without exercise.

Emily discusses LifeStyles Condoms' offer to teenage singing star Miley Cyrus to become the company's spokeswoman in return for $1 million.

David and Emily speculate about how much money it would take for Cyrus to promote condom use, comparing it with the hypothetical posed in the overrated 1993 movie, Indecent Proposal, starring Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore, and Robert Redford.

The e-mail address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (E-mail may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

Posted by Dale Willman on Aug. 1 at 12:23 p.m.

Slate senior editor Emily Bazelon, chief political correspondent John Dickerson, and Editor David Plotz host the Gabfest weekly.