RACE TO THE TOP

Check out the lively discussion on Obama's Philadelphia race speech at TPM Cafe, with contributions by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Glenn Loury, and the Original Rustbelt Intellectual, John Skrentny, who can be found roaming the deserted streets of Hammond, Indiana or schlepping on the subway in Flushing, Queens when he's not basking in the San Diego sun. It's not too sunny over at the Left Business Observer, where Doug Henwood (who called this recession a long time ago) rains on the Obama parade along with my ever sharp-tongued colleague Adolph Reed.