Author Archives: David S. Meyer

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About David S. Meyer

Author and professor of Sociology and Political Science at the University of California, Irvine

Arab Fall

Posted on September 16, 2012 by David S. Meyer

To paraphrase the old Boston politician, revolution ain’t beanbag.  The wave of revolutionary action across the Middle East and North Africa about a year and a half ago captured the imagination of democratic reformers around the world.  But it wasn’t … Continue reading →

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Chicago teachers, commitment and numbers

Posted on September 15, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of people rallied to support the Chicago Teachers Union, as its representatives moved closer to a negotiated agreement with the city that would bring them back to work–and send 350,000 students back to school. Mayor … Continue reading →

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DREAMers inside and outside the Democratic convention

Posted on September 7, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Benita Veliz, who apparently overstayed a tourist visa when she was eight years old, had a few minutes to address the Democratic convention from the podium.  Veliz quickly acknowledges that she has been living in the United States without legal … Continue reading →

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Clint, Eva, and partisan celebrities

Posted on September 6, 2012 by David S. Meyer

A counterpart to Clint Eastwood, Eva Longoria will address the Democratic Convention tonight, prior to President Obama’s speech.  Longoria has promised that there will be no empty chairs, and there’s every reason to believe that her remarks, like those of … Continue reading →

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The American Castro brothers and politics indoors

Posted on September 5, 2012 by David S. Meyer

San Antonio mayor Julian Castro gave a barn-burner of a speech at the Democratic convention last night, following a stirring introduction by his identical twin brother, Joaquin, who is running for a seat in the House of Representatives.  Someone planning … Continue reading →

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Small protests in Charlotte, so far

Posted on September 4, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The protest story from the Democratic convention so far is pretty similar to the stories from the Republican convention–minus the storms.  There are fewer demonstrators than organizers promised or journalists expected, lots of police, and scattered relatively small events mostly … Continue reading →

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A day for labor

Posted on September 1, 2012 by David S. Meyer

For Labor Day Weekend, here’s a reminder about the history of this commemoration in America (reposted from 2011). Successful politicians exploit, buy off, and sell out the movements that sometimes buoy their campaigns.  This American story is an old one, … Continue reading →

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Code Pink again!

Posted on August 31, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Somehow Code Pink activists got back on the floor of the Republican National Convention during Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech.  After two activists, very briefly, heckled Paul Ryan on the previous night, it’s surprising that anyone without genuine credentials could get … Continue reading →

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Code Pink takes outdoor politics inside the convention

Posted on August 30, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Two members of Code Pink, the feminist antiwar group, somehow got inside the Republican convention, and aired their grievances with the Romney/Ryan ticket. They only had a few moments to battle for prime time attention with Vice Presidential nominee Paul … Continue reading →

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Raining out dissent in Tampa

Posted on August 29, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The storms surrounding Hurricane Isaac shortened the Republican convention in Tampa, Florida, and stole some of the headlines Republicans hoped to generate.  The rains mostly kept the delegates and party regulars indoors, fairly well insulated from the demonstrators outdoors, who … Continue reading →

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