Political Commentary

December 2, 2011

In the Race for the Senate, Democrats Show Signs of Life By Larry J. Sabato, Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley

The Senate’s curious and byzantine rules and traditions are well explained in Robert Caro’s Master of the Senate, part of his sprawling, multi-volume biography of Lyndon B. Johnson (the fourth volume is scheduled to be released next year). Johnson, through his own cunning and ruthlessness, was arguably the most powerful Senate leader ever, as he bent the supposedly uncontrollable upper chamber to his will.

December 1, 2011

Hipsters Without Walls by Froma Harrop

Dwell magazine is the Architectural Digest for hipsters. It promotes minimalist living stripped of color and frou-frou.

December 1, 2011

Untouched by the 60s, 'Romney reflects the Corny '50s By Michael Barone

One question I sometimes have been asked in this presidential campaign goes something like this: Why does Mitt Romney sound so corny?

November 30, 2011

How to Break the Partisan Fever By Tony Blankley

Sunday on "Meet the Press" Colin Powell blamed divisive, poisonous Washington politics on the media and the Tea Party. The essence of Powell's argument was: "Republicans and Democrats are focusing more and more on their extreme left and extreme right. And we have to come back toward the center in order to compromise. ... The media has to help us.

November 29, 2011

The Right's Health Care Fantasies by Froma Harrop

A real conservative would say: "Government should stay out of health care. Let Americans meet their medical needs in the free market." I respectfully disagree, but thanks for being clear.

November 28, 2011

Entitlement, Not Tax Cuts, Widen the Wealth Gap By Michael Barone

What should be done about income inequality? That basic question underlies the arguments hashed out in the supercommittee and promises to be a central issue in the presidential campaign.

November 25, 2011

Unacceptable in Today's GOP? Realism and Compassion By Joe Conason

Tasteless and questionable as it was for CNN to "co-sponsor" a Republican presidential debate with a pair of right-wing Washington think-tanks, at least the branding was accurate.

November 23, 2011

Thanksgiving 2011 By Tony Blankley

As we approach the festive season -- the elongated, enchanting month from Thanksgiving through Christmas to New Years -- my mind has been drifting through various memorable past holidays. Some have been personal -- the last one with my father before he died. But one that stands out for historic reasons was Christmas 1991.

November 22, 2011

Dirty Jobs Don't Have to Be Lousy Jobs By Froma Harrop

"Why Americans Won't Do Dirty Jobs" is the presumptuous headline on a Bloomberg Businessweek cover. The subject is Alabama's new no-tolerance policy toward illegal immigrants and the people who hire them.

November 21, 2011

Put Tax Breaks for Mortgages, Local Taxes on Table By Michael Barone

Supercommittee members Sen. Pat Toomey and Rep. Jeb Hensarling are taking flak from some conservatives for proposing a deal including increases in "revenues," and a Washington Post reporter had some fun insinuating that they were backing a tax-rate increase.

November 18, 2011

Will Obama's Foreign Policy Wins Lead to a Win Next Year? By Thomas F Schaller

Presidents do not have a lot of leisure reading time, so it's unlikely that Barack Obama has had time to flip through the pages of Harper's November issue. And that's probably good news for the president, because here are the first two entries of the famed "Harper's Index" this month:

November 17, 2011

Clean Energy Worth the Political Muck By Froma Harrop

Princely U.S. government subsidies have made developing wind, solar and other clean energy nearly risk-free to investors -- and that's bad. But the price of this domestically produced power has tumbled, thanks in part to such aid. That helps clean energy compete with the fossil kind, which is definitely good.

November 17, 2011

Obama Has a Knack for Ticking off America's Friends By Michael Barone

The election of Barack Obama, we were told, would bring new respect and friendship for America in the world.

November 16, 2011

An Important New Book By Tony Blankley

A just released book, "Bowing to Beijing" by Brett M. Decker and William C. Triplett II, will change forever the way you think about China -- even if, like me, you already have the deepest worries about the Chinese threat. As I opened the book, I was expecting to find many useful examples of Chinese military and industrial efforts to get the better of the United States and the West.

November 15, 2011

The Angst in Giving Thanks By Froma Harrop

Americans typically eat over 1,000 meals a year. But for many, Thanksgiving dinner seems to be the one that, like a magnet, gathers the iron shavings of every food anxiety. Why should that be? You'd think that this feast with family and friends would be accepted for what it is -- an innocent once-a-year gorge. In a country where disciplined eating is sadly lacking, why pile on the one time we traditionally throw caution to the wind?

November 14, 2011

Tea Partiers, Like Peaceniks, Upset Political Order By Michael Barone

It irritates members of both groups when I note the similarities of the tea party movement that swept the nation in the 2010 election and the peace movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

November 11, 2011

Mindless -- But Always Talking Loud By Joe Conason

At a time when nations that tax, spend, regulate and invest more consistently outstrip the United States in many measures of progress, leading Republicans speak only of smashing government and ending vital programs. In this constantly escalating rhetorical game, it became inevitable that one of them would eventually expose the emptiness of this vainglorious display. And it was unsurprising that the ultimate faker would turn to be Rick Perry.

November 10, 2011

Defining Poverty in the Land of Plenty By Froma Harrop

The "poverty issue" opens a vast highway system of social and economic observations headed in every direction. Some say poverty is a national disgrace. Some say it's the poor people's own fault. Some say the government must end it through bigger subsidies and more services for the poor -- others by reducing that help and instead expanding economic opportunity.

November 9, 2011

GOP Primary Deadlock? By Tony Blankley

Here's a thought: The GOP presidential primaries may well prove to be inconclusive, with the nominee actually being chosen at the convention in Tampa, Fla., in the fourth week of August next year.

November 8, 2011

Andy Rooney Was Really Real By Froma Harrop

It was odd becoming a personal friend of Andy Rooney so late in his life and so far into my own. I'd seen him on "60 Minutes" for all 33 years, first while sitting on the rug in my parents' house. Through one of Andy's close friends and neighbors, I actually got to know him 10 years ago. To answer the question, "Was Andy really like that?" I say, "Yes, totally."

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