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The War for Pennsylvania

By Jeremy Derfner
Updated Friday, Sept. 29, 2000, at 8:30 PM ET

New Republic

New Republic, Oct. 9

The cover story attributes the Bush comeback to his recent unwillingness to talk to the press. When he spoke freely, reporters lampooned his every gaffe. Now they have no choice but to report the highlights of his stump speeches. … An article explains how the rivalry between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh has destroyed the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. The socially conservative but economically liberal Pittsburgh area provides many votes, but almost all the campaign cash is raised from socially liberal but economically conservative Philadelphians. The state has more registered Democrats than Republicans, but the GOP wins most of the statewide offices.

Economist

Economist, Sept. 30

An article suggests that Slobodan Milosevic will eventually concede defeat in the Yugoslav presidential election. His political friends are deserting him, and even if he forces another election, there is no evidence that he will fare any better. … A piece gives mixed reviews to 10-year-old unified Germany. The East is still much poorer than the West, and government, the media, and big business are dominated by the West, but such growing pains are only natural, and the East has made tremendous economic and political strides since unification. … An article says that the next round of peace talks between Israel and Syria could yield fruit. Rights to the Sea of Galilee remain a sticking point, and both Ehud Barak and Bashar Assad need to feel more secure in their leadership before they make a deal; but Syria, in dire need of money and desirous of a more democratic society, badly wants to call off its 37-year state of emergency.

New York Times Magazine

New York Times Magazine, Oct. 1

The cover story reviews how one corrupt cop unraveled the Los Angeles Police Department. Caught stealing cocaine from the evidence room and selling it on the street, anti-gang cop Rafael Perez testified about how officers routinely framed suspected gang members and occasionally shot them without provocation. Now the "Ramparts" scandal has placed 70 officers under investigation, released 100 prisoners, and caused the federal government to supervise the department. … A piece describes the lonely life of an Iraqi defector. Khidhir Hamza once developed nuclear weapons for Saddam Hussein and now advises the CIA, but he lives in perpetual fear of assassination. Hussein famously chooses friends and family members of the target to carry out the murder.

Time

Time, Oct. 2

Time comes late to the Napster controversy. The cover story says that even if the music file-sharing Web site loses its copyright suit and is shut down, it has spawned a tech revolution as important as e-mail and instant messaging. Napster's 19-year-old founder Shawn Fanning tells Time that he wants to return to writing code instead of testifying in court and posing for magazine covers. … A piece says that the new presidential debate format, which allows the candidates to discuss questions for as long as six minutes, may help Al Gore. The veep can display his policy mastery while exposing George W. Bush's less thorough understanding of the issues, but Bush has been practicing for months and knows how to avoid getting bogged down. … An article reports that exorcism is making a comeback (just in time for the rerelease of The Exorcist). The rite lost popularity in the early 1970s, when doctors found new medicines for conditions such as Tourette's syndrome that had been attributed to demonic possession. But a recent exorcism convention in Rome attracted 230 participants, and the four archdiocesan exorcists in New York now perform 15 exorcisms a year.

Newsweek

Newsweek, Oct. 2

The cover story warns of a looming teacher shortage in American schools. The robust economy has attracted math and science teachers to the private sector, so many schools are offering signing bonuses and cheap housing, recruiting immigrant mathematicians and scientists, and targeting middle-aged professionals looking for a career change. … As Americans keep losing interest in politics as usual, candidates rely on unorthodox forums to let voters know what they're really like. The Bush campaign is trying to get him on Monday Night Football and Saturday Night Live because he did so well on Live With Regis and Oprah. … A piece says oil prices are still relatively low compared to other "crisis" periods and that last year's low prices were as much an aberration as this year's high ones. Oil production slowed when prices fell a few years ago, but current high prices will increase output, and energy costs could drop back to normal after a tough winter.

U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report, Oct. 2

The cover story sizes up Bush's chances of coming back. Although most media call the race dead even, the truth is Gore leads by about five points. But Gore enjoyed three nearly perfect weeks of campaigning while Bush floundered terribly. If Bush wins the upcoming debates, he has a chance. … A piece reports on the ethnic conflict between the Basques and the Spanish. A pro-Basque independence terrorist group called ETA has carried out 25 attacks since a truce with Spain was canceled last December. But the Basque population is split, and many are happy with the autonomy granted them by the Madrid government. … An article describes the decline of quality control in Japan. The country that worshipped quality is experiencing a wave of embarrassments, including the recent discovery of a lizard in a bag of potato chips and a rash of exploding televisions. What happened? The slow economy led to cost cutting and reduced worker loyalty.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, Oct. 2

An article chronicles the battle between the New Economy and the old one being fought in a New York office building. The building owners refurbished the place and lured in ritzy tenants such as Martha Stewart and Hugo Boss, but the greasy spoon coffee shop in the lobby serves bacon and tripe, not cappuccinos. The restaurant owners claim the building has erected a scaffolding to block its natural light and discourage customers. … A profile of gossip columnist Liz Smith calls her the enemy of celebrity because she makes the famous seem just like everybody else. Our fascination with celebrities lies in the notion that their lives are so much more glamorous than ours, but Smith is so nonjudgemental when she writes about their foibles that she kills any sense of intrigue.

Weekly Standard

Weekly Standard, Oct. 2

A piece laments the increasingly popular practice of forcing health plans to cover contraceptives. Pro-choice activists are trying to limit the ability of religious schools, Catholic hospitals, and even churches to deny contraceptive coverage. … An article profiles Han Donfang, a workers' rights activist poised to be the Lech Walesa of China. Imprisoned after Tiananmen Square, he now broadcasts a radio show from Hong Kong, publishes a labor newspaper, and enjoys an unparalleled reputation among Chinese exiles.

National Review

National Review, Oct. 9

A piece attributes the Gore surge among women voters to female ignorance of politics. Polls show that women follow politics much less closely than men, and Gore has done a good job of pandering to their "risk-averse nature" by calling Bush's programs "risky schemes." … An article claims the passage of civil unions in Vermont has energized Republicans in the state. The "Take Back Vermont" movement spurred a major increase in voter turnout during the primaries, and Republican gubernatorial nominee Ruth Dwyer has a real chance at beating incumbent Howard Dean in November on the civil unions issue.

The Nation

The Nation, Oct. 9

The Supreme Court special issue argues that the composition of the court is the most important issue in the presidential election. With the court closely balanced, the next few nominations will determine the course of jurisprudence for a generation. … A piece admits that even if Bush wins, the court is unlikely to overturn Roe vs. Wade, but Bush appointees would still make it harder for women to get abortions. … An article claims that while Gore appointees would not outlaw the death penalty, they would work to make its application fairer by guaranteeing habeas corpus and the right to competent counsel. … A piece describes the fierce battle over interpretation of the First Amendment. Right-wingers say it protects unlimited soft-money and media monopolies, while left-wingers contend it allows campaign-finance reform and media-industry trustbusting.

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Jeremy Derfner is a former Slate editorial assistant.
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Reader Comment from The Fray:


Of course exorcism [report in Time] is coming back. Ignorance, superstition and credulity are making a comeback worldwide. The anti-rationalist beliefs of intellectuals in the humanities are finally beginning to have an effect on society.

Why intellectuals (outside the technical fields) decided to make war on the Enlightenment is an interesting question. My guess is that critical thinking was an obstacle to their preferred political programs. But in truth, the campaign seems to spring more from visceral feelings than from a coordinated program. Maybe they're just jealous that science made great strides in the 20th century, while philosophy, literature, and politics were either irrelevancies or the handmaidens of mass murder.

--A.G.Android

(To reply, click here.)

(9/27)

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