Confidence In The Con

Those loveable grifters.

Source: Universal Studios/Courtesy of Getty Images

The confidence scheme certainly seems like an American obesession -- the golden age of grift came courtesy of the Jazz Age -- and boy does Hollywood love a huckster. I suppose then, it's no surprise that the latest con to hit the papers is a guy proclaiming himself American Royalty: the peculiar case of Clark Rockefeller, nee Christopher Chichester, nee -- I'm not kidding -- Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter. For the whole story, read the Boston Globe's excellent reporting -- it reads like fiction. What's most fascinating to me is how many people believed him -- state senators and Upper East Side art dealers -- everybody wanted to believe him. These days, the confidence game is less an art, than a science; a race to see how many people will be trapped by a mass mailing signed by a "Nigerian Prince." It makes me nostalgic for the days of Harold Hill -- at least back then, a con cared about the trouble in River City.

Barrie Hardymon

1:59 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink

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This American Moment: Jimmy Carter

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter on the stage of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO.

Source: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Jimmy Carter. America's 39th President. Nobel Peace Prize winner. Humanitarian. And today's special guest of our on-going series, "This American Moment." All this week and next, we're asking top thinkers from a variety of backgrounds to put this election in context, and tell us what he or she thinks is at stake. We'll check in with President Carter. We'll ask him about the transformation he's seen from segregation and Jim Crow to the nomination of Senator Obama, and whether he thinks America's role in the world has changed. But we also want you to join the conversation: what does this American moment mean to you?

Ashley Grashaw

1:58 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink

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Stalking Irish Madness

The entrance to Ireland's "Gates of Hell."

Source: IrishFireside

It's tempting to characterize journalist Patrick Tracey's family as beautiful, but damned. They hail from Ireland's County Roscommon, and for generations have been plagued by schizophrenia. When I say plagued, I mean it -- the "Irish madness" claimed his great-great-grandmother, grandmother, uncle, and two sisters. His mom, after watching her grandmother committed to a mental hospital, suspected a genetic connection and swore never to have kids. Handsome, "half Irish and charmingly persistent" Mr. Tracey changed her mind, and she had five -- Paul and his four beautiful sisters -- Elaine, twins Michelle (Chelle) and Seanna, and Austine. They had a fairly typical family life, until, in 1976:

I was an average eighteen-year-old, home for the weekend during my freshman year in college. When the phone rang, it was Keith, Chelle's boyfriend, calling from Manhattan to say Chelle was on a bus back home. He keeps it short. "Michelle," he says, "is not well."

And so it began, the sickness of his own siblings from which it was "impossible to turn away." Patrick Tracey decided to face it, and went to Ireland to confront the disease. Have you had experience with schizophrenia? Leave us your stories here.

Sarah Handel

1:57 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink

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When Is A Plot Not A Plot?

The three men arrested in Colorado posed no real threat to Sen. Barack Obama, according to federal authorities. Still, the fact that one of them carried a rifle, scope, bullet proof vest, and said threatening things about the candidate only adds to the worry many have over the safety, and the security around, Obama. Obviously, much of the protection (including Secret Service guards) is secret, and behind the scenes. But, we've heard assurances that both candidates are as protected as possible. As we wait on tonight's acceptance speech in front of tens of thousands at Denver's Mile High stadium, are there fears in the back of your mind for Obama's safety?

Scott Cameron

1:56 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink

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August 28th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk about the artistry of the con artist. Why do we fall for them? This topic is largely pegged to the recent mystery of a German man who convinced everyone that he was a Rockefeller. Turns out, his name is actually Christian Gerhartsreiter and he is wanted for questioning in a disappearance and possible murder that occurred in 1985. How is it possible for con artists to swindle us for so long? We'll talk with a reporter who has been covering the "Rockefeller" investigation for The Boston Globe, and an assistant professor of behavioral science who will explain why we fall for cons. Tell us your story. Have you ever conned anyone? Or have you ever fallen for one? After that discussion, we'll continue our "This American Moment" series with former President Jimmy Carter. He is at the Democratic Convention and will describe for us how he felt after it was determined Illinois Sen. Barack Obama would be the Democratic nominee for President.

In our second hour, we'll be joined by author Patrick Tracey. In his new book, Stalking Irish Madness: Searching for the Roots of My Family's Schizophrenia, Tracey talks about coming from a long line of family members who suffered from schizophrenia. He'll talk to us about how his life has been largely influenced by schizophrenia, and how tracing his family lineage of the mental illness led him all the way to Ireland. At the end of the hour, we'll discuss the current federal investigations into possible plots to assassinate Sen. Barack Obama, and what's being done to protect him.

Gwen Outen

12:22 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink

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Unintentional Hilarity: Convention Protest Edition

"I thought Paris HIlton was in this parade!"

Source: John Moore/Getty Images

 

Getty insists that this is a shot of protesters in Denver. What are they protesting? Democratic fashion sense? Tiny Dogs For Everybody! Big Sunglasses For All!

Barrie Hardymon

11:43 AM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink

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PoJu Takes Denver

Sen. Ted Kennedy addresses the DNC.

Source: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images

I can't even imagine what this week in Denver is like for our Political Junkie, Ken Rudin. Well, it's probably pretty exhausting living on a hybrid of Eastern and Central times (late to bed and early to rise), but wow, what a week it's already been. Highlights? Sen. Ted Kennedy's emotional return to the fold in the midst of his fight with cancer; Michelle Obama's speech, in which she worked to undo the damage done by her oft-misquoted assertion that "for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country;" and, of course, Sen. Hillary Clinton's speech in support of hers and Obama's common cause. And, of course, the week hasn't been all grandstanding, there have been some political ads too, namely the Obama campaign's "Seven Houses," the McCain campaign's "Hillary's Right," and the swiftboat-esque attack on Obama for his relationship with Weather Underground founder William Ayers (quickly -- and quietly -- refuted by the Obama camp). All that, Ken Rudin, and trivia and some tape from the vault! What's your favorite moment so far? Leave them below.

Sarah Handel

1:59 PM ET | 08-27-2008 | permalink

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This Hitchens Moment

This election must have an added significance for Christopher Hitchens. The British ex-pat became a U.S. citizen in April of last year, on his 58th birthday. This will be the first time he's able to vote in a presidential election. Of course, citizenship isn't the only transformation Hitchens has undergone over the years. Once identified with the radical left, he has since come out strongly in defense of the Iraq war, and now leans on many issues to the political right... some call him a neo-neo-conservative. As we continue our series all this week (and next) on This American Moment, we'll check in with Christopher Hitchens, and find out what this election means to him... As an observer, as a writer, and as a new citizen.

Scott Cameron

1:58 PM ET | 08-27-2008 | permalink

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Hillary's Big Moment: Are We Post-Gender?

Senator Hillary Clinton speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

 

Last night, Senator Hillary Clinton spoke at the Democratic National Convention. She threw her full support behind Senator Barack Obama, and appealed to those among her supporters who still feel resentment and anger about her failed bid:

I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?

For some, Hillary's speech was a persuasive call to unite with Obama supporters. But for others, it still might not feel like enough. Today, we're joined by four female powerhouses: Farai Chideya, host of NPR's News and Notes; Susan Faludi, of Backlash fame, who recently wrote an op-ed for The New York Times titled, "Second-Place Citizens"; comedian and co-creator of The Daily Show, Lizz Winstead; and co-founder of Third Wave Foundation, Amy Richards. We'll talk about reactions to Hillary's speech, whether her message extended beyond Denver, and generational splits within feminism. We also want to talk about historical context. This is a unique moment in history -- Senator Obama says we're in a post-racial era, past the battles of the 1960s, but are we beyond gender, too?

And we want to hear from you -- what does Senator Clinton's candidacy mean for women's rights and feminism? And are we headed toward a post-gender society?

Ashley Grashaw

1:57 PM ET | 08-27-2008 | permalink

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August 27th Show

We're live in the Newseum and it's DNC, DNC DNC. Did I mention DNC? Okay, Ken Rudin will talk about more than just the Democratic convention, but Denver will be our main focus in this week's Political Junkie. At the end of the hour, we'll continue our "This American Moment" series. Author and Vanity Fair contributing editor Christopher Hitchens talks about what this presidential campaign means for him.

For our full second hour we will speak with four women about what Senator Hillary Clinton's run for president means for women's rights and feminism. We'll be joined by News and Notes host Farai Chideya, who is at the Democratic convention, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Suan Faludi, comedienne Lizz Winstead, and author and co-founder of Third Wave Foundation Amy Richards.

Gwen Outen

12:29 PM ET | 08-27-2008 | permalink

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Rollin'

Buildings in downtown Denver are covered with signs. The logo for the Democratic National Convention, a mountain scene with stars, is omnipresent. That now-iconic rendering of Obama, printed by Shepard Fairey, has been plastered everywhere. That said, I thought this image was especially eye-catching:

Good advertising.

David Gura, NPR

 

And pretty awesome.

David Gura

10:48 AM ET | 08-27-2008 | permalink

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Hospitals 101

Have you done your hospital homework?

Source: katherine of chicago

We once had a guest on the show say that most people took more time to research a kitchen appliance than a hospital. Sad, but true - at least in my case. I've just never thought about it much. And if I need emergency care, I assume I'll be taken to the nearest ER. But there's more and more information available that makes it easier to compare hospitals. At a government site called (appropriately enough) Hospital Compare, you can check out services available, quality of care, and for the first time the survival rates for specific illnesses. Of course, it's best to do your homework now rather than later by Blackberry in the back of an ambulance. Any hints on what you do to research a hospital?

Scott Cameron

1:59 PM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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This American Moment: Jorge Ramos

News anchor Jorge Ramos in 2002.

J. Emilio Flores/Getty Images

Anybody familiar with Spanish-speaking households knows that Jorge Ramos is synonymous with the nightly news. Since 1985, when he first appeared as a young, scrawny correspondent on Noticiero Univision -- Univision's nightly news -- millions of Latinos in the US have grown familiar with his Mexico City-accented Spanish. Along with co-anchor Maria Elena Salinas, via satellite he is beamed into to Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean and of course, across the US. Combined, his reach in the American continent is in the millions. Ramos has talked to all of the controversial heads of state in Latin America -- think Evo , Hugo, Fidel. In the US, presidential candidates, former US presidents, and lawmakers know that an interview with Ramos is key to reaching the Latino voting bloc. As part of our series of conversations about the campaign season we call "This American Moment," today, we hear from Jorge Ramos about what this election means to him and US Latinos. And we'd like to reach out to Latino listeners: Tell us, what does this political season mean to you?

Dalia Martinez

1:58 PM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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Car Vs. Cyclist

What about you? Did you bike to work?

Source: BikePortland.org

This may be terribly un-NPR of me, but I just can't bike to work. D.C. is a tough city to navigate under any circumstance, and even after 7 years here, I just can't get my head around doing so on two wheels. I've seen too many bus drivers fail to notice cyclists, too many cars in designated bike lanes, and too many accidents at the intersection right outside my window. But, as I'm sure is true for many, my feelings about bicyclers are complicated. While, ideologically, my sympathies lie mostly with them, there are few words adequate to describe the rage I feel when "Share the Road"-ers blatantly disregard the rules of said road, riding opposite traffic, through red lights, and on what I adamantly assert (in my head, anyway) are sidewalks. No group in this scenario -- walkers, drivers, cyclists -- is blameless, and I think we all make a lot of assumptions. For example, I always assumed the cyclists were doing something, intentionally or not, that's pretty good for the environment. You know what? Even that rationale's got some doubters. But with gas prices still insane (that's a technical term), it'd be pretty hard to argue that cycling doesn't make economic sense for the rider, even if it doesn't in the big picture. So as the numbers of two-wheelers grow, so does the interest in making our cities more bike-friendly for commuters. Where do you stand -- or sit -- in the intersection of cars, bikes, and walkers... or of fuel economy, safety, and the environment?

Sarah Handel

1:57 PM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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Still Smarting

Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign ended back in June, but the voters who "put eighteen million cracks" in a very high glass ceiling are still hurt, and still angry that it isn't Sen. Clinton accepting the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night. Below is just one of them...

Sen. Clinton has said in no uncertain terms that she does not support that message -- but I have to wonder what she thinks when she sees it. The primary battle was long, bitterly fought, and even people who supported Sen. Obama may have felt that it was, in the end, very unsatisfying. Gail Sheehy -- one of our keenest cultural observers -- covered Sen. Clinton's campaign, and her insider's view in this month's Vanity Fair gives more flesh to the limited portrait of Hillary painted by the media (yep, that's us, too). On the eve of Hillary's big moment at the DNC, it's hard not to wonder who she is now, after the bruising experience of the primary that continues to haunt the convention. Who better to ask than Sheehy herself? Comments welcome.

Barrie Hardymon

1:56 PM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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August 26th Show

Neal Conan is out, Lynn Neary is in (just for today) and here's what's coming up on the show:

There is a website called Hospital Compare established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as part of the Department of Health and Human Services. And the site now compares hospital death rates around the country and shows how individual hospitals stack up against the national average, and each other. In our first hour, we'll talk about the information available on the site, and what you need to know about your hospital. Then, we'll continue our "This American Moment" series with Jorge Ramos, national anchor for Univision. Ramos will discuss the significance this presidential campaign has for Latino voters, and their role in this election.

In our second hour, we'll talk about the relationship between our friends who go cruising on two wheels and those who put the pedal to the medal in four wheel drive. Can't they just get along? If you've been out on the roads lately, you've no doubt seen more cyclists... and more road rage. But some cities are coming up with ways to re-shape their roads to encourage a truce in the war of wheels. We'll hear from both sides of the issue. At the end of the hour, Gail Sheehy will talk about her piece that appeared on vanityfair.com where she talks about what Hillary Clinton's campaign reveals about her. Sheehy opines that some of the elements in Clinton's campaign that brought her so close to victory are the same ones that prevented her from winning. Sheehy's article is entitled "Hillaryland at War".

Continue reading "August 26th Show" »

Gwen Outen

12:09 PM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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On The Floor

"And the crowd goes wild..."

David Gura, NPR

 

As I wrote yesterday, security here at the Democratic National Convention is heavy. Credentials are hard to come by, and the lines to get into the Pepsi Center are long.

There are more than 40 NPR employees here, working on our coverage. Engineers, producers, editors, and reporters. And although almost everyone has a perimeter pass, which lets us into the area surrounding the Pepsi Center and INVESCO Field at Mile High, there aren't enough arena and floor credentials to go around.

Reporters get them, of course. And a few producers and editors do too. Our Political Junkie, Ken Rudin, was on the floor last night, wrangling guests for Debbie Elliot and Audie Cornish. If there are any to spare, left unused, our boss passes them out. Last night, from 8:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., I got hold of a coveted floor credential, just in time for Michelle Obama's speech.

A few producers and I walked from our workspace to the Pepsi Center. On the way over, we passed Bill O'Reilly (so tall!), Arianna Huffington (so small!), and Vernon Jordan (also tall!). Once we got inside the [first] set of gates, we had to walk another few-hundred yards to the security line, which was really just a giant mass of delegates and journalists.

Inside the Pepsi Center, we took the escalators up to "Radio Row," a part of the concourse filled with tables for an assortment of local and national radio broadcasters. I picked up my pass there, and walked down to the floor, by the delegates from Delaware and Illinois, between the NBC News and CBS News sets.

Minutes later, the lights in the hall dimmed. A video, narrated by Michelle Obama's mother, introduced us to the evening's main speaker. Then her brother, the coach of the men's basketball team at Oregon State University, took to the stage. The crowd went wild, and not for the first time. Volunteers made their way through the audience, passing out posters. When he asked the crowd to welcome his sister, signs and hands were up in the air, obscuring the stage.

Back at the workplace, after the speech, we swapped notes. Who liked the speech? Who didn't? What was she trying to get across? And what did we think of the Obama daughters?

Tonight: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner are scheduled to speak. If I make it in, I'll report back tomorrow.

David Gura

12:05 PM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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A NASCAR Phenom

Joey Logano, I see a lot of orange in your future.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images for NASCAR

With the Olympics fading in the rearview mirror and football season a few exits down the road, I'm happy to share some right-now sports news to get excited about. Joe Gibbs Racing has announced 18-year-old racing phenom Joey Logano will officially join the Gibbs team next season. And he won't be slipping into the pack unnoticed -- no, he'll be driving the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota soon to be vacated by one of the biggest names in the sport, Tony Stewart, who'll be leaving Gibbs Racing to form his own team. It's clear Gibbs has high hopes for the kid -- Logano will be signing a "longer than normal" cup racing contract -- and Logano's willingness to strap into the #20 car indicates he's got a lot of confidence. He'll be joining one of the best teams in racing, led by Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, and crew chief Greg "Zippy" Zipadelli, who won two championships with Stewart, will stay with the Gibbs team. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I never wanted to like NASCAR, but now that I do, I can't help but get swept up in stories like this one. So take a peek at these links, and see if you too can feel a little of the fever too.

Sarah Handel

9:57 AM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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It Isn't JUST The Economy

What global issues does the next president face?

Source: Laura Padgett

So the economy isn't the only issue in this election, after all. And even when it is, pocketbook concerns touch on another area that underlies many voter's thinking... Foreign policy (the Venn diagram in my head links energy, the economy, China, Russia, Iraq, etc, etc, in a convoluted mix). And while opinions may differ on the specific steps involved, there's general agreement that the world facing the next administration come January will present unique challenges, and opportunities to redefine and enhance US power. Robert Kagan, in Foreign Affairs lays out his vision for the next president in what he calls "The September 12 Paradigm."

The United States and other democratic nations will need to take a more enlightened and generous view of their interests than they did even during the Cold War. The United States, as the strongest democracy, should not oppose but welcome a world of pooled and diminished national sovereignty. It has little to fear and much to gain in a world of expanding laws and norms based on liberal ideals and designed to protect them. At the same time, the democracies of Asia and Europe need to rediscover that progress toward this more perfect liberal order depends not only on law and popular will but also on powerful nations that can support and defend it.

Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, also in Foreign Affairs calls what the next president faces, "a daunting agenda," but says:

The United States is not a helpless giant tossed on the seas of history. It is still the most powerful nation on earth, and within certain limits, it can still shape its own destiny and play the leading role in a multipolar world. It can still take the helm in addressing the world's most pressing problems (as President Bush did effectively on only one issue, AIDS). There are many issues waiting for inspired and, yes, noble U.S. leadership, backed up by enlightened U.S. generosity that is also in the United States' own interest. The United States is still great. It deserves leadership worthy of its people, leadership that will restore the nation's pride and sense of purpose. That task must begin at home, but the world will be watching and waiting.

We'll hear a lot in the next two weeks about pocketbook issues, the finances of candidates and whether they can relate to the average Joe, and of course that "it's the economy stupid." But with US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Russian troops in Georgia, China's economy exploding, Iran's nuclear ambitions unclear, middle east peace in question, and the global war on terror ongoing, issues of national security and foreign policy can't be overlooked.

As a voter, what do you think should be the top priority for the next administration?

Scott Cameron

1:59 PM ET | 08-25-2008 | permalink

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This American Moment: Lani Guinier

The Democratic convention kicks off today in Denver with headliner Michelle Obama, and next week Republican delegates will gather in St. Paul to take up the podium. So we thought now would be the perfect time to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on this unique American moment. For the next two weeks, TOTN will ask men and women from different backgrounds and political persuasions -- artists, journalists, scholars and politicians -- to put this election and campaign season into context. Every day, we'll ask a different thinker to tell us what is at stake, and what this election means to him or her. This week, we'll talk to Jorge Ramos, Christopher Hitchens, Jimmy Carter, and Lani Guinier, who joins us today.

In 1993, President Clinton nominated Lani Guinier, the first black woman to receive tenure at Harvard Law School, to be assistant attorney general for civil rights; but, ultimately, her nomination was withdrawn due to controversy over her views on racial quotas. Guinier is widely regarded as an expert on race, gender, class, and voting rights, and today she'll tell us what this American moment means to her.

And, of course, we want to hear from you, too: what is the significance of this American moment to you?

Ashley Grashaw

1:58 PM ET | 08-25-2008 | permalink

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Juicy, But Rotten

Anonymity gets vicious.

Source: JuicyCampus.com

 

Anyone who's ever shopped at Forever21 knows that kids can be heartless. I've stood in dressing rooms and gasped at the incivility that passes for "gossip" these days. I hate to be a cranky old broad -- but it literally makes me long for the old (yes, first season) Kelly Taylor. She may have been bitchy, but at least she had a heart.* Kids these days (YES! That just happened) have devised a new way to torture each other -- anonymous gossip message boards. "100% Anonymous!" screams the JuicyCampus website -- and with no one taking responsibility, the posts become more and more vile. Racist, homophobic, and rampantly vicious rants against women proliferate -- and the more schools try to tamp them down, the more the kids are drawn to the bile. Is there anything socially redeeming at all about this stuff? Is it just sanctioned bullying? You can ask Andrew Mann, who set up his own message board site, CollegeACB. Otherwise, prove me wrong if you can -- can you have a good experience on these things?

*Of course then, the producers punished her for the next nine seasons with two rapes, a psychopathic roommate, and that dude with the eyebrows.

Barrie Hardymon

1:57 PM ET | 08-25-2008 | permalink

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Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

Michelle Obama in June in St. Paul.

Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

By now you've probably heard our segments on the presumptive democratic and republican nominees for president -- "Who is Barack Obama?" and "Who is John McCain?" -- so now it's time for a look at the women behind the men. Michelle Obama's up today. She's gotten a lot of press for her fashion, but who's the woman behind the chic sheath? So far, we know she's a mother, a lawyer, and a wife, but it's time to learn more, and this week at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, she's going to try to fill in the blanks. Dahleen Glanton's been covering her for the Chicago Tribune, so if you've got questions on Mrs. Obama, tune in.

Sarah Handel

1:56 PM ET | 08-25-2008 | permalink

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August 25th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk again with our Talk of the Nation news analyst Ted Koppel for a look at how foreign policy affects the United States. Koppel will be joined by Greg Craig, a senior adviser to Sen. Barack Obama, who will shed light on what an Obama administration would look like in the face of international politics. As president, what would Obama's top priority in foreign policy be? At the end of the first hour, we'll begin a series we're calling "This American Moment" where we ask different thinkers to tell us what is at stake in this campaign season and what this election means to them. Today, we'll talk with Lani Guinier about what this moment in American history means to her. In 1993, President Clinton nominated Guinier to be assistant attorney general for civil rights. She is currently the Bennett Boskey Professor of Law, at Harvard University and is widely regarded as an expert on race, gender, class and voting rights. We'd also like to hear from you. Call or submit your comments about what this American moment means to you.

In our second hour, we'll discuss the rise in popularity of college gossip websites -- namely Juicy Campus. Portfolio magazine reporter Jeff Bercovici will describe what gossip websites are and how bad the gossip can really get. And Andrew Mann will talk about how and why he started a series of college message boards called College ACB. At the end of the hour, Dahleen Glanton, a national correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, will discuss Michelle Obama... her upbringing, her life outside of politics and how her experiences growing up as an African-American woman have shaped her life.

Gwen Outen

12:22 PM ET | 08-25-2008 | permalink

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Play Ball

Democrats play ball.

Source: David Gura/NPR

 

I'm in Denver, mere miles from where I was born, helping with NPR's coverage of the Democratic National Convention. Needless to say, it's beautiful here. No humidity!

The centerpiece of our convention coverage is a series of interviews called "This American Moment." Every day, we'll ask a different artist, writer, scholar, thinker, or politician to put this campaign -- and this election -- in context. What does it mean to them? How does it fit into history? And what is at stake in the fields in which they work? This week, we'll hear from Lani Guinier, Jorge Ramos, Christopher Hitchens, and Jimmy Carter.

Since I landed on Thursday night, journalists and Democratic delegates have flooded the city. Needless to say, security here is tight. The perimeter around the Pepsi Center and INVESCO Field at Mile High, built of concrete barriers and chainlink fencing, is formidable. Police officers, from Denver and beyond, are on most street corners, wearing menacing-looking outfits. (Last night, on the way to dinner, I passed a white Humvee. Officers in riot gear clung to the side of the SUV.)

A few days ago, I grabbed a small pizza at one of my favorite Denver restaurants, the Wazee Supper Club. The bartender told me that he and his staff had been briefed about what to do if there are riots or bomb threats. (He didn't seem worried.) He said that many other bars and restaurants downtown had been rented out. If you watch CNN this week, take a close look at their studios. They took over a bar called Brooklyn's, just steps away from the Pepsi Center.

Some family friends had a pair of spare tickets to the Rockies game yesterday. In beautiful Coors Field, I watched the local team stage a pretty good comeback against the Cincinnati Reds. As you can see in the photograph above, which I snapped from our seats, there were a few sports-loving Democratic delegates in the crowd.

Our office space is in a hotel downtown, just a few minutes away from the arena and football stadium. Picture a large hotel conference room, crammed with laptops, telephones, television screens, and sundry audio equipment. In two adjacent rooms, engineers have built small studios for guests. (Ted Koppel, with whom Neal is going to speak later, will be here soon.)

I'll provide updates during the week. With photos! If you have any questions for me, leave 'em here.

David Gura

12:20 PM ET | 08-25-2008 | permalink

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Who Is John McCain?

We know a lot about Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)... His military service, the time he spent as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, his tenure as a senator from Arizona, his candidacy for president in 2000 -- and of course in 2008. He talks often about his policies, and his platforms, but what about the man himself? What are the experiences and influences that shaped the candidate?

Today, we'll talk with people who knew McCain at various stages of his life, and with one of his biographers.

What questions do you have about John McCain... Not about policy, but about his character and personality?

Scott Cameron

1:59 PM ET | 08-21-2008 | permalink

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TOTN Summer Movie Series: Fatale Attraction

Ava Gardner is the real killer in The Killers.

Universal Pictures/Getty Images

 

Men, listen up. If you're driving around on a rainy night in Los Angeles wearing a fedora, and you happen to spot a pair of dangerous eyes narrowing beneath a curtain of hair -- dude, you're in trouble. Shut your eyes, grab your wallet, and run for the hills. That creature with the tiny waist and curving smile is a ticket to a thrill ride of terror that will almost certainly end in tears and bullets. That lady isn't just a woman, she's a femme fatale -- and you are about to get noired up.

Right -- so I'm a hardcore feminist. I think Pretty Woman is sexist as hell, and every time I see Mad Men I feel slightly nauseated. So, why, you might ask, am I so hung up on the archetypal femme fatale? Sure, the fatalicious femme is completely without moral compass; all she wants is the cash, the car, and the way out of town. She's greedy and heartless. And it looks like the quintessential male punishment for a spirited dame -- if she's fearless around a snake and has a taste for apples -- we better make sure she doesn't haunt the Paradise Motel again. We'll put a bullet in her chest, and make sure a wide-eyed blonde shows up to provide children, dinner, and laundry help for any good men that didn't taste her apple pie.

But what if the femme fatale is actually subverting all that male fear? Listen, there isn't much control a woman could possibly have had back in the '30s... come to think of it, check out the '70s and '80s too, and then go ahead and check this out. A woman screaming inside for some kind of power might just feel that she would kill to get out of her confinement. And she's not afraid to die trying. So sure, she's greedy and heartless, but she's brave, and smart, and ambitious -- just like the men who fall for her.

So the guys keep looking for these dolls, and it's not just about the sex er, that honey of an anklet, it's because they want to feel the freedom of leaving their own roles behind. It's not the femme that's fatal -- it's the weight of all those expectations. So forgive me if I love Babs, and Lana, and Rita, and Sharon best when they're bad. They're fighting for freedom the fatale way.

Barrie Hardymon

1:58 PM ET | 08-21-2008 | permalink

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How We Pay For College

If you are moving into freshmen dorms this weekend or beginning your first semester after transfering from community college, it's likely you know what FAFSA or FFEL mean. By now, you've probably decided between a subsidized or unsubsidized loan. Or maybe you didn't have to think about tedious financial aid paperwork because your parents made sure the tuition check went out early to avoid the late fees. Whatever method you are using to pay for higher education, how are you making your decision? Sallie Mae and Gallup surveyed 1,400 undergraduate students and parents in a study called "How America Pays for College." Here's what they found: the majority of families ruled out a school that was too expensive. But, 40% of families did not limit their search based on cost. Today we ask, what was important to you in making your decision? What overules the cost of tuition? The school's prestige? Location? Courses? And if you are a parent -- what will or won't you sacrifice to pay for your child's college education?

Dalia Martinez

1:57 PM ET | 08-21-2008 | permalink

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Waiting for Barack

About a week ago I signed up to receive a text mesage whenever Sen. Barack Obama chooses his presidential running mate. The pitch was personal, addressing me by name: "Carline be among the first to know." So this morning when I read Mary Schmich's column in the Chicago Tribune, I knew whereof she wrote. I too immediately sent my mobile number to 62262 and within seconds, I became a Barack insider. Since then I have been waiting anxiously to receive the news. I'm a journalist and a producer. Information is my lifeline, and this information is big. Every time my phone trills to signal I have a message, I dive for it. And every time so far the message has been from someone else... my contractor, the car dealership, or my gym buddy asking for a ride. Come on Barack, the suspense is killing me.... I want to be the first to tell everyone whom you've chosen.

Carline Watson

1:56 PM ET | 08-21-2008 | permalink

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August 21st Show

As my boss Carline Watson would say, "Ok people," here's what we have on the show for you today. In the first hour, part two in our "Who Is..." series. Sen. John McCain's getting the treatment today, and we have a lineup of guests who'll reveal a bit more about the senator as a person, as opposed to a politician. It's about his personality, his character, and his beliefs, not his policies. We'll follow that conversation with your nominations for favorite femmes fatales with film guru Murray Horwitz, the third installment of our summer movie series.

In our second hour, the role of money in choosing a college. A new Sallie Mae and Gallup study shows that families frequently don't factor in the cost of a college when making a selection, and don't often consider how the degree sought will help pay off the debt post-graduation. How did you make the decision about where to attend, and did you factor in cost? Parents, how big of a factor is it in selecting a school with your child? Finally, around here we're all "Waiting on Barack...." Waiting, that is, on the text message he'll be sending to anyone who registered with his website, announcing his selection of a running mate. Producer Dalia Martinez quipped, "It's like waiting for a baby to be born," and new dad Scott Cameron concurred. Are you, too, waiting on a text from Sen. Barack Obama?

Sarah Handel

12:19 PM ET | 08-21-2008 | permalink

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The Agony Of The D.Q.

Usain Bolt wins the 200m.

Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

 

By the time I got home last night, I already knew Usain Bolt, Jamaican track phenom, had broken Michael Johnson's record in the 200-meter and earned the gold medal. It was a little disappointing to know the outcome before watching the race, but I still leaned forward in my seat when the runners assumed the position in the Wednesday night telecast. Somehow, knowing Bolt would win didn't affect my enjoyment in the least -- watching that man run, and buckle down and run the whole race (unlike the 100-meter, when he practically danced to the finish, so far ahead of the field he could've bunny-hopped), was witnessing history*. And his buddy, American Wallace Spearmon, came in third! Just as Spearmon, wrapped in the American flag, grabbed Bolt, wrapped in green and gold, for a bear hug, the news spread around the stadium: Spearmon had stepped on the line. Disqualified. The post-DQ interview with Spearmon was one of the most awkward things I've seen in my life. And then, on the replay, it became clear 2nd-place-finisher Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles had run a similarly tainted 200, and suddenly 2 more Americans, who originally ran in 4th and 5th, earned medals. Shawn Crawford and Walter Dix took silver and bronze, respectively, but there was no triumphant flag-wrapped victory lap around the track for them. In fact, when Dix's agent ran up to him with a smile and a hug after learning of his medal, Dix, nonplussed, stated simply, "I still lost." Ugh. What an awful way to finish a race that started with so much promise.

*In case you missed it, it'll go down in Olympic and sports history as the race where Usain Bolt broke Carl Lewis's record of winning the 100 and 200 in one Olympics, and broke both world records at the same time, which has never been done before.

Sarah Handel

8:24 AM ET | 08-21-2008 | permalink

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Veep, Veep!

With the Democratic Convention only a few days away, and the Republican Convention to follow, voters from both parties are anxiously awaiting news about running mates. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has indicated that he'll announce his vice president on Friday, Aug. 29, his seventy-second birthday. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will tell his supporters any day now. By text message.

So, on our regular Political Junkie segment, Ken Rudin will go through the short lists. If you want to know who he has picked, you can read his latest column here. And if you're a betting man or woman, you can check his record there, too.

As usual, Ken will take us through the latest political news. The two candidates traveled to California, to Saddleback Church, and to Orlando, for the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Back from vacation, Obama has some new ads, running in battleground states, including this one, about the economy:

It's his answer to ads like this one, by his opponent:

What questions do you have for Ken, about the campaign? And who do you think the candidates should pick to be their veeps?

David Gura

1:59 PM ET | 08-20-2008 | permalink

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The Economy: Judging The Coverage

Where do you get your economic news?

Source: KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

Up to date on the latest gas prices? You probably watch network TV news. Know everything there is to know about the housing crisis? You must be a fan of the newspaper. And if you feel like you're not getting enough coverage of the lousy economy, then you must be a fan of talk radio. This new study from the Project for Excellence in Journalism tracked media coverage of economic news, and found that while the economy is now a bigger story than the war in Iraq, it still follows a distant second to the presidential campaign. And, while 8 percent of all news stories focused on some aspect of the economy, the topics and type of coverage varied depending on whether you watch network news, cable news, or listen to the radio. Since many of you probably do some or all of the above, what economic stories do you want to see covered?

Scott Cameron

1:58 PM ET | 08-20-2008 | permalink

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Lovers, Haters, Uniters, Dividers -- Our Identity Crisis

I know why I hate her, but why do we hate US?

Source: Michael Buckner/Getty Images

So, you know that feeling when you see a fourteen-year-old girl sashaying down the street in cork heels, short shorts, and a baby-T that read