A well-reasoned defense against the rule of George W. Bush

As George Bush has risen himself up from the ashes of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, taking full political advantage of those American lives lost on that day while refusing to have his party pay for the destruction (look how much money New York City was gyped out of after what was promised on the days of 9/11) it is refereshing to read "The Nation" - A magazine that was opposing the conservative, right-wing rule of King George II from even before the terrorist attacks. The true "Loyal Opposition" since 2001, the Nation was the first to suggest to its readers to donate their measly initial tax refunds to organizations that really tried to help ordinary Americans instead of Enron (Kenny-Boy Lay) and Halliburton (Dick Cheney's old corporation). I think we should view and read the Nation as a welcome alternative to the normal mainstream press.

Each issue of the magazine consists of: (1) Letters to the editors, (2) Editorial and Comment (both editorial and signed editorial comments), (3) Articles (general, longer articles),(4) Columns (regular columnists on a host of issues such as terrorism, globalization, war, patriotism and Political Parties, and (5) Books and the Arts - which are more fine arts in nature and include Movie Reviews.

Each magazine's letters tend to give a regular snapshot (over the long term) of a magazine's readership, and the Nation's letters are no exceptions. Based upon the quality of the expert letter writing, you can tell that the Nation is read by many intellectual Americans. Also, on the positive side, the Nation allows its letter page to spill over onto a page at the end of the magazine, giving a fuller picture of past issues. The Nation is pretty willing to publish letters of opposing viewpoints.

(2) Editorials...This is perhaps the most gripping part of the magazine. 7-8 paragraph editorials are hard-hitting, often from influential Americans. Topics both political (voting/elections) and cultural (FCC rulings) are included here and this is the section I find the most interesting and also the easiest to read.

(3) Articles - includes the cover stories and also some background articles from somewhat familiar writers. Big issue topics ike Globalization, individual middle eastern comments and Presidential candidates and politicians are included here. A big theme of The Nation seems to be the influence of corporations on our political process and at least one or two major articles are month tend to be included here.

(4) Columns - Very informative and hard hitting columns from such regular political writers like Calvin Trillin (A poet), Katha Pollitt, Eric Altermann and Patricia Williams. A very informative and fun one page group of readings. Jonathan Schell, an expert on war and nuclear issues, is also a great read.

(5) Books and the Arts - Movie reviews by Stuart Klawans, Book reviews by professors, Art reviews and a special Crossword Puzzle (which I have always found next to impossible is included here.)

I first started reading the nation in 1989. Around 1990, there was a rather startling full-issue on the rise of the American Neo-Nazi movement that 5 years early seemed to portend the dangers of militias pre-Oklahoma City bombing days. The issue opened my eyes to the great potential of this magazine. A few months later, the magazine came in on the minority position of the gulf war (the gulf war the UN actually did endorse). Since then it has given excellent opinions on the Kosovo War, Rwanda, South Africa and many other issues affecting the world).

In more recent times, the magazine has gone to bat against the Bush Administration in its ill-timed and ill-planned war against Iraq. (As we can now read, the administration is still spinning the Sadaam-Al Queda link, despite the fact that the bipartisan commission on the terrorist attacks insists there is NO LINK). The outing of CIA agent Valerie Plume by the White House was also discussed quite early (as we now know, former diplomat Joseph Wilson found there WAS no yellowcake uranium purchased from NIGER by Sadaam Hussein, so someone high up in the "let's restore honesty to the white house" revealed that Mr. Wilson's wife was a CIA secret agent, thereby ruining her career.

The Nation also pulls no punches against weak-kneed democrats who will say anything to get re-elected. They have published anti-Ralph Nader articles when it appeared (and now had been somewhat confirmed) that Nader is in the Presidential Race simply to inflate his own ego. And it was a critic of Howard Dean's campaign this year, simply seeing him as a voice of anger (and not much more) toward George W. Bush.

To show you how influential and effective this magazine is, "FOX NEWS" - we report you decide ha ha ha- ran full page advertisements in it throughout this year. Conservatives do read it, and frequently cite it as the true liberal magazine in America (as opposed to "the New Republic" which has grown somewhat more middle-of-the-road/conservative in the past 10 years). Columnists such as Johnathan Schell offer great regular insights toward the Peace Movement, Nuclear Proliferation and the War Profiteering that has corrupted our current Presidency.

All in all, the Nation is a great read. Relatively inexpensive (about 35.00 annually), I suggest intelligent readers subscribe for six months or a year just to see if they can tolerate it (Conservatives will learn a little bit too). A fine read.

The only downside is it is published on rather cheap flimsy-newspaper like paper. They really should upgrade to glossy magazine style.